Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-21
|BANEZ IS MUCH
IMP RESSED WITH
SANTA f TRIP


It will be both pleasant and
gratifying to lovers of this country
to know of the keen appreciation
expressed by the great Spanish au-
thor, Vicente Blasco Ibanez, of Il
trip taken to Santa Fe Monday,
when the beauty of the mountains,
the charm of the old Spanish town,
the primitive life of the pueblo of
San Felipe, which was visited en-
route, all contributed to making a
profound impression on this keen
observer of people and places.
Il am coming again, next year"
ne stated most positively. This Is
not far from Spain, five days from
Spain to New York, and four from
there, and now that | know the
way | shall surely return, for / see
here a quantity Of material"
But Senior lbanez was neVerthe-
less actually surprised at the de-
Velopment of this country, for he
expected to see only the cowboy
and the Indian, and he found ho-
tells with running baths, and good
food, and universities, and people
living in quite a sophisticated and
metropolitan way And he heard
of the Taos colony of artists,
working in the quaint little old
town, and saw evidence of an art
which has made itself felt in the
foremost artistic circle of this coun-
try and Europe. He was not near
ly so much impressed with the i'm
portant and monumental discov-
cries of the archaeologists about
the ancient civilizations here as he
was with the living examples of the
Indians themselves today.
He grew silent as he left San
Felipe, having Intercepted his
companions necessarily since the
beginning of the trip, and seemed
to mediate and turn over what he
had seen.
Il understand that there are
preserved here certain institutions
certain customs brought from old
Spain which have practically died
out in Spain herself, and | shall
return to these mountain places
and study them. The pictures of
the Indians are very interesting;
intensely so to me-"
In speaking OF the feeling in
Spain towards the United States,
Senior Ibanez stated that the gen
eral idea is quite erroneous-that
there is a kindly sentiment and no
bad feeling whatsoever about the
American war, from which
Spain emerged with honor. But
that the Spanish people do not
know the American he is convinced
since he has been in the United
States. The representation which
Is found over there does not give
a true impression, the author de-
clares, of the true nature of the
America Is not well rep
resented abroad.
Blasco IbaneZ was born in VAL |
nncia in 1868. He married at 10 |
and has today two sons and a
all grown. Ibanez is
commandante of the Legion of |
Honor in Spain, was seven times a
deputy in the parliament of the re
public and for twelve years edited |
La Prensa de Argentina. the most |
paper in all South Am
erica. being to that continent what |
he New York Times is to this
.banez pays an income tax in four
the revenue from the
sale of his books being enormous.
Fhe sale of the English transla-
ion alone of the -Four Horsemen'
has reached the amazing number
If one million and half copies,
which is said to be unprecedented
n the history Of American litera-
ure.
He is depictor of realism, a
nodernist in literature. who draws
lis inspiration from the life and
he types which he sees around
lin, reflecting the times rather
han creating the purely fictitious
rom his own imagination. II he re-
urns as he plans, this country will
ot only be immortalized by his
zen, but those who live here will
ave the opportunity of seeing
heir environment through the eyes
( master.
Jose Padin, the secretary of
banez, is Porto Rican who met
he author in New York upon his
rival in this country, and has ac-
ompanied him ever since.
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