In the foreground is a mass of crowns, or aloe; or, wrapped in his manta, pass his nights on the stone floor of the road- sceptres, handcuffs, codes, &c., lying side venta; or sip coffee in his casino broken and in confusion on the ground, among his sympathizers (for each casino and looking like - what at first glance Í is devoted to a separate phase of pol- deemed them to be a heap of stones. itics); or smoke his scented Havana over the brasero of his palacio - whatever be his rank or station he is a politician, and believes it to be his duty to interfere in the affairs of his country. But the most striking feature of the photograph has yet to come. Borne on the clouds of heaven float gently earthwards hosts of angel-forms, some, pen in hand, as though coming to chronicle I heard one poor man- very poor, the new era of La Libertad; some pourvery ignorant say, "Castelar will come ing upon earth their rich cornucopias down; he promised to sever Church of fruit and flowers. In the midst of and State, and give us liberty of thought; this heavenly host, a huge lion crouchhe has not done so! He promised to do away O vast expense and useless tax! -with a standing army: he has not done so." And the poor old fellow's tattered coat shook with indignation, and his eye grew moist with a tear as he said, "Poor Spain!" This sentiment about Castelar's non-fulfilment of his promise is a stereotyped one; I am constantly hearing it among the lower orders. Speculations as to what change would take place on the 2nd and 3rd of January are rife among us; some believed power would be left with the Intransigentes; some, but few, that Castelar would continue Dictator for a few weeks, provisionally; some, that the "Infant" would be placed upon the throne. "Pi y Margall and the Cantonal system" was the watchword of the lower orders. ing beneath His feet, which are halfveiled in clouds, stands in majestic repose the figure of our blessed Lord; His right hand is raised to bless; in His left hand he bears His cross, and upon His head is the crown of thorns; above this Divine Rostro the clouds are bright, and in shadowy yet plain letters shines out of them the inscription, "Fraternité." At the foot of the photograph is written, REPUBLICA UNIVERSAL DEMOCRATICA FEDERAL. EL PACTO; and the following terse sentence from Béranger: Pueblos, formád una santa alianza That is, Form an holy league, ye towns, The idea of our blessed Lord being the Champion of Liberty is one common in Spain, and hence there is no blasphemy or culpable levity in the picture described; there is a couplet common in Spain at Christmas-tide, At this time on earth was He The lines, or an equivalent, will be found in "Ecos Nacionales," by V. Ruiz Aguilera. Strange photographs went up in the streets, the most remarkable of which I here transcribe: it is one of large dimensions, costing three or four pesetas. In one corner stands on a white pedestal a draped and graceful woman, flaring torch in hand, representing Liberty; on the pedestal is written, in French, "Les droits de "I cannot decipher; bareheaded, or waving hats in the air, comes to her feet a long winding procession of men, women, and children, in working Beyond the rumours, the anxious faces, dress, the end of the long, snake-like line the photographs, and the movements of being lost in the distant hills; a church troops, there was but one incident to stands hard by; they disregard it; one mark the reign of uncertainty about solitary ploughman stops his oxen to wave Christmas time, and that was an attack his hat. Far away is the distant sea, upon the train on its way to Madrid, with one or two flying sails, and the smoke which I chronicle merely as showing the of a steamer upon its calm bosom. At lawless state of the country. The nightintervals, to the very end of the long line train to Madrid picks up, as is well of human beings, are carried banners; known, money from various towns, all of on the first is written, "Francia" (consid- which is sent in small boxes with padered by all Spaniards the champion of locks and leather straps buckled over civil liberty); on the second, "España; "them. Some fifty armed brigands, findon the third, "Autriche; on the fourth, ing their ways and means straitened, "Siciles; then 46 Romagna; on the stopped the train by waving a red lamp, rest the letters are too dim to be deci- and demanded of the terrified guard the phered. boxes of money, commanding no passen. ger to put his head out of the window of his carriage one rash person disregarded the injunction, and received a slash in the cheek from a sabre. It is needless to add that these men got safely to the mountains with their booty. It is not often one hears of such deeds on a large scale; but every now and then, in some parts of the Interior, some young fellow who is known to be rich is carried off, and a heavy ransom demanded. In the last case that came under my notice the young fellow was surprised in the Campo, while out for his afternoon paseo, carried off to the Olivares, or the Sierra, and 400l. demanded and paid for his release. This system of "levying black-mail," so common in Southern Italy, is still carried on in the wilder parts of Greece, and in the mountainous districts of the Levant. In Spain, if you desire a walk over the hills — and a walk is very enjoyable in spring and winter, when (as now) the tints of the mountains are simply exquisite, varying from the deepest purple to the brightest roseate hue, and the earth is just putting on its robe of vernal green —it is best to walk with a friend, and to carry arms, equally serviceable against dogs or men; and it is safer not to be outside the city walls after dusk; you may be robbed, or at least annoyed. On Monday some apprehensions were felt as to the possibility of an insurrection, and the guards, leaving their barracks in the narrow streets of the town, fortified themselves in a walled spot a few hundred yards outside the walls, where they could act more freely. I walked at evening, about 4.30, down the streets which were almost deserted, and - rare sound in Andalucian streets at that hour- echoed to my footfall; the shutters were up in many of the private houses, and nearly every shop was closed. I wanted some coffee -a modest wish, surely!—and at last found a grocer's shop with the door only half closed. Then came the news of the clever way in which the coup d'état at Madrid on January 3 had been managed. It was thus graphically related to me by a Spanish gentleman. The Córtes had listened to Señor Castelar's magnificent speech, his defence of his own short administration: the votes were taken, Señor Salmeron being in the chair, and it was found that there were one hundred for, to one hundred and twenty against, Castelar's continuing in office. He then rose and said, "I have one favour to ask, that you will construct a Ministry before you leave the room." "That we will do," was the quiet answer of the President. Just then two aides-de-camp entered the chamber, and gave a note to Señor Salmeron, who handed it to his secretary to read aloud to the assembled diputados. One more "Christmas episode." On Christmas Eve the Alcalde of a town not far from here was enjoying his coffee, cigarillo, and politics in his casino; he was popular with the masses, and so, to do him all honour, a party of gipsies came in, chaired him, carried him round the room, and then insisted on his dancing the fandango with them! The whole scene, when recounted to me by an eye-witness the following night, struck me as so thor- Loud cries of "Shame, shame!" were oughly Spanish, and worthy of these dark-heard, and great uproar prevailed; the eyed daughters of the sunny South, that I have ventured to mention it. At last the eventful day, January 2nd, 1874, arrived, and at evening-time club, casino, and venta were thronged with little knots of eager and expectant politicians, waiting for a telegraph; but, as subsequently transpired, nothing definite had taken place. On that day the only sign of excitement that came under my notice was the shout of some fervid artificer on his way to his work, "Down with Castelar." Silently another body of guards marched into our town that night, or the night after, and then came the news of the Spanish coup d'état of 1874, awakening general surprise and bewilderment. The note was terse and soldier-like, and to this effect:- "That those assembled in the Córtes should, within five minutes, disperse to their Own homes. (Signed) PAVIA, Governor-General of Madrid." 66 President proposed to arraign General Pavía himself at once, and deprive him of his position. At this juncture the two aides-de-camp left the chamber, and met the General himself, who was in waiting close by. They told him what it was proposed to do to him. Oh, that is it, is it?" said he; "come along, men." At the head of two trusty regiments-and with officers and soldiers alike, as a rule, Pavía is very popular the General entered the Córtes, and, at the word of command, the first rank fired a volley into the ceiling above the heads of the diputados. The effect was magical. In a moment the diputados were seen hurrying out as fast as they could, and even leaping over any obstacles, as a chair or bench, that came in their way. Only one or two foreigners were left in the Córtes, and they were courteously escorted home by some of the troops, with their band playing the Marcha Real (Royal March) down the thronging streets. Castelar was summoned to appear, and was asked by General Pavia to form a Ministry, which of course, he could not undertake. Marshal Serrano then appeared, coming from the house of the Russian ambassador. FROM a communication sent to the Editor of Macmillan's Magazine, and forwarded by him to the author of "Spanish Life and Character," it would appear that some of the leading members of the committee of the "Spanish Christian Church" have taken exception to the following statement in the letter above-mentioned: "He who leaves the Outside the Córtes the streets were one fold in Spain has no place to flee lined with troops. At the head of other unto, and no man cares for his soul. In streets cannon frowned. Every volun- his reading, in his thought, in his hope, teer was ordered to render up his arms in his prayer, in his belief-for him at certain depôts named, and that order there is simple, sheer, utter loneliness; was acted upon quietly and instantly. it is chacun pour soi in everything." Volunteers were hurrying, arms in hand, to the depôts, and giving up their insignia in the greatest haste. The writer of the statement complained of here begs to assure the members of the "Spanish Christian Church" that he The Marshal, it is said, rode through intended neither to disparage nor to igone or two of the principal squares and nore their generous and devoted efforts shouted, "Viva la Republica Española!" to spread evangelical truth. Before and it is also said, that people, foregoing writing his Paper, he had not only made their favourite term "democratica fede- himself acquainted with parts of their ral," took up the cry "Viva la Republica de España !" Perhaps the populace are weary of all this long-continued unrest, of trade suspended, and lines cut, and posts stopped, and are glad to espouse the first hope of a settled Government. At any rate, the soldiers will be glad of the turn things have taken, and will follow their Generals. Non, si male nunc, et olim 66 good work, but he had also attended some of their places of worship, and joined in the services there performed with sincere gratification. His reason for not mentioning their labours is simply this: that the centres of Protestant Church life and work are so few and far between that they can hardly be considered as havens for the majority of the Spaniards who have broken with their old faith. What, the writer would ask, is one room set aside for service in one of the largest towns of Spain? we have been saying for a long time, and, it may be, the nunc " has passed, and But to the self-devotion and earnestthe "olim" is at hand; at any rate, we ness of many of the members of the all thirst for order, justice, and peace," Spanish Christian Church," the writer and perhaps these are near at hand. But there has already been twelve hours' fighting at Zaragoza, between the volunteers and the regulars, resulting in a victory for the latter! Jan. 6th, 1874. is happy here to bear warm and favour- IN particulars recently published, of the | for the salt district occupies about twenty-six production of salt in Cheshire, we learn that, in 1871, a million and a half tons of salt were sent out of that country to foreign lands and the home market. The demand increases, and the supply as yet shews no sign of failure, square miles, of which not more than five have hitherto been worked. As a single square yard of surface is reckoned to cover one hundred and twenty tons of salt, it will be understood that the total quantity is amazing. SHAKESPEARE'S GAMES.- Primero a game of the same family as piquet-trump, or ruff, the parent of whist and gleek were the card games chiefly played in England during the age of Shakespeare. But in his youth the playing of cards, except at Christmas, was confined to the upper classes of society. John Heywood, the epigrammatist of Shakespeare's age, was accustomed, according to Camden, to say "that few men played at cardes but at Christmasse, and then almost all, men and boyes." It is quite evident that some such simple foolish game as "noddy" or beggar my neighbour" would be the highest attainable flight to those who played cards "but at Christmasse." For this reason, and for no natural disinclination to games of chance, we must ascribe Shakespeare's ignorance of cards. For these are things that, if not acquired young, men rarely care to acquire in after life. Had he lived in our days, Shakespeare would have played whist. Our Shakespeare is no dicer either. He mentions the pastime here and there, but brings in none of the slang expressions familiar to dramatists of a similar period. Dicing and card-playing, indeed, came not to full flood in England till the Stuarts came in, and with them a general change of manners and modes of feeling. Shakespeare only saw the opening scenes of this new drama of national life. We find no indications that Shakespeare was a player at tables -our backgammon -or draughts. We are pretty certain that he was not a chess-player. The sole reference we can find to chess is in the "Tempest," act v. scene I. Ferdinand and Miranda are discovered in the cell of Prospero playing at chess. Miranda says: "Sweet lord, you play me false." Ferdinand replies: "No, my dearest love, I would not for the world" No chess-player would have put into the mouths of other players such phrases. "Playing false" at chess has ever been unknown; and a writer conversant with the game would have had no difficulty in finding some pleasant technical allusion for the lovers. Shakespeare seems to have known something of tennis, but does not admire the game, which was somewhat of a modern French importation. The travelled courtiers are called upon to put away "The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings" ("Henry VIII." act i. scene 3). "There falling out at tennis" ("Hamlet," act ii. scene 1). "The old ornament of his cheek hath already stuffed tennis balls" ("Much Ado," act iii. scene 2). He goes somewhat deeply into the technical terms of the game in his Henry V.," but he is rather driven to that by the traditionary account of the origin of Henry's invasion. The Dauphin sends the young king, in answer to his claim to certain dukedoms of France, a ton of treasure, which turns out to be- tennis balls. Henry rejoins: When we have match'd our rackets to these balls, That all the courts of France will be disturb'd Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells, THE annual Report of the Director of the Imperial Mint at Osaka, Japan, has been published with details, shewing that the Japanese are as active in improving their coinage as in adapting themselves to the new circumstances brought into existence by railways and undersea telegraphs. The number of gold and silver pieces coined in 1873 was more than twenty-six million, worth more than twentynine million dollars. The value of the silver pieces is indicated by Japanese characters on one side, and by Roman numerals on the other. Excellence of quality and workmanship are alike cared for; and by order of the Imperial Minister of Finance, specimens of the metals were sent to England with a request that they might be tested at the Royal Mint. The leading places in the Japanese mint are filled by thirteen Englishmen, who direct the native workmen, and find them apt to learn. Besides coining, they make assays of all kinds of minerals, including coal; and we are informed that laboratories are in successful operation, and that sulphuric acid and nitric acid are manufactured in quantities which will soon render importation from Europe unnecessary. It seems clear that ere long Japan will play an important part in the commerce and arts of the world. THE German Polar Navigation Society has bought a station on the island of Averö, on the west coast of Norway; this harbour, named Kristvig, is commodious enough to protect all the largest ships of the Society, and will in future be the starting-point for the German scientific expeditions to the Arctic Regions. Academy TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. For EIGHT DOLLARS, remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually forwarded for a year, free of postage. But we do not prepay postage on less than a year, nor when we have to pay commission for forwarding the money; nor when we club the LIVING Age with another periodical. An extra copy of THE LIVING AGE is sent gratis to any one getting up a club of Five New Subscribers. Remittances should be made by bank draft or check, or by post-office money-order, if possible. If neither of these can be procured, the money should be sent in a registered letter. All postmasters are obliged to register letters when requested to do so. Drafts, checks and money-orders should be made payable to the order of LITTELL & GAY. |