But the effect of Blasco Ibáñez's whole work is not depressing. It is true that his heroes struggle and after some success, are usually conquered, that environment often gains the victory, but over individuals only,-the ultimate advancement of humanity is not in question. Our author, "even in the early novels (La cathedral, El instruso, La bodega), does not despair; knowledge is gradually diffusing, notions of hygiene are spreading, modern ideas are gaining ground, superstition is slowly receding, ignorance is overcome in the end, however long that end may be deferred. Without a doubt the champions of new doctrines may be checked for a long while to come, both by reactionaries and by auxiliaries insufficiently enlightened; but the generations that are coming will be more conscious of their rights and strength, they will continue the struggle, they will obtain more equable laws. But, it is necessary to struggle without end, notwithstanding temporary reverses and defeats." Blasco Ibáñez is too much imbued with the doctrine of evolution to be a believer in a speedy and complete renovation of human character and institutions. He is perfectly sure that the processes of nature are slow. "He does not address himself to his readers as to children that one may decoy and deceive by portraying, as immanent, the irradiant dawn of happiness. He speaks as a man would speak to men, he expresses his opinions without reserve or gloss; he knows that it is only at the price of vigorous, repeated efforts that victory may be achieved at last."3

There is a peculiar admixture of idealism and pessimism revealed toward the close of Los enemigos de la mujer. Lofty ideals are shown to be the great motive and sustaining forces in the world, and yet they are spoken of as illusions merely. Complete self-sacrifice and self-denial are held up as the supreme lessons of the war and of life, service to man

3Cf. Vézinet, op. cit., p. 255.

kind, without any other motive than the gratification that it brings, service without even a hope of any future reward.*

Blasco Ibáñez's works, some of them, particularly the early ones, are offensive to those who are sensitive to sharp criticism of abuses as he saw them in the church and state of Spain, and to those who are incensed at the advocacy of ideas socialistic in tendency; but violent revolution, contrary to law and order, has been represented by him as odious and disastrous (La catedral, La bodega). He advocates a slower, safer, surer process of amelioration in society, and he frankly admits that abuses may drag on their weary existence, often for centuries before they can be corrected. Human institutions, like fossils, are found ages after their real life has become extinct (La catedral). One should bear in mind too that his ardent advocacy of socialistic reform was prior to the great war and to the advent of Bolshevism. Blasco Ibáñez loves truth, though he has exaggerated greatly for the sake of making deep impressions; he is an ardent advocate of justice, despite the mercilessness of his attacks on evils, real or fancied. He loves beauty too in all its forms, though he has not excluded the unsightly from his vision. No one could upbraid him with lukewarmness; he takes a decided stand, and his characters indicate this, for they are often embodiments of single aims which they pursue vigorously not counting cost.

Rarely has Blasco Ibáñez chosen to restrain entirely his fantastic imagination, and this fact is more evident in his heroines; in depecting them his fancy has often run riot with him, they are visionary beings, some of them suitable for tales like those of the Arabian Nights.

Emile Zola was Blasco Ibáñez's master in early years. To Zola he went to school as it were, from Zola he learned much of his art and got much of his inspiration, but fortunately

"It is worthy of note that Pereda and Blasco Ibáñez, departing from opposite poles, have reached similar goals, in this particular respect.

there are marked differences. Zola saw man's bestial qualities, his lust, his greed, his gluttony, magnified as in a vision, "overwhelming and portentous.'

Now Blasco Ibáñez is not morbid, and though he reproduces what he sees and as he sees it, sometimes with photographic faithfulness, yet he imposes upon himself more restraint in portraying the dark features of life, he does not revel in bestiality and filth. Not that he is ever squeamish, oh no! The Spaniard is too frank for that sort of thing, but he rarely disgusts one with his boldness, and his intentions are artistic, therefore good.

Blasco Ibáñez's technique reminds one strongly at times of outré impressionistic methods in painting, where colors, vivid and dazzling, are fairly dashed upon the canvass in bold, broad, rough masses, fantastic and absurd when scrutinized at close range, but highly effective and forceful when observed in proper perspective. Then reality is heightened by his exuberant fancy, sunlight and shadow counterbalance, the joyousness as well as the sorrow of human life is exhibited, and hope based upon what the future may hold is brought to view beyond the darkness of present day despair. Then only do we feel the force and truth of his depiction and our hearts are sometimes deeply moved.

Some Spanish critics have called attention to inaccuracies in his style and to provincialisms in his parlance. Such slips might easily occur in the case of a Valencian writing in Castilian, but his occasional imperfections and lack of grace or elegance may have been in a measure due to the extraordinary rapidity of his production. Pedantic particularity in detail is hardly to be expected of a man so ardent and so strong.

Blasco Ibáñez has made for himself through unrelenting energy and uncompromising bravery vast numbers of friends and admirers in Spain and in the world at large, but the bitterness of his attacks on institutions of the church and on the government in Spain have aroused powerful foes at

home and abroad as well. True, he was imprisoned and banished for his freedom of speech; strange it is almost that he escaped death; perhaps it was because he held the syspathy of the people at large; for probably he has appealed to a wider circle than any of his contemporaries.

Blasco Ibáñez is still comparatively young, and his output may be vastly increased before his work is done. Grand things he may yet achieve. But he is not likely to confine himself again to material exclusively Spanish. He has become a cosmopolitan on a grand scale; he belongs to the world at large which he now depicts.

His protest against the torpor and somnolence of Spaniards has been more vigorous and defiant than that of any of his great contemporaries, and the reawakening of Spain that is rapidly proceeding is in no small measure the result of his undaunted efforts. One of the chief purposes of his life has been to arouse his people, to educate them, to show thgm the awful consequences of ignorance, of superstition, and of blindly worshipping obsolete ideals. If the blessings of enlightenment come in the course of time to the masses of his loved countrymen, as Blasco Ibáñez hopes and expects, they will owe him a debt of gratitude from which they cannot be absolved.

COMMERCE OF THE PRAIRIES AND DR. GREGG

By A. J. MORRISON

It is now a hundred years since the caravan trade began between Missouri in the United States and Sante Fé in the Empire, or Republic, of Mexico. We shall, of course, never comprehend the political psychology of our grand-parents if we lose sight of the fact that before the fall of 1821 Spain came rather close up to Kansas City; and further, that for many years after 1821 it was exactly as far from Kansas City to the new Mexico as it had been to the younger Spain. These are simple propositions in the statement, and reference may be had to the map at any time; but it is difficult enough for the imagination really to take hold of the items involved. We say "United States" today, and the mind is apt at once to sweep from ocean to ocean. But our grandparents, whether they were homekeeping or pioneers, had Spain at the back of their minds, because Spain was at the back of their country. Anyhow, today we must look overseas if we would find what might hedge us in. That search may be the duty of our governors and our philosophers, but the people at large between the oceans are not much bothering.

It was France certainly more than Spain that bothered our roving ancestors for some time with respect to the limits of British America. The pioneer came West, as who should say a piece, and then found it prudent to stop for the French Americans, and maybe turned south. Note the progress of the Gregg family. About 1682 William Gregg, from the north of Ireland, settled as a Quaker in Pennsylvania. His grandson, William Gregg, had a son named Jacob, who, becoming interested in a business way in the Quaker community of Orange County, North Carolina, finally took up residence in Orange County on Cane Creek. Jacob Gregg was living there in 1771, more or less of a Regulator-a person, that is