New-York tribune., 1905-11-12
BY j. W. Crombie.

When Cervantes lived in Seville, no one was more
notorious in that city than Francisco Arias de
Sobadilla, Count Of Pufioenostro. Know friend -
says a muleteer TO his comrade, IN one of Ger
vantes's tales, that this Count of Pufoenrostro
has g demon IN his body that fixes the fingers of
his fists in our souls. Seville and ten leagues round
st is cleared OF roughs thief stops in the neigh
borhood All dread him like the fire. though tits
said he will quit the post of Sheriff. because
he is disgusted find himself constantly thwarted
by the lords of the high court
1t was not till recently that historical wind
fall placed IN possession detailed account of
the administration of this municipal Rhadaman-
thus. In 1873 manuscript discovered In Seville
which turned out to be a diary. undoubtedly au-
thentic, of the leading public events in the city
between the years 1892 and 1904 OF its author
know little more than that his name was Francisco
Ariho. that he lived in the suburb of Triana and
was apparently citizen Of the middle class prob
ably clerk in some government office. Though
his grammar and photography betray a want of
education, he amply atones for It by his natural
faculty for graphic narrative and his unique genius
for sightseeing. Wherever. according to his IA
vorite phrase. there "a thing be seen''-an
oHto da fe bullhght, religious procession riot,
a hood-Ariao there. and all that he saw
and heard duly chronicled in the diary.
The Municipal Code of old Seville affords a quaint
and highly characteristic example of the grand
mother1y principles which society was organized
in Spain. and indeed throughout Europe. in the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. OF this code
part is minute in its details than the series
of ordinances which deal with. the sale of food.
Many of these aimed at excessive luxury;
limited the amount of food which any
hucster might sell any customer buy: others
restricted the amount to be consumed at wedding
feast, and prescribed how many courses
citizen might have at his dinner. according to his
rank and position But quite often the ordinances
had originated the necessity Of preventing SNUG
Cling and protecting the monopoly OF trade and the
revenues both imperial and municipal. which were
derived from the taxation OF food The food supply
of Seville was imported into the town under the
direction of the municipal authorities. who regu-
lated the amount according TO their own notions
OF what the citizens required 1t was then dis
trfbuted among certain licensed huckstcrs. who
retailed II to the people under strict laws and
penalties It Illegal for any of these hucsters
themselves TO buy food outside the city. to sell
II at their private houses anywhere except in
the squares and market places The food must be
exposed openly for SALE and not hidden, and it
must be weighed in scales, and not sold by the
eye" II a huckster sold several kinds Of flesh
they must be kept separate. and customer asking
for one kind must not be put Off with another.
To insure strict observance OF these laws. and TO
osYry out the severe penalties attaching TO their
breach officers called 'cverseers' appointed
over the nucksters. Not only die the law define
be manner of selling provisions, but the
a1.6 the rrtoax and any huckster selling beyond
ID. eszl tartr WIS subject 20 the seve-est punish
.u~s7t
Though the fixing OF prices by the municipality
had long been common throughout Europe, the
variations Of supply and demand had at all times
.ade such sys:eal difficult 10 enforce; but by the
time Pufoenrostro had become responsible FOR its
administration 4 new factor, constituting q new
difficulty, had arisen. The precious metals OF the
Kew World were pouring into Spain Accommoda-
ton could hardly be found IN the mint for the
:ngots OF gold and silver that were landed on the
ouays OF Seville. The result was a rapid and con-
rnuous rise IN prices and in spite of all the e1orts
OF the overseers 10 maintain low prices by law,
the hucksters hsbitually sold beyond the tariff
This state OF matters puzzled and alarmed the
spantards OF the sixteenth century; and. ignorant
OF the true cause. most of them attributed IL 10
the lax administration of the law. Such, ar any
rate. was the opinion Of Puhoenrostro. ana he de-
terTnined to obtain reform by enforcing the law
upon The iuckless hucksters with same remorse