The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-17

financial crisis through which tho country IL
now passing.
The author admits that although he landed
at Buenos Ayres In a genial humor he soon
ceased 10 be a sympathetic observer. and has
therefore drawn no factoring portrait OF the
Argentine in his notes. It is his conviction
that the Argentine does not lend himself to
the making Of an attractive picture In any
situation Of life. He Is not an admirable char
acter. Such virtues as he has spring from his
weaknesses. In times Of prosperity his hered.
itary Incidence and nepotism mako him an
easy PROV to scheming adventurous. while in
times OF pressure his dsdain OF labor and
loosencss OF principle load him to all
manor OF shabbiness and perlldy. The
author OF this book believes that he
has right to pronounce this judgment.
having had exceptional opportunity OF see-
ing tho Argentines in public and private
life. thrown Us no was constantly among all
clnsses from journalists to Generals. but more
particularly among Government officials in
the federal and provincial capitals. mingling
with them in work and in play and living with
them en- JamiHe.
y Whatever progress Argentina may have
made since the date OF her independence. Mr..
Turner ut lcast is convinced that she owes
hOhS VI ~ W tHo hTReHtlne, WHO, DuC ZOE CUO
foreigner. would still be tending his attenuated
cattle and emaciated sheop In tho desolate
plains OF tho south. or enduring bare exis-
tence in tho sterile regions Of tho north. Ar
gentina, We are told. possesses neither an aris-
tocracy nor yeomanry: tho whole country Is
overrun by adventurous. OF whom mono are
less scrupulous than tho natives. With album
dnnt facilities for remunerativO work. the Ar
gentine would rather loaf than got rich by
labor. prefers to lose his good name rather
than his cunning. 1t is his great
est misfortune that no believes himself
to be born heir to vast possessions. He thinks
that lie has simply to sit down and contem-
plate tho operations OF Providence in his ia
vor. Mr.. Turner admits that II the Argentine
would only continue seated the country might
prosper in spite OF him. but when he gets up
and attempts to Justify his existence by mis-
chievous legislation. political intrigue. and
financial Juggling. neither tho country. tho
foreigner. nor the native has any chance Al
though in reality only half civilized. tho Ar
gentine sspires to be considered the peer Of
tho modern Partisan. Impatient Of natural
progress. he attempts to leap at single bound
from the barbarism Of the ouacho to the pol
tshed refinement Of the courtier. He Is
copyist, an imtator Of all that Is
SNOWY and shallow: in u word. q sham French
man without tho thrift or talent Of his model.
Distinct nationality he has none: II he had he
would still be wearing his poncho and eating
puchero. In politics. morality. art, science. and
religion he cuts but a sorry figure. From tho
priests Of Cordoba. or from foreign professors.
he acquires smatterlng OF knowledge OF
various kinds. taste for tho subtleties OF law
and rhetoric. and dislike for any kind OF toll.
He studies engineering. but his plans
cannot safely no used unless revised
by foreigner He studies law and
proceeds to franc acts which plunge
tho country into turmoil He explores finance.
sweeps the banks away. and sacks tho treas
ury. He makes study OF politics and goes
on to carry provincial elections at the swords
point He attempts manufactures and has to
call foreign brains to help him. He breeds
cattle by the million. but the flesh Is 1T only
for negroes food. He studies naval warfare
and his shots hit every object except that
aimed at. He breaches patriotism and mort
cages his country to the hilt He invites, in
hne. the immigrant and robs him at every turn.
Such Is tho summary OF Mr.. Turner's posi-
mistic impressions of the ArGentines Let US
now view them somewhat moro in detail.
First. as regards tho state Of morals in the
republic. On this head tho author draws our
attention to the progressive increase OF ie-
gittmacy during the last four years. In 1887
the proportion OF illegitimate children was 123
per 1000 OF the population: in 1888 1t was
124: In 1880 1t was 120. and in 1880 1t reached
100 This increase OF iegtimacy was. 1t
should be noted. completely irrespective OF
the gain in total population. Mr.. Turner
thinks the cause OF this phenomenon can be
traced unerringly to the practical working
OF the civil marriage law. BY this measure
persons DESTROYS OF contracting matrimony
9rHVn NOT AFok tnkD
riage. the names. nationalities. callings and
ages OF the contracting parties being publish
ed day by day In the newspapers. Each party
must produce oil manner OF documents In at |
testatton OF his or her origin, n certificate OF |
birth or OF baptism. and must give many in |
convenient particulars with regard to their |
parents. All this presents no insurmountable |
difficulty to natives or TO any one born OH the |
spot, but to foreigners. very few OF whom |
nave tho required particulars at hand. and |
cannot marry until they have procured them
from Europe or elsewhere. tho delay and
annoyance aro 30 great that many prefer to
live together unsanctlned by the matrimonial
r'te rathor than submit to the indignitios and
yexations imposed by tho marriage law. Mr.
Iurnor thinks that the measure, while por-
haps we'll enough adapted to France or to any
country whore tho native element prednmi.
mates, IL totally untitled for place like Ruonos
Ayros' WHOSE population Is mado up OF contfn-
gents from all the countrieso VI tho world. It
Is. moreover. pointed out that lcGltimacy Is
not very serious matter in such a hybrid set
Element whore the laws ara nearly as favor
Apie to iliegitimate as to legitimate heirs.
Alter discussing tho morals OF tho Argentine
capital Mr.. Turner depicts with considerable
vivacity its typical men and women Bucnos
Ayros has long been celebrated for feminine
beauty. and tho author acknowledges that DO.
fore marriage and between tho ages OF IL and
II many OF the young women are exceedingly
attractive. He asks us to imagine u brunette
OF Is or ~ developed to precocious maturity:
an erect figure OF medium height. but splcn-
didly proportional. with bust that. In his
opinion. would make fat.chested English
women Groen with envy: n proud and grace
ful carriage: q face perfectly OWL with n
complexion spotless. but with slight tinge
of creole blood that imparts to the cheeks q
hue like that Of the damask rose: eyes large.
dark. and lustrous. fringed by long silken
lashes. and overarched by brows which. with