The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-20
MISS BEASTOd ON SPAIN
Blackened Character Due to
Invasion Of Mohammed--
History All a Tragedy.

1t was Miss Anna Beaston's day in the
Current Topics Glass, which met yester-
day afternoon. at the residence of Mrs.
Horace c. Wait. Clinton and Madison
venues There was an excellent attend
ance, the ladies completely filing the
large drawing room, and all seemed
greatly interested. Miss Beaston chose
for her subject SPAIN She did not be-
moan that n~ation's present state of mis-
cry, as most lecturers are prone to do
with a relish, but simply gave the facts
causing Spain's downfall, and. in a GER
tain sense, excusing her for the present
state of affairs.
She spoke of Spain as an old nation,
way zach in Biblical time. when St. Paul
and some of the other apostles preached
there; of it's arts. it's sciences and its
great men, saying:-s,Of such a nation
much might be expected She pointed
to the boundary of the Straits of Gil
braltar,'' saying, There was the source
Of an SPANS woes; then speaking of
Spain, Its history is a -tragedy-eyery-
thing about it is q tragedy She touch
ed upon the beauty Of the land, the fer
tile soil. the mineral and vegetable
wealth, the ~seacoasts, and again pointing
to the Straits of Gibraltar. The source
Of woe Hes in the M~ohammedan invasion
Of SPAIN; and then went on to speak OF
MohaInmed and his creed. singing out
Turkey, which she termed IA legitimate
conclusion of Northumberland Oriental
ism, Miss Beaston thinks, never improved
any country. The first part of Mo-
hammed,s creed" said she. wa to de-
stroy idolatry, and the second to elevate
woman" she showed how Mohammed
made 1t incumbent to marry with the
marriage ceremony and not to divorce
under three months, whereas under the
old laws divorce was granted within two
days. He was a missionary. There are
only two missionary religions she said,
"Christianity and Mohammedanism. He
taught his people kismet,' that every
thing was ordained. and he converted
with the sword. He began to pour his
people into Spain with one idea, to con-
vert the whole of Europe.
Miss Beaston told how. for 700 years,
Mohammedanisna was held in cheek, and
of the condition of the Moors. during that
period OF constant civil strife, which. she
said. was something like the condition
ofsthe American Indian. What country
could stand it?,i she asked. To-day.
when we survey the Spaniards, with ev-
erythiag once in their favor, those 700
years of war and hatred accounts for
some of the blacknes of the Spanish
character. Today, for the first time,
Spain has a chance to make herself a
nation. She is leveled to the dust and
may rise to something better"
Miss Beaston next treated of the igno-
rance of Spain. touching upon the recent
stoning of the statue of Columbus as a
sample Of her narrow-mindedness. Then
the various rulers, from the time OF
Joseph Bonaparte, with his famous tun-
mel. were each treated in turn. Speak
ing Of the reign of Ferdinand, Miss Beas-
ton said:-sIn 1912, when Spain was rid
of Joseph B~onaparte, there was a great
cry for reform, which gives a little hope
of her future The disturbance in the
colonies, which arose about this time,
was also touched upon, and the i've
years invasion by the Army of France.
The reign Of Christina. then of Isabella
and the insurrection of Don Carlos, which
extends even to the present day. and of
Alphonso. succeeded by his widow, the
present Queen Regent, and the boy
kng of today, were allreviewed in BRIEF,
as we'll as the trouble between Don Carlos
n the House of Bourbon
rWhat the future of Spain will be, said
the speaker, mo one can tell | am iold
that ninety-eight per cent. OF the people
can neither read nor write how are we
going to get schools in Spain? she Is
more prejudlce1 than Italy: Spain IS 70
be pitied. She hates Americans and any
thing American"
no those interested in psychology.
Mrs. Beaston said, "the history or SPAN
IS most interesting. It is not well for
people to become too intense in religion
from the time Mohanirned put foot III
Spain the religion has been on a nlgh
tension. and it is not wholesome. r.
AT the conclusion of this lecture Miss
Beaston. as is the custom. called for ques-
tons. When asked about Spanish drama
and literature. she said. "Drar1a never
hourishes unless the pseple are aise.
drama. 1t is all religious About the only
SPANS book that people care to read IS
Don Quixote.' Spanish literature Is OF
the deepest and darkest gloom; Every
thing ends in tragedy. even to the ballads
of the people. and Spanish sports oniy
add to this gloom
Miss Beaston was heartily appiauded, |
and after q social half hour spent IN WISH
season, slipping lemonade and e~xchansing
views generally, after the manner OF The
club woman, the ladies took their depar-
ture to meet again on the second Monqay
will lecture IN THE Adventures OF
Among those present yesterday were:-
MIS- Le MrI Hi Mnhr Ms M Toafs McB MA o ms
Robert Lyle, Mrs. James Edwin, Mss
f,nufse Edge. Mrs. Kinds. Mrs. Brice. MSS
Anna Beaston. Mrs. George White, Mrs
MIX Mrs 4 : Post Mrs. An, Post, MIS-
Tbonsas Allison. Mrs. Samuel Allison.
Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Gonsill.