Indeed, the city probably never looked more gay than on this August night, when, after an unusually torrid day the cool ocean breeze, following the rain, invited every one to loiter out of doors, and join in the characteristic Spanish holiday season.
To Roderic these light hearted people were the greatest of all mysteries.
If New York city were threatened by a hostile army, and its speedy capture as good as insured, he could imagine the fearful panic that must take place, how white faced women, and men too, would throng the streets laden with precious household goods, seeking some avenue of escape.
Yet here was a city that had already experienced some of the horrors of a bombardment and with another in prospect, probably of a more drastic nature, giving itself up to pleasure as wholly as though peace ruled the camp, the fleet and the grove.
It was astonishing, marvelous!
Roderic of course knew the reason—he had made a close study of Spanish character, and found that like the Southern plantation negro these sons and daughters of Iberia never worry save over the troubles of the immediate present.
Let the future take care of itself—on with the dance—what if trouble does come, that will be "manana," to-morrow, and why should they worry until the time arrives?
Bah! when the first shell from the monitors and battle ships goes shrieking over the forts to explode perhaps among the houses of the town—that will be time enough to show anxiety, and once started they can make up for wasted opportunities.
Such is the settled policy of these people, no matter where found, and it is the main reason why they are outstripped in the race by such energetic, wide awake, ever ready to seize an open opportunity nations as the Anglo Saxons and Teutons.
Spain has accomplished her work on the earth, a savage and cruel one in many respects, yet fraught with much daring—she it was who centuries back sent her bold navigators to the ends of the little known world to plant the yellow and crimson banner there—her barbarous methods of government led each of her numerous colonies in turn to revolt and declare the shackles broken from their limbs, but Spain never changed her policy as did Great Britain after losing the United States.