"The schools are open only on week-days and the cockpits on holidays.

Then convert these into schoolhouses, at least during the week." "Man, man, man!" "What a lovely idea!" "What's the matter with you, Don Custodio ?" "That's a grand suggestion!" "That beats them all!" "But, gentlemen," cried Don Custodio, in answer to so many exclamations, "let's be practical--what places are more suitable than the cockpits?
They're large, well constructed, and under a curse for the use to which they are put during the week-days.

From a moral standpoint my project would be acceptable, by serving as a kind of expiation and weekly purification of the temple of chance, as we might say." "But the fact remains that sometimes there are cockfights during the week," objected Padre Camorra, "and it wouldn't be right when the contractors of the cockpits pay the government--" [23] "Well, on those days close the school!" "Man, man!" exclaimed the scandalized Captain-General.

"Such an outrage shall never be perpetrated while I govern! To close the schools in order to gamble! Man, man, I'll resign first!" His Excellency was really horrified.
"But, General, it's better to close them for a few days than for months." "It would be immoral," observed Padre Irene, more indignant even than his Excellency.
"It's more immoral that vice has good buildings and learning none.

Let's be practical, gentlemen, and not be carried away by sentiment.