The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-24

heart for lack of commerce. But, though
poor, Cadiz is clean, a statement one
cannot make of many other cities of
Spain. It is a walled city, with sea
walls and miles of Notifications, which
afford delightful promenades. Its COM
manding situation on hook of land,
with magnificent bay behind it, COM
pletely landlocked and separated from
the interior country by rivers and
marshes, early attracted the attention
of those bold sea rovers, the Phoenicians.
They landed here and began the founda-
tions of city about 5000 years ago
and were driven out by the Romans
1000 years later.
Coming down to times comparatively
modern, we find Columbus fitting out
here for his second voyage in 1893. With
his feet of II ships and carave1s he
sailed so proudly for the West Indies,
only to return seven years later pris-
oner in irons. He was not the first vic
tim of Spanish ingratitude or the last,
and, though King Ferdinand command
ed that his chains should be removed
and that he should be received at court
with high honors, yet the iron had sunk
into his soul, and he never recovered
from this indignity.
I found Cadiz in a furry of prepara-
ton for the last struggle in Cuba for
the retention of those islands which Co.
1umbus discovered for the Spanish
crown 400 years ago. Only Cuba and
Puerto Rico now remain to Spain of all
the possessions she once controlled in
the new world. which included all the
West Indies and Central and South
America. All now are gone, and it is
the fear that they shall lose their grip
on these remaining isles and be obliged
to sever forever their connection with
the hemisphere their sailors brought to
the knowledge of Europe that makes
them SO desperate.
was here eight years ago and found
warm welcome everywhere, but on this
trip have been regarded with suspicion
and even some hatred. The Spaniards
are, as rule, kind hearted and pleasant
to meet as you find them in the clubs,
hotels and plazas. Although none of
them would invite you to his house and
make you acquainted with his wife and
family, still that is the result of racial
custom and not of individual reserve.
With all their pride they are amiable,
and with all their haughtiness they are
extremely poor. This city of Cadiz is
typical of all Spain, with perhaps the
exception of Barcelona, and it reminds
me of stranded hulk, its bones bleach
ing on a coral reef, forlorn wreck of
what was once a mighty ship, hopeless
~ cast away through the ignorance or
wickedness of its pilots. AS the only
seaport of Importance on this coast of
Spain in the days when this kingdom
held vast possessions in America, Cadiz
was rich and prosperous. But now the
main support of the port is the General
Transatlantic company, with its steam
ers for the West Indies. which has its
docks and works here and gives employ
ment to a large proportion of its inhab
itants.
Barring the slight tokens of suspicion
of which have spoken, there is moth
ing here to mar the pleasure of a stay
And whatever may be the sentiments
of the male portion of the population
there is certainly no hostility manifested
among the ladies. Within the restricted
circle of their opportunities they will
welcome the American visitor with out
| stretched arms, for the same conditions