Spain: Night Must Fall

The Spaniard's greatest contribution to modern society has been his dogged refusal to conform to it—especially to its drab, workaday timetable. No self-respecting Madrileno would think of lunching before 2 p.m., or returning to the office before 4. Matinees in Madrid begin at 7 p.m.. evening performances at 11. The cocktail hour starts at 8:30, and until he sits down to his supper at some undeterminable time after 10 p.m., the Spaniard believes it is still afternoon.

All that is about to change—or is it?

A government decree, perpetrated on the shabby pretext that production and efficiency must be improved, laid down...