Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-01-22
SPANISH CHARACTER.
From McMillan's Magazine.l

The first thing you VIII notice as
leading characteristic is its exceeding
passonateness. Whether this may be
due in any measure to the fiery sun of
their climate or no, | cannot say.
Many thoughtful men with whom l
have conversed upon this subject be-
lieve that such is the case But the
fact remains. No race is so fiery as
this. The rule with the Spaniards of
the lower order is word and blow.
1t is, however, quite mistake to sup
pose that the uneducated Spaniard is
viIdictive in nature-quite the reverse.
His anger, soon up, is soon down again,
and the insult under which he smarted
forgotten, whether it has been avenged
or no.
The only safe way to deal with these
men when angry, is never to thwart,
angwer argue with, or irritate them at
the moment when their passion is boil
ing over. Speak an angry Spaniard
fair, and very soon his anger will calm
down, ard he will become rational
being again. More than this-he will
be willing and glad to acknowledge his
fault, and shake hands and be on
friendly terms again. A case in point
here occurs to my mind. A friend of
mine, while out riding, came suddenly,
at bend in the road, on two angry men,
who were Just in the act of drawing the
knife upon one an other.
Contrary to the advice and entreaty
of his companions, he sprang instantly
from his horse, rushed in between them,
separated and expostulated with the
combatants. The men, maddened with
passion, deemed worthless and an inter-
ference his arguments and entreaties.
At last one of them let fall the fact that
they (the duelists) were brothers. In
stantly my friend made use, and good
use, of this point. Sirs," said he,
would you, who sucked the same
mothers breast, 90 down to the grave,
one of you with brothers blood on
your seul2" For moment the mems
better feelings were aroused; the younger
brother drew back and sheathed his
knife. Fright you are, Senior" he said,
BADLY, shamefully, as my elder brother
has treated me, have no right to draw
uron him; he is my brother, after all
my elder brother" Ny friend took the
Young fellows arm, and walking beside
the horse led him slowly away from the
scene of temptation. Homeward they
went, talking about different matters,
until at last they reached the casa OF
my friend. On entering it this man
(the younger combatant) said, while the
tears streamed down his browa wooden
face, "You are my friend. Thanks to
God, | lie down tonight with hands not
wet with my brothers blood. The men
were miners, of the lowest class of timer
ant Spaniards. Agsin--and possibly as
a natural consequence of these frequent
and deadly crimes, committed with the
oyer.ready knife-the Spaniards utter
disregard, utter recklessness about she'd
ding mans blood, comes in here as
another marked feature of Spanish char
acter. The Spaniard thinks nothing at
al of the higher and deeper ssPeGts OF
his crime; he thinks nothing perhaps Il
fear in too many cases it is sol because
he has been taught lptkiug of the re-
suonsibility of his sending h,s Qwn soul
or his nsighbor S, without one moments
warning, TO lie last account. True, he
feels certain remoTSS, and certain
terror of the law may cause him 10 trem-
BILE. Bat, if bis crime be not found out,
with the morning sun his remorse has
passed away. The brothers blood has
dried upon the knife, and he can cut and
eat his melon with the self-same blade
without pang, perhaps without
thought And this disregard OF human
life does not entirely e0lEns ITSELF p
the utterly ignorant classes. Like vile
infection, it spreads to those around.
Two men, Sighting in our streets. with
revolver aud knifS, ? few weeks since,
both fell mortally wounded. OF course
not one of the ring of bystanders had
lifted hand 70 prevent so CHASTITY ter
minatiou cf what, Ia is commencement,
had been but trivial quarrel. The by
standers, grieve to say. never DO Inter
fere. The two men were carried TO the
hospital; and on speaking TO one Of the
chief officers of justice about the affair,
" Yes, . said he, lighting bis oigaFilln,
" cue is dead. and the other, | fancy, is
lust walking on the border-land. With
these words be quietly dismissed the
subject
Another case, illustrating what / have
said, here occurs 10 me. ! went into
wayside venta with a friend, Spanish
gentleman, for glass Of the common
rough red wine OF the country, the Val
de Penas. Two men, words running
high between them, entered soon alter
ward; one drew his knife, with an oath !
The hostess did not cease filing the
copas Of her customers. Ny friend,
really humane and good man, merely
uttered the single word knifef and
drawing my arm through his own,
dragged me out NoticeablJ in warfare
lonE-contiuusd-if we are to believe