For it has simply disappeared.  Even the Royalist Press is almost extinct.  Some papers have ceased to appear, some have become Republican, the few who stick to their colors do so rather from clerical than from specifically Royalist conviction.  All the leading papers of the country had long been Republican; and excellent papers they are.  Both in appearance and in matter, O Mundo and A Lucta ("The Struggle”) would do credit to the journalism of any country.  In size, in excellence of production, and in the well-considered weight of their articles, they contrast strangely with the flimsy, ill-printed sheets that content the Spanish public.

The Provisional Government has been sneered at as a clique of “intellectuals”; but it is scarcely a reproach to the Republic that it should command the adhesion of the whole intelligence of the country.  Nor is there any sign of lack of practical sense in the admirable organization which not only insured the success of the revolution (in spite of certain cross accidents) but secured its absolutely peaceful acceptance throughout the country.  There are no doubt visionary and fantastic spirits in the Republican ranks, and ridiculous proposals have already been mooted.  For instance, it has been gravely suggested that all streets bearing the names of saints—­and there are hundreds of them—­should be renamed in commemoration of Republican heroes, dates, exploits, etc.  But the common sense of the people and Press is already on the alert, and such whimsies are being laughed out of court.

Of the Provisional Government I saw only the President and the Foreign Secretary.  The President, an illustrious scholar, historian, and poet, is a delightful old man of the simplest, most unassuming manners, and eagerly communicative on the subjects which have been the study of his life.  When I asked him to explain to me the difference of national character which made the Portuguese attitude toward the Church so different from the Spanish, he took me right back to the Ligurians—­far out of my ethnological depth—­and gave me a most interesting sketch of the development of the two nations.  But when we came to topics of more immediate importance, he showed, if I may venture to say so, a clear practical sense, quite remote from visionary idealism.  The Foreign Minister, Dr. Machado, is of more immediately impressive personality.  Younger than the President by at least ten years, yet little short, I should guess, of sixty, he is extremely neat and dapper in person, while his very handsome face has a birdlike keenness and alertness of expression betokening not only great intelligence but high-strung vitality.  He is a copious, eloquent, and witty talker, and his remarkable charm of manner accounts, in part at any rate, for his immense popularity.  Assuredly no monarchy could have more distinguished representatives than this Republic.