Washington sentinel., 1898-12-31
"Hotel Roma, Madrid,

AAgNNA ANcAAAhf NAeANA ~
Nov. a. 1895
I'VE entered Spain at Irun last F.i-
day, and have found all of the express
trains crow ded; but hardly any English
or Ameri ans are travelling. fancy
we are the only two nglish.speakng
lady tourists in the whole of Spain
Mrs. r.. ana / wondered # we should
find any signs Of uniriendliness on the
part Of the natives; but there is no trace
OF such thing, and one never hears a
word Of abuse of Americans. If any one
care to come, they would find every
one very baOpy to see them
1--WE have spoken to various natives
about the war, and all say that il was
the work OF a few politicians on either
side, and that they feel sure the people
of neither side wished to fight While
travelling from Ayila TO Madrid last
Sunday we came in a train crowded
with soldi. rs returning from Cuba.
They looked very CHEEKY, and a. each
station one or more alighted, and WAS
meet Dy a crowd OF relations and friends
who positively wept for JOY 1t was an
interesting and touching sight. The
bulk OF them, of course. came on to
Madrid; and as it was dark they had
some trouble finding their friends amidst
the huge crowd which surged on the
platforms, and so they called on them
aloud by name, Maria Madre' and so
on The only evidence to travellers of
the war is the tax on railway and theater
tickets, and all pay this gladly What
a rich country Spain might be, and
what a splendid uatior, If the people
we're educated and had a hand in the
government But while the school
masters starve, the nobl.s spend their
money in Paris and London
I'm spite OF war, however, Spain goes
calmly on, Every day new railways
advance towards completion, and since
was last here in April electric trans
have on many Of the Madrid lines
replaced those drawn by mules. The
Royal Picture Gallery IS having some Of
| its rooms rearranged, restoration goes
on in the churches, the guides Of the
| Escurial and other Sights show off their
| treasures with the same pride as OF yore,
and yet-the country is pledged to its
| last peseta to the Bank OF Spainl VIII
| both sink or swim? If thev sink the
! most fascinating country in Europe to
the traveller will be plaued down to the
| dead level Of the rest of the nations-a
small thing, perhaps but yet much to
one who loves spain aud its noble,
| patient people as I do. Today came the
news oithe postponement Of Yesterdays
sitting Of the Peace Congress in Paris.
One would expect some annoyance to
be displayed; but the only visible sign
of depression is the rate OF exchange,
which is today IS pesetas for Er.
"a couple OF Americans have just
turned up, and anxiOusly inquired v hat
the feeling towards chem would be. A
kindly one, they were told. lloined in
| the conversation, and our informant. a
foreigner resident in Madrid, then told
me a very extraordinary thing. He
declared that if an American army
marched into the country il would be
| received with open arms, as many Span
| THTIS NhQ NdlA " lllAlH A@AANA AoNN q
good government under Americans
| than suffer as we do under the govern
meut we have TINS, OF course, is apart
from any feeling against the Queen
! Regent for the people well know how
little powt she has and she is loved for
her goodness. The soldiers who came
home gave favorable accounts Of the
Americans, for whom the SpsnIards
| seem to have real liking.
mot much seems to be expected from
| the Saragoza Congress now on. | intend
| 10 look in on il Saturday. and can then
tell you better the feeling in the place,
and also at Barcelona, the commercial
/ capital Of Spain, where | shall be on
Monday. Alogether the situation here
is curious, and I believe one thought
| only is uppermost in the minds OF all
to get an Improvement in the govern
meut. A Carlist rising IS not feared, as
| Don Carlos is not a strong enough char
actsr to have any gr at hold on the inn
agination OF the people, They propose
rather to work the Improvement through
constitutional methods.