Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-02

guns VI Tic AoENIcNo NnACu
peep from the many holes OF the
pepper box into which the stone has
been made. At its base, cllnging to
the rock, Is the town OF Gibraltar, its
5000 inhabitants alike the 6,000
British soldiers constituting the gar
risen of the fortress, all under the
most rigid military rule. The town
has a predominantly Spanish cast,
only the soldiers are British and most
Of them are Scotch. From a distance
the effect was that OF a painted house
on a drop-curtain in a theatre. The
whole scene was fiat against the gray
white rock. After two days on the
steep and narrow streets the compar-
ison must be changed. Gibraltar, the
town, is a Spanish woman prostrate
beneath the paw Of the British lion
which permits her to live only to do
his pleasure.
WITHIN THE SHADOW OF GUNS.
Entering the town 10 the early
morning we were first halted at the
custom-house. Here, upon represen-
tation that we were American citi-
zens, had 10 cannon concealed about
our persons and did not intend to
carry of any pictures Of the rock nor
the rock itself, we were permitted TO
pass through the ancient stone Span
ish gate and furnished with a pass al
lowing us 70 remain in the town until
"the first sunset gum This pass was
signed by John Bennett, chief OF
police, and had to be renewed each
day. No one may take pictures with.
out special license and then only at a
certain distance from the fortifca'
tions Of the rock. The Kodaker Sc
cured several, however, and nobody in
Gibraltar who does not read this let
ter will be the wiser. Military rule
begins but does not end here. "Thl
Governor OF Gibraltar has more poweI
than the King Of England declared
an observant citizen. He may Orde
from town any person and no n ma
/ question his authority. Under hi
! direction boards prescribe how man.
3 windows there must be in a dwelling
the size Of the drain pipe, the widtl
Of the doorway and the number o
persons who may sleep in each room
Under his direction schools are estat
, lished and attendance thereupon en-
forced. There is constant rebellion
, suppressed always, OF course, at thi
~autocratic rule among the civilians Z
e Gibraltar, but the government doe
4 not care. ''This is a fortress, " IL 7,
plies to all; 1--WE want to keep
habltable for our soldiers. II you d
IS not like it move out" So the peopl
q grumble-and stay. They go tolwor
at the sound OF the sunrise gu
and quit labor when the sunset gu
: says SO. This military rule has Il
advantages. The sanitary condition
are perfect. The streets are cleal
K The houses are decent. There al
more children to the square inch tina
in any other community in the wor
o--and they all go 10 school, There
a Spanish color and the civilizatit
which Britain has brought. Event.
the American consul, a r,Jst excelleI
gentleman, is BE- environment, Spa
ish in 81 but name and nativity
Iced it may be that he was born
Y, Gibraltar where his father was cons
for many years before him.
Sentries are on every street cornt
ie. marching, marching, day and nigh
AS one climbs the steep streets I
". ward the rock summit, which no o.
save a British subject is eyer pt
mittee to reach, the sentries are SCI
to Increase in number on either han
d. There is a thin red line OF them at Z
II gateway to the galleries, as the tn
'l' nels in the rock are called, and he
none may pass or repaSs without bel
duly qualified and having the Cow
nor's permission. Through the stree
soldiers go constantly. The regul
ton red jacket Of the British, the k
and tarlton and bare legs Of the Scot
Highlander, the happy-golucky ia
OF the Irishman and all soldiers wi
the tiny cap tied on with a strap
cap which good Victoria OF bless
memory is said to have personally
ID lected and which is useful for Meth
ornament nor protection. Now a
then a hand marches, or a fife al
drum corps. Again an officer rides
ID. with clanklng sword. 1t is soldie
soldiers, everywhere. Eyerybo
Stands aside for them. The high
their rank the more distant tb
stand aside. When Sir Geo. Whit
sE the hero Of Ladysmith, who is now {
governor Of Gibraltar, drives out
I'm his trap, the whole town retreats
It's doorstep and holds It's hat In han
All but the American within itsgati
The Scribe bad beard Of Sir GeorL
He had hoped the Beers would b
Nv him down in Ladysmith, but as th
Sd did not, even though they had Bull
or 70 help them, he recognized the bra
u cry and military skill Of the dist
q guished Englishman. Driving out
CD a cab one afternoon leah, two peset
an hour we came 10 the GOyernoI
cottage. A TAN, straight gentlema
"a about 50 years old, with gray Engll
a. chop whiskers, sat in an open c.
as rage while a young woman and smi
-, child walked down toward the waite
edge. THAT Is Sir George White
A said the cab-driver r~eyerently. T
b. Scribe said, that being true, he won
- go over and speak toSir George. T
er cab-driver did not faint but be turn
er to stone-serassic limestone like th
ID Of which the Rock Of Gibraltar is ma
!, from very fright But nothing Sc
J. Gus happened. The Scribe present
y. his card, Sir George was duly afiab
talked Of the Americans the wealth
= and the Worlds Fair and was
az courteous as an average Americ
C. gentleman. When the incident y
II related al the dinner table that eve
!, ing a British subiect-bleSs US, {
thought Of calling oneself a subject
this British subject began eating !
y soup with a knife, 50 excited was
Us az the beastly impotence Of Z
Amcrtcan don~chqrknow