New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-02

bril-
denotes in one Of the most rcmarkaDle counI"S
Of SPANISH America II is the product, not OF
booknakers Journey in when Information Is
;1u,riorslv collected and more or less thoroughly
disested. but rather of five years actual expert
ono. in the Argentine. While the author does
NOT profess to treat eXhaustivcly the complex
Questions of finance and administration winch
have involved that country in rum, ne throws
strong sidesights upon the character oil ,ne Pco
pie and it's rulers, and il!umlncs SUBJECT u
which the reading world is denscly ignorant. Inc
most obvious ground Of criticism Is the pi'c'ho''
which charactcrizes the authors structures upon
Argentine characteristics. While the style Is racy
and the work is written with lnclslNc Vlgor' 'ic
Spirit is that Of an Englishman VINO haa pcch
most unfortunate in hi, business experiences IN
the country and thoroughly enjoyed the luxury
of expressing unfavorabc opinions of the peope
After a preliminary chapter on the voyage from
Southampton TO Montevideo, the author describes
the drearv approach which he made SIX years
aoo 70 r;ucnos Avres. and rccounts the re-
morkable changes and Improvements wrought our
inc that short period. Whatever evils may nave
resulted from four years Of maladmlnistratloh by
the Juarcz Government, it cannot be SAID that the
establishment of the Argentine capital has been
neglected The public offices have changed Tor
the better in appearance and comfort; with the
completion of the Madcro port the city Will possess
n river frontage fine as any In 1lampurs' 'he
Paseo de Julio, formerly lines with vile riverside
resorts is now a well-lightcd boulevard; the
square and suburban parks and promenades nave
been greatly improved, aud many miles of streets
have been repaved in the most substantial man
ner and lighted by electricity The opening of the
new boulevard known as the Mayo is described as
one of the costlieSt and least necessary jobs OF
the Juarez Government 1t one OF those
visionary projects which fascinatc the SPANISH
American Imagination 81 believe, the au'hoI
remarks, that the ArecntincS would be the peo-
ple to carry ont Jules Nerncs ideal journey to the
moon and if no mountain could he found IN 'helr
fiat country big enough to hold the cannon they
would first make the mountain" The residence
quarter shows fewer indications of improve
mcnt than the business section. Inc Guy
as a whole reveals evidences of an advanced civil
ization and a refinement of taste equal IN many re-
spects TO those of the best European capitals. On
all sides these evidences of progress are found In
the dress and elegance of the people IN the costly
carniture of the shops, in the sumptuouS and I'M
posing style of the buildings in the snowy cqul-
pages at Palermo, and in the conspicuous absence
of that element of haggard want and Starved gen
tility which is so distinctive feature OF Euro
pcan crowd.
Argentine women are described as having Parl-
sian toilets, a sensuous beauty that dazzles the
eve, but does not appeal TO the soul, and harsh.
dssonant and shrill voices. They are lively. playful
and mschievous as kittens and very fond of sayety
They are passonatcy devoted to music. and the
acme Of their ambition is the attainment of three
things-the piano, French, and a string of lovers.
Argentine men are handsome featured. underSlzel
and eiemnate. An unmarried Argentine Is a born
dandy. He announces his presence by a hundred
perfumes; and his symmetrical mustachcs twisted
to invisible points; his immaculate linen, his
iewelled fob, his rings and studs his gOld-headed
malacca his patentleathcr boots or shoes tapcred
to an agonzing point, his Powered vest and gor-
geous cravat, show that his chief care in life Is
the adornmcnt of his exquisite person" lie is
a witty, lively companion: lie is proud, but moi
naughty: intolerant of dulnesS and inpatient Of
virtue Originality lie lacks, but his initiative
qualities are abnormaly developed From The con-
stitution down to the fashion of necktic every
thing about him is q copy of some foreign pro-
duction. As he grows TO manhood his character
loses much of the attractveness and libcrality of
youth, and becomes suEtly suspicious and crooked.
To keep a promise, or be punctual at an appoint
ment to keep TO the point in a discussion,
10 divest speech Of unmeaning bombast and ford
nonsense to call a spade spade and not something
else that sounds more magnificent, are things most
difficult To the Argentine. II is not easy to find
an Argentine who is fond Of work or who does not
mind selling lis fingers with anything but ink
The natives stick to the professions. law, medicine.
and politics. first and foremost. and leave 70 the
poorer immigrant the hewing of wood and drawing
Of water. The dominant characteristic of the
Argentine ace is magnificent prccociiy They say
to the world at large send MS your sons Of
tail to till the land and make our railways. AMI
We will he unto them legislators and rlers task
masters and taXgathcrcrs, but not fcllow-laboicIs
4 very interesting chapter deals with infant
mortality immigration and changes Of population
Tie conclusion reached is that the Argentine race
is destined 70 carly extinction. and that the country
is already in the hands of foreigners among whom
the Italian element everywhere prcdominatcs.
Every event in their history shows the Ar-cntincs
TO lie plastic race. with no originality, no en-
durancc, and little vigor dependent for everything,
except the coalsest food and raimcnt upon foreign
energy. enterprise and capital When he attempts
to Justify hie existence by mi,chievous legislation.
political intrigue and financial uggleIy neither the
country, the foreigner nor the native has any
chance. lie studies finance. sweeps the banks
away ana sacks the treasures He breaches pa
trioism and mortgages tie country to the HIT
He invites tie Immigrant and rohs lin al every turn
If Tie :utTtc Of the country dependent; upon
native stock the outlook would be hopeless. 1t
Is BY the rise o; composite race al EnI"ppanzcd
Argcntincs with strong strain of Italian blood
that the fortunes of the country will I've redeemed
Tie author frankly admits in his preface that he
cannot draw ilattcrinS portrait of the Argentine
The native is not an admirable character Ills
virtues spring from his weaknesses. In times OF
prosperity his idolencc and nepotism make him
an easy prey TO schenng adventures and in
times of pressure his diSlain of labor
and looscncsS of principle lead him ito
all manner of shabbrcss and pcridy" In
reality only half civilized, lie aspircs to be con-
sidered the peer of the modern Par:siin Impatient
Of natural progress, he attempts to leap at a single
Lound from the harbariSn OF the gauclo to the
polished refinement Of the courtcr.