New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16
CASTELAR'S CHIVALRY.
DENOUNCED FOR INQUIRING AFTER THE
BABY KINGS HEALTH.
tYnoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
Madrid January 30.

| disturbed by the attacks which his old friends
of the Republican press are making upon HIM.
! There is scarcely newspaper of his own party
| that does not hold him up to public scorn and
rcprobation, and the epithets traitor, syco-
phant and Judas" are freely used. Yet there
| is no man in all the Iberian Peninsula who de-
serves to be regarded by Republicans with more
confidence and esteem than he. There is not one
who has done so much for the cause of popular
government, nor who is to-day more sincerely and
enthusiastically devoted to it. What then,
means this sudden revulsion, and why is the
former idol of the Republicans now so bitterly
denounced by them?
Because, the other day, Senior CASTELAR, sent a
note to the palace, respectfully inqulrlng aiter
the condition Of the sick baby King and express
/ ing a hope that the little sufferer might speedily
be restored TO health. THE head and front OF
his offending hath this extent, no more" One
would say that to follow the promptlngs OF COM
mon humanity could not be sin Yet 1t seems
to be so held and Senior CASTELAR, is made to suher
the penalty.
He does not worry about it, however. lie has
| had too much experience with the fckleness of
the public and especially of this impulsive Span
ish public, which is fully as hot-headed at it is
warm-hearted. Presently, he will be restored 10
favor, and the journals that now censure him will
vie with each other in sounding his praises. Why
he sent that letter the palace is of course easy
/ to understand Ordinary feelings of human sym
pathy were sufficient TO prompt it, The loyalty
/ that every honest owes TO his sovereign,
even though he be that sovereigns political foe,
was sufficient But besides these and other rea-
sons there is this, that Senior Emilio Castelar, Is
one of the many sincere admirers OF the BABY
King and his mother, the Queen Regent. Earn
est Republican as he is, he appreciates the adj
mrabe features Of Christmas liberal reign, and
he appreciates too, the noble womanliness that
makes her life beautiful and conspicuous in the
annals Of Spanish royalty
Whatever may be the end Of Christmas reign,
there is this 10 he said that she entered upon it
under the most trying circumstances and that
she has acquitted herself thus far in a manner
above all praise although difficulties and trou-
+ bles innumerablc have fallen in her way. She
was foreigner, with ideas and manners and tenn
permanent very different from those of Spain. She
was not beautiful and had no love for show and
pompous public crumonials. These facts prcJudiced
the Spanish people against her. And then, she
came as the successor Of the much-lovcd Mer-
cedcs and that also counted against her. But
/ TIE sweetness and dignity and genuine womanly
worth Of her character have won over the proud
Spanish heart, until now il is doubtful If more
popular woman ever occupied the throne. IL IS
| in such q light that Senior Castelar, views her. and
/ II was in genuine spirit Of The best Spanish chiv-
airy that lie sent the note Of inquiry about her all
/ ing son which has reused such prodigious pother.
visit to the great Republican statesman re-
veals him more a man Of letters than a practical
politician Indeed, his chief energies given
TO work on his newspapers. lie lives in the
same house that he has occupied ever since the
stirring DAYS Of 1873, when he practically
the ruler of Spain. The house Is not his own,
however. but belongs. oddly enough, 20 for
ciguer. an English capitalist. who is deeply in
/ icrcstcd IN railroads and real estate in Spain.
/ senior Castelar, occupies the second and third
/ floors Two rooms. his sccrctary's Office and his
own sanctum have the walls covered with plain.
implanted pine shelves which are packed full Of
/ books iu many languages. When he writes him
/ self lie puts only about dozen words on a
sheet of paper 80 loose and struggling is his pen
manship. Ofcncr. however he dictates 10 his
secretary. walking restlessly up and down the room
/ aS hc does so.
For many years his elder sister. Senorita
| Concha CASTELAR,. had charge Of his household.
H. indeed. might be said that she had charge Of
/ him. for She was his nurse and guardian in his
/ childhood and srpc.intcrdcd his entire cduca
/ ton HIS devotion - her was something bcautl-
/ full 10 behold. lie considered her his best and
most trusted adviser 10 whom he turned alike in
! little thing, and matters of grave import The
most trivial annoyance the slightest indiSposition
of Concha, would trouble him more than State
affairs or literary business lie would forcgo al
most any engagement in order 10 remain by her
4 side if she were ill., and there was as much ten
dcrncss in his thoughtful attentions as il was
possible 20 show
Senoritn Concha certainly deserved all her
brothers grateful love She declined all offers
l.sf ,wttt.
ones. and remained single, in order that she
might be her bachelor brothers housekccpcr md
companion When he got into difficulties with the
Government before the Revolution of 1868, she fol-
lowed him into exile and was banished from Madrid
10 a distant provincial town, simply because she
was his sister She shared his prosperity when
| lie became the most prominent of the Republican
! statesmen after the Revolution and during the
! FEDERAL Republic. Later on, when Castelar, had
! 10 subsidc into the cold shade Of opposition, the
| brother and sister cung 20 each other more lAh
/ oyer Ucuccforjh hc took her with him on his
! summer trips f. France and the Spanish highlands
! in the BASQUE Provinces. She shared with him all
| the splendid demonstrations OF sympathy ana
popularity that marked his political tours; De
spite her advni cr age She enjoyed these iatlSulhS
Journeys and festivities as long as thcY rcdonndeG
| 10 the benefit Of her brothers fame ana political
| influence. -, A., p,t;
She was favorc, not only with the Rcpubii-
cans, but in general Madrid society, where she
! seemed TO have no enemies. II was common
! remark that Concha CASTELAR, had never given
ANYBODY offence by any unkind word, or un,
friendly gossip. She was very charitable, ana
gave 10 the poor without oStcntllon; lcr re-
! 7igious feelings were we'll known-she was
! stanch church-going Catholic, Nearly every Sun
day morning her brother escorted her her
| :, tho door Of the fashionable CaatraNccs
| Cbanrl mr. some other church, and would then
! stroll about until he thought it time to go back
| for Concha With her religious beliefs ana pref
crenccs she did not allow any lnteiietehce on me
pnrt of her Republican friends Though IN no
| wise a biqot. she was a Roman Catholic, OF
quiet sincere type, so common noWaoaNS III lir
middle classes Of Spain, where Intolerance Is more
! often moi with In The lower and higher strata OF
/ the nation than In the bourgeosie
Since his sisters death, nearly year ago senior
! Castelar, has been inconsolahlc. lie has kept h'r
! room exactly i'm the condition 1t was IN hclorc