A Tasmanian in Spain.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 10 April 1902, Page 15

A Tasmanian in Spain.

Mb. Joseph McMahon, Longford, Tasmania, who spent a considerable time m Europe last year, writes as follows to the Monitor regarding his experience during a two months' visit to bpain :— I had the pleasure of spending two months in Spain last year— April and May ; and during that time I travelled from north to south and from east to west, but saw only one person drunk, and that case had a rather amusing side to it, which, to my mind, goes f^F^} he rarity of such an occurrence. We took a tram ride • «;?.,• ' . aQd at the terminus a well-dressed young man eot in. While waiting for the tram to start he pulled out the inevitable cigarette, and not being able to find a match, applied first to me, and then to the conductor. After drawing a few whiffs, he grew drowsy, and then I noticed that he was showing signs of having imbibed too freely ; so we left him and took our seats in the next compartment. On our way through the city I drew the conductor's attention to him, and after looking at him intently, he turned to me and said 'Mala. I shook my head and said, • Vive,' but the conductor thought not. Seeing a policeman he stopped the tram, and brought him in to sea the sick man. The policeman shook him ; shouted at him, and at length made him open hia eyes He then shook hands vigorously with him and pronounced him 'Mala. 1 Inen be and the conductor lifted him out, and kindly held his head for him ; then they laid him by the fountain and the policeman said he needed a ' medico.' So much for drunkenness. I saw more SLX ™i? n u-f ffcern ?°? ln Wellington, Shropshire, a small town of 7000 inhabitants (with its 56 public houses and beer shops), thau I saw m Italy, France, and Spain, in eight months Then as to the 'parental bond.' Nowhere have I seen such affectionate parents-fathers and mothera-nor such cleanly, comfortably, and warmly -dressed children as I saw in Spain. I speak of the poorer classes. Their 'hospitality' I alwaya liken to that which I expected to find in old Ireland ; had I only had the good fortune to visit it. Travellers by rail are as courteous to you as if you were their dearest friends, and always offer to share with you their wine and luncheon. Altogether they are a charming people and unspoiled by tourists. A gentleman I travelled with from England to Australia had a large experience with them as railway navvies between Xeres and Seville ; and he told me they were honorable and trustworthy : so different from other working men known to him. b ,