Acting Grandly

Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher, theosophist and delegate to the Cortes of Spain, stood last week in a rostrum that has not been used for eight years.

"The magnificent and momentous hour has come," he cried, "when fate imposes upon Spaniards the duty of acting grandly."

Said Niceto Alcala Zamora, Provisional President of Spain:

"You Deputies are sculptors, hacking out of the solid rock the Constitution of a Free Country. Good luck and glory to you!

"We who have brought about the Republic and have suffered imprisonment now hand over the Republic to you with clean but not empty hands--a Republic free from all compromise, economic or military. All we ask is that you make yourselves worthy of the thanks of the nation."

Almost immediately every one of the 470 sculptors was on his feet, demanding for himself the honor of making a speech on the first day of Spain's Republican Parliament. At the height of the uproar, when chandeliers shook with the din, Narciso Vasquez Lemus, the oldest Deputy, who was presiding, clapped his hat on his ancient cranium and adjourned the meeting. Two things were accomplished: Julian Besteiro, moderate Socialist leader, was elected President of the Assembly (Speaker of the House). Deputies, who dearly love their siestas, agreed that the Cortes should meet at 7 p. m., remain in session until midnight "because of the heat."*

*U. S. correspondents used to Washington in July find Madrid comfortable. The city is 2,372 ft. high, nights are always cool.

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