[570] Something similar in the way of courtesy used to be the habit among shop-keepers in this country. Nowadays we find it only with the older generation. Although the author here complains that these pleasant customs have already disappeared in Argentina, it is nevertheless true that Spaniards and Spanish-Americans prefer to do business in a way that still savors of social relationship.
[571] para sentarse los tertulianos habituales del establecimiento, where the habitúes of the establishment could sit.
[572] de Aubusson y de Gobelinos. Aubusson, city in France, famous for tapestries; Gobelinos, the Gobelins, in the fifteenth century, established a tapestry factory in Paris which is now famous throughout the world.
[573] dejándolo amontonarse ampulosamente sobre el mostrador, permitting it (el lote vendido) to heap up in folds on the counter.
[574] La Argentina y sus grandezas.
[575] vivos de, alive with.
[576] la guitarra ibera. The guitar is the national musical instrument of Spain.
[577] grupa, here, poop, carrying out the figure implied in los gigantes marinos.
[578] El azul blanquecino del cielo. The verb is yace, understood.
[579] revelan únicamente, alone reveal.