The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-29
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MADRID IN WAR TIMES.
Distressing Scenes of Poverty in the
Spanish Capital.
From the London Graphic.


The aristocratic capital of Madrid
where all the wealth of Spain Is accumu-
lated, but where there are neither indus
tries nor manufactures has yet a per-
ceutage of what may be termed proleta-
rain Inhabitants who sIrikingly contrast
with the stately palaces, fine carriages
and well-dressed promenaders, who seem
to form the everyday life of the capital.
We are quite aware of the numerous
poorhouses, homes and refugees. where
the helpless are slowed away in this I'M
thrifty city, of the goodly number of poor
people who swarm the streets by day and
sleep on the stone benches or closed door
ways and hooks and corners at night: of
the unfortunate families Formerly per-
hapS, rich, who cannot beg and are help
ed by the Society of Saint Vincent de
Paul and other charitable associations
formed by the noble ladies' of Madrid; of
the boundless private charities of the big
harted Queen Regent of Spain, and of
the equally kind Infanta Dona Isabel; of
the numerous poorhouses founded aud
supported by the present Civil Governor
Don Alberto de Aguilera-who has often
to instruct his police TO pick up and send
back to their native places the swarms
of surplus poor from the provinces which
infest Madrid-yet We never expected to
witness such a scene of misery as that of
to-day on the grounds and at the pre-
misses of one of the poorhouses, lately
founded by Senior Aguiera, by the help Of
the Queen Regent, and called "Asilo de
Santa Cristina."
From thine 10 time the Civil Governor.
when he has collected from voluntary
contributions and from the fines imposed
on gambling clubs sum sufficiently large
to enable him TO give a meal or distribu-
ton of bread to the poor, announces in
the press that on such and such day
tickets Of relief can be obtained at his
official residence. For a long time these
tickets amounted to some hundreds in each
case. A couple of months ago it was proved
that as many as s. 900 had applied for such
a meal, and that all of them could not be
served The Civil Governor, thinking that
there was some exaggeration, determined,
on The present occasion, to attend to the
distribution in person. The place for the
gathering was at FL Asilo de Santa Chris
tina, recently built to the northwest Of
Madrid on a slopiug Hill about the fine
park Of Moncloa, well planted with trees
and shrubs and flowers whose rich hues
under lovely evenings sun formed a
strange contrast 10 the motley and nun
CRY crowd of human beings huddled up
like starving animals, pressing and crush
ing forward toward the tables and bas-
kers from which small roll Of bread and
a Etrle parcel containing a piece OF pork,
some potatoes and broad beans were given
to each bearer of a ticket The number
% people present was certainly over dou-
Die Inc number OF tickets distributed
The poor starving wretches had been
taking up their places in turn since early
morning, through a burning SUM- down
10 p M, when the distribution took
place The Civil Governor in person, ac-
companied by some Sisters of Charity ana
servants of the Institution of Santa Girls
tina" began the distribution at one Of the
tables, while his daughter and other chart
table persons served out the rations al
other tables in rows az the bottom
OF the sloping grounds Both police and
civic guards tried to form and keep in
order the straight lines from the risin..
ground down toward each table but the
mass Of men, women and children, all
struggling TO be first became so unruly
mat It was found necessary for the
mounted civic guards TO use their Kind
persuasions, and even the bodies of their
quiet horses. TO prevent the tables. Sisters
If Charity and the Civn Governor himself
from being crushed by the noisy, strug-
Cling masses.