New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-10

unvie]djng and even bloody stlife. 1t Is per-
haps. too much to say BADLY that the war IN
Cuba is kept up because a Spaniard loves the
smell of blood: but ii may with justice be helu
that the sangunary impetus having once peen
given there is something in me Spanish nature
which makes it hard to resist the call 10 pa'te.
spain is a paradox There is sunlight all ovei
the country, and particularly in the southern
plovinces. In Andalusia there are scenes OF the
eavest character scenes calculated to lull the
rative into a mood of peace and contentmen''
Rut oven in Andalusia the struggle between
fertility and barrenness is constant. Nowhere
in Snain Is nature truly Astounding in her gifts
She imposes heavy burdens on the agricultural
classes and the peasants generally ana the
country on the whole. is one where suhhsh'
cannot hide a certain austerity ana haruheSS'
The landscape is more often severe ana 'pieaA
than luxuriant and delightful. what IL IS III
,sresting 10 point out is that the Spaniards nave
a hard land 20 live in. and that they grow up
as nation, Injured to poverty and labor 1he9
ara laugh; suffering to begin with. Overlap
upon this stern foundation the barbaiic tastes
which have belonged TO the Spaniards from time
iumemorial and is it surprising that they per-
sist in carrying on a losing war to the bitter
end Take the most familiar Of all their amuse-
ments the bull ring The vast crowds when
il brings together are perhaps the most artlessly
brutal gatherings in the world. Men and women
alike gaze with the most childlike absorption,
with a sort of naive glee. upon spectacles so re-
voting that the Anglo-SaxOn surgeon. accus-
toned TO the most horrible sights of the dissect-
ing ioom might we'll vince before them or re-
cent years. and especially in quarters where the
influence Of the Queen Regent is sympatheticailS
recognized. Spaniards OF the better class nave
regarded II as bad form to attend the perform
ances in the bull ring. But one who has maze
his observations in all classes Of Spanish society
has failed 10 find anywhere in the ZEN
irsula a protest against the sport that rang
true 1t is unqucstonable that the lower
classes are the chief supporters Of the ring. but
the middle classes are almost assduous in
attendance upon the great performances.
When they are absent il is because wave OF
desire to be respectable has passed over
some particular locality some special sub
division of society. Spain nation has
taste for the bull ring in its blood. and though
II can often suppress that taste ii has not yet
eradicated ii.
But the bull ring. after ALL Is only the most
obvious illustration Of Spanish herceness Of
temper. Spanish indifference TO pain and to the
inf,ction Of It. Look at the art OF the past
or present. Velasquez is the master Of Span
ish painting but the most popular Of the old
masters was Ribera, who delighted in the por-
trayal Of emaciated martyrs. saints on the rack
and such scenes from Biblical literature as were
sure 10 harrow up the bcholder The first Of
the modern men 10 arise, Goya, was capable Of
painting delicate and attractive subjects. and
sometimes chose them; but more often he gave
his art to the celebration Of grisly horrors The
painters OF the past generation or two have
covered miles Of canvas with battle scenes
Oio from tba lost
pages Of Spanish history. Any student OF con
temporary Spanish painting will recall the
prevalence Of sombre tones in private and public
galleries With few exceptions the artists have
DIPPED their brushes in blood. The picture
which we reproduce offers case in point.
The painter Casado del Asal, addicted to
ensanguined themes. and in his masterpiece,
The Friar King" he fairly battles his art in
gore. The hero Of this canvas. Ramiro III. King
OF Arragon. was annoyed by the turbulence and
insubordination Of his mobiles He resolved To
forge great bell in the blood of his rebellious
subjects and to thus embody in its sound a
menace to the entire realm. He commanded his
Vassals to attend a banquet at Huesca. his cap
Hal' and in the midst Of the revelry invited them
10 descend TO the vaults Of the palace where
tney might see the completed bell OF which they
nao heard There the guests were terrified TO
behold the bodies OF fifteen of their number. the
"eads lying In cory confusion on the pavement.
with the exception Of that Of a certain arch
"shop. which had been suspended by rope
from the ceiling. This Is the bell of 'Huesca"
sa'd the King. by which refractory subjects
are called TO order"
me tale is in itself significant Thus have
spanish kings dealt with their enemies. And II
=, - over such tragedies that tho painters love 10
.'hser. Has not this some bearing on the present
th s .s OF the people TO fight for Cuba until
me last drop Of blood IL exha,,sted? In Madrid
s nsn me guard is changed every morning at the
IN. faiace the people crowd with avidity to
"'oe court set apart for the ceremony. 1t