The Argosy — page 308: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Letters from Majorca. 287 Here, you will say, was prosiness enough ; and you will feel in- clined to laugh at our ‘‘ going to market,” like the Pretty Maid in the rhyme; though, by the way, I never could see that it ad rhyme. I assure you, you would be wrong. ‘There are markets and markets, just as there are people and people: some who are born handsome, and others who have the misfortune to be—the opposite. Charlotte Bronté was quite right; ugliness is a great misfortune. But nature is merciful; it is the plain people who as a rule are vain of their good looks. This is no greater mystery than it is a fact. You will have noticed, too, that people to whom nature has withheld her charms, are the very people who dress most conspicuously and in the worst taste. But to be surrounded by good looks and refined faces, and gentle, delicate ways, and sweet voices—what an amazing difference this makes to one’s life. If it be a weakness, I plead guilty to it, and have no wish to be absolved from it. All this does not apply to Palma, where there is very little evidence of bad taste, and where both men and women are often singularly favoured and attractive. I am told that this prepossessing type is peculiar to Palma, and does not by any means extend to the other parts of Mallorca. The only other exception is Felanitx, said to be famous for its pretty girls. I intend to visit Felanitx, not in the least for my own edification, but that I may have the plaasiys of informing you as to the correctness of this statement. In Palma many of the people have refined and delicate faces, well- carved, chiselled features, often a pale olive complexion. They are usually dark, with liquid eyes and well-marked brows and raven hair —if such a thing exists. The women, as I have told you, are graceful—the men well made, straight and supple. They walk well, too, and do not, like most Englishmen, point their toes and come down heel first. I have my daily task with H.C., who persists in visiting the churches during ‘‘les Offices,” not at all from devout motives. There is sure to be a houri somewhere, bent in what I have already called picturesque devotion, and he plants himself against a pillar, gazes, and sighs away his heart-blood, and composes those reams of rhymes that will shortly exhaust all the MS. paper in the island. If I were not there to save him from himself, I believe there would be nothing left but the wreck of a brilliant intellect and a candidate for Bedlam to take back to England. It is fortunate that these frailties and follies are all on the side ot Telemachus, and that he has so sedate a Mentor as his refuge and safeguard. But to the market. You will say we are a long time on the road to this desired haven. : In truth it is not easy to pass quickly through the streets of Palma. COmicooolks ) Co