"EFFETE SPAIN."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 190, 17 November 1876, Page 14

"EFFETE SPAIN."

ANOTHER OF THOSE PLATED OUT CATHOLIC NATIONS — WHAT IT IS SHOWING IN THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. That bitterly Protestant journal of New York, the 'Times,' is constrained by tbe facts to permit its correspondent in Philadelphia to bear his further testimony to the work of a Catholic nation which, according to the popular American notion, is " played out." This Centennial Exposition will teach the average American Protestant many things : — " Colonel Francisco Lopez Fahra, the chief Spanish Commissioner, has remained at his post during all the heats of summer with remarkable singleness of purpose. The Spanish certainly teach us a lesson of pure nobility in many ways. Their departments are fitted up as museums, and offer enormous contrasts to those of almost every other nation, which are fitted up like retail stores. They came here entirely from good will, without a thought of making money by the sale of their goods, for the men who sent them, in nine-tenths of the whole Spanish display, sent no price list. When it became evident that there were many would-be purchasers, the Spanish, instead of taking advantage of the enthusiasm over their woolen fabrics and their damascened ware, placed upon them the most moderate prices. Their superb porous ■water-coolers — ' alcarazas ' — were valued at forty-five, fifty, and sixty cents apiece j their enameled tiles at two cents apiece ; their lustred porcelain, and their fine specimens of glassware in proportion. The experience of those who are desirous of buying various objects is that there are not a few nations who have no fixe 4 price, and who ask three times what they are willing to take. And among those who are more conscientious the prices are exceedingly high, and when the duties are added to them they become absolutely prohibitory. There are very few countries whose objects are ai cheap, and whose methods are as honorable as the Spanish, and at the same time there is not one whose wares are so distinctly marked with the seal of nationality. Colonel Fabra is undeniably greatly pleased at the appreciative reception which the Spanish display has met in America, and he has evinced this in many ways, but in nothing more nobly than in the manner in which the most expensive etchings and volumes of photographs of Spanish cathedrals of the grand Gothic type have been surrendered to the public hands. In the Spanish government building, which the Commission fondly call the House of the King, (for they entertain a personal regard for their young Alfonso, like the English have for their Queen), these valuable books are spread out upon comfortable counters for the convenience of the public. Colonel Fabra was remonstrated with by zealous Philadelphians : ' Your beautiful books will be destroyed ; put them under glass cases.' ' Not a,t all,' said Colonel Fabra ; ' they are here to be destroyed if using them will do it. It will be sufficient recompense to us if but one man out of those who turn over the leaves gets a new thought for his art, or a new comprehension of Spain. And the more they are used the better will Spain be known. I should be ashamed to take them back to Spain clean, and new, and unused.' Now that was very noble, and was in accordance with the old idea of the Spanish hidalgo pur sang{ Certainly all Spain's chivalry has not been laughed away by CerYantes. " Throughout the summer Colonel Fabra and his assistants Count Donadio, Alvaro de la Gandara, and Colonel Marin, have remained, working away at the Spanish display, writing to Spain for new things, and arranging them to the best advantage. The treasures of the government building, or the House of the King, are so numerous that they demand the exclusive attention^of a separate article. But, not satisfied with this display, or yMh. the numerous things that have already been added in other qy!trters, Colonel Fabra wrote to Spain for photographic views of Los Palos, the port from which Columbus sailed for this land, and of the Convent of La Eabida, where he found refuge. These have just arrived and are about to be exhibited in the Main Building. They will be placed in a square f fame, supported by a pedestal about five feet" in height, and full descriptions in English text will be placed at the head of each photograph. The Spanish Com missioner was induced to do this because he found in America a great interest in all tho things that concerned Columbus, whose life had been so pleasantly portrayed by Washington Irving as to make all the | details very well known to people of education. There was a world of kindly thoughtfulness in the act which merits the heartiest appreciation at our hands, and it is entirely in keeping with the conduct of the Spanish Commission since they arrived in this country. The lover 3of fine etching will be surprised at the importance and value of the works which have been surrendered to the public mercy, and will estimate at its worth the noble generosity of the Spaniards. The works on architecture, though purely of Spanish origin, have a French paraphrase side by side with the Spanish text, so that those -who desire to study them can do so if they possess either of these languages. The illustrations are of the first order and show a fine mastery over chronio-litUography, •• Gar,"