Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/187

Rh Civil and military employment is generally given to Spaniards.

During these drives, my young hostess salutes the passers-by, or the people in their houses, with a gracious wave of the hand, and the word adios! as we proceed. Such is the custom here, and the salutation by a graceful and friendly movement of the hand, which has various degrees of expression and warmth, is universal both for ladies and gentlemen, and seems to me a graceful and becoming mode of salutation, in comparison with which our custom, of a gentleman's taking off his hat, seems very troublesome and unnecessary. The polite Spaniard adds to this salutation of a lady, “I kiss your hands!” which, of course, means nothing, but which sounds well, and the expression of his countenance is at the same time extremely charming. The Spaniards are certainly the most polite of all men, but it is asserted that they are just as fickle.

I yesterday afternoon saw the Spanish soldiers exercise. Their manœuvres were excellent; but they were very short men. Their discipline and conduct on the island is said to be very good.

With the evening, comes music both within and out of the house, and the play of the sea-breezes on the piazza. Mrs. B. plays the lively Cuban and Spanish dances remarkably well; and now also she plays Swedish polskas, which she has learned from me, and I play her dances. Sometimes there are visitors both of the European settlers on the island and Spanish ladies, who always manœuvre and flutter a great deal with their fans, for the weight and the splendour of the fan is the pride of the Spanish lady. I have seen here fans which have cost from twenty-five to one hundred dollars each. The most valuable are of ivory set with gold, and greatly ornamented, in part, with small oval mirrors on the outer sides. The manœuvring with the fan is quite a little science, in which the Spanish lady