Evening star., 1909-04-18
SPA|NS BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
POSITION OF SPANISH DANES IN
THE HOUSEHOLD AND LAW.
Freedom From Artificial Things Will
Give Them Great Power
in the Nation.

Evelyn Milford. in the London Queen.
There is a legend that when Spain was
first created the people were asked what
special gift they would like TO have, and
they begged that the women might be
the most beautiful and charming in the
world. The request appears to have been
granted, for even the captfous critic wax
es enthusiastic over the loveliness and
grace OF the women of Spain. Their
charm lies in their extreme 'womanli-
ness'-a quality apt to be disregarded
in more strenuous countries, where the
battle for life RACES fiercely and where
women are obliged to compete with men
In the struggle for existence.
Professional Women Increasing.
The Spanish women of the upper and
middle classes never dream of carving
out a career for themselves, however
poor they may be. The number of pro-
fessional women. however. is slowly in
creasing, and a small band of brilliant
workers in medicine and literature shows
that the women of the country are quite
as clever and capable as their more ener-
getic sisters in other lands. The vast ma
jority still believe that it is degrading
for a lady to take up any work Tor
which she is paid; therefore, If they do
not marry. they either enter a convent
or live with member of their family,
and they do not at all mind being depend
ent on the charity of friends or rela-
tions. Public opinion is still SO strongly
opposed to their education that it will be
long time before they are fitted TO
take their share in their country's work.
and many women are so ignorant that
they can hardly read their missals or
write their names. This is especially
the case in small country towns. At
Madrid schools have been opened for their
instruction, and the classes have Deen
conducted by excellent professors. but
compar lively few women have availed
themselves of the privileges. The bril-
liant Spanish novelist, Emilia Pardo Ba-
Zan, in referring to the mental stagnation
of her countrywomen, at the Paris con-
ference in 1899, said. THE customs are
completely unfavorable to women. The
universities and classes and the facul-
ties are open To her. but those who avail
themselves of them are blamed and rldl-
culed, families dare not brave public opin-
ion. and women are left with no resource
but marriage, and in the lower classes
domestic service, prostitution or men,
deity
Marriage Customs.
Though the marriages are often arrang-
ed without the consent Of the bride-elect,
law or custom gives the Spanish woman
she wishes to escape from a union which
is distasteful to her, and he may take her
from her fathers house until she is of
age and her own mistress, while If she
determines to marry a man Of whom her
parents disapprove she may also place her
self under the protection of the law, and
she cannot be deprived of her share of the
family estates. On reaching her majority
she enjoys the same privileges as her
brother with regard to property, she may
inherit, will, buy and sell. But when she
marries she again reverts to the posi-
ton OF a minor, and her husband has en-
tire control Of all her possessions, which
he can squander without rendering any
account to her. though she cannot spend
penny Of her own money without his
consent; he may desert her and her chill
dren without incurring any punishment
or much public condemnation. Span
ish lady confers on her husband the titles
of nobility and any privilege connected
Herewith she may possess at the time Of
her marriage.
The women of Madrid and OF other large
towns are happy. frivolous and gay:
they take child-like pleasure in amuse-
ments and are enthusiastic patrons of the
opera and the theaters, where they often
have their boxes and private stalls, for
they thoroughly enjoy good music and
acting. During the season, which lasts
from October to March. society in Madrid
takes it's promenade or daily drive, and
the magnificent horses for which Spain is
celebrated may be seen in well appointed
carriages in the Puerta del Sol, the
Prado and other parts Of the city: while
balls receptions at the court dinners
small dances and fancy dress parties at
a foreign ambassadors or at the houses OF
the nobility are the great events in a
Spanish lady's life. The ''tertulia," which
takes the place of an English "at home,"