The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-28


King Of Portugal and Algarvaz. within
Guinea and OF the navigation and COM
merce OF Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and the
indies" He is just thirty-six years old
and has reigned not quite eleven years
His government is rotten to the core; but
it has been so from time immemorial. and
nobody has a bad word for boyish. good
tempered Don Carlos. The fact is, he is
no more the real ruler of Portugal than
Queen Victoria Is OF England. The Cabinet
is supposed to represent the Portuguese
nation in all public affairs, and they seem
to have made a deep study of the art and
science of How not to do it." To the
Northern, 1t is simply unaccountable how
four million people who are not towards
can tamely submit to be eternally so
robbed and harassed. The answer lies
in the fact that the bulk of the population
are altogether illiterate. The rest belong
to two classes. either the titled robbers.
or the agriculturists; and the latter have
no time to spare for sedition. They must
be in their fields early and late every day
in the year. If they would pay the exhor-
bitant taxes and live. In the Chamber of
Deputies, the large majority are of course
firmly grounded in monarchism. Now
and then slight agitation arises in favor
of republicanism, the agitators calling
themselves Progressionists; but it hardly
ripples the surface of affairs. A few years
ago. shortly after the shining example
Of Brazil. an uprising seemed imminent,
For a month the royal yacht was kept
waiting In the Tagus, provisioned and with
banked fires. ready for any emergency
that might arise. 1t was manned by
officers and sailors upon whom the king
could absolutely rely; and most of the
royal plate and jewels were also kept on
board-for after the manner of the Latin
revolutionists. the first things the sons of
liberty think of would be the sack looting
of royal palaces.
Among the most edifying sights at Sas-
cares is that of Donna Marie Pia, the good
queen-m0ther. tramping sturdily about In
stout shoes or shooting at marks from
her upper window in bourgeois fashion.
But when the fancy seizes her. this ener-
getic daughter of King Emmanuel can
cut the greatest swell Of anybody in Portu-
gal and has gained for herself the reputa-
ton of being the best-dressed woman in
Europe-on occasion. Don Alfonso, the
Kings younger brother, is rather a fast
fellow, in mild but merciless way. He
is an inveterate gambler and is said to
have remarkable success in raking in the
pesas. You may see him any day at Casca-
res driving four big. black mules in a high
brake. The harness is of rope, with many
bells and red tassels. He stands up in the
box. swearing like a trooper and logging
the poor beasts numerically with a cruel,
long-lashed, short-handled stock whip.
Immediately after sunset the carriages
return from the hilltop drive and pull up
as close to the palace as possible. Every
body gets out and stands gossiping and
shaking hands in the long terrace that
overhangs the sea. The King and Queen
walk about upon the terrace, nodding and
smiling genially and many press to kiss
Amalie's hand. Nine o'clock is the royal
dinner hour. and the people remain to
listen to the military band that always
plays while the royal household takes it's
feed. At that time the drawbridge is lifted
and everybody who likes-peasants, towns
people. tourists and all, may come through
the great gates and gaze at the royal party
sitting at ease on the breezy battlements
1t is safe to say that IL there is ever sue
cessful revolution in Portugal, it will come
at that idle, unguarded hour.
POVERTY AND ILLITERACY.
In the Lisbon factories women work from
sunrise to sunset for the munificent salary
of pence in Portuguese currency, or about
IA cent in our money. How they live
heaven only knows; but they seem both
contented and happy. A local author has
lately published a book showing that the
poverty Of the country. is all due to its
large amount of uncultivated land. You
are surprised to learn that 40 per cent. of
Portugal's area is left to itself, as COM
pared to Belgium's s per cent. and Ger
many's per cent. Certainly in this genial
soil and climate enough breadstuff for home
consumption ought to be grown. An Eng
lish criticism on the aforementioned book
justly says: BAD rulers and weakly. re-
signed people would override the advan-
tages of increased cultivation were every
corner of Portugal titled to its utmost. The
national mind wants cultivating as well as
the soil. If the whole nation could be sent
to school and taught arithmetic it might
yet be saved without catastrophe
Though illiteracy prevails to such an I'M
heard-of extent among the middle-aged,
there is hope for the rising generation.
Public instruction is now regulated by law.
all children between the ages Of seven and
fifteen being compelled to attend pri-
mary schools, If there is one within reason
able distance of their homes. under pen
atty of the parents fine or deprivation of
civil rights. Under this new law there are
already upward of three thousand primary
schools in the country, besides seventeen
'1ycees'' for higher instruction, where the
pupils are prepared to enter one of the
several fine universities. The special schools
are very ably conducted. and modern Por-
tuguese policy gives a higher status to
teachers and professors Of all grades than
they can obtain in most other countries.
Among the higher-grade schools are the
Polytechnic Academies at Lisbon and Opor-
TO, medical and industrial institutes in both
those cities. an exceptionally fine univer-
sity at Coimbra: at Lisbon the Institute
General of Agriculture. the royal and ma
rine observatories. conservatory of music
and valuable public library, besides the
archives OF the Tore del Tombo. with
which is connected with school of palace
graphy and diplomacy.
FANNIE B. WARD.
After-Dinner Oratory.
New York Tribune.
Oau Vorlars have MANY DublfC din