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Literary
November 1, 1820
The Hillsborough Recorder
Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
Excerpt from Dallas's Travels describing the evening orisons in Spain, where at sunset in Cadiz, the entire city halts in silent prayer signaled by church bells, creating a profound, awe-inspiring pause in daily life before resuming.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From Dallas's Travels.
EVENING ORISONS IN SPAIN.
There is nothing with which a foreigner, unacquainted with the religious customs of Spain, is so struck, as the performance of the Orison, or prayers at sunset. The reflection, that at the same moment, or rather an unbroken succession of moments, there is a general suspension of all work and conversation, and that a National act of Adoration in silence is taken place throughout the kingdom, renders it truly awful and imposing.—Our author has given us the following picture of the Orisons as offered on the Almeda, or public walk in Cadiz:
"The sun had been some time apparently enlarging the circumference of his orb; his brilliant disk had gradually received its evening tinge of red, and now his last ray darted upwards from the refulgent bosom of the ocean, streaking with gold the expanded edge that veiled his face. It was the signal of the Orisons or evening prayers, which being repeated by the tolling of the bell of every church, the whole city, the whole kingdom, addressed a prayer and a thanksgiving to the Almighty Being who had brought the day to a close.
"The crowd upon the Almeda, whose busy hum and footsteps mingled their bruit upon the ear, like the fall of waters, where the course of a gentle streamlet is broken by some impending rock now stood still, and there prevailed, as if by magic, a sudden, profound and awful silence.
"At the sound of the bell, the carriages stopped; all who were sitting arose: those who were walking remained in the position in which this moment overtook them; all conversation was suspended; and every one repeated an inward prayer. The sign of the cross, which closed the prayer of each, was the signal for breaking off this holy silence; every one gave a salutation to those who surrounded him, known or unknown, and then the stream flowed on, unaltered in its course."
EVENING ORISONS IN SPAIN.
There is nothing with which a foreigner, unacquainted with the religious customs of Spain, is so struck, as the performance of the Orison, or prayers at sunset. The reflection, that at the same moment, or rather an unbroken succession of moments, there is a general suspension of all work and conversation, and that a National act of Adoration in silence is taken place throughout the kingdom, renders it truly awful and imposing.—Our author has given us the following picture of the Orisons as offered on the Almeda, or public walk in Cadiz:
"The sun had been some time apparently enlarging the circumference of his orb; his brilliant disk had gradually received its evening tinge of red, and now his last ray darted upwards from the refulgent bosom of the ocean, streaking with gold the expanded edge that veiled his face. It was the signal of the Orisons or evening prayers, which being repeated by the tolling of the bell of every church, the whole city, the whole kingdom, addressed a prayer and a thanksgiving to the Almighty Being who had brought the day to a close.
"The crowd upon the Almeda, whose busy hum and footsteps mingled their bruit upon the ear, like the fall of waters, where the course of a gentle streamlet is broken by some impending rock now stood still, and there prevailed, as if by magic, a sudden, profound and awful silence.
"At the sound of the bell, the carriages stopped; all who were sitting arose: those who were walking remained in the position in which this moment overtook them; all conversation was suspended; and every one repeated an inward prayer. The sign of the cross, which closed the prayer of each, was the signal for breaking off this holy silence; every one gave a salutation to those who surrounded him, known or unknown, and then the stream flowed on, unaltered in its course."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Journey Narrative
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Evening Orisons
Spain
Cadiz
Sunset Prayers
Religious Silence
National Adoration
What entities or persons were involved?
From Dallas's Travels.
Literary Details
Title
Evening Orisons In Spain.
Author
From Dallas's Travels.
Subject
Description Of Evening Prayers At Sunset In Cadiz, Spain
Form / Style
Prose Narrative Excerpt
Key Lines
The Sun Had Been Some Time Apparently Enlarging The Circumference Of His Orb; His Brilliant Disk Had Gradually Received Its Evening Tinge Of Red, And Now His Last Ray Darted Upwards From The Refulgent Bosom Of The Ocean, Streaking With Gold The Expanded Edge That Veiled His Face.
The Crowd Upon The Almeda, Whose Busy Hum And Footsteps Mingled Their Bruit Upon The Ear, Like The Fall Of Waters, Where The Course Of A Gentle Streamlet Is Broken By Some Impending Rock Now Stood Still, And There Prevailed, As If By Magic, A Sudden, Profound And Awful Silence.
At The Sound Of The Bell, The Carriages Stopped; All Who Were Sitting Arose: Those Who Were Walking Remained In The Position In Which This Moment Overtook Them; All Conversation Was Suspended; And Every One Repeated An Inward Prayer.