MODERN SPAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 5

MODERN SPAIN

EMANCIPATED WOMEN •HEART IN ROYAL RULE” \N ASSASSINATION' RECALLED A passenger on the Orient liner Orama, xxhich ' isited N'exv Zealand in the course of a holiday vruise, is the Duquest de Date, daughter of a former Prime Minister of Spain, Senor Dato, who x\ as assassinated in i!!2l. Particularly (.harming and an accomplished linguist, thp Duquesa ’eadily discussed modern Spain during her stay in Auckland. She conside;ed the countrv oxved its modern advancement tn intelectual rather than political revolution. Fond of travelling, and making her first vi.oit to thp Dominion, she was delighted with the, scenic resorts, part.'.mlarly Rotorua, which she visited with other tourists from the Orama. An ardent Royalist in sympathy, thp Duquesa is convinced (lhe New- Zealand Herald says) that the heart of Spain lies in royal rule and that the restoration of lhe ya I familv is not far distant. When in Rome this year she attended the marriage of the heir to the throne, Po.i Juan, and was struck by the number of loyal Spaniards, oxer 10.000, and many of them members of thp poorer classes, who were present. Advent of Republic “Lt wa.s not thp movement of the I people that brought about the republic,” she said. “Jt was a chosen few, with power. Alfonso was truly a good king, democratic and loved by his people. He is not happy in exile. He is suffering, and loves his country and wants to he back. And he will go hack, too, just as other thrones will he regained throughout Europe. People, do not. .like the republics with dangers of dictatorship.

‘‘Of that man all Spain has the 1 highest regard,” said the Duquesa when asked about Signor Mussolini. | ' Hp has done for Daly what appeared E to be impossible. He is a great man. j though his present meddling with war does not please ns. Spain does not want war.' ’ The women of Spain toonv wenmore free than were those of her own generation, she said. I'hev were now permitted fo attend the universities whereas before they were obliged to 1 study at home. The domination of' duennas and chaperones was no more., Women walked in thp streets and , partook of meals in the cafes une?--! corted. if they xvished. This change, the' .Duquesa remarked, began to take place I about 2'l years ago. and was largely due to the work of Maria dp Maeztu. i the great Spanish feminist. Thp revo • lution had been responsible for women ■ obtaining the vote, and she was 1 anxious to be back in Spain by Match. ■ so that she could record her xote at I the coming elections. In the last Parlia-• ment there were three women, one bp- ! ing a director of prisons. Lover of Bull- fighting * ’ Yps, I loxe bull-fighting.” said lhe] Duquesa. • ‘ It is a great art and I have ! followed it all my life. No atmosphere is as tense and no setting as pic- ; turesque. 1 have never seen a toreador killed or anything disagreeable, Al though Spain to-day has some outstanding toreadors, bull-fighting is perhaps not so popular as it was, for cricket and football and other games lhat the English play have a keen following among the young generation. Polo is one of the finest games but even that has 10-s-t its following since our King left, for he was a fine horseman and a good polo player.'’’ The Duquesa did not readily discuss the tragically sudden manner in which her father, Senor Dato, was assassinated and the disappearance of his murderers. which caused a sensation throughout Spain. The fateful day was too well remembered. Senor Dato was returning from the Senate to dine at his home. Withing 100 yards of his

destination the ninfor-car in which he was Ira velling was ox prtakcn Lx- a motor-cycle and sidecar, from xxhich a score of shots xxpre fired into the - ar. The chauffeur vuu on full speed an* 1 within a fexx- seconds arrived at the door of Scunr Dal"' hou.'*', i>at haction xvas of no axail. Escape, of Assailants A few people »i n • I th" i'• and the motcr-cyiji.'i yy;is seen to ra<away, xxiih the occupant of the 'iocar firing automatic pistols xvith imth hands. .\> soon a- the nexvs became known Madr.l v. a - isolaied by ihn authorities and telephoni-- communication was .'irspended with p; - n----abroad, l he. cixil guard was ordered t" patrol all road within IPO miles of the capital tied to examine the papers <-i all wayfarers. Although every possible effort, was made to fin-1 the criminals, it was not until some time after the tragedy that a young mechanic, x-im admitted the assassination, was arrested. Two other arrests were also made. The murder rudely awakened all Spain to lib- grave problems created in the country by the presence of an archist elements, whose sphere of a< - tion was undoubtedly spreading. Senor Dato had no personal or political enemies. He was known to his generation as a sincere well-\x isher of th*' working man. He xvas assassinated in his capaeitx’ as I’-ime Minister. The Duqui'sa still resides in her old home in Madrid and also has a flat in Paiis. where she spends a good deal of her time. She is keenly interested in are, particularly modern paintings, ami apart from being ilji accomplished linguist she is a. keen student of literature.. She finds particular appeal in the writings of the modern Spanish poets, in'.duding Gomez de. la Serina. At a country fair near Winnipeg a feature was a quilt contest, and the prize was won by Mrs. T. Ramsay, whose quilt, 90in. x 63in., contained 4280 diamond-shaped pieces, hand sewn into a harmonious whole.