The Argosy . y as you windyour flight up to yourroom. This last sounds,somehow, suspiciouslylike a jeu-de-mot; an indiscretion of which I am incapable. But Icannot quite trace it out, and the phrase must go. Having started the subject, perhaps you would like a description ofthis Fonda de Mallorca, and of our daily life, as it has passed up tothe present moment. Do not picture us as revelling in all the luxuries one has grownaccustomed to in this fast expiring nineteenth century. It has cometo this certain fact in travelling, that mere comfort is not must have refinement and luxury in
The Argosy . y as you windyour flight up to yourroom. This last sounds,somehow, suspiciouslylike a jeu-de-mot; an indiscretion of which I am incapable. But Icannot quite trace it out, and the phrase must go. Having started the subject, perhaps you would like a description ofthis Fonda de Mallorca, and of our daily life, as it has passed up tothe present moment. Do not picture us as revelling in all the luxuries one has grownaccustomed to in this fast expiring nineteenth century. It has cometo this certain fact in travelling, that mere comfort is not must have refinement and luxury in the form of painted ceilingsand gilded walls and thickly carpeted floors. The cuisine must beperfect, the appointments without flaw. Palaces of a hundredyears ago were not more gorgeous than the inns of to-day, whilstmonarchs who swayed sceptres, whose smiles were promotion andwhose frowns meant death, lived far more simply their daily will wisely observe that there is a quid-pro-quo in the Letters from Majorca, 203 and one has to pay for all this display and self indulgence. Thatis quite true, and travelling has now become a costly pleasure, andsometimes almost a sinful. But in Palma de Mallorca, ones luxuries are restricted; and, fortu-nately, there is a corresponding limit to the charges when yourbill is presented. As yet we have had no bill, but I write withthe authority of the speaker: no less a personage than the goodand amiable landlord himself, who, on our arrival, volunteeredseveral exchequer items we did not ask for, but were willing to learn. Here we have no painted ceilings or carpeted floors. Our roomsare tiled or paved; and in spite of a very charming atmosphere, yourfirst sensation on rising in the morning, when your feet come intocontact with the cold stone, is decidedly thrilling. I shall neverforget my introduction to this emotion; for though you are supposedto have a small bedside carpet or a mat, this, hke your slippers, oryour match-box,
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwoodhenr, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookyear1865
