Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Sunlight
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132 DAYS IN THE SUN
to upset her pushcart, it is a perfectly natural thing
for any one who happens to be about, even if it be the
King himself, to help her pick up her wares. The
King will not be mentioned in the newspapers for this
uncommon act of kindly condescension—but he might
get into the papers if he neglected to perform it.
The Andalusian, who maintains his joy in life under
conditions we would suffer under or even succumb to,
remains a human being under circumstances in which
we should cease to be human. Hundreds of beggars,
hundreds of unemployed looking for jobs, I en-
countered; but I have never met any one in Spain with
the soul of a lackey. Dog-like servility and its comple-
ment—snobbish aloofness are both unknown in this
country. It would never occur to the poor people liv-
ing in back alleys to sneak in a wide circle around a
policeman standing at the corner; they do not tremble
even when they stand before a royal officer. And the
result is the authorities and the official class bear the
stamp of this feeling on the part of the lower classes.
The same virtues which are displayed by the Anda-
lusian under favorable circumstances are also shown
as a rule when things go not so well. If he is charitably
disposed, poverty will not kill his charity. He always
has the possibility of denying himself some new neces-
sity. In Granada I often saw the more successful beg-
gars playing the part of alms-givers to the less favored.
And if they have nothing to give, they can always offer
the services of their own persons. The practical north-
ern European, whose entire life is dominated by con-
siderations of a commercial nature, is sometimes
amazed at the outrageous prices asked by the Anda-
lusian; but he is just as frequently disturbed by the un-
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