Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-05

government monopoly but this fact does
not III the least prevent her taking al &C
tive interest in politics, and the cigarette
factories are thcfcforc a. potent clement i'll
the holdings &c public opinion Particu-
larly il this the case in southern Spain,
and so well is the fact understood that
shrcwd Spanish politicians, DESTROYS of
arousing sentiment in their own behalf or
in favor of u measure which they have in
hand, fully appreciate tho importance of
having the cigarette girls on their side.
In every group of human beings, wheth-
or male CT female, there IS "a natural lead
or, to whom all look for guidance. This
is true OF the cigarette girls In every
factory there are women who excScise n
marked influence over the rest When the
leaders are gained, the case is won. 4
few months ago, when the queen regent
was exercising all her Influence to prevent
the breaking Out of war between the Unit
al states and Spain, the government no
ticrd with alarm that the cigarette fac
tories weEc siding with the opposition.
al mt once thCre was a change, the girls
began to pity the poor queen in her trou-
bles. and, with this ycering of sentiment
CTanatinG from the factories and per-
Iucating the lower class population, the
position of the throne became more secure
Those not in the secret wondered, but the
knowing ones smiled, fer the leading Ia
tltS among s-c GlHdEcttB girls nisu DCen
seen" and that was enough.
The other most potent element in Span
ish politics IS she cafe chantant. Fhe
music halls or singing cafes in Spain are
far more numerous than the cigarette fac
tories and quite As powerful for good or
evil. The cafe chantant, in the United
States ard England more or less of an
exotic, Is indigenous t. Latin soil Wher-
ever the Spaniard, the Italian and the
l. Il
prison and a cafe chantant The Anglo
Saxon colOuist goes with AK and plow and
fouRds a home. The Latin, when he goes
into foreign lands, boards and finds his
amusement ut the cafe. II has been said
that every riot in Spain for goo years was
melted in a cigarette factory and began in
music hall. and that there is truth in
the statement IS tacitly admitted, and the
danger of the latter to the public veal is
shown by the strict supervision exercised
over the cafe chantants. not emily in spain,
but in Trance, Italy and Portugal also,
especially in times of public excitement
The music hall in Spain Is a political
power from the fact that the flighty Span
lard, almost incapable of comprghending
an abstract idea, gathers his views of po-
lhical ard social science his likes and dis
likes Of public characters, from his favorlte
singer. Spanish pocts-n it is not prof
anaJion TO designate 10y the name of poet
the writers of abominable doggerel which
passes current in the music halls-are
quick to seize political point, and every
phase of politics which bears upon the in
tcrcsts Of the people is intcrsperscd and
commented on by fhe topical singers of
the cafes. \ tenor or basso in "A cafe is
somewhat Of an anomaly. There are few
of them, ard those only in cafes of the
higher class. Only the chantcuse is ac-
ccptablc ia the ordinary music hall. and
she combines, with her ability TO sing bal
lads, an agility OF limb and lightness of
toe that an American actress might envy
and in vain essay TO emulate
She realizes her Importance as a social
and political factor and, although on the
most familiar terms with her audience, is
iull- aware Of her own superiority as a
uoIder Of public opinion. Three months
.go, durir~ the controversy over the
Maine thu 7anish poets made speciality |
IF songs wherein the Yankee pies'' were |
iiiified and their contemplate and cow
'rClly qualities were held up 10 scorn.
The Spaniards eagerly heard and believed; |
lenco the establishment throughout Spain |
It the discovery that the Americans could |
lght at all and, above all, that they could /
light valiantly enough 10 overcome the /
of the conquerors Of the new
world