He  would  be  a  poor  Spaniard,  whatever  his  creed  or  ways,
who  could  allow  those  bells  to  pass  without  answering  their
invocation.  They  ring  for  him  now  as  they  did  for  his
infancy,  as  they  rang  ibr  his  ancestors,  as  they  ring  every
day  of  his  life.  Whatever  the  world  may  do  in  the  way
of  temptation  or  duty,  for  one  moment  the  Cliurch  comes


AROUND    THE    WORLD.
647


and  absorbs  his  soul,  and  he  is  one  with  the  thousands
around  liini,  and  his  heart  goes  in  reverence  to  its  Maker ;
and  as  you  hear  tliese  janghng  bells,  you  feel  how  fond  and
vast  and  sujireme  is  this  religion,  whose  command  falls
upon  a  people  from  a  hundred  turret  bells.
There  is  not  a  more  happy-go-lucky  piece  of  humanity
than  your  Spanish  peasant.  Give  him  his  vino  iinto,  his
olhiy  his""  cigarette,  and  his  dance,  and  he 's  as  happy  as  a
king.  If  he  can  earn  in  the  morning  as  much  as  will  sup-
ply his  wants,  it  never  enters  his  head  to  work  during  the
day.  He  knocks  off,  repairs  to  the  nearest  venia  or  wine-
shop, and  there  enjoys  himself  after  his  sweet,  wild  will.
If  he  can  earn  a  peseta,  well  and  good ;  if  not,  he  gaily
succuml^s  to  reales  ;  and  if  realcs  are  not  in  the  market,  he
puts  up  with  cuartos  and  —  an  onion.
