Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/177

Rh in clusters close to, or beneath, the branches. People here are fond of the milk of the fruit, and consider it as a purifier of the blood; it has the appearance of whey, and one must be accustomed to its flavour before one can like it. The fruit of the king-palm is a berry, and is only used for fodder for cattle. The cabbage of the palm, as it is called,—that is, the middle of the stem nearest to the crown,—the very core as it were of the tree, is said to be a great delicacy; but it cannot be removed without taking the life of the tree.

In the afternoons I have driven out with my kind hostess in her volante, to visit some of the neighbours. Yesterday we called on an elderly French lady, who interested me by her strongly-marked individuality; it was a pleasure to hear her relate anything, and to follow her expressions and gestures. In a general way, it seems to me, that Europeans have far more accent and emphasis in their whole being than the Americans; or than those families of European origin which have been resident in America for any length of time. The former speak louder, emphasise the words more strongly, use more action; appear more forcible; make more demonstration: the latter move and speak with very little outward action; there is a something silent and without sound in their being; energy has a more inward, a more concentrated power. The great expression of the American seems to be properly, in his public institutions, in the development of the political life of the States, in the advancement of commerce, in the magnitude of his public undertakings. Individuality does not indeed vanish; but it seems to me to occupy itself in a higher species of manifestation.

The Spaniards present, in manners and appearance, the strongest contrast which can be conceived to the Anglo-American, and the melody and majesty of the Spanish language always enchants me—excepting indeed, when I