New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03

spectacle sickening- They Strengthened up
they met Ill the middle of the road breast to
breast In d moment they would plunge the long
blades into each other. Like two young ROSTERS,
they stood facing each other, each with his knife
held down a little behind kim. ready to strike.
But they did not strike. They simply grinned hor
ribly into each Others faces and then slowly
backed away, raising his head with true Span
ish dignity. and Tenlarkng that 1t place to
settle the bloody encounter Tile other proposed
10 adjourn a secluded spot the out
skirts of the town. His opponent agreeing, they
tucked their knives. picked up tkeir clutches.
and suddenly remembering that they were Grip
Piles hobbled away in opposite directions. each &C
cusng the other OF caring TO fight and finging
taunts behind him. while shout of laughter went
UP from the spectators
The peasant of the interior plateau living upon
the rocks defes hardships He scorns the voluptu-
BUSINESS of the mild. soft regions below. Ill clad
with tattered garments iutterins in the biting cold
wind men, women and children present stern face
to their lot Their stoicism is only equalled by that
of the rocks upon which they toll They are lean
visaged with complexion like leather. They go
about their work as though indeed the centuries of
toll and oppression weighed heavily upon thein
Even the beautiful black haired Andalusian girls
wear a melancholy expression that seems unnatural
upon their oval faces.
It is that the country of Spain is especially
well adapted to the growing of wheat. If the gov
eminent would only irrigate the land in the wheat
growing
wheat from beyond her borders. In 1903 there was
no rain between April and December The bread
riots reported week or two ago were due TO
drouth Irrigation. II is said would not be difcuIt
however for the rivers. swollen by the melting OF
the SHOWS from the mountain ranges flow rull
banked throughout the dry season The drouths de-
prve the laborers of the opportunity TO earn even
the small wages they are accustomed TO receive
less than 90 cents day. and they clamor for work
It is '.manana'' in this as in everything else As
tho reasant nuts It, ''If we needed water. the Viz
gin would give it 10 US
The suffering OF the Spanish peasantry exists in
spite of the fact that a certain amount OF agrl-
cultural and industrial development has marked the
years that followed the Spanish-Anerican
War. In these years the internal condition or
spain has been characterized by tendency toward
IMPROVEMENT, and this is particularly OF the
mart of the country away from the seacoast The
less OF the colonies was not blessing TO all Spain
The commerce OF Barcelona and Cadz. the pros
perity of Catalan manufacturers. OF Andalusan
wine growers, suffered when the market IN which
Spanish producers possessed a monopoly was cut
of. But. as whole. Spain improved from the
moment the defeated soldiers OF Weyler. Linares
and Toral returned to the Peninsula The govern
rnent freed from the consideration Of foreign pos
sessions. turned its attention the prosecution
irrigation projects wherever these were necessary
perfected the wheat crop. and grain crops OF all
sorts began TO show progress which was in part
only to be traced to favorable weather.
This development has been freely commented
upon. Returning from visit 10 Spain. the Spanish
Minister. Senior Ojeda, said not long ago.
THE loss OF the colonies Is good thing I found
on recent visit Increased signs of industrial
tivty. The interior is being developed as never
before"
Therefore. It seems probable that in time the lot
of the Spanish peasant may become even happy