The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01

methods from an almost insurmount-
able obstacle to success. Toledo was
once famous for its swords, but the
manufacture is now limited to ne small
factory with scarcely more than a
dozen operatives. The manufacture of
cigars and cigarettes is the most -four
ishing, for, from the Portuguese from
tier to the Pyrenees, from the Bay of
Biscay to the Mediterranean, all Span
iards smoke, and smoke all the time.
The principal source of revenue for the
government is the tobacco monopoly.
Church and state are alike kept up by
the ever-burning cigar. A few English
manufacturers, in order to retain the
Spanish trade for their goods, have es-
tablished factories in Spain, that they
may claim the benefits of the Spanish
laws, but their establishments are COM
paratlvely insignificant. The manufac-
lures of Spain may be described in a
sentence hardly longer than the cele-
brated chapter devoted to the snakes of
Ireland.
SOCIAL STATUS.
The social condition of the people
can be best understood by reading
Don Quixote," for the Spanish peasant
has not advanced from the point at
which he was when Cervantes wrote
his famous novel;. He is just as Hitter
ate, just as ignorant, just as super
stitous now as he was when painted
by the man who smiled Spain's chival-
ry away; he lives in the same condition
Of dirt and squalor; In the summer time
he sleeps out of doors to avoid the
heat; in the winter he remains within
for weeks at a time to escape the cold.
Every traveller through the country
districts, particularly in the mountains
has remarked the accuracy with which
the pen pictures of Cervantes even now
describe the country; the flocks brows-
ing on the hillside, the goatkerds,
with their sings and staves the shep-
herds, with their crooks and antique
firearms; the gangs of galley slaves,
marching from one place to another;
the convicts bandcuffed to a huge
chain recall the Dor's memorable ad-
venture; how he released the slaves,
and how poorly he and Sancho Jared
at their hands.
MURDERS.
The poverty and misery of the people
are illustrated by the frightful fire.
quency with which robberies and mur-
ders occur, not only in the country dis
tricts, but in the cities also. The inse-
curity of the roads is painfully illus
trated By the commonness of the cross,
set up by the wayside, surrounded by
little heap of stones. 1t means tnat
here a traveller was murdered his body
was found by the local authorities, bur-
led where it was discovered and cross
placed to mark the spot. In some
mountain passes there are crosses at
every few steps, and in one pass in
Valencia it is said there is a cross for
every 100 yards of it's entire length. The
| gypsies are responsible for not a few
of the murders that occur in the rural
districts and along the lonely noun
| tain roads. A traveller riding on his
mule turns corner in the road and
finds himself suddenly in the midst of
a gypsy band, his bride rein is seized
| by stalwart, dirty, bearded cut
! throat; woman in a whining tone sup
| pllcates aims. With a trembling hand
the traveller draws out his purse and
| contribute, when from behind, a blow
| from bludgeon strikes him from his
beast; the next day his naked body is
! found by the wayside, and anothe,
cross is reared. Murders in the city are
as common as in the country. So fire.
quent and numerous are these private
assassinations that there is reason tc
| believe a murderous so, ely exists In
Spain, resembling in general character
the Malta of Sicily. 1t is said that in
Barcelona, Tol DO or any other South
ern city of Spain venrenace can be
bought. A man desrous of having an
| e eur slain can have the murder done
for a few dollars, and in view # the
| frequency with which dead bodies are
found in the streets of these citics here
seems probability that tie statement
is true.
GRADUAL DRY ROT.