THE NIGHT POLICE OF SPAIN.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume IX, Issue 26, 26 November 1903, Page 3

THE NIGHT POLICE OF SPAIN.

The foreigner who passes a night m > Spanish town for the first time is awakened several times by a cry uttered at regulai intervals ; it is monotonous, somewhat sad, but not unmusical. He wonders what it is, and finally comes to the conclusion that it is some drunken fellow or practical joker. Should he go out on the balcony, he sees a man enveloped in a long cloak, and wearing a red and black cap ; in one hand he carries a lantern with coloured glass, in the other a kind of lance. A SERENO AND HIS DUTIES. This man walks slowly along, quietly inspecting the houses, shaking the doors, and trying-the shutters to Bee if all is secure , at every ten steps or so he utters this prolonged cry. He is called a serene. This functionary has under his supervision a block of houses, or “demarcacion as the Spaniards call it. He has three or four vigilant* under him, according to the population of the “ demarcacion, each of whom has to look after a block of ten or fifteen buildings. The principal duties of a sereno kre summed up in the following extract from the municipal regulations. He must perform a certain number of rounds m all the streets, lanes, passages, and alleys on his ' beat, and call out in a loud voice the time and the weather as he goes along. HOW HE GETS HIS NAME. It is through calling out the weather thab fie has earned the name of sereno (serene, fine), for under the blue sky of Spain it is generally “sereno.” He sometimes has to crv out nublado (cloudy) and lluviendo {rain- ! ing), but it is quite an event to have snow or I hail He must lend assistance to citizens i who request his help for any reasonable 1 cause, and go for the doctor, chemist, midwife, or clergyman. In cases of robbery, assault, or fire, he must hurry to the scene of the occurrence as soon as he hears a signal. He must pay particular attention to such houses as are pointed out to him, and report to his superiors. As soon as there is a cry of “Help!” the sereno or vigilant who hears it blows his whistle and rune in the direction of the cry ; the others round about hurry to the seat of action, after having blown their whistles, and are quickly followed by other officers, who are stationed at certain posts. If the malefactor escapes, they immediately blow their whistles in a special way, which indicates the directiomhe has taken, and very soon the evil-doer finds himself in a ring which prevents escape. The sereno is supposed to put a stop to midnight singing, serenading, &c., but very, very few of them would care to do so. „,.- -

SPAIN IS THE COUNTRY OF SERENADES, and the serenos and vigilants would sooner protect a serenader than interrupt him. The vigilant is a subordinate, whose general duties are similar to those of the sereno, but he also acts as porter to the houses under his charge ; he has the keys, and he alone can open the street doors. If you return to your house after ten o’clock you will find the door closed against you ; clap your hands two or three times, and the vigilant comes forward at a trot, a bunch of keys jingling in his hand. He opens the door, hands you a kind of taper to show you a light to your rooms, wishes you “buetias noches” (good night, and runs off to perform the same office elsewhere. If. you are a visitor you must tell the vigilant who it is you have come to see; he accompanies you bo the particular floor, pulls the bell-roiie, and does not go away until the inmate has hailed you as a friend. Do you wish to go out during the night? Nothing easier. Throw up the window and clap hands; the vigilant appears and the way is open. You do just the same when you want a doctor, confessor, &c. These emergencies are provided for in the municipal regulations, as above stated. A LIVING ALARM CLOCK. The vigilant is an advantage and econo mical substitute for the alarm-clock ; he is nob so liable to accidents us the clock. , If you-wish to get up at a certain time you ask him to call you and he will do so, ringing »t your bell till you show signs of life. Both sereno and vigilant act as guides to the belated traveller. Tell one or the other you have lost your way, and where you wish to go, and he will accompany you to the end of his beat where he will hand you over to the sereno or vigilant of the next block ; and so on till you find yourself in front oj your door. Both these officials, although subject to the municipal authorities in every way, and duly recognised as representatives of the law, leceive no salary from the Town Council. They are paid by the individuals residing in their “ deraarcacionsthe tax, instead of being paid to the State, goes direct to these officers. THE WAY THESE MEN ARK PAID. Every month they collect the subscription, which must not be lower than fivepence, and which, except in some of the poor quarters, generally amounts to two or three pesetas (peseta—ten pence). In addition to this they get presents on New Year’s Day, Ac., from the residents, and occasional tips from strangers. After twenty-five years’ service they are entitled to a pension of not less than two pesetas a day, which is paid by the authorities. Should they be obliged to rerire before having served the fixed term on account of infirmities contracted through their duty they receive a pension, and arf employed as park-keepers, Ac.