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174 DAYS IN THE SUN
shoulders touch, the smoke of their pipes ascends in
thick clouds. Every one is smoking now, even the
speaker, who stops while launching a particularly sav-
age attack, to mind his cigarette. From time to time
a great jug of water is brought in, and passes from
mouth to mouth. Occasionally, vehement cries shoot
through the air.
Northern countries know little more of freedom of
speech or freedom of the press than their names; but
both these things are realities in Spain. In our coun-
try, where the introduction of republican ideas into
the form of government may not even be discussed by
the most advanced parties, what would people say of a
meeting, attended by poor cottagers, which resolves,
after hearing a free and unadorned criticism of the ex-
isting order, to overthrow the dynasty and establish a
republic with all the means at their disposal?
When they proceed to organize the new local sec-
tion, there is a scene that would seem strange to the
eyes of any northern European. Alfonso M. asks all
those who cannot write their names themselves to call
them out. They shout their names from all sides—
old men and very young men, poor devils and others
who have made their pile and appear to be living in
comfort. In a list of one hundred and twenty-three
signatures, I subsequently count fifty-seven whose
names were not written by themselves, and these in-
clude men from the most radical elements. These men
do not need to acquire a radical mode of thought by
laboriously poring over books and newspapers. They
instinctively possess it from the start.
There are humorous incidents.
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