Evening star., 1898-05-14

may even on occasion be Italian. But it is
not for nothing that the English speaking
peoples have translated from the French
the ''Chateaux d Espagne' for their half
humorous, half-melancholy reminiscence.
Castles in Spain'-the phrase sums
up the ''rasta' from his dawnings in the
| mists Of long ago. the rosy mists from
which he first burst out effulgent, glowing,
| from the hot and scented south to warm
up the imaginations of his colder Latin
cousins of fair France. ITO warm them
up remains the phrase The ''rasta' is
hot stuff''-from Spain.
He comes from Spain, and he has cas-
ties there in Spain; or. if not castles. the
delightful knowledge of hidden treasure
or some new concession from his gov
ernment, or influence, or something con-
traband but safe. His dress is gorgeous
and his manners fiorid. He is lavish In ex-
penditure, yet able to use temporary aid
advances In justice to his sunny and
forescent temperament you may not liken
him to gold brick men or green goods
men,, for confidence" is not that which
he works on. He is SO opalescent with the
fires of flaming dago days and flashing
dago nights, so opulent in look and lam
guage, rich In dress and manner, so de-
nghted and delighting, that his victims.
carried off their feet and whirled in ka-
leidoscopic jag of the Imagination, leave
confidence behind in the mad rout of pas
sions and desires.
The war between the United States and
Spain is already beginning TO furnish the
magnetic rastaquouere-to give him his full
ttle-with the most precious of all data for
his operations. In its mysteries, in its Sc
cret plans of statesmen and of capitalists
he has but to pick and choose that which be-
fore he always has lacked in completeness
his 'raison derre," which may be free
ly rendered his excuse for living" lie has
he tS rot
to wrap himself in the most seductive kind
of glamour. He need not be explicit-he
must not be explicit. He will have to do
with French capital in equippng priva-
teers, in speculations regarding war sup
plies, in the negotiations of concessions"
In one line only will the war threaten him.
and such is his power of rebound that he
may actually find a way of turning its OBJ
vious disadvantage to advantage This is
the line of marriage, in which the "rastap
has rejoiced in all times.
The "Rnsta- in Love,
Cor some reason or other democratic
America has never cared overmuch for
Spanish titles, giving preference first to
English, then to French, then to Italian,
then to German blue blood. 1t is not thus
with the democracy of France. Barred out
from English alliances by English preju-
dice, from German alliances by Franco
German prejudice, and distrusting i'm
mensely the mass of post-Napoleonic titles
of her own fair land, it is only natural to
find the Brench bourgeoise look kindly at
the tremendously authentic names of Spain.
Then, again, We must not shut our ewes
to the veracious fact of the daco's per-
sonal attraction for all northern-born wo-
men. Undoubtedly the .'rasta" has a ge-
MUS for the arts of love. Anxious to get
at the bottom cf the mystery 1 have not
hesitated TO interrogate American English
and French maids, wives and WIDOWS
whose time, falling heavily on their hands
in Partisan flats and pensions. has been be-
gulied by mild Irritation. Why this fur
tive preference when the yelvet-eyed F,s-
pagnol takes the trouble to give you a
chance? Because he is always so dead In
earnest, the answer comes invariably,
after the usual protestations and denials
The ras:aGuouere has more sense of
humor than a woman; no more self-doubt
than woman. He believes immensely in
himself.
With the eloquence of earnestness he pro-
ceeds TO make his court en- regle never ne
giectful, never forgetful ever fiattering
ever promising. His castle in Spain" is
dangled under the French girls eyes Her
papa and mamma are delighted They have
made money-now they are to see their
onsprlng with name. They are to be
grandparents to grandee. The prepara-
tions for the marriage are hastened. Until
one Day the fascinating bridegroom
touches his beau-pere for a substantial
sum of money-and departs
Works on Commission.
Then, in the world of gallantry of Paris
he has ever found field for his seductive
genius. AS lanceur de femmes the ras-
taQuouere stands proudly pre-eminent He
has relations in the world of negro princes
half-breed. ex-presidents and all the mys-
teriously wealthy riff-raf of the orient and
South America He is constantly seen
among the fashionables of the Bois de Bou-
logne afternoon carriage parade at theat-
rical first nights, in the chic restaurants
and everywhere among smart, lively,
money-spending folk. So he has no diff
Guilty of making the acquaintance Of pretty
actresses-and others-who have not as yet
attained the success they deserve and SO
are on the lookout for a wealthy hacker.
Does the young lady seek a wealthy
backer? He will find her one. And when
he finds him she must show herself CRATE
full girl by giving up weekly sum-as a
Commission"
The rastaquouere seeks a commission on
everything he touches. Strong in his
knowledge of the half-open gambling clubs
of Paris, it has always been one of his per-
Quisites to introduce the new acquaint-
ances he makes from day to day, and in
the act touch two commissions. Naturally
the proprietors Of the gambling club are
willing he should have his commission for
each new customer. And the first moment
that the victim makes a momentary win
ming he will have the half of 1t in title of a
temporary loan. For Is 1t not impossible to
refuse part Of your winnings to the friend
who put you in the way of making them?
One Real Castle I'm Spain.
Castles in Spain," Of course, mean "cas-
ties in the air." but now and then there are
exceptions These feet. in truth, had trod
the echoing halls and corridors of one Of
the few real and palpable effectively ex-
listing of the rasta tribes chateaux How
1t was able to materialize from out Of the
airy realms Of dream into the stone and
brick and wood that any one may see and
touch must be put down to temporary
alteration from the true ideal OF course
other people paid for it-no alteration
there But that the money should have
left the Andalusian or Castilian pocket |
book to be sunk in q thing outside the
pleasures Of the hour must be looked on as
an impressive object lesson. The south, for |
once, must have been over-infiuenced by
northern commonplace.
This castle In Spain" still exists-as a |
hotel, great hotel, magnificent luxurious
and empty hotel, unknown and unvisited, |
that would have fallen into Andaiusian
desuetude had It not fallen into the hands |
Of Franco English mining corporation. |
Situated just outside the town OF Huelva, |
on the Tinto river. opposite the old port |
OF Columbus s-Palos-facing the great yell |