New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-02
A MAN IN SPAIN.
TRAVELS PLEASANTLY DESCRIBED.

/ TRAVELS PIEASANIL1 ltSt
mann. Octave PIP. XIV, $40. Chares ScrlD-
ner's Sons.
There are very few good books about Spain
Historical literature, Of course. contains much
that is valuable with reference to the Iberan
Peninsula but those who have written with a
lighter touch than Prescotts or Robertson's and
have written we'll have been rare. Borrow alone
wrote superatively we'll. Taine was too much
the aesthetican when he V ent to the Pyrenecs
De Amicis. for all his powers OF entertainment IL
n dlettante with n dettantes incapacity FOR
seeing below the surface Of things Ford wrote
an excellent book OF ,s sort. and O'Shca Is not
altogether worthless, but neither cicerone Is OF
great importance in English annals Of Spanish
matters To say that Mr.. Luffmann's little vol
unc is the best book since Borrow would he
hyperboe. The unpretentious narrative In which
he has recorded the experiences OF six months
tramp In Spain has defects which would keep
this author always in a minor position. Bu' II II
no exaggcraton to say that since Borrow no
one has reflected with much simple accuracy
the Spanish life Of Spain. no one has reproduced
more convincing,y than Mr. Luffmann the color.
the tone the outline II those manners which
make the common life ~ the peninsula endlessly
Interesting The temptation has always seemed
, "A
about II. 70 make the country seem romantic by
, detailing long episodes 81 romance. This author
is rarely diverted by the will-o'-the-wisp Of
storytelling and he offers hardly reflection. ~
a romantic sort from cover to cover o: his book
When ~ Is nOticcabiy meditative II Is In
harmless way about solitude independence or
kindred topics. For the life with which he came
In contact as veritable tramp. as an actual
vagabond 81 the hills. sleeping In stables and
pigstles sharing the primitive comforts ~ peas
ants In remote pueblos he has eyes save those
OF an obscrvant man. traveller with some cult
ure and Imagination. but with much more hu-
NOR. courage and other unsophisticated traits.
Mr. Lufmann intmatcs that hi, journey
through Spain was scml-profossional. that be
wanted 10 know what tho agricultural customs
of the country were; but such data as he may
have obtained IN this direction he reserves for
exploitation ir another place and dcvotes IA"
present volume to Increasing our knowledge ""t
the life and social conditions Of the common peo-
pie" II is 81 the common people that We want
10 know all we can The upper classes In Spain.
more than anywhere else in Europe, ARE initiative
through and through 81 their equals In the
French capital or in London. The sojourner In
Madrid-ludicrously called Old Madrid. az Mr..
I.nnmann does not fail 70 note-hnds himself In
the presence Of some generic customs and some
Of these like the bull fight. are certainly racy
enough. But enter n Madreno's residence. and
unless he t. very poor or very old It is odds that
he will receive you in modern fashion within
modern apartment His home has grown shoddy
and his dress his manners. are on the ragged
edge Of deserving the same eplthet. II Is the
court that has done most - bring about this
metamorphosis But Mr. Luffnann did not ente:
Her Ma
contrary when he set forth from San Sebastian
and travelled southwark through Navarro and
Arrapon he chose the smallest hamlets. as n rule.
for his pauses and kept his tour Migrants
tour throughout He dverged and touched at
Saragossa when he came within the province Of
that interesting city; then he turned to Madrid.
and after a brief stay there. with visits to To-
ledo and the Escuria he Jared south across
CASTLE and La Mancha. stopping at cordoba.
going on t. Granada and terminating his tramp
at Malaga. From the Vascongadas 10 Andalusia
and the Mediterranean coast his glinpses OF CIVIL
tied life in the modern sense were momentary
and infrequent. lie carried his clothes ana all
his belongings on his back and In n small bundle.
lie walked his 500 miles through dust and storm
and a scorching heat over roads that were often
unfit for an animal to travel. He slept In the
Migrants rest or In the hospital. which Is
feature Of nearly every Spanish settlement when
he could find a posada he put up with the
most amiable viagtr he could find. Once he
slept In the Jail but often he found his bed In
mulc-manger the lee side of plgsty. on
the floors and In the lofts Of stables In fowl
houses. sometimes In hole by the roadside. any
where where a bit Of straw and the hint Of a
shelter could be discovered. He subsstcd on
crusts on the fare Of a beggar though he never
are1 TIM al 10 in hat .ba acte JIa
made a vagabonds friends. sometimes on the
road. sometimes In the houses where food and
floor on which to sleep offered to him. 1t
Is the life OF d tramp which he paints. with the
difference that you know he Is a gentleman. and
that he could abandon the road II he chose.
That he does not choose is proof not only Of
his pluck and originality but OF his good sense.
although at times the good seems doubt
full. He is no guide to the art OF Spain. But he
does not pretend to be-. and II he did he
would atone for his foolish comparison Of the
doors OF San Francisco In Madrid with Ghibertrs
in Florence by his hearty and healthy admira-
ton OF Goya a man whom he can like without
effort and praise without patronizng. The reaie
will not fix his attention upon the few passages
In which our vagabond bthey reveals his igno-
rance Of art but will take that larger store Of
real wisdom which he gives topics he knows.
and be thankful
What Mr.. Luffmann gives is enchanting because
1t presents with fidelity the picturesqueness and
the almost primitive simplicity OF life In Spain.
and because without trying he nvokes such
winning picture Of the Spanish landscape. That
landscape IL among the most beautiful In the
world often bleak and melancholy. sometimes
sunny with the Light Of that sky which romantic