New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-13

counsel though he did not attempt to dictate
70 them what their future course should be. AS
n result, his Possibilist7 party was practically
dishandrd Some Of its members allied them
selves with the Republicans while Others joined
the Monarchi,s and made what Will be known
as the Monarchica party, as distinguished from
both Conservatives and Liberals. The followers
OF senior Castelar, were, however too few to erect,
by such action, any important change IN opahs"
politics. and the disposition they have made Oh
themselves is chiefly significant OF their patriotic
desire to create no disturbance of the present Con-
stitutional system The fact Is indeed, that senior
CASTELAR, has himself for some years been little
moro than a name He has not during the present
roan been a vital force in Spanish politics. The
prestige Of a spotss character and of great
inteect-grcater acadrmcally than polltlcaly-ls
still his Thus his words have always commanded
respectful attention. BIT his practical leadership
has steadily wancd ever since his brief Presi-
ency.7 if so one may call his tenure Of chief a'i-
thority in the then distracted State The pubic
have more and more regarded him as a man OF
thought perhaps Of dreams, rather than or action.
And so his final exit is not signal for ringing
down of the curtain, or for change OF scene, but
is scarcely needed episode in the political drama
Of the day.
The personal interest Of the event is, however,
considerable, inasmuch il attracts renewed at
tcntion TO the most impressive individuality OF
this generation in Spain; and perhaps also as IL
may forcshadow some increased literary activity
ON his part There is no better known man in all
Madrid than he, albeit he has never "ourted
mere popularity. His house has ever been a
favortc resort of all who were privileged to enter
il. the same house on the Gale Serrano which
he occupied when, just twenty years ago, for Il
brief space he was President Of the Federal Repub-
lie of Spain. The house is the property of an
English railway king" but Senior CASTELAR, and
his sister long ago came 10 regard 1t a. their
permanent home. The statesmans own quarters
are on the third floor, consisting of bedroom and
dressing room, library and secretary's room,
the last named also serving to hold the vast col
lection of books and papers slowed away on the
shelves that line the walls, and piled pell-mel on
the iloor
room, with a fireplace. few pictures, sofa, three
or four chairs piled with books and pamphlets, a
table on which lie foreign and home papers, re-
views, letters cards and manuscripts. From the
windows of this room the view is splendid, and
over the roof and gardens opposite it you see
the distant Guadarrama chain with its snOwcapped
peaks Senior CASTELAR, sits at his table and writes
in loose struggling handwriting, square
sheets of paper, which seldom contain more than
eight lines of his autograph compositions. Some
times he dictates to his secretaries, two bright,
silent young Castilans, who have to write swiftly
TO keep pace with him as he walks up and down,
rubbing his hands, now and then stopping TO in
dulge in aggressive burst of eloquence which
it is a pity they cannot take down. In this
way he spend, between work and reading the
first few hours Of the day. In winter he rises
before the sun, and is very seldom in bed after
6 or 80. In summer he il frequently writ
ing at . 80 IN. If he feels little tired
on weekdays ne sometimes goes out for a stroll
before his midday meal, and on Sunday mornings
yor always meet him taking his stroll between
II 80 and |.
For many years Senior Castelar's household was
presided over BY his sister, who was a few years
older than he, and who remained unmarried for
the sake of being with him. She declined
several attractive offers of marriage, one of them
being from a man of princely rank, whom she
loved very dearly. Her faith in her illustrious
brother unbOunded, and she preferred TO
stay with him and identify her destiny with his
Being q woman OF high culture, she played the
part Of hostess with requisite grace. She was
equally ready to talk of the last nights opera the
newest novel; chahge OIL Ministry, or the out
look for peace or war in Europe. A particularly
interesting and amusing scene was presented at
their table when her brother had round it some
foreigners with whom he could keep up a running
fire Of conversation on every imaginable question
OF the hour at home and abroad He generally
converses in French, which language he speaks
huently, and when he gets excited, wonderfully
well. He appears at his best, however, when his
guests are Spanish politicians and literary celeb