The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-14

as they were presented, thus enabling
the grand old nation. inevitably dear
to Americans because the first Ameri-
can of them all came from Spain, to
maintain the national credit and honor
dearer to her than any other posses
sion.
AS this became noised throughout
Europe, Spanish noblemen again opened
their front doors; and last winter
there were again the stately entertain
ments which have made Lisbon and
Madrid famous.
State receptions were given in the
Palace and the young King, gay in his
robes of state and wearing the crown
jewels upon his narrow little chest, re-
ceived the guests with his mother who,
poor lady, pale and sad, bore herself
with quiet dignity which touched the
hearts of all When Christina of Aus
trian, Queen Regent of Spain, makes
her reckoning to her King, her son,
she must account for fifty millions of
lost territory and whole banished
navy. but the King is too little as yet
to realize the enormity of this, though
his mother feels it keenlyl
GOOD TIMES AGAIN.
Bull fights, which are to US unspeak-
ably horrible, were resumed, and Spain
enjoyed herself at her national game
which seems to Spanish hearts so much
more endurable than the football hon
Ors of countries that pride themselves
upon civilization more modern. Car
riages rolled once more through the
ollCGlS anu ll4G gay blilkllAlS Al0SlCs ~
characteristic of Spain, was heard
again; and there were glimpses of
floating mantillas, while in the poorer
quarters the garlic feasts were re-
sumed, unsmothered by the poverty of
war times.
Gradually Spain became herself
again: Spain, to be sure, without her
Hamlet, for her colonies were her cen
trail figures, but stronger and better
than when she carried the crazy ad-
juncts of woe!
To-day, according to latest statistics
Spain is stronger than she has been
for years, and happier. At peace with
herself, she f1OuriSheS in agriculture;
al peace with the world, she is increaS-
ing her commerce. Quoting from the
report of a Spanish statesman, Spain
finds herself to-day occupying an en-
viable place among nations. With lit
| tie to maintain and much to win, she
| is happier far, and her people are
| richer, than when she was striving
| after that which had become to her, the
unattainable-the keeping of peace in
| her savage islands.
For the first time in forty years
| Spain is sending out, from her manu-
/ factories the Spanish lace made from
| secret process long and carefully
| guarded; she is exporting thin silks
| her tapestries are engaged past the ca
| pacity of her looms; she is selling,
| along with Brussels and France, those
| products which she has always been
! capable OF making DQI winch nave Deeu
| crippled the past years, from national
| calamity.
SPANS army, too, is growing. Her
| volunteers have been formed into COM
| panies which. drilled with the old, now
form formidable army, sufficient to
| maintain peace within her own domain
and for the dignity of the nation. AS
| to the navy, it is growing, not into a
formidable war fleet, perhaps, but into
a guard for SPANS commerce, and into
a nucleus for war fleet later on, if
| she should care for one.
The credit of the Bank of Spain is
restored with the people, and by care
| fully prepared system of financial sup
port it has spread its branches to al
the towns of Spain so that it's sources
Of business and revenue are much
greater than ever before
SPANS agriculture is also increased
and its domestic products were never
so fine. The south of Spain vintage Of
the past year is expected to equal thai
of the choicest wine years
| With such a report as this Spain /:
encouraged to go on to greater pros
perity Far from being crushed by tbs
defeat of year ago, she has riser
from its ashes and is building herself
not as proudly as before, perhaps, bu
more permanently, because more com
| pactly.