The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-20

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tiers and restaurants Of the city. 1t is
said that Barcelona has more casinos
! club-houses and fashionable gambling
! places than any other city of its size IN
| Europe. 1t also rejoiceS in the posses
sion of fourteen theaters all of more OF
less pretension and open the yeal
around The finest, called Teatro de-
! Liceo, devoted mainly to light opera
occupies the site Of an ancient monas-
terry Of Trinitarian monks; and the
Teatro Principal, said to be the largest
in Spain, is an immense, barn-like at
J fair with a seating capacity Of five
thousand
Remains of the former royal state of
Barcelona are found in the Palacio Real
of the kings of Aragon, and the Palacio
de la Reina (Palace Of the Queen), both
in the old town. The present palace of
the captain-general was built by the
municipal authorities for a cloth-hall
In the year 1414. The only thing of in
terest about it is the archives of the
Patrimonio Real, deposited here since a
fire at the palace few years ago. The
records of Aragon and Catalonia, some
of them dating back to the ninth centu-
ry, are considered among the most val
liable documents of their kind in exist
ence. Then there in the Lonja, or Elk
change, dating from 1885; the Aduana,
or custom-house; the Casa de Consisto-
rial, fine old Gothic building; and,
most important of all, the Atarazanas
or arsenals-a very large and ancient
structure at the seward end of the
Rambla, said to have been built at lit
tie more than eight hundred and fifty
years ago. The first bank of exchange
and deposit in Europe was established
in Barcelona in the year 1461. One of
the most remarkable buildings is the
old Casa de la Deputacion, where the
cortes of the province used to hold it's
sittings 1t is now called the Audencia,
being occupied by courts of law. The
administration of Spanish justice-so-
called-is everywhere incredibly cor
rupt; but to Barcelona is given the neg
alive praise that it's laW-courts have
the least unsavory reputation of any in
the kingdom. The proceedings are con-
Quoted with such dignity and ceremony
that a casual on-looker would never
suspect the existence of the sinister in
huences which control the decisions Of
these solemn tribunals. Only well
dressed spectators are admitted, and
never women. The morbid curiosity
that frequently attracts American la
dies to our criminal trials would be con-
sidered scandolous in Spanish Audi
encia. Judges and clerks wear black
robes and caps. as in opera bouffe, and
are attended by alquazils bearing the
Wands of office and clad in the quaint
costume of the sixteenth century.
When any one enters or leaves the
courtroom he bows low to the judges
on the bench, who politely return the
though in the midst of the
9ravest deliberation on which a mans
life or liberty depends; so far is courte-
~ set above every other consideration
in Spain. The lawyers remain seated
While making their arguments; and of
course nobody dreams of depriving
himself for a moment of his comforting
oigarrito The business of the court
seems to be entirely in the hands Of es-
'ribandos, class who discharge the
luties of attorney and notary. and
share with the almazils the universal
LEGISLATION of the people, The common
ippeliation of the escribano is Don
Judas, and his character is an epitome
If all that is odious and mercenary.
The most contemplate mischief maker, |
Who, in the qualification of spirit of
,etty malice, sets a whole community |
" the ears and involves his neighbors
n Vexatious law suits, ia a novice in |
lis art compared with the escribano. !
t he learns of quarrel, even though |
he parties may have since become re-
onciled, he draws UP an information |
nd, before filing 1t, privately notifies |
he offenders of the amount necessary |
0 buy him off If they refuse to accede |
o his demands, they are prosecuted: (
nd when the case comes to trial, both |
re morally certain to be ruined. No
haracter in this sin-cursed world can
e meaner than this Spanish disturber
f the peace-unless it be the feminine |
ossiper of American villages, whose
enormous tongue poisonS friend and foe
like. Even in ordinary civil actions
4 Spain shameful methods of extortion
|
Unable and very expensive; and oddly
nough, he who gains the suit is taxed
], pay the costs-probably because it is
ell known that the other party will
ave no money left with which to pay
1em.
Among other queer institutions of
arcelona are the Montez de Peidad
Of Pity, conducted like
lose in the City of Mexico, and really
reat pawn-shops sustained by the gov
The biggest Monte" is that
Nuestra Sonora de la Esperanza,
Dur Lady of Hope" and all tourists
no wish to carry home souvenirs of s
pain will do well to visit it. The Pc
lliarities of them is that loans on de- {
osits are made without interest In !
lis land gamblers, idle hidalgoes and
nobility, thousands year {
avail themselves of the advantages I
fered by Our Lady Of Hope; and it is t
to add that of the vast Y
mount of ancestral Jewels, family {
ate and so on down to the meanest I
ticles, annually loaned to the govern t
ent for small consideration, COM @
ratively little is ever reclaimed. At Z
+ a certain length of time as in 9TH e
shops, the articles are sold s
d nobody gains greatly by the tran 6
ction. t
Barcelona is the see of a bishop, and +
"a moot IF ba o16ar Snalicb towns | n