The Washington herald., 1912-01-07
THE STORY OF THE
NFANTA EULALIA

The revolt and collapse Of the Infanta
Eulalia of Spain Is one Of those family
scenes that stir a nation, because they
sum up history and often make IT, King
Alfonso and his aunt represent two
points OF view that have been elashins
ever since the dawn Of civilization In
Europe, authority and private juds-
ment" In Spain so far, authority was
able to crush its opponent; or when t
has been compelled to make concessions
il has been under pressure Of European
culture. Yet. its sway never has been
challenged, but some day Spain may
break the bonds like Portugal
King Alfonso may be very modern in
his tastes and very up-to-date as man
and as a ruler, but he cannot forget that
in spite Of all the vicissitudes OF his
tory, he Is still a descendant Of Philip
II. II he were so "undutifur' as TO for
get II, people In his own palace would
remind him that his throne Is bound UP
with traditional beliefs and with organi-
zations Jealous Of their authority. His
own mother would reprove him. Did
she not talk of leaving the country last
year, as an act OF protest when the
Spanish government withdrew Its am
bassadors to the Vatican7
1t does seem incomprehenslble that
so much fuss should be made over a
book. even though the author happens
to be an 'infanta-" But It appears that
in Catholic countries such matters are
looked at from a different standpoint
France is not a good example, the nat
uraI mind having undergone such
H.. L.
two.
To put the matter shortly. the In
fanta Eulalia would have created less
scandal in court circles II she had taken
several lovers. like her mother, Queen
Isabella. But a bookl A novel. even
with disorderiy love passion in II,
would not have been 80 bad. But al
work with philosophical ambition,
pleading textenuating circumstances
for divorce. claiming the rights of
private judgment In matters OF faith,
with quotations. too. from Emerson,
Sir John Lubbock. Sohopenhauer. Gayot.
and other rank free thinkers and athe-
istsl Could there be a more shocking
breach OF court morality? No wonder
that the King-that is to say, his mai
esty's confessor-blazed up at oncel
AS for the infanta. her state OF mind
and attitude are also very Spanish. The
new philosophical doctrines, which We ac-
cept as a matter OF course and without
particular enthusiasm, because they have
floated for years in the very air we
breathe. are taken up with delight IN the
land Of the Cid as a new revelation.
why7 Simply because they are forbidden
fruit The church in Spain still Is very
powerful Judging from the number Of
converts, which now Is greater than at
any tine since the eighteenth century.
It IS Perhaps more powerful than ever.
Only its power depends upon organiza-
ton. discipline. money. and class interest.
But a large part of the public Is estranged
from It. All the papers with large cir
culations in Spain prove this to-day.
Espana Nueva, one OF the most largely
circulated weekiies. for pure, uncompro-
missing anti-cleriealism stands alone IN
Europe. and In Spain. OF all the ultra
Catholic countries. at that
Another thing: Until very recently,
when the advanced leaders fell out among
themselves and ruined their chances,
nearly all the great cities OF Spain were
held by republican municipalities. Spain
to-day is in a condition Of religious un-
rest, like Germany before the Thirty
Years war. There Is no parallel to II
at present In Europe. The temporary
quarrel between Don Alfonso and his
aunt Is but an example OF feuds which
are raging in every family OF consequence
in Spain.
The only curious feature about It Is
that In this instance the person who
kicks over the spiritual traces Is a
woman. Generally It is the reverse. But
asSthe man happens to a be king. and
such a king at that. the exception is not
50 astonishing.
The brawI in which Prince ouroussofr.
IT.. was engaged the other day. or rather
the other night In a restaurant Of the
place PigaHe, at Paris, Is hardly a sur
prise 70 any cns who knows this worthy
scion OF the Russian nobility. In HIS
fathers time thsy drank hard at the