New-York tribune., 1871-11-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HAYS CASTILIAN DAYS.
SAErIIIAR DAYS. by JOHN Hay. l2mo Up. tli
1a,rng napOp1 A.

The pCculiar feature Of these brilliant essays is
The profound insight with which they discuss the
national life of Spain, conpned with the vINacity
and point Uf n graphic narrative Of foreign travel.
They are not the fruit of a rapid journey through
the country but of acute personal observation dur
ing familiar residence in the metropolitan city of
the Peninsula Mr. Hay, however is not merely a
curious lOOker-On amid the novel and fascinating
scenes of romantic capital. He never dwclls ON the
RIittaring surface OF the panoramic display hut
IL always aroused tO reflection on It's eSFohlial
intrinsic character. He sees with the minds eye
Hs we'll ns with the visual organs ana ~
no less earnest thinker, than keen observer "n"
vigorous narrator. He is, indeed. too hkIliiuI an
arist to reveal any formal process of ANALYSIS III 'N
eeetive descriptions. hut while Your attention Ioi
the moment ~ absorbed in the pIctuesa"c "7P'''
which ne sets forth yOu find that yOh nave o"'"''''
- clear an idea Of recondite principles aS vi 'N'
nal TelatiOns His book, accordingly hlnS' "o "
rnrded In the light Of d philosophical uea'iHe' aS
Iii 40 80 q, gallery Of powerful sketches. lay
iry bor, thr heart of Spanish society WIN q
elearuess Of insight and energetic meNIty "i
,pression which I'm that respect makes II the cOu-
terpart of Mr. EmcrsOn's unique English lraitS''
q1, vo,,,,oe opens with n picture If Madrid winch
Vivcs a more Iifrlikc impression OF the chara"-
feristic, Of that ancIcnt capital than any notices
which we can call to mind by previous visitors
Madrid WAS made the royal residence by the arbitrary
choice of Philip II. 1t had no natural advantages
70 recommend it for that purpose. Situated on
burep mountain, without the noble harbor and
admirable communications Of Lisbon, the delIclouS
climate and scenic beauty of Seville or the rich ira
stigns architectural splendors, and literary renown
of Salamanca and Toledo il selected on account
Of it's dreary position and complete lack of external
charms For many reigns. it the most cheerleSs
court in EurOpe. The founders Of the Austrian
DYNASTY were too much occupied with their dreams
of conquest to leave leisure for the establishment
Of Madrid, and their e1eminate Successors had
not sufficient energy to indulge III the royal
folly Of building. The architectural improve
euts Of tho capital date from the reign OF Charles
Ill the only real ruler the BOurbOns ever gave to
Spain It was he who laid out the walks and prom
rnadcs that furnish Madrid with almost it's only out
ward attractions In nearly all that stranger
cares t. see Madrid is not an older city than Boston,
There is no glory of tradition here, cathedrals,
no rmins 10 spectral mcmUres that haunt the air IN
quiet towns like Nuremberg and Ravcnna The vast
movement of humanity that bewilders you in San
Francisco and New-Y York is not noticed in Madrid.
Thero is nothing indigenous, local color. in that
city, hut 10 presents patchwork of all SPAIN
Hence il affords the best point to study Span
ish life Every province Of the Peninsula
sends contingent to the population. The
IiaIlicians hcw its wood ana draw its water;
thc Asturian women nurse its babies at their deep
buaOms. and ill the promcnades with their brilliant
r.st,nes; tho Valcntians carpet its halls and quench
It's thirst with ogcat of chufas III every street you
shall sae the red bonnet and sandaled feet of the
Catalan in every cQM the shavcn face and ra-tail
Chgnun Of the MajO of Andalnsia.'
Bnt tlouph Madrid presents a mixture Of all
Hraiu il is not all spanish. large foreign element
is found in it's population. The French are here III
great NUMBERS in spite Of their repugnance to emf
Vration; many Germans and English are established
In business; and few stray Yankees drive pros
perous trade in plows and sewing machines. The
streets swarm with strangers and newsboys that
helm TO bring the people into the movement OF the
age. ~ -:.I,4
trace uf the national character, where not strain
of Spanish music, u word Of Casttlian IS ever
heard II is the diluted European spirit rather than
the Spanish, which prevails in most Of the fashion
able annscmemts of Madrid. There are classical
concerts u the crruSes and popular music i'll the open
air The thcateTs perform translauOns OF French
plays. which are tolerabe in prose, but are often
turncd into dismal Spanish rhymes. The fine old
Spanish drama is rapidly vanishing. The master-
pieces Of Calderon and LOpe de Vega have sunk into
almost complete oblivion. The stage is flooded with
the washinVs Of the Boulevards bad traIlslatOns,
and still worse limitations.
The best society of Madrid is now entirely under
the Infections influence of foreign manners An
evening circle shows all the character
iStics of Paris or Petersburg or New-Io ork.
.Tbr toilets are by Worth the beauties coiffed
by the deft fingers of Parisian tiring-women; the
men wear the penitential garb of POole the music
Ia by Goinod and Verdi Strauss inspires the rush
ing waItzcs and the married people walk through
the dnairilles TO tho measures of Blue Beard and
III tfslon sn. suVoeStiya of cOniuRaI rights and
duties. As for the sppers the trail of the NeapO-
itan serpent is over them all Honest eating is lost
art among the pTete denizens of the Old World.
pautalzing ices Crisped shapes Of baked nothing,
.riT sandwiches and the feeblest of Sugary punch,
ro the only supports exhausted nature receives for
A., the shOck Of the cotillon. / remember the stern
reply of a friend of mine when ] asked him to go
with me to brilliant receptiOn,-'NO! Man liveth
not by biscuitglace alone! His heart was heavy
for the steamed cheTry-stones of Harvey and the
EteWed terrapiu of Augustin."
refreshng contrast tOthe artificial spirit Of formal
society is presented in the prOmenades on the Prado
which during both the Summer and Winter months
form regular institution Of the capital OF pleas
ant Winter afternoon You shall the polite world
n the northern prolOngatiOn of the Prado, called
the Castilian Fountain They take their stately
81. walk in this long promenade, which though open
20 all the world, is entered by persons not in
VOcety-BO perfect s the discipline Of the unwrtten
social code Of etiquette in these old countries Here
they breathe the purest air of their aristOcratic
Olympus, while a hundred PAGES further south, the
world ut large enjoys its plebeisn constitutional
But 1t is after Easter Monday in the warm long
daYs Of May and June that the population of Madrid
a left to ito own devices for the Summer, and the
evening walk in the Salon begins.
no scene original and Characteristic,
T1a whole city meets in tins stsrlt drawtngrOom. is .