The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-25

naughty and inflexible with his equals. But
his own house is q refuge from the contests
of out of doors. The reflex of absolute su-
tbority is here observed, it is true. The
Spanish father is absolute king aud lord by
bis own hearthstone, but his sway is so mild
and so readily acquiesced in that 1t is hardly
felt. The evils of tyranny are rarely seen but
by him who resists it, and the Spanish family
seldom calls for the harsh exercise of pa
rental authority.
This is the rule. do not mean to say there
are no exceptions. The pride and jealousy
inherent in the race make family quarres,
when they do arise the bitterest and the
fercest in the world. In every grade of life
these vindictive feuds among kindred are
seen from time to time Twice at least the
steps of the throne have been splashed with
royal blood shed by princely hand. Duels
between noble cousins and stabbing affrays
between peasant brothers alike attest the un-
bending, sense of personal dignity that still
infects this people.
A light word between husbands and wives
sometimes goes unexplained, and the rift
between them widens through life. / know
some houses where the wife enters at one
door and the husband at another; where if
they meet sn the stairs, they do not salute
each other. Under the same roof they have
lived for years and have not spoken. One
word would heal all discord, and one word
will never be spoken by either. They cannot
be divorced-the Church is inexorable. They
will not incur the scandal of public separa-
ton. So they pass lives of lonely isolation
in adjoining apartments beth thinking rather
better of each other and of themselves for
this devilish persistence.
An infraction of parental discipline is never
forgiven. knew general whose daughter
fell in love with his adjutant, clever and
amiable young officer. He had positively no
objection to the suitor, but was surprised
that there should be any love-making in his
house, without his previous suggestion. He
refused his consent, and the young people
were married without it, The father and
son-in-law went off on a campaign, fought
and we're wounded in the same battle. The
| general was asked to recommend his ssn.in-
| law for promotion. 81 have no son-in-law ~
81 mean your daughters husband" "I have
no daughter" 81 refer to Lieutenant Don
Fulano de Tai He is a good officer. He
distinguished himself greatly in the recent
affair, " 'Ah, otra cosa" said the grim
| father-in-law. His hate could not overcome
his sense of justice. The youth got his pro-
motion, but his general will not recognize
him at the Club.
1t is in the middle and lower classes that
the most perfect pictures of the true Spanish
family are to be found The aristocracy is
more or less infected with the contagion of
Continental manners and morals. You will
| find the usual proportion of wives who des-
pise their husbands, and men who neglect
their wives, and children who do not honor
their parents. The smartness of American
"pickles" has even made its appearance
among the little countesses of Madrid. A lady
was eating an ice one day, hungrily watched
| by the wide eyes of the infant heiress of the
house. As the latter saw the last hope van
ishipg before the destroying spoon, she cried
out, ''Thou eatest all and givest me none
maldita sea tn alma" (accursed be thy SOUL
| This dreadful imprecation was greeted with
roars of laughter from admiring friends, and
the profane little innocent was smothered in
| kisses and cream.