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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d0f2ddf --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52968 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52968) diff --git a/old/52968-0.txt b/old/52968-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9ac3525..0000000 --- a/old/52968-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10635 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Readings from Modern Mexican Authors, by Frederick Starr - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Readings from Modern Mexican Authors - -Author: Frederick Starr - -Release Date: September 2, 2016 [EBook #52968] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - [etext transcriber's note: The editor’s spelling of - Spanish words and names has not been corrected.] - - - - - - READINGS - - FROM - - MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS - - BY - - FREDERICK STARR - - CHICAGO - - THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY - - LONDON: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LTD. - - 1904 - - - - - Copyrighted, 1904 - BY - FREDERICK STARR - CHICAGO - - - - - THIS LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED - - TO - - SEÑOR DON VICTORIANO AGÜEROS, - - AUTHOR OF _Escritores Mexicanos Contemporaneos_, - - EDITOR OF _El Tiempo_, - - PUBLISHER OF _La Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos_, - - FAITHFUL FRIEND, VALUED HELPER. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -Eduardo Noriega 1 - -Antonio García Cubas 15 - -Joaquín García Icazbalceta 26 - -Agustin Rivera 43 - -Alfredo Chavero 59 - -Julio Zárate 77 - -José María Vigil 87 - -Primo Feliciano Velásquez 94 - -Juan F. Molina Solis 106 - -Luis Gonzales Obregón 118 - -Francisco Sosa 132 - -Julio Guerrero 150 - -Alejandro Villaseñor y Villaseñor 168 - -Rafael Ángel de la Peña 181 - -Ignacio Montes de Oca y Obregón 189 - -Ignacio M. Altamirano 204 - -Victoriano Agüeros 216 - -Manuel Gustavo Antonio Revilla 228 - -José Peon y Contreras 243 - -José María Roa Bárcena 259 - -Justo Sierra 275 - -Victoriano Salado Álbarez 288 - -Ireneo Paz 301 - -José López-Portillo y Rojas 313 - -Manuel Sánches Mármol 334 - -Porfirio Parra 358 - -Emilio Rabasa 373 - -Rafael Delgado 392 - -Federico Gamboa 405 - - - - -PREFACE. - - -When I began visiting Mexico, in 1894, my knowledge of Mexican authors -was limited to those who had written upon its archæology and -ethnography. Even the names of its purely literary writers were unknown -to me. My first acquaintance with these came from reading some of the -writings of Icazbalceta, a critical historian of whom any nation might -well be proud, and a man of literary ability. I then sought the books of -other Mexican authors and have been accustomed, when in Mexico, to read -only those, in such hours of leisure as travel and work have left me. -This reading has led me to prepare this little book, in the hope that it -may introduce, to some of my countrymen, the literary men of the -neighboring Republic. - -I call the book Readings from _Modern_ Mexican Authors; I might almost -have said _Living_ Mexican Authors, for my intention has been to include -only such. I have, for personal reasons, made two exceptions--including -Icazbalceta and Altamirano. This I have done because I owe much to their -writings and because both were living, when I first visited Mexico. - -Mexican authors write, to a notable degree, for periodical publications. -Many Mexican newspapers devote space to literary matter and many -extensive works in fiction, in history, in social science and political -economy have appeared as brief chapters in newspapers and have never -been reprinted. Mexico is remarkably fond, also, of literary journals, -most of which have a brief existence. Many of the writings of famous -Mexican writers exist only in one or other of these forms of fugitive -publication, and are almost inaccessible. The tendency to republish in -book form grows, however, and Señor Agüeros is doing an excellent work, -with his _Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos_ (Library of Mexican Authors), -now carried to more than fifty volumes, in which the collected works of -good authors, past and present, are being printed. - -Of course, many authors have been omitted from my list, some of whom may -have well deserved inclusion; I have omitted none for personal reasons. -Specialists, unless they have written literary works outside of their -especial field of study, have been intentionally omitted. Men like -Nicolás Leon, Herréra, Orvañanos, Belmar, Batres, could not be left out -in a history of Mexican literature, but their writings do not lend -themselves to translation of brief passages to represent the literary -spirit of the country. - -It has not been easy to devise a definite plan of arrangement for my -selections, but the matter is roughly grouped in the following -order--Geography, History, Biography, Public Questions, Literature, -Drama, Narrative, Fiction. One demand, made of all the material, is that -it shall show Mexico, Mexican life, Mexican thought. Every selection is -Mexican in topic and in color; together the selections form a series of -Mexican pictures painted by Mexican hands. - -I hesitate at my final remark, because it will sound like a lame excuse -for failure. It is not such. In these translations I have not aimed at a -finished English form. I have, intentionally, made them extremely -literal; I have sometimes selected an uncouth English word if it exactly -translates the author, have frequently followed the Mexican form and -order of words, and have even allowed my punctuation to be affected by -the original. To the English critic the result will be unpleasing, but -to those who wish to know Mexico and Mexican thought, it will be a gain. -And it is for these that my little book is written. - - * * * * * - -The sections dealing with Icazbalceta, López-Portillo, Altamirano, -Agüeros, Roa Bárcena, Obregón and Chavero, were originally published in -_Unity_. Part of the matter relative to Guerrero, has been printed in -the _American Journal of Sociology_. - - - - -READINGS FROM MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS. - - - - -EDUARDO NORIEGA. - -[Illustration] - - -Eduardo Noriega was born in the city of Mexico on October 4, 1853. He -came of a notable family of Liberals, his father being General Domingo -Noriega, and his brother Carlos, being, at the time of his death, -adjutant-colonel to President Juarez. Eduardo was educated in the -_Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School), where he -spent five years and received his bachelor’s degree. Since that time he -has dedicated himself to literary work and to teaching. - -He has written both prose and poetry. Besides two volumes of verse, he -has printed a number of monologues--among them _Primeros nubes_ (First -clouds), _El mejor Diamante_ (The better diamond) and _La hija de la -caridad_ (The daughter of charity). He has translated dramatic writings -and has himself written two plays. From the age of forty years he has -confined his teaching and writing to scientific subjects. He holds the -chair of History and Geography in the _Escuela de Comercio y -Administracion_ (School of Commerce and Administration). He is author of -a _Geografía general_ (General geography), which has gone through two -editions, of a capital _Geografía de Mexico_, and of a handy _Atlas de -Mexico miniatura_ (Miniature atlas of Mexico) which is in its third -edition. - -Eduardo Noriega is a directing member of the _Sociedad Mexicana de -Geografía y Estadistica_ (Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics) -and many valuable papers read by him before that body are printed in its -Bulletin. - -Our selections are taken from his _Geografía de Mexico_. A school -text-book of geography is hardly a promising place in which to seek -examples of literary value, but in his descriptions Noriega often shows -facility in expression and felicity in statement. - - -CLIMATIC ZONES OF MEXICO. - -The climatic contrasts occasioned by the mountainous relief, are sharply -produced only in the middle portion of the Republic, that is to say, in -the central _mesa_ and upon the slopes of the _cordillera_. The section -from one coast to the other, from Vera Cruz to Acapulco, for example, is -the line best situated for observing well-marked climatic changes. - -The low zone of the seaboard contains, at once, the marshes and the -barren sands of the coast, the well-watered open plains, and the lower -slopes, where the luxuriant branchings of a thousand differing trees -mingle and crowd, closely bound together by festoons of trailing and -pendent vines, forming lovely masses of verdure, sprinkled through with -fruits of many and brilliant colors, which stand out conspicuously from -the magnificent, chlorophyll-laden foliage, and above all of which tower -the graceful forms of palm trees. To such a charming tropical -combination is given the name--_tierra caliente_ (hot land). - -Within this range, where the temperature passes 23° C., there are places -which must be included among the hottest on the globe; such, for -example, is the port of La Paz, in Lower California. The high -temperature of this region, gave to it the name, derived from the words -_calida fornax_, which signify _hot oven_. - -Above the two seaboard zones, one sloping toward the Gulf, the other -toward the Pacific, rises the _tierra templada_ (temperate land), at an -altitude of from 1000 m. to 2000 m., but higher in the south than in the -north. This region corresponds to the southwest of Europe, not so much -in climate--for it has no winter--as in mean temperature, productivity -and salubrity. - -Lastly, the central tableland, the part of the territory where the -maguey is cultivated with notable profit and every class of cereals is -produced, constitutes the _tierra fria_ (cold land). It is the most -populous part of the Republic. - -In the high valleys, as those of Toluca and Mexico, the descent of the -mercurial column often shows considerable falls of temperature; in -winter the column reaches 8° or 10° below 0 C. and frosts are frequent. -In general, however, the winters are mild. The mean temperature is from -13° to 14° C. - -In many places exceptional conditions have brought the vegetable areas -into abrupt juxtaposition; thus, while upon the summit of some ridge, -only plants of European character may live and flourish, in the plains -surrounding it are seen palms and bananas. From the summit of the great -volcanoes, the three superposed zones may be clearly seen, at once. - -The rapid communication, which today happily exists, presents to the -traveler the marvelous opportunity of passing, in a few hours, through -the three distinct regions of which we speak, which in other parts of -the globe are separated by thousands of kilometres. - -In some places these zones remain clearly distinguished from one -another, but this is exceptional, since commonly they crowd upon each -other, mingling one with another by imperceptible transitions. It is -common to mention some certain place as belonging to one and the other -zone, because the line of separation for both runs irregularly in -mountainous regions. A zone of reciprocal penetration has been formed, -on account of the multiple phenomena of temperature, of winds and of -plant groupings. So, too, cañons and slopes are met with, which, by -their vegetation, may be considered foci of _tierra caliente_, included -within the fully developed _tierra templada_. - - -POPOCATEPETL. - -The valley of Mexico lies, then, surrounded by various chains, which -are: to the north the Sierra de Pitos and its branches, of which one is -the Sierra de Guadalupe; to the east the Sierra de Zinguilacan, which -ends in an extensive ridge, channeled by deep furrows, which connect the -Sierra mentioned with the Sierra Nevada. By means of mountains and -ridges forming the Sierra de Xuchitepec, to the southeast of the valley, -the Sierra Nevada is connected with that of Ajusco, which is connected -to the southwest with that of Las Cruces, which, extending to the -northwest, forms the Cordillera de Monte Alto, which is connected, as -already stated, with the western arm of the Sierra de los Pitos. - -In all these chains there are heights of importance such as; in the -Sierra Nevada, Popocatepetl, lovely volcano, and Ixtaccihuatl, merely a -snow-cap.... Popocatepetl--smoking mountain--is the highest mountain in -Mexican territory and measures 5452 m. above sea-level. The ascent of -this colossus is full of discomforts, but when these have been endured, -the result is surprising. - -The most suitable road for the ascent is the one which goes from -Amecameca to the ranch of Tlamacas, which is situated at 3897 m. -altitude and almost at the limit of tree growth; the trees there met -with are stunted; the day temperature is 8°, and at night 0 C., in -summer. In winter these temperatures are more extreme. - -Until one thousand metres beyond the ranch some firs are seen, which are -the last; to these follows a soil covered with a dark sand, very fine -and slippery, over which the horses can scarcely make their way. Here -and there upon this sandy zone are tufts of dry grass. These gradually -disappear, until, finally, there remains no sign of vegetation. A little -later snow begins, at a place called La Cruz, to which a great wooden -cross, reared upon a heap of rocks, gives name. At this point, the line -of perpetual snow is found, at 4300 m., little more or less, above -sea-level. - -From here the ascent is made on foot, and ever over the snow. The trail -zigzags, because the slope is 24° or 25°, becoming more abrupt, until -reaching 30° and 34°, at times. The walking is, naturally, very -difficult. - -When some hundred metres have been traversed, great difficulty in -breathing begins to be experienced, the lungs feel oppressed, and every -step, every movement of the body, causes great fatigue and compels the -stopping to take breath. Feeble constitutions cannot endure the -weariness and illness which are experienced. The reflection of the sun -upon the snow is intense, for which reason the wearing of dark glasses -is necessary. The face should also be veiled, to prevent the vertigo, -which the white sheet surrounding the traveler produces toward the -middle of the journey; when the day is fine and the atmosphere clear, -the panorama is incomparably beautiful. The city of Puebla is clearly -seen, and, at a greater distance the peak of Orizaba and the Cofre of -Perote. There may also be seen, with all clearness, the summit of -Ixtaccihuatl, totally without a crater. After some four hours of travel, -the end of the journey, the summit of the volcano is reached; the last -steps are particularly difficult, because the slope is now 40° and the -rarity of the air is greater; progress is difficult. - -From the point where the crater is reached it is not easy to take full -cognizance of its depth, though the general form may be appreciated. -This is elliptical; the major diameter measures some fifty metres more -than the other. A crest of rock, of varying elevation, forms the edge, -which makes it very irregular; it is very narrow; a simple step leads -from the outer, to the inner, slope. This edge presents two heights--one -is the _Espinazo del Diablo_ (Devil’s Backbone), the other is the _Pico -Mayor_ (Greater peak), which is, as its name indicates, the highest -point of the volcano, being 150 m. higher than the Espinazo. The _Pico -Mayor_ is almost inaccessible, but its summit may, with difficulty, be -reached. - -The major diameter of the crater corresponds to the two summits named, -has some 850 m. length, and its direction is from south 20° west to -north 20° east. The transverse diameter may be estimated at 750 m., -which would give the crater a circumference of 2,500 m. In descending -from the border, the crater presents three distinct parts; a slope of -65°, a vertical wall seventy metres in height, and another slope, which -extends to the bottom. In total, the mean depth of this imposing abyss -will reach 250 m. to 300 m. - -At the place, where the vertical wall begins and the first slope ends, -there has been set up a sort of a windlass, below which an enormous -beam slopes downward toward the abyss; by this beam, and lowered by a -cord, the workmen who extract sulphur descend. - -In the bottom of the crater are four fumaroles, whence vapors escape, -which in issuing produce slight hissing sounds. Abundant deposits of -sulphur exist near these. Besides the fumaroles mentioned, there are -seven points at the borders of the crater, where gases escape, though in -less abundance; six of these points lie to the east of the major -diameter, and the seventh on the opposite side. All are inaccessible. - -The interior of the crater is formed by sheets, which form a regular -wall with vertical sides. In some places these layers are profoundly -shattered and there various species of rocks, of notably different -natures are seen; first, below, are sheets of trachyte, very compact and -rich in crystals of striated feldspar and partly decomposed amphibole; -above these more or less regular trachytic layers are beds of -well-characterized basalt--also very compact and rich in peridote; -lastly, above these layers are porous scoriæ, of dark purple color, -which indicates the presence of a considerable quantity of iron oxide. -These scoriæ must have originated from the fusion of the porphyritic -rocks. - -Every little while, at the summit, rage violent storms of snow, which -falls in thick sheets; at such times the atmospheric clouds do not -permit objects to be seen at a metre’s distance and the temperature -falls to 20° and 22° below 0 C. - -The exploitation of the sulphur is insignificant since only some -forty-eight or fifty tons are taken out, in a year; this sulphur is -distilled at the ranch of Tlamacas; it is sold in Mexico and Puebla at -the same price as that of Sicily--that of Popocatepetl being superior in -quality. The snow, too, on the side of Ozumba, is exploited, but this -exploitation is on the smallest scale. - -Various expeditions have been organized for the ascent of Popocatepetl, -some scientific in nature, others for amusement. The first was made in -1519 by Diego de Ordaz, one of the soldiers of Cortes; others followed. -In our own day, such expeditions are frequent and their results happily -verify each other. - -Ixtaccihuatl,--“white woman”--connected to Popocatepetl by a ridge of -graceful outline, rises to 5,288 m. altitude above sea-level. Down the -slopes of this mountain, several torrents, derived from the melting -snows, pour and form cascades and falls up to forty-five metres in -height. These same slopes, covered by a sheet of astonishingly rich and -luxuriant vegetation are gashed by deep crevices, in which are enormous -masses of porphyritic and basaltic rocks. Conifers form dense forests up -to 3,000 m. altitude; from there the vigor of arborescent vegetation -diminishes and at 4,000 m. it completely ceases; from that point on -there are only stretches of brambles, which completely disappear at -about 4,200 m.; then follow the sands, and, lastly, the perpetual snows, -which begin at 4,300 m. - -The crest, which is very grand and beautiful, resembles in the -arrangement of its rock masses, the form of a woman’s body, stretched at -length upon its back, and covered by a white winding sheet. From this, -the name of white woman,--_izta_, white; _cihuatl_, woman--with which -this lovely mountain was baptized by the dreamy imagination of the -Aztecs. - - -THE CAVERN OF CACAHUAMILPA. - -In the limestone mountains of Cacahuamilpa, thirty kilometres north from -Tasco, in a ravine, lies the village of the same name, near which is -situated the famous cavern, one of the most beautiful in the world, -commonly designated by the name of the _gruta de Cacahuamilpa_ (grotto -of Cacahuamilpa).... Dominating the eminence formed in the cordillera -running eastward and which has already been mentioned, is perceived the -great mouth of the cavern, with the green festoons of foliage which -adorn it and some stalactitic formations which seem to announce the -marvels of the interior. Access to this entrance is gained by a short -and narrow path. - -The mouth measures five metres in its greatest height and thirty-six -metres from side to side; after it has been traversed, there begins a -plane sloping toward the interior; the soil is sandy; shortly one -arrives at the first gallery, which is lighted by the sunlight. - -This gallery is very large; its walls are formed of enormous masses of -tilted rocks, which look as if about to fall; the spacious and lofty -vault is furrowed by broad and deep crevices and from it hang many -stalactites in the form of columns, or colossal pear-shaped masses of -marble. Crossing the broad space of this gallery, a second is reached, -where the darkness is dense and appalling, the torches scarcely dispel -the gloom, and the spirit is oppressed. - -In the first gallery the most notable concretions are “the enchanted -goat” and “the columns.” The former has lost much of its resemblance, as -the head of the goat has fallen, but the second is wonderfully -beautiful, because of its astonishing originality; its form is that of a -column adorned with a capital, in the form of a tuft of plumes, which -supports the base of a natural arch. - -The third gallery, called “the pulpit” on account of the shape of its -principal concretion is no less beautiful, grand, and imposing, than the -preceding. Here the darkness is absolute. - -Beyond this third gallery there are twelve more, very imperfectly known; -they are called--the cauliflower, the shell, the candelabrum, the -gothic tower, the palm tree, the pineapple, the labyrinth, the -fountain, and the organ-pipes. The rest have no special names. All of -these galleries are marvelously beautiful; all are extensive and have -lofty vaultings. - -The total extent of the cavern is unknown; though the guides assert that -it ends in the gallery of the organ-pipes, there are indications that -the statement is false. These indications are: the air, which, even at -such profound depths, is perfectly respirable; the lack of exploration; -the superstitious fears of the guides to go further; and, some -traditions, which declare that new galleries exist and have been -explored by persons, who report a rushing torrent producing a terrible -noise, for which reason no one cares to penetrate further. But, although -the extent of the cavern is unknown and the gallery of the organ-pipes -may not be the last, we ought not to believe the reports, which give the -cavern immense extension. For example, some say that the galleries and -ramifications extend to the mountains of Tasco, and there is one -tradition, which affirms that the cavern prolongs itself, through the -interior of the mountains which limit the Valley of Mexico on the south, -until it unites with the cavern of Teutli, near Milpa Alta. - -This tradition, although improbable, is curious; it states that some -families hid their treasure in the cave which occurs in the mountain of -Teutli; this has a very narrow entrance at first, but after some twelve -or fifteen metres broadens, forming a most beautiful cavern; this cavern -has a series of chambers, of greater or lesser size, which finally -communicate with the cave of Cacahuamilpa, more than one hundred -kilometres distant. - -The tradition cited adds that but few persons have dared to penetrate -the cave of Teutli, and on but one occasion, a herd of sheep having -entered it, some peons followed to collect and bring them out--a thing -they could not do because the animals penetrated far into the cave; -those who went in pursuit of them returned after two days of journeying -through these rough passages. - -In conclusion, it only remains to state, that the existence of the -cavern of Cacahuamilpa remained unknown to everyone, until the year -1833. Before that year, not even the Indians had entered it, because -they believed that the stalagmite in the form of a goat was a bad -spirit, that guarded the mysteries, which the cavern enclosed; but a -criminal who took refuge in it and was there during the period of his -pursuit, after which he returned to his home, astonished the inhabitants -of Tetecala by his fantastic reports; they made the first exploration -and announced their expedition, describing the wonderful cavern. Since -then, until now, expeditions have not lacked; unhappily, none of them -has been scientific. - - - - -ANTONIO GARCÍA CUBAS. - -[Illustration] - - -Antonio García Cubas was born July 24, 1832, in the City of Mexico. He -began study looking toward engineering in the year 1845, although not -actually taking the degree of engineer until 1865. His technical studies -were pursued in the _Colegio de San Gregorio_, the _Minería_ (School of -Mines), and the _Academia de San Carlos_. His studies were repeatedly -interrupted by appointments of importance and by public commissions. -Thus, in 1853 he published a general map of the Mexican Republic. Since -that date he has done much geographical and engineering work of -importance. In 1865, he served on the Scientific Commission of Pachuca. -In 1866 he did the leveling for the Mexican Railway to Tulancingo. He -published his first Atlas in 1857; in 1863, his _Carta general_ (General -map), in 1876 his _Carta administrativa_ (Administrative map), in 1878, -his _Carta orohydrographica_ (Orographic-hydrographic map), still -perhaps the best maps of Mexico, of their kind. In 1882, his great -_Atlas, geografico, estadistico, y pintoresco de la Republica Mexicana_ -(Geographical, Statistical, and Picturesque Atlas of the Mexican -Republic) was published. In addition to these and other equally -important scientific works, Señor García Cubas has written various -school books in geography, history, etc. Our selections are taken from a -little volume, _Escritos diversos_ (Miscellaneous Writings). - -The work of Señor García Cubas has received wide and well-deserved -recognition. He is a member of the Geographical Societies of Paris, -Lisbon, Madrid and Rome; he has received scores of medals and diplomas; -he holds the Cross of the Legion of Honor. In his own country he is a -member of all the scientific societies but has naturally been most -interested in the _Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadstica_ (The -Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics). He has ever been active -in movements for public advancement and among many results of his -interest we may mention the Conservatory of Music. - - -THE INDIANS OF MEXICO. - -The statistical data, imperfect though they have been, have given force -and value to the opinion, which for me is a fact, that the indigenous -race becomes debilitated and decreases in proportion as the white race -becomes strong and advances. This fact is in complete accord with the -laws of nature; the disadvantage of the indigenous race consists, for -its decrease, in its customs and in the hygienic conditions of its mode -of life. A miserable hut serves as a habitation for a numerous family -and in it, the inmates actually packed together, cannot but breathe a -polluted air; food is scanty and innutritious, while the daily -occupations are heavy and hard. Sad indeed is the sight of these unhappy -indigenes who without distinction of sex and age are encountered in our -city streets and who, exhausted under the weight of enormous burdens, -return to their villages with the miserable pittance gained from their -trading. - -If we consider the Indian from the time of his birth, or even from -before his birth, we see his life to be but a series of miseries and -abjections. The Indian women, even at the time of travail, do not cease -from their wearisome tasks and, without thought for the being who stirs -within them, occupy themselves in grinding maize and making tortillas, -labors which cannot but prove hurtful to the act of giving birth. While -the period of suckling has not passed, the child is fed with tortillas -and fruits and other foods unsuited to its digestive powers, causing by -such imprudence diarrhœas and other diseases, which carry the -children to the grave or, as they grow, leaves them infirm and feeble. -Smallpox, in consequence of the neglect of the parents and their -indifference to vaccination, causes frightful ravages--the disease being -most pernicious in the indigenous race. - -Such statistics as I possess of the movement of population in the pueblo -of Ixtacalco, while they indicate that the Civil Registry has not yet -extended its dominion to that pueblo, corroborate the opinion that the -decrease of the race is mainly due to infant mortality. - - In 1868 there were born 165 - There died 190 - --- - Loss 25 - -In this mortality there were one hundred and forty children. In the year -1869, although the data show an augmentation of fifty-nine persons in -the population, the infant deaths number sixty-five, to thirty-four of -adults. - -One fact ought to particularly call our attention because it proves that -the degradation of the race is not in its constitution but in the -customs of its members. The Indian women of the villages near the -Capital, hiring themselves out as nurses in private homes, rear -healthful and robust children, because in their new employment they -improve their condition, by enforced cleanliness, by good food, and by -the total change in their hygienic conditions. But this very -circumstance is a serious misfortune for the race, the women impelled by -the desire to gain better wages, abandoning their own children to the -mercenary cares of other women, as if the lack of a mother’s love and -care could be made good! - -Another of the reasons which, in my opinion, cause the degeneration of -the indigenous race, is that marriage takes place unwisely and -prematurely. According to medical opinion, the nubile age of woman in -our country is eighteen years, in the hot lands fourteen; between -medical theory and actual practice there is an enormous difference. As -regards the Indians, frequently union occurs between a woman scarcely -arrived at the term of her development and a man of forty years or more, -entirely developed and robust; as a consequence, the woman becomes -debilitated and infirm and her children are weak and degenerate. - -If to these causes, which operate so powerfully toward the decrease of -the indigenous race, is added the sensible diminution it has suffered in -our civil wars,--since the indigenous race supplies far the larger part -of the army--the truth of my assertion seems fully corroborated. - - -THE SEASONS IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO. - -Few must be the places in the world which, from the picturesque and -poetical point of view, surpass in beauty the Valley of Mexico. The -varied phenomena, which the seasons of the year there present, -powerfully contribute to this. - -Some European savants assert that the seasons of the year are, in the -intertropical regions, reduced to two, the dry and rainy seasons. In our -country this assertion is without foundation. The truth is, that, in -those regions, weather variations less sharply determine seasonal -changes than in the temperate zones; but, in the Valley of Mexico -seasonal changes really take place as shown by the beautiful fresh -mornings of its Spring, prodigal in exquisite and varied flowers; the -hot days of its rainy Summer, rich in delicious fruits; the warm -afternoons of Autumn with its wondrously beautiful drifting clouds, and -the cold nights of Winter, with its clear and starry sky. - -As the last hours of night shorten in the lovely season of Spring, the -deep darkness which envelopes the earth’s surface dissipates little by -little and objects become visible as the delicate light of dawn -gradually invades the east. The sun’s rays, propagating themselves with -a constant undulatory movement, cause successive reflections and -refractions, in the atmosphere and clouds, scattering the light in every -direction and permitting the distinguishing of objects not yet directly -illuminated by that body. If this light, known by the name of diffused -or scattered light, did not exist, the shadow cast by a cloud, or by any -object whatever, would produce the darkness of night, and--there being -no twilight--the sun would appear on the horizon suddenly and in full -splendor. - -The sweet trills of the goldfinch, the warbling of other birds, the -harmonious sound of bells, which announce in the towns the hour of dawn, -and the laborer, who betakes himself to the field, with his oxen, to -begin his daily labors, mark the moments in which the splendid rays of -the sun, which precede the rising of the luminary, diffuse themselves -through the transparent fluid of the atmosphere. Before the sun mounts -above the horizon the eastern heavens are successively colored with the -brilliant tints of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple; the limit of -the white light of dawn, extending in the form of an arch through space, -rapidly advances toward the zenith, while, at the same time, the upper -heavens about that point, gradually acquire the most intense hue of -azure. - -The crest of the eastern cordillera sharpens and defines itself against -a background of rose and gold; the majestic snow caps of Popocatepetl -and Iztaccihuatl, which rise as two colossi in order to display the -beauties of the sunrise, feebly illuminated on their western flanks by -the diffused light, appear as if made of Bohemian crystal. At times a -dense column of smoke, rendered visible by the whiteness of dawn, issues -from the crater of Popocatepetl, demonstrating the constant activity of -this volcano, which retains evidences of tremendous activity. - -When the sun, rising above the horizon, pursues its upward march, it -presents a beautiful spectacle, difficult of description. Its disc, red -and apparently increased in size, on account of atmospheric refraction, -presents itself surrounded by a luminous aureole, and gradually -diminishes in diameter as it mounts higher. The antecrepuscular curve -submerged in the horizon, the west acquires the same succession of tints -and the upper part of the sky is colored with a brilliant, most vivid -blue. - -From that moment the surroundings of the Capital city are most charming. -Chapultepec, with its many and limpid springs, its picturesque rock -mass, its poetic palace and its dense grove of ancient cypresses, from -the branches of which depend masses of gray moss--the honored locks of -their hoary age; Tacubaya with its palaces, its parks, and gardens; -Mixcoac with its pleasing environs and its lanes of fruit trees; San -Angel, Coyoacan, and Tlalpam, with their clear brooks, their gardens, -their fields, and their pretty glades, covered with plants, trees, and -interlacing climbers. - -In all these places one enjoys the intoxicating freshness of the -morning, the attractiveness of the fields, the breathing of the fresh -air loaded with the perfume of flowers. There swarms of butterflies, -with gleaming and brilliant wings, display their beauties and -humming-birds, those precious winged gems which, endowed with an -extraordinary flight, cleave the air like an exhalation, or, sucking -honey from some flower, suspended in space, incessantly beat their wings -and expose the green and pearly lustre of their plumage to the -reflections of the sun. - -South of the capital, the soil differs from that of the places -mentioned. There the camelia, the lily, the Bengal-rose, and the other -exquisite flowers of careful cultivation are not met; but there, in the -_chinampas_, those artificial islands which have converted swamps into -lovely gardens, grow the luxuriant poppy, the purple pink, the elegant -dahlia, the perfumed violet, and the fragrant rose of Castile. - -The canal which unites the lakes of Texcoco and Xochimilco in the days -of Spring is to be seen covered with canoes loaded with flowers and -vegetables bound for the city markets; and everyone, who has -participated in the Lenten festivities of the Viga, will ever remember, -with delight, the animation that constantly reigns in that place, where -the common people finds its greatest joy. It may be said that there is -the place of the festival of Spring and flowers. - - * * * * * - -Summer, in the Valley, as the other seasons of the year, has its -especial attractiveness. - -The atmospheric strata being unequally expanded by the fierce heat from -the earth’s surface, the order or arrangement of the layers in contact -with the soil is, so to say, inverted. It is well known that the lower -layers of air have the greater density, from the fact that the upper -layers weigh down upon them; from the earth’s surface upward there is a -gradual decrease in density until the last, the lightest and most -subtle, which is called ether. This general law being interfered with by -the expansion of the lower layers, refraction of the light rays,--or the -deviation which they suffer in passing from one medium into another of -differing density--takes place in a manner contrary to that when the -atmospheric layers are normally superposed, and the mirage[1] is -produced, an optical illusion, which causes us to see objects, below the -horizon or in the air, inverted. - -In the dry and level stretches in the north of the Valley, one -frequently sees the thick vapor stretch itself out over the surface of -the ground, and upon it, inverted, are portrayed the mountains with all -their irregularities and details, as if reproduced in a limpid mirror of -waters. - -The mirage is yet more interesting, more wonderful, in the Lake of -Texcoco, though the phenomenon is there less frequent. On clear days, -from the shore, one sees the full extent of the lake and the -tranquillity of its water. Miserable, frail canoes, the form of which -has not varied since the days of the conquest, are seen crossing the -lake, loaded with grains and vegetables for the Mexican markets. The -unsteady and narrow _chalupas_ of the fishermen and flower-dealers -rapidly cleave the watery surface and only the creaking of the oars, or -the notes of the monotonous songs of the boatmen break the silence of -the solitude. - -When the temperature of the water of the lake is less than that of the -air with which it is in contact, those little crafts suddenly disappear -from the surface of the water and are seen, inverted, floating in the -air, coursing to the stroke of the oars, through a shifting sea of -clouds. - - - - -JOAQUÍN GARCÍA ICAZBALCETA. - -[Illustration] - - -No name better deserves to be first mentioned in the list of modern -Mexican writers than that of Joaquín García Icazbalceta. He was born in -the City of Mexico Aug. 25, 1825. His father was a Spaniard, his mother -a Mexican. On account of the disorders connected with the Revolution, -his parents left Mexico, going first to the United States and later to -Spain, where they remained until 1836. In that year they returned to -Mexico. The boy showed early earnestness in study and was well -instructed by private tutors. He was acquainted with and encouraged by -the great historian, Lucas Alaman, who no doubt had much to do with his -decision, about 1846, to devote himself to historical study. - -The list of his works is a long one. He translated Prescott’s _Conquest -of Peru_ into Spanish and enriched it with valuable notes. To the well -known _Diccionario Universal de Historia y Geografía_ (Universal -Dictionary of History and Geography) he contributed the biographical -sketches of many personages of the sixteenth century. In 1858 he began -publishing the _Coleccion de Documentos para la Historia de México_ -(Collection of Documents for the History of Mexico), two volumes of -ancient, and for the most part unknown, matter of the highest value. -This was continued by the publication in 1870 of Mendieta’s _Historia -Ecclesiastica Indiana_ (Ecclesiastical History of the Indians). Still -later in 1886-1892 these volumes were followed by four similar volumes -under the name _Nueva Coleccion de Documentos para la Historia de -México_ (New Collection of Documents for the History of Mexico). These -papers were all original works, many of them from the sixteenth century, -of the greatest importance and interest, and most, if not all, of them -would have been lost or never known but for Icazbalceta’s care. In -publishing this matter our author always added notes and explanations, -characterized by lucidity, interest, and learning. Two important works -were published in 1875 and 1877--_México en 1554_ (Mexico in 1554) and -_Coloquios espirituales y sacramentales y Poesias sagradas_ (Spiritual -and Sacramental Colloquies and Sacred Poems). The former was a reprint -of three interesting dialogues in Latin by Francisco Cervantes Salazar; -the book is most rare; Icazbalceta printed the original Latin text with -a Spanish translation and added his usual valuable notes. The other -book, chiefly composed of religious dramas for popular representation, -was by Fernan Gonzales de Eslava, who was by no means a mean poet. In -reprinting this curious sixteenth century book Icazbalceta practically -traced the whole history of the religious play in Mexico of the past. No -Mexican bibliographer has done more important work than Icazbalceta. Two -works in this line need special mention. His _Apuntes para un Catalogo -de Escritores en lenguas indigenas de America_ (Notes for a Catalogue of -Writers in the Native Languages of America) is not only interesting in -itself, but has been the necessary foundation for everything since -written regarding Mexican languages. As for his _Bibliografía Mexicana -del siglo xvi._ (Mexican Bibliography of the Sixteenth Century), it is a -wonderful work, representing forty years of labor. “It is a systematic -catalogue of books printed in Mexico in the years between 1539 and -1600, with biographies of authors and various illustrations, facsimiles -of ancient title pages, extracts from rare books, bibliographic notes, -etc., etc.” It is far more--it is really a restoration of the life of -that wonderful age in American letters. In biography our author is -eminently happy; he usually loves and reverences his subject. In 1881 he -published his _Don Fray Juan de Zumárraga, Primer Obispo y Arzobispo de -México_ (Friar Juan de Zumarraga, first bishop and archbishop of -Mexico). It is a magnificent example of such work. Another subject -of his love was Alegre, and besides a biography of him he -wrote--1889--_Opusculos ineditos Latinos y Castellanos de Francisco -Javier Alegre_ (The Unpublished Works, Latin and Spanish, of Francisco -Javier Alegre). Icazbalceta’s last great work was _Diccionario de -Provincialismos Mexicanos_ (Dictionary of Mexican Provincialisms). This -was passing through the press at the time of his death, November 26, -1894. - -Many of Icazbalceta’s choicest writings were monographs of no great -length prepared for reading before the Mexican Academy or other -organizations of which he was a member. These always show the same -careful gathering of facts, the same just criticism, and the same -literary character as his greater works. Our selections--all but -one--are from such a discourse read before the academy in June and July, -1882, entitled, _El instruccion publica en México durante el siglo -xvi._ (Public Instruction in Mexico during the Sixteenth Century). The -other is from a paper--_Los Medicos de México en el siglo xvi._ (The -Physicians of Mexico in the Sixteenth Century). These passages will no -doubt surprise many readers, who have been pleased to believe that -Spain’s policy was to hold its conquered territories in deep ignorance. - - -THE EARLY MISSIONARIES. - -When the first Spanish missionaries arrived, they faced that great mass -of uncivilized folk, which it was necessary to convert and civilize in a -single day. Today there exist an enormous number of establishments and -private teachers for educating youth in classes, graded with relation to -ages; there were then twelve men for millions of children and adults, -who begged, in concert, for light, and light which it was impossible to -deny them, because it was not merely a matter of human culture, which -most important as it is, did not then occupy the first place; but of -opening the eyes to blind heathen and of making them take the straight -road for attaining the salvation of their souls. The matter then seemed -serious; it was really still more so, because the new teachers had never -heard the language of their pupils. But what may not devotion -accomplish? Those venerable men quickly mastered the unknown language -and then others and others as they met them; they understood, or rather -they divined, the peculiar character of the population, and at once -converted, instructed, and protected it. The first missionaries and -those who followed after them, were certainly no common men; almost all -were educated; many like Fathers Tecto, Gaona, Focher, Vera Cruz, and -others had shone in professorships and prelacies; they were of noble -birth, and three of them, Fathers Gante, Witte, and Daciano, felt royal -blood coursing through their veins. All renounced the advantages -promised by a brilliant career; all forgot their hard gained learning to -devote themselves to the primary instruction of the poor and unprotected -Indians. What inflated doctor, what betitled professor today would -accept a primary school in an obscure village? - -The Franciscans went everywhere rearing temples to the true God, and -with them schools for children. They gave to their principal convents a -special plan; the church set from east to west and the school, with its -dormitories and chapel at right angles to it, stretching to the north. -The square of buildings was completed by the ample court, which served -for teaching the Christian doctrine to adults, in the morning before -work, and also for the sons of the _macehuales_ or plebeians who came to -receive religious instruction; the school building was reserved for the -sons of nobles and lords; although this distinction was not rigidly -observed. - -At first the friars found great difficulty in gathering together boys to -fill these schools, because the Indians were not yet capable of -understanding the importance of the new discipline and refused to give -their boys to the monasteries. They had to appeal to the government that -it should compel the lords and principal men to send their sons to the -schools; first experiment in compulsory education. Many of the lords, -not caring to give up their children, but not daring to disobey, adopted -the expedient of sending, in place of their own sons, and as if they -were these, other boys, sons of their servants or vassals. But in time, -perceiving the advantage these plebeian boys, by education, were gaining -over their masters, they sent their sons to the monasteries, and even -insisted on their being admitted. The boys dwelt in the lodgings built -for the purpose in connection with the schools, some so spacious as to -suffice for eight hundred or a thousand. The friars devoted themselves -by preference to the children, as being--from their youth--more docile -and apt to learn, and found in them most useful helpers. Soon they -employed them as teachers. The adults brought from their wards by their -leaders, came to the patios and remained there during the hours set for -instruction, after which they were free for their ordinary occupations. -Divided into groups, one of the best instructed boys taught to each -group the lesson learned from the missionary. - - -PEDRO DE GANTE’S WORK. - -Although you know the fact well, gentlemen, you would not forgive me -should I omit mentioning the work which the noted lay brother, Pedro de -Gante, blood relative of the Emperor Charles V., did in the direction of -instructing the Indians. He was not the founder of the College of San -Juan de Letran, as is generally stated, but of the great school of San -Francisco, in Mexico, which he directed during a half century. This was -constructed, as was customary, behind the convent church, extending -toward the north, and contiguous to the famous chapel of San José de -Belem de Naturales--the first church of Mexico, the old cathedral -included. There our lay brother brought together fully a thousand boys, -to whom he imparted religious and civil instruction. Later he added the -study of Latin, of music, and of singing, by which means he did a great -service to the clergy, because from there went forth musicians and -singers for all the churches. Not satisfied with this achievement, he -brought together also adults, with whom he established an industrial -school. He provided the churches with painted or sculptured figures; -with embroidered ornaments, sometimes with designs interspersed of the -feather work, in which the Indians were so distinguished; with crosses, -with candlestick standards, and many other objects necessary for church -service, no less than with workmen for the construction of the churches -themselves, for he had in that school painters, sculptors, engravers, -stonecutters, carpenters, embroiderers, tailors, shoemakers, and other -trades workers. He attended to all and was master of all. The gigantic -efforts of that immortal lay brother cause genuine admiration--who -without other resources than his indomitable energy, born of his warm -charity, reared from the foundations and sustained for so many years a -magnificent church, a hospital and a great establishment, which was at -once a primary school, a college of higher instruction and religious -teaching, an academy of the fine arts, and a trades school, in fine a -center of civilization. - - -INSTRUCTION BY HIEROGLYPHS. - -Industrial schools, compulsory education, these seem to us usually -modern ideas; but these old teachers knew something of object teaching, -of adapting methods to varying conditions. Thus: - -They completed the instruction by the use of signs, and it may be -imagined that the result was little or nothing. Desirous of hastening -the instruction and realizing that what enters by the eye engraves -itself more easily upon the mind, they devised the idea of painting the -mysteries of religion upon a canvas. Friar Jacob de Tastera, a -Frenchman, was the first, it seems, who tested this method. He did not -know the language, but he showed the Indians the chart and caused one -of the brighter among them, who knew something of Spanish, to explain -the meaning of the figures to the others. The other friars followed his -example and the system continued in use much time. They were also -accustomed to hang the necessary charts upon the wall, and the -missionary, as he made the doctrinal explanations, indicated with a -pointer the corresponding chart. The Indians accustomed to painting -hieroglyphs adopted them for writing catechisms and prayerbooks for -their own use, but varying the old form and interspersing here and there -words written with European letters, from which there resulted a new -species of mixed writing, of which curious examples are preserved, some -of which are in my possession. They made use of the same method of -jotting down a record of their sins that they might not forget them at -the time of going to the confessional. The use of the pictures was so -pleasing to the Indians that it lasted all that century and a part of -the following. In 1575 Archbishop Moya de Contreras substituted with -announcements in pictures, papal bulls which failed to come from Spain; -and the well known French writer, Friar Juan Bautista, caused figures to -be engraved--after the seventeenth century had begun--for use in -teaching the Indians of that time the doctrine. - - -THE UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO. - -The famous University of Mexico was opened in 1553, almost seventy years -before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Literary contests of a -public character were not infrequent: - -The doors of the university opened, there entered by them a great number -of youth, who waited with impatience the moment of commencing or -prosecuting their studies. So Cervantes Salazar testifies in the -description which he wrote of the institution, the year following its -establishment. Soon the literary exercises began and notable was the -ardor with which the students engaged in scholastic disputations, to -which, as Cervantes says, night alone put an end. The learned men who -were already in Mexico hastened to connect themselves with the -university, among them Archbishop Montufar. Nothing was omitted to add -to the luster of the new school, since there were given to it the -privileges of the University of Salamanca and the title Royal and -Pontifical. From it sallied many alumni as teachers, or to occupy high -positions in church and state. It was really, as its founders had -planned, a source of supply (nursery) of educated men, which in large -measure obviated the necessity of bringing such from Europe, and there -were even some who _there_ brilliantly displayed the education which -they had received in the schools of Mexico. - - -A LITERARY FESTIVAL. - -In the year 1578, on the occasion of the arrival at Mexico of a great -quantity of sacred relics, presented by Pope Gregory XIII. to the -Jesuits, it was decided to celebrate a brilliant festival. Upon the -announcement of this, many distinguished persons and a multitude of -others betook themselves to Mexico. An official proclamation, given -forth beforehand with much ceremony, announced a program of seven -literary controversies. The procession with the sacred relics sallied -from the cathedral, and on the way to the Church of the Jesuits, where -they were to be deposited, there were reared five magnificent triumphal -arches ‘at least fifty feet high.’ Besides these more important ones, -the Indians constructed more than fifty, made of boughs and flowers -according to their custom. All the doors and windows of the houses were -adorned with rich tapestries, Flemish stuffs embroidered with gold and -silk. In the arches, as at the corners, and in the little ornamental -shrines which decorated the line of march, there were displayed placards -and shields with inscriptions, sentences, and poetical verses in Latin, -Spanish, and even in Greek and Hebrew. At each arch the procession -paused to see and hear dances, sports, music, and poems. During the -space of eight days, in the afternoons, upon platforms erected for the -purpose, the students of the different schools in turn represented -religious plays. One of these was the tragedy of the persecution of the -church under Diocletian and the prosperity which followed, with the -reign of Constantine. This drama, which still exists in printed form, -was undoubtedly a work of the Jesuit professors. Delighted with its -rendition the populace demanded its repetition, which took place the -following Sunday. - - -INDIAN LANGUAGES. - -An immense field is opened before my view, in the linguistic and -historic works, which we owe to the sixteenth century. On their arrival -the missionaries found themselves face to face with a language entirely -unknown to the inhabitants of the Old World; and as they progressed with -their apostolic labors they discovered with pain that this land, where -the curse of Babel seems to have fallen with especial weight, was full -of different languages, of all forms and structures, some polished, -others barbarous, for which they had neither interpreters, nor teachers, -nor books, and for the most part not even a people of culture who spoke -them. That difficulty in itself would suffice to discourage the most -intrepid mind; but there did not in the world exist anything which could -quench the fire of charity with which the missionaries were aglow. They -undertook the contest with the hundred-headed monster and vanquished -him. Today the study of a group of languages, or even of one tongue, -raises the fame of the philologist to the clouds, although he usually -finds the way pathed out for him by previous labors; but the -missionaries learned, or rather divined all, from the first beginnings; -a single man at times attacked five or six of these languages without -analogy, without a common filiation, without known alphabet, with -nothing that might facilitate the task. Today such investigations are -made, for the most part, in the tranquillity and shelter of the study; -then, in the fields, the groves, upon the roads, under the open sky, in -the midst of fatigues of the mission journey, of hunger, of lack of -clothing, of sleeplessness. - -The missionaries did not undertake such heavy tasks to attain fame; they -did not compare the languages, nor treat them in a scientific way; they -tried to reduce them all to the plan of Latin; but they went straight to -the practical end of making themselves comprehensible to the natives, -and laid firm foundations, upon which might be reared a magnificent -structure. The linguistic section of our literature is one of those -which most highly honor it, and this, although we know but a portion of -it. Countless are the writings which have remained unpublished, either -for lack of patronage to supply the cost of printing or because they -were translations of sacred texts which it was not permitted to place in -vulgar hands. Father Olmos is a notable example of the sad fate which -befell many of these writers. It is believed that he knew various -Chichimecan dialects, because he was a long time among them, and it is -certain that he wrote without counting other books, grammars, and -vocabularies of the Aztec, Huastec, and Totonac languages. Of such great -works only his Aztec grammar has survived, which, after circulating -during more than three centuries through public and private libraries, -has finally been saved, thanks to the beautiful edition of it which was -published, not in Mexico, but in Paris in 1875. In a history of Mexican -literature, notices and analysis of the books on the native -languages--today so much esteemed and studied in foreign lands--claim a -place of honor. - - -FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ. - -That same year, about the month of September, the famous Dr. Francisco -Hernandez, court physician of Philip II., arrived in Mexico. He was a -native of Toledo and was born about 1517 or 1518. Nothing is known of -his life previous to his journey to New Spain, whither he came by royal -commission, to write the natural history of the country, with reference -to medicine. He consumed seven years in the discharge of his commission, -making continual journeys, meeting obstacles and suffering diseases -which brought him to the edge of the grave. It has been generally said -that Philip II. supplied the expenses of this expedition with regal -munificence and that it cost him 20,000 ducats; but documents published -in our days, clearly show that Hernandez was given but a modest salary, -although we do not know exactly the amount, with no assistance whatever -for his extraordinary expenses, not even for those occasioned by his -frequent journeys. Nor was he supplied the assistance usual in such -cases, and he had no other helper than his own son. In spite of all this -he was never discouraged in that great enterprise. In order to devote -himself entirely to it, he refused to practice medicine in Mexico, -‘throwing away the opportunity of gaining more than 20,000 pesos by the -practice of the healing art, and much more by occupations pursued in -this country, on account of employing myself in the service of your -majesty and in the consummation of the work’--as he himself says in a -letter to the king. Not content with describing and making drawings of -the plants and animals of New Spain he caused the efficacy of the -medicines to be practically tested in the hospitals, and availing -himself of his title of _protomedico_, convoked the practitioners then -in the city and urged them to make similar tests and to communicate the -results to him. Finally he carried to Spain, 1577, seventeen volumes of -text and illustrations, in which was the natural history; and an -additional volume containing various writings upon the customs and -antiquities of the Indians. Copies of all were left in Mexico, which -have disappeared. He wrote the work in Latin; he translated a part of it -into Spanish, and the Indians, under his direction, commenced a -translation into Aztec. - -Arrived in Spain, Hernandez suffered the severest blow possible for an -author--instead of his great work being put promptly to press, as he had -expected, it was buried in the shelves of the library of the Escorial; -to be sure with all honor, for the volumes were ‘beautifully bound in -blue leather and gilded and supplied with silver clasps and corners, -heavy and excellently worked.’ However, this magnificent dress did not -serve to protect the work, which finally perished, almost a century -later, in the great conflagration of the Escorial, which took place the -7th and 8th of June, 1671, nothing being saved except a few drawings, -just enough to augment our appreciation of the loss. Dr. Hernandez -survived his return little more than nine years, since he died February -28, 1587. - - - - -AGUSTIN RIVERA. - -[Illustration] - - -Agustin Rivera was born at Lagos (Jalisco) on February 28, 1824. For a -time he studied at the famous _Colegio de San Nicolas_, at Morelia, and, -later, at the _Seminario_ in Guadalajara. In 1848 he was licensed to -practice law and in the same year took holy orders. He taught for some -time at Guadalajara, and was, for nine years, the attorney of the -Ecclesiastical Curia. He finally removed to Lagos, the city of his -birth, where he still lives, and where his writings have been -published. In 1867, he made a journey to Europe, visiting England, -France, Italy, and Russia. His writings have been many, varied, and -extensive; the complete list of his books and pamphlets, includes -ninety-four titles. Among the best known and most widely mentioned are -his _Compendio de la Historia antigua de Mexico_ (Compend of the Ancient -History of Mexico), _Principios criticos sobre el vireinato de la Nueva -España_ (Critical Observations upon the Vice-Royalty of New Spain), and -_La Filosofía en Nueva España_ (Philosophy in New Spain). Two pamphlets, -_Viaje á las Ruinas de Chicomoztoc_ (Journey to the Ruins of -Chicomoztoc) and _Viaje á las Ruinas del Fuerte del Sombrero_ (Journey -to the Ruins of the Fort of Sombrero), have been widely read and are -often mentioned. - -Our author is vigorous and clear in thought and expression. Extremely -liberal in his views, much of his writing has been polemic. In argument -he is shrewd and incisive; in criticism, candid but unsparing. His -_Principios criticos_ is a scathing arraignment of the government of New -Spain under the viceroys. His _Filosofía_ is a part of the same -discussion. It forms a large octavo volume. It begins with presenting -two Latin documents of the eighteenth century, programs of public -_actos_, given at the _Seminario_ and the _Colegio de Santo Tomás_ in -Guadalajara. These serve as the basis for a severe criticism of the -philosophical thought and teaching in Spain and New Spain during the -vice-regal period. Testimonies are cited from many authors and Rivera’s -comments upon and inferences from these are strong and original. In the -course of the book he summarizes the scientific work really done--and -there was some--in Mexico during the seventeenth and eighteenth -centuries. He sums up his argument in eleven corollaries. Our selections -are taken from the _Filosofía en Nueva España_ and from a curious -dialogue regarding the teaching of Indian languages. - -On February 28, 1902, after many years of absence, Agustin Rivera was in -Guadalajara; his completion of seventy-eight years of life was there -celebrated by a large circle of his friends, old students, admirers, and -readers, most brilliantly. In October, 1901, a proposition, that the -national government should pension the faithful and fearless old man, -was unanimously carried by the one hundred and twenty-five votes in the -House of Deputies in the City of Mexico. It is pleasant to see these -acts of public recognition of the value of a long life usefully spent. - - -BACKWARDNESS OF MEXICO IN VICEROYAL TIMES. - -My lack of pecuniary resources does not allow me to give greater bulk to -this book by translating Document I. from Latin into Spanish; but those -who know the Latin language and philosophy will observe that in the -Department of Physics in the College of Santo Tomás in Guadalajara were -taught _the first cause_, _the properties of secondary causes_, -supernatural operations, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, -eternity--everything, in fact, save physics. Neither the word _heat_, -nor the word _light_, is met with once in the program. The program -cited, further accentuates ignorance of modern logic and modern -metaphysics. Such was the teaching of philosophy by the Jesuits in the -schools of New Spain, until the end of their instruction and existence -in this country, since the public _acto_, in the College of Santo Tomás, -took place in 1764, and three years later they were expelled (June 25, -1767). History proves that the Jesuits were at the front in teaching in -the colleges of New Spain, and if _they_ taught such things, what could -those teach who were in the rear? - -Lucas Alaman, Adolfo Llanos, Niceto de Zamacois, Ignacio Aguilar y -Marocho, and other writers, open partisans of the colonial government -(few indeed in this nineteenth century) to such documents as form the -matter of this Dissertation reply: “It was the logic, the metaphysics -and the physics of that epoch.” The statement is false and one might say -that the writers mentioned were ignorant of history, or that, knowing -it, they made sport of the credulity and good faith of their readers, -were it not that the intelligence and honesty of the four writers--and -of others--is well established, and did not logic teach us that there -are other sources of error in judgment besides ignorance and bad faith; -that a great source of errors is _preoccupation_, as that of Alaman and -Aguilar Marocho--for all that concerns the monarchy and viceroyalty; and -a great source of errors is _passion_, vehement and uncontrolled, as the -love of country which sways Zamacois, Llanos, and other Spanish -writers.... The statement is false, I repeat, and, in consequence, the -conclusion is nul: _nulla solutio_. I shall prove it. - -The discovery of the New World, the origin of the Americans and their -magnificent ruins and antiquities, scattered over the whole country; the -Aztec civilization, grand in a material way; their human sacrifices, -which in fundamental meaning involved a great genesiac thought and in -application were a horrible fanaticism; the Conquest of Mexico, in which -present themselves:--Hernan Cortes, the first warrior of modern times, -though with indelible stains; Pedro de Alvarado, Gonzalo de Sandoval, -Cristobal de Olid, and Diego de Ordaz, with their feats of heroism and -their crimes; Cuauhtemotzin, Xicotencatl, Cacamotzin, and the other -Indian warriors with their immortal patriotism; the interesting figure -of Marina; Bartolomé de Olmedo, Pedro de Gante, Bartolomé de las Casas, -Juan de Zumárraga, Toribio de Motolinia, Bernardino de Sahagun, and the -other missionaries surrounded by an aureole of light which brings -posterity to its knees; all the conjunct of the Conquest, as the finest -subject for an epic poem; “the Laws of the Indies,” the _encomiendas_, -the Inquisition; Antonio Mendoza, the venerable Palafox, Fray Payo -Enriquez de Rivera, the Duke of Linares, Revilla Gigedo the second, and -other excellent viceroys; the fecund events of 1808; the Revolution of -the Independence, the first and second empires, and many other events in -the history of Mexico during its five epochs, have already been treated -and ventilated in many books, pamphlets and journals--some sufficiently, -others overmuch. Poetry in New Spain has been magnificently treated by -my respected friend, the learned Francisco Pimentel, in Volume I. of his -_Historia de la Literatura y de las Ciencias en Mexico_. But _Philosophy -in New Spain_ is a subject that has not been specifically treated by -only one. This work has, perhaps, no other merit than novelty, which -would be worth nothing without truth, supported by good testimonies. As -regards Spain I shall take my testimonies from no foreign authors--lest -the bourbonist writers might reject them as disaffected and prejudiced, -and so shield themselves--but from Spanish writers; with the exception -of one and another Mexican, accepted by all Spaniards as trustworthy, -such as Alzate and Beristain.... And among Spaniards I will refrain from -citing Emilio Castelar and others of the extreme left. - - -DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICES IN NEW SPAIN. - -With regard to the public offices in New Spain, of consequence for the -honor connected with them, or because of the fat salary, Señor Zamacois -says: - -“It has been said, in regard to official positions, that the Mexicans -filled only the less important; in this, another error has been -committed. The monarchs of Castille considered those born in the -American colonies as Spaniards, and made _no distinction_ between them -and Peninsulars; all had equal rights and, therefore, in making an -appointment, there was no question whether the person named came from -the provinces of America or those of the Peninsula.... The offices and -appointments were conferred in equal numbers on the sons of America and -Peninsulars.” - -By way of digression, I may present a few penstrokes, but they will be -sufficient for any intelligent man. Padre Mariana, high authority in -history, states this maxim: _History takes no sides until shown a clean -record_. Señor Zamacois shows no clean record for his assertions. I will -present mine. There were sixty-two Viceroys of Mexico, and of these -fifty-nine were Spaniards of the Peninsula and three were creoles--Luiz -de Velasco, native of the City of Mexico, Juan de Acuña, native of Lima, -and Revilla Gigedo the second, native of Havana; in consequence, only -one was Mexican. There were thirty-three Bishops of Guadalajara and of -these twenty-six were Spanish Peninsulars and seven were creoles; these -were ...; that is to say, only five were Mexicans. I confess my -ignorance; I do not understand Señor Zamacois’s arithmetic--the equality -between 26 and 7. There were thirty-four Bishops of Michoacan, and of -these there were thirty Spanish Peninsulars and four creoles; these were -...; that is to say, only two were Mexicans. Thirty equals four? Please, -Señor Zamacois. There were thirty-one Archbishops of Mexico, of whom -twenty-nine were Spanish Peninsulars and two creoles; these were ...; -that is to say, only one was Mexican. Twenty-nine Spaniards and two -creoles are equal. - - * * * * * - -Adolfo Llanos, in treating this matter, goes (as is his custom farther -than Zamacois, saying that the ecclesiastical offices of importance were -obtained by the creoles, not equally with the Spaniards, but -preponderantly over them.) He says: - -“Americans were preferred by the Spanish Kings over Europeans, in the -assignment of high ecclesiastical dignities.” - -Let us leave Llanos and the other blind defenders of the vice-regal -government. - - -SCIENCE VERSUS SCHOLASTICISM. - -Modern philosophers, notable in European lands (outside of Spain) were -numbered by hundreds, and the young Gamarra did nought but glean in so -abundant a field. Galileo and Harvey! What brilliant and suitable -examples men of great talent furnish! Harvey, in his study, with a frog -in his hand. As parallels and comparisons are most useful in -understanding a subject, as a recognized rule of law says that placing -two opposing views face to face both are more clearly known, I venture -to add--after Gamarra’s fashion--a parallel between Harvey and Domingo -Soto. _A frog!_ here I have a thing apparently vile and despicable; the -Epistles of Saint Paul, here I have a thing infinitely sublime. A film -to which the intestines of a frog are attached; what thing meaner? The -science of theology; what thing so grand? To soil one’s hands with the -blood and secretions of an animal; occupation, to all appearance, vile; -to take the pen for explaining the Holy Scriptures; occupation, sacred -and sublime. And yet, Domingo Soto with his scholastic commentaries on -the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans was of no use to humanity; and -Harvey, presenting himself in the great theater of the scientific world, -with a frog in his hand, discovering the circulation of the blood, -rendered an immense service to mankind. Domingo Soto was a Catholic, and -one of the Fathers of the Council of Trent, and Harvey was a -Protestant--and yet, without doubt, the Catholic Church does not esteem -the commentaries of its son Soto, and, in the Vatican’s council, has -sounded the praises of the discovery of the Protestant Harvey. - - -PHILOSOPHY IN NEW SPAIN. - -COROLLARIES. - -1. Studies never flourished under the Colonial regime. - -2. Spain in the seventeenth century and in the first and second thirds -of the eighteenth century was poor and backward in philosophy, and New -Spain during the same period was in the same predicament. - -3. That New Spain was backward in philosophy at that time because such -was the philosophy of the epoch, is false. - -4. The ideas and impulse in the modern philosophical sciences, which New -Spain received during the last years of the eighteenth and the early -years of the nineteenth century, did not come mainly from Spain, but -from the other principal nations of Europe. - -5. It follows, from Spain and New Spain having been backward in -philosophy, that they were also backward in theology, jurisprudence, -medicine, and in all the sciences, because philosophy is the basis of -all. - -6. The expression, “Spain taught us what she herself knew,” is not a -good excuse or exoneration. - -7. The scholastic philosophy is useful; the pseudo-scholastic is -prejudicial. - -8. The history of the viceroyal government is most useful. - -9. This dissertation is a new book. - -10. “Not as a spider, nor as an ant, but as a bee.” - -11. The union between Spaniards and Mexicans is very useful; but history -cannot be silenced by the claim that it is a social union. - - -DIALOGUE BETWEEN AGUSTIN RIVERA AND FLORENCITO LEVILON. - -“How are you, sir?” - -“How are you, Florencito? When did you arrive?” - -“Yesterday.” - -“I am greatly pleased that you have called to see me. What have you -studied this year?” - -“The Aztec language; here is the invitation to my public examination. -The program was as fine as usual, since my teacher, Señor Don Agustin de -la Rosa, spoke splendidly, as every year, of the philosophy and richness -of the Aztec tongue.” - -“Thank you. And how many students were there in the subject?” - -“This year we were so many, last year there were so many, the year -before so many, and the same, more or less, so I have heard, in years -gone by.” - -“What a pity! They are few, almost nothing in comparison with the -necessity that exists in our Republic for men who study the native -tongues. But these few, at least, attend the exercises every school -day?” - -“No, sir; far from it! Some attend, and others not, just as they -please.” - -“And, the days they do attend, they study the Aztec grammar and hear it -explained?” - -“No, sir; by no means. Many days the teacher and we occupy ourselves in -the _Levilon_.” - -“And what is that?” - -“_Levilon, levilon, ton, ton._” - -“I understand you, even less.” - -“It is a sort of a marsellaise against cleanness and neatness of person -and dress; that is to say, against politeness.”[2] - -“But, man, in a college for the instruction of youth--however, let us -return to our subject. In the three years you have studied Aztec, have -you learned to speak it?” - -“No, sir; by no means.” - -“Then, what have you learned?” - -“The philosophy and richness of the Aztec tongue.” - -“But you must have studied the four divisions of Aztec grammar--analogy, -syntax, prosody, and orthography--and by this complete study arrived at -an understanding of the philosophy and richness of the language.” - -“No, sir.” - -“But have you not had a public examination?” - -“Yes, sir; but those who were publicly examined in past years, have as -little, made a complete study of the grammar, but have also learned the -philosophy and richness of the Mexican tongue.” - -“Come! let us see. How many years has the chair of the Aztec language -been established in the Seminario at Guadalajara?” - -“About thirty.” - -“And during about thirty years has some priest gone forth from the -institution to preach to the Indians in their native language?” - -“Why, no sir! During the thirty years what has been, and is, learned is -the philosophy and richness of the Aztec language. You must have seen -the precious little work, by my professor, upon the beauty and richness -of the Aztec language, elegantly bound, which was sent to the Paris -Exposition.” - -“But man--Florencito,” (rising, pacing, and puffing at my cigar) -“really, all this and nothing are much the same. These programs, in -which one speaks eloquently of the beauty and richness of the Aztec -language are no more than pretty theories. This book upon the richness -and beauty of the Aztec language, with all its elegant binding, is but a -pretty theory. _The practical! The practical!_ Let me give you my -opinion in the matter briefly, and in four propositions: _First_, the -ecclesiastical government and the civil government have the obligation -and the mission of civilizing the Indians; _second_, for this, in each -bishopric and in each State there ought to be chairs of the Indian -languages spoken in the territory--for example, in the Seminary and in -one of the State Colleges of Mexico, there ought to be a chair of the -Aztec language; in the Seminary and State College of Queretaro, there -ought to be a chair of Otomi; in the Seminary and in the State College -of Morelia, there ought to be chairs of Tarascan and Matlazinca; in the -Seminary and in the State College of Guadalajara, there ought to be a -chair of the Cora language; in the Seminary and State College of San -Luis Potosi, there ought to be a chair of the Huastec; in the Seminary -and the State College of Puebla, there ought to be a chair of Aztec; in -the Seminary and the State College of Jalapa there ought to be a chair -of Totonaco; in the Seminary and in the State College of Oaxaca there -ought to be chairs of the different indigenous languages spoken in the -territory--chiefly the Mixtec and Zapotec, etc.; _third_, it ought to -be, that from the seminaries there shall go forth priests to be _curas_ -in the Indian towns of the bishopric, who shall preach to the Indians -and catechize them in their own language; _fourth_, it ought to be, that -from the State Colleges, primary teachers shall go forth to teach the -elementary branches to the Indians of the State, in their own idiom--and -shall go forth _jefes politicos_, who shall be able to treat with the -Indians, talking to them in their own languages.” - -“Sir, these things appear to me impossible.” - -“Yes, I know that there can be given but two answers to my proposition -and my arguments. The first is the ‘_non possumus_,’ ‘we cannot.’[3] One -can preach in cathedrals and other magnificent temples, to an elegant -gathering, afterward print the sermon and distribute copies liberally to -select society; but to subject one’s self to the task of learning an -indigenous tongue, and to go to preach to the Indians--_that_, one -cannot do. One can be a _jefe politico_ in a city, where comforts -abound, and draw a fat salary; but the abnegation and patriotism of -exercising the administrative power in an Indian town--a despicable -thing! Sad reply. Unhappy Mexican nation during the colonial epoch! and, -unhappy Mexican nation, still, in 1891, because you yet preserve -many--even very many--remnants of the colonial education, and this is -the _principal_ hindrance to your progress and well-being. We Mexicans, -because of the education which we received from the Spanish, are much -given to scholastic disputes, to beautiful discourses, pretty poems, -enthusiastic toasts, quixotic proclamations, projects, laws, decrees, -programs of scientific education, plans of public amelioration, in -Andalusian style and well-rounded periods; but, as for the -practical--the Spanish sloth, the Spanish fanaticism for the _statu -quo_, the Indian idleness and cowardice, do but little. In theories we -have the boldness of Don Quixote, and in practice we have the -pusillanimity, the inability to conquer obstacles, and the phlegm of -Sancho Panza.” - -“My teacher, Don Agustin,” said Florencito, “has told us that Padre -Sahagun and many other missionaries of the sixteenth century dedicated -themselves to the study of the native tongues because they found them -highly philosophical and adapted to express even metaphysical ideas.” - -“That is true,” I replied, “but the Padre Sahagun and the other -missionary philologists of the sixteenth century dedicated themselves to -the study of the Indian languages of the country, not to detain -themselves ... (in) the philosophy and richness of the Aztec language, -without moving a peg to go and teach some Indian; but in order that they -might use them as means for the _practical_--to wit, to preach, to -catechize, and to teach the Indians the civilizing truths of -Christianity.” - - - - -ALFREDO CHAVERO. - -[Illustration] - - -Few men are better known throughout Mexico today than Alfredo Chavero. -As a lawyer, a politician, a man of affairs and a writer, he has been -eminently successful. He was born in the City of Mexico, February 1, -1841. He studied law, and began the practice of the profession at the -age of twenty years. In 1862 he was elected Deputy to Congress. A -Liberal in politics, he was associated with Juarez throughout the period -of the French intervention. After the downfall of the Empire in 1867, he -entered journalism and began his career in letters. During the -administration of Lerdo de Tejada he was in Europe, but when that -government fell, he returned to Mexico and was appointed to the second -position in the department of foreign affairs. He has occupied other -important government positions, among them that of City Treasurer and -Governor of the Federal District and has for many years been a member of -the House of Deputies, of which he has at times been the presiding -officer. - -Señor Chavero is, probably, the foremost living Mexican authority upon -the antiquities of that country. He is also an eminent historian. In -both archæology and history he has written important works. At the -quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of America, he was the -chief member of a commission, which among other things published a great -work--_Antigüedades Mexicanas_--which was largely devoted to facsimile -reproduction of ancient Mexican picture manuscripts, before unpublished; -the accompanying explanatory text was written by Chavero himself. Among -other archæological works he has written _Los dioses astronomicos de los -antiguos Mexicanos_ (the Astronomical Gods of the Ancient Mexicans)--and -studies upon the _stone of the sun_, and the _stone of hunger_. He has -lately published the _Wheel of Years_, and _Hieroglyphic Paintings_. He -was the author of the first volume of the great work _México á traves de -los Siglos_, (Mexico, Through the Centuries), a history of Mexico in -five large quarto volumes. Each of these volumes dealt with a distinct -epoch of Mexican history and was written by a specialist. Chavero’s -volume treated Prehistoric Mexico in a masterly fashion. In biography -Chavero’s lives of _Sahagun_, _Siguenza_, and _Boturini_ deal with -Spanish-Mexicans, his _Itzcoatl_ and _Montezuma_ with natives. He has -edited, with scholarly annotation, the works of _Ixtlilxochitl_ and -Muñoz Camargo’s _Historia de Tlaxcala_. - -But Alfredo Chavero has also written in the field of dramatic -literature, some of his plays having been well received. _Xochitl_, -_Quetzalcoatl_ and _Los Amores de Alarcon_ (The Loves of Alarcon) are -among the best known. In _Xochitl_ and _Quetzalcoatl_, the romantic -events of the days of the Conquest and the life of the Indians, furnish -his material. In all his writing, Chavero is simple, direct, and strong; -his style is graceful and his treatment interesting. - -Our quotations are drawn from _México á traves de los Siglos_ and -_Xochitl_. - - -THE CHRONICLERS. - -Still, among the first writers of the colonial epoch we shall encounter -some authentic material regarding the ancient Indians. Some chroniclers -based their narratives upon hieroglyphs, which they did not limit -themselves to interpreting, but which also served them as a foundation -for more extended records; contemporaries of the Conquest, they had -heard from the conquered themselves, their traditional history. Others, -without availing themselves of the assistance of the paintings, simply -recorded the traditions in their works--and we must remember that, on -account of the inadequacy of their hieroglyphic writing, the Mexicans -were ever accustomed to carry the glorious deeds of their race in -memory, which they taught their children, in song and story, that they -might not be forgotten. Without doubt, the first works of the -chroniclers suffered from the natural vagueness which is felt in -expressing new ideas. They are not, and could not be, complete treatises -because each wrote merely what he himself could gather. The most -important personages of the vanquished people dead, in fighting for -their country, few remained who knew the secrets of their history, and -the greater number of these did not lend themselves to their revelation. -The chroniclers, themselves, concealed something of what they learned, -especially if it related to the gods and the religious calendar, for -fear of reawakening the barely dormant idolatry. Also from the very -first, the desire to harmonize the beliefs of the Indians, and their -traditions, with the Biblical narrative, was, in part, responsible for -the confusion in their writings; a desire very natural in that epoch, -and which must be taken into account in reading the chronicles, in -order to get rid of false judgments born from it. But whatever may be -their defects, it cannot be denied that they constitute a most precious -material, in which, seeking discreetly and logically, abundant historic -treasures are encountered. We present, therefore, some discussion of the -principal chroniclers and their relative importance and examine -impartially the works of our historians. - - -THE SURRENDER OF CUAUHTEMOC. - -At dawn Sandoval proceeded, with the brigantines to take possession of -the lakelet; Alavardo was to advance from the market, and Cortes sallied -from his camp, with the three iron cannon, certain that their balls -would compel the besieged to surrender and would do them less damage -than the fury of the allies. In his march he met many men almost dead, -weakened women, and emaciated children, on their way to the Spanish -camp. Some miserable beings, in order to escape from their last hold, -had thrown themselves into the canals, or had fallen into them, pushed -from behind by others, and were drowned. Cortes issued orders that no -harm should be done them, but the allies robbed them and killed more -than fifteen thousand persons. The priests and warriors, thin with -hunger and worn with labor, armed with their weapons and bearing their -standards, passively awaited the attack, on top of the temple, on house -roofs, or standing in their canoes. Cortes ascended also to the roof of -a house near the lake, that he might oversee the operations. He again -offered peace to those who were in the canoes, and insisted that some -one should go to speak with Cuauhtemoc. Two _principales_ agreed to go -and, after a long time the _Cihuacoatl_ returned with them to say that -his king did not care to speak of peace. Some five hours having passed -in these transactions, Cortes commanded to open fire with the cannons. -It was three in the afternoon, when Cuauhtemoc’s shell-horn was heard -for the last time; the Mexicans on the east and south precipitated -themselves upon their opponents and the canoes attacked the brigantines. - -Cuauhtemoc, when it was no longer in human power to resist, preferred -flight to surrender, and in order to succeed, distracted the attention -of his opponents. While these, battling and routing the Mexicans, -penetrated into their last refuge from the south and east, and while -Sandoval was destroying the fleet of canoes, Cuauhtemoc, with -Tecuichpoch and the chief dignitaries, sallied in canoes from -Tlacochcalco--gained the western canal, whence, by great labor, he -reached the lake. He directed himself toward the opposite shore, to seek -refuge in Cuauhtlalpan. - -But Garcia Holguin saw the canoes of the fugitives and setting the sails -of his brigantine, gave chase; already he had them within range and the -gunners were in the prow, ready to shoot, when Cuauhtemoc rose and -said--‘Do not shoot; I am the king of Mexico; take me and lead me to -Malintzin, but let no one harm the queen.’ With Cuauhtemoc were ..., the -only dignitaries, high-priests, and _principales_, who had survived. All -were transferred to the brigantine.... Cortes, as we have said, was upon -the roof of a house in the quarter of Amaxac, a house belonging to a -_principal_, named Aztacoatzin. He caused it to be decorated with rich -mantles and brightly colored mattings, for the reception of the imperial -captive. By his side were Marina and Aguilar, Pedro de Alavardo and -Cristobal de Olid. The prisoners arrived led by Sandoval and Holguin. -Cortes rose and, with the noble respect of a conqueror for the -unfortunate hero, embraced Cuauhtemoc tenderly. Tears came to the eyes -of the captive and, placing his hand upon the hilt of the conqueror’s -poignard, said to him the following words with which at once succumbed a -king, his race, his native land, and his gods--‘Malintzin, after having -done what I could in defense of my city and my nation, I come, perforce -and a prisoner, before thy person and thy power; take, now, this dagger -and kill me.’ - - * * * * * - -_Xochitl_ is a fair example of Chavero’s dramas. It comprises three acts -and is in verse. There are but five actors--Cortes, Marina (his Indian -interpreter and mistress), Xochitl (a beautiful Indian girl, supposed to -be Marina’s sister), Bernal Diaz del Castillo (faithful soldier of -Cortes and best chronicler of the Conquest), and Gonzalo Alaminos -(brought, though a mere youth, from Spain, by Cortes, as a page). -Xochitl is, really, an Aztec maiden who, when the Spaniards first -appeared, was serving in the temple; Gonzalo, wounded, was brought a -prisoner to the temple, where he is nursed by Xochitl, between whom and -himself ardent love arises. After the capture of the city, they are -separated and Xochitl is sent, as a slave to Tabasco, a present to -Marina’s unknown sister. Marina summons her sister to Mexico; she starts -but dies upon the journey and Xochitl, substituted for her, reaches the -city and is taken at once into Cortes’ house, by her supposed sister. -Cortes, having tired of Marina, falls in love with Xochitl; his -affection is not reciprocated. Marina, knowing that the love of Cortes -has cooled, though she does not know the new object of his love, -remorseful for her treachery to her own people and smarting under the -contempt of Indian and Spaniard both, is ever complaining and querulous. -Xochitl, terrified at Cortes’ love, consults Bernal and makes known the -facts to Gonzalo. They plan to flee and set an hour for meeting. Cortes, -anxious to rid himself of Marina, determines to send her to Orizaba, to -wed Jaramillo; sending for Gonzalo he orders him to accompany her and -arranges the departure at the very time set for elopement, by the -lovers. The moment is one of public tumult. Gonzalo keeps his -appointment but, at the critical moment, Xochitl’s courage fails. Marina -appears and Gonzalo abruptly leaves; he is shot in the tumult. Meantime -the two women converse; Xochitl narrates the story of her life, her -substitution for Marina’s sister, her love for Gonzalo and Cortes’ love -for her. They separate in anger. Cortes entering, announces Gonzalo’s -death, and mourns him, confessing him to be his natural son. Xochitl, in -her agony, tells Cortes of the love there had been between Gonzalo and -herself; Marina, appearing at this moment, hands the unhappy girl the -weapon with which she kills herself. As she dies, she reveals her -complete identity, she is the last survivor of the royal house, the -sister of Cuauhtemoc. Cortes overwhelmed by grief for Gonzalo, loss of -Xochitl, and weariness of Marina, sends the latter at once to Orizaba, -in Bernal’s care. - - -PASSAGES FROM XOCHITL. - -Bernal and Gonzalo, meeting, discuss the recent conquest of Nueva -Galicia by the infamous Nuño de Guzman. - - Gonzalo. “If to lay waste fields and towns, - If to assassinate war captives, - If to violate pledged faith, - Is to be Christian, I admit - That Don Nuño de Guzman - Is of Christians, the very type. - The Tlaxcallans complain, - Who have been our faithful allies, - That, like beasts of burden, - He has led them over - Hard roads, not fighting-- - As they were led to expect-- - But, bearing on their shoulders - Great, heavy burdens; - And that those, who, from fatigue, - Bernal, could go no further, - Were instanter thrown to the dogs, - Or left, without assistance, - In the forests. Their shoulders - Covered with wounds, I have seen; - Upon frightful chafed spots, - The memory of which appals me, - They carried our provisions; - Meantime, Don Nuño, tranquil, - Sought renown in war, - Or enriched himself, - By plundering defenseless villages. - Imagine, friend Bernal, - If he mistreats our allies, - What he would do to enemies.” - - * * * * * - -Xochitl confers with Bernal as to what she ought to do: - -Bernal. “But, tell me. Before today -Has Cortes told you of his love? - -Xochitl. Until today, I have not seen him at my feet. -His consuming passion, -Through his betraying glance -I have, for some time, realized. -For this reason, Bernal, I avoid -Finding myself alone with him. - -Bernal. You ought to flee. - -Xochitl. I fear to find myself -Alone in the great world. - -Bernal. But, when the hawk -Sees a lonely dove, -He seizes it, within his talons; -When the volcano bursts forth -It destroys in its terrific energy -The palm, which grows at its base. -When the wave is lashed to fury, -The bark sinks in the sea; -And, at the blast of adversity, -Happiness vanishes. - -(Pause.) - -Xochitl. Do you think Cortes ever----? - -Bernal. If he loves thee, good God----! - -Xochitl. Then, both of us must leave. - -Bernal. You will leave, with Gonzalo? -Do you know to what you expose yourself? -Do you know that, Hernando Cortes, -If he sees himself mocked, is -Than the panther fiercer, -And that his rage would -Dash you to pieces at his feet? - -Xochitl. And what signifies life to _me_? - -Bernal. But Gonzalo, also, he---- - -Xochitl. Hold! for God’s sake, do not speak -That murderous word. -Departure makes me tremble, -And I tremble if I remain; -Bernal! everything causes me terror; -My uncertainty is frightful---- -To remain is impossible---- -Without Gonzalo, go, I cannot.” - -(She departs.) - - * * * * * - -Cortes communicates his plans for Marina--first to Gonzalo, then to -Marina, herself. - -(Pause.) - -Cortes. “We are likely to have an uprising, -And I do not wish you to be -Involved in it; how good it is to die -In actual battle -And not fighting the vile rabble. -For this reason you are, with Marina, -To leave for Orizaba -At dawn. - -Gonzalo. (Aside). And _she_ will remain here, without me! - -Cortes. I expect you at dawn, Gonzalo, -A passport, for leaving the city, -With a veiled lady, -I shall give you. - -Gonzalo. Veiled? - -Cortes. So -Will the passport read: I do not wish -Them to know who it is. You ought -To leave at dawn. Go -To rest yourself. - -Gonzalo. May happy -Dreams be yours. (Aside.) At dawn! -Xochitl ... soon I’ll return for thee.” - - * * * * * - -Cortes. “To counteract the plotting -Of so many enemies, I go to Spain. -In thinking of your happiness---- - -Marina. You think of _my_ happiness, Don Hernando? - -Cortes. --Considering that your nobility -Deserves a name, a grandeur, -Worthy of you, Marina,---- - -Marina. I know not what vile treason my soul divines. - -Cortes. --Wealth, and state, -And a husband--Don Juan de Jaramillo---- - -Marina. Cease! Hernando, cease! - -Cortes. You leave, tomorrow, for Orizaba. - -Marina. And, thus, you abandon me? -And thus you crown my loyalty and love? -Oh monster! Impious father! -And thy son, Cortes? My son? -No, the very panther -Does not abandon its little ones: that beast, -More human heart -Has, than the grand Christian conqueror. - -Cortes. We must needs separate. -And no power, you know it well, -Can bend my fixed purpose.” - - * * * * * - -In 1882, General Riva Palacio, author and statesman, published a little -book _Los Ceros_ (The Zeros), under the _nom-de-plume_ of Cero. It was a -good natured criticism of contemporary authors, written in a satirical -vein. We will close with some quotations from it regarding Chavero. - -“Well, then, let us study Chavero upon his two weak sides, that is to -say upon his strong sides, because, it is a curious thing, that we -always say--‘this is my forte,’ when we are speaking of some _penchant_, -while common opinion at once translates, ‘this is his weakness’; -strength is the impregnable side, but we call the more vulnerable, the -strong side. - -“Archæology and the drama! Does it seem to you the title of a comedy? -But no, dear sir, these are the passions of our friend, Alfredo -Chavero. - -“True, archæologists and dramatists are lacking in this land so full of -antiques and comicalities; but theatrical management is difficult and -the way is sown--worse than with thorns--almost with bayonets. - -“Alfredo has produced good dramas, but nobly dominated by the patriotic -spirit, he has wished to place upon the boards, such personages as the -Queen Xochitl, and Meconetzin, and with these personages no one gains a -reputation here in Mexico.... Our society, our nation, has no love for -its traditions. Perhaps those writers are to blame for this, who ever -seek for the actors in their story, personages of the middle ages, who -love and fight in fantastic castles on the banks of the Rhine, or ladies -and knights of the times of Orgaz and Villamediana; those novelists, who -disdain the slightest reference in their works, to the banquets, dress, -and customs of our own society; who long to give aristocratic flavor to -their novels, by picturing Parisian scenes in Mexico and sketching -social classes, which they have seen through the pages of Arrsenne -Houssaye, Emile Zola, Henri Bourger, or Paison de Terrail; and our -poets, who ever speak of nightingales and larks, gazelles and jacinths, -without ever venturing to give place, in their doleful ditties, to the -_cuitlacoche_, nor the _zentzontl_, nor the _cocomitl_, nor the -_yoloxochitl_.” - -“As the Arabs have their Hegira, the Christians their era, and the -Russians their calendar without the Gregorian correction, so -Chaverito[4] has his personal era and chronology. The eolithic or -neolithic ages signify nought to him, nor the jurassic nor the -cretaceous periods; he counts and divides his periods in a manner -peculiar to himself and comprehensible to us, the ignoramuses in -geology, archæology, and palæontology. - -“Thus, for example, treating of archæology he says: ‘in Manuel Payno’s -boyhood’--when he refers to preadamite man; of men like Guillermo -Prieto, he says ‘they are of the geological horizon of Guillermo Valle’; -soldiers, like Corona, he calls ‘volcanic formations’; the customs’ -house receipts he names ‘marine sediments’; ‘the stone age,’ in his -nomenclature, signifies the time before he was elected Deputy;--when he -says ‘before the creation,’ it is understood that he refers to days when -he had not yet been Governor of the Federal District; and if he says -‘after Christ,’ he must be supposed to speak of an epoch posterior to -his connection with the State Department; and it is claimed, that he is -so skilled in understanding hieroglyphs, that he has deciphered the -whole history of Xochimilco, in the pittings left by small-pox, on the -face of a son of that pueblo.” - - * * * * * - -“Suppose, dear reader, you encounter one of those stones, so often found -in excavating in Mexico, a fragment on which are to be seen, coarsely -cut, some engravings, or horrible reliefs, or shapeless figures--have it -washed, and present it to Chavero. - -“Alfredo will wrinkle his forehead, take a pinch of snuff, join his -hands behind him, and displaying so much of his paunch as possible, will -spit out for your benefit, a veritable discourse: - -“‘The passage which this stone represents is well known; it figures in -an episode in the great war between the Atepocates,[5] warlike -population of southern Anahuac, and the Escuimiles, their rivals, in -which the latter were finally conquered. The person standing is -Chilpocle XI, of the dynasty of the Chacualoles, who, by the death of -his father Chichicuilote III, inherited the throne, being in his -infancy, and his mother, the famous Queen Apipisca II, the Semiramis of -Tepachichilco, was regent during his youth. The person kneeling is -Chayote V, unfortunate monarch of the vanquished, who owed the loss of -his kingdom to the treachery of his councillor, Chincual, who is behind -him. The two persons near the victor are his son, who was afterward the -celebrated conqueror Cacahuatl II, and his councillor, the illustrious -historian and philosopher Guajalote, nicknamed Chicuase, for the reason -that he had six fingers on his left hand, and who was the chronicler of -the revolt and destruction of the tribes of the Mestlapiques. The -two-pointed star-symbols, which are seen above, are the arms of the -founder of the dynasty, Chahiustl the Great, and this stone was -sculptured during the golden age of the arts of the Atepotecas, when, -among their sculptors figured the noted Ajoloth, among their painters -the most famous Tlacuil, and among their architects the celebrated -Huasontl.’” - - - - -JULIO ZÁRATE. - -[Illustration] - - -Julio Zárate was born April 12, 1844, at Jalapa, in the State of Vera -Cruz, where he received his education. Since he was twenty-three years -of age he has been continuously in public life. In 1867 he was elected -to the Chamber of Deputies, of which he remained a member for -twenty-five years, being, at times, president, vice-president, or -secretary of the body. In 1879 and 1880 he was the Assistant Secretary -of Foreign Affairs for the Republic, in 1884 to 1886 Secretary of State -of the State of Vera Cruz, and from 1896 to the present time he has been -a Justice of the Supreme Court of Mexico. - -Through all this long period of active public service, he has found time -for literary work. From 1870 to 1875 was an editor of _El Siglo XIX_ -(The Nineteenth Century), in its time one of the most important journals -of the Mexican capital. He wrote the third volume of the great work on -national history--_México á traves de los Siglos_ (Mexico Through the -Centuries), treating of the War of Independence. For twenty years past, -from 1883, he has been Professor of General History in the National -Normal School. He has written two text-books, one a compend of general -history, the other of the history of Mexico. He has also been a -contributor to various literary journals. While in the Chamber of -Deputies he was known for his oratorical ability and his speeches were -often notable for form and thought. He is a member of many learned -societies at home and abroad--a _miembro de numero_ of the _Sociedad -Mexicana de Geografía y Estadistica_ (Mexican Society of Geography and -Statistics). - -Our selections are from _México á traves de los Siglos_. - - -THE DEATH OF HIDALGO - -Supporting himself on the opinion of the Assessor Bracho, the Commandant -General, Don Nicolás Salcedo had already, since the 26th, ordered the -execution. After the degradation (from the priestly office) had been -concluded, the sentence of death and confiscation of his goods was made -known to Hidalgo on the same day--the 29th--and he was told to select a -confessor to impart to him the last religious consolations. The -illustrious promulgator of independence selected Friar José Mariá Rojas, -who had been notary of the ecclesiastical process instituted by the -Bishop of Durango. In his prison, which was the room under the tower of -the chapel of the Royal Hospital, he received kind and compassionate -treatment from his two guards, Ortega and Guaspe (a Spaniard), alcaldes -of that prison, to whom he showed his gratitude in two ten-line poems -written by himself with a piece of coal upon the wall, the evening of -his death. - -The 30th of July, the last day of his life, dawned and in his last hours -he showed the greatest calmness. “He noticed,” says Bustamente, “that at -breakfast they had given him less milk than usual, and asked for more, -saying that it ought not to be _less_, just because it was _last_.... At -the moment of marching to the place of execution, he remembered that he -had left some sweets under his pillow; he returned for them and divided -them among the soldiers, who were to shoot him.” At seven in the morning -he was taken to a place behind the hospital, where the sentence was -executed; he did not die at the first discharge, but after falling to -the ground received numerous bullets. His body found sepulchre in the -Chapel of San Antonio of the Convent of San Francisco, and his head and -those of Allende, Aldama and Jiménez were carried to Guanajuato and -placed in cages of iron at each one of the corners of the Alhondiga[6] -of Granaditas, where they remained until 1821, when they were taken to -the Ermita de San Sebastian. On the door of the Alhondiga, by order of -the Intendant, Fernando Pérez Marañón, the following inscription was -placed: - -“The heads of Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, and Mariano -Jiménez, notorious deceivers and leaders of the revolution; they sacked -and stole the treasures of God’s worship and of the royal treasury; they -shed, with the greatest atrocity, the blood of faithful priests and just -magistrates; and, they were the cause of all the disasters, misfortunes, -and calamities which we here experience and which afflict, and are -deplored by, all the inhabitants of this, so integral, part of the -Spanish nation. - -“Placed here by order of the Señor Brigadier, Felix María Calleja del -Rey, illustrious conqueror of Aculco, Guanajuato and Calderon, and -Restorer of the Peace in this America. Guanajuato, 14 of October, -1811.” - -But, the hour of reparation, though tardy, arrived; one of the first -acts of the independent and liberated nation was to consecrate the -memory of its martyrs and to reward the efforts of its loyal sons, and -on the thirteenth anniversary of the glorious _Grito de Dolores_ (The -Cry of Dolores, i. e., the motto of independence) the heads of Hidalgo, -Allende, Aldama, and Jiménez, slowly become fleshless in the cages of -Granaditas, and their other remains buried in the humble cemetery of -Chihuahua, were received with solemn pomp at the Capital city and a -grateful people bore them to rest forever in the magnificent sepulchre, -before destined for the Spanish viceroys; the names of those heroes and -of other eminent leaders, were inscribed in letters of gold in the Hall -of Congress, and those of all will remain in indestructible characters -in Mexican hearts. - - -GENERAL NICOLÁS BRAVO. - -Still fresh the laurels just gained in San Agustin, the valiant youth -proceeded to the province which had been assigned to him as the seat of -his campaign, and early in September advanced with three thousand men to -Medellin, after attacking a Royalist convoy at the Puente del Rey and -taking ninety prisoners of the troops that guarded it. There Bravo was -to cover himself with an immortal glory, without counterpart in history. - -His father, General Leonardo Bravo, since the month of May prisoner of -the Royalists, had been condemned to death in Mexico--and to the same -fate were destined José María Piedras and Luciano Pérez, apprehended at -the same time, after the sally from Cuautla. The viceroy had suspended -the execution of the sentence, in the hope that the prisoner might -influence his sons, Nicolás and his brothers, to desert the files of the -Independents and to ask for pardon, under which condition he offered him -his life. But the youthful leader, although authorized by Morelos to -save his father by accepting the pardon offered by the viceroyal -government, believed he ought not to trust in the pledges given, since -he remembered that some time before, the brothers Orduñas were victims -of the Royalist Colonel José Antonio Andrade, who had promised them -pardon but, when he had them in his power, commanded their execution. - -Morelos then wrote to the viceroy, Vanegas, offering the surrender of -eight hundred prisoners, mostly Spanish, as the price of Leonardo -Bravo’s life. The viceroyal government, in turn, refused this -proposition and on September 13, 1812, General Bravo and his fellow -prisoners, Piedras and Pérez, suffered, in Mexico, the penalty of the -garrote, the former displaying, in his last moments, that calm and -valor, of which he had given so many proofs in battle. In communicating -this sad news to Nicolás Bravo, Morelos ordered him to put all the -Spanish prisoners he held--some three hundred in number--to the knife. -Let us hear the hero himself narrate his noble action, with the -simplicity of one of Plutarch’s characters: - -“In effect, he said to me in the proposition made to me in Cuernavaca, -that the Viceroy Vanegas offered me amnesty and the life of my father, -if I would yield myself.... When Morelos was in Tehuacan he appointed me -General-in-chief of the forces, which were operating in the province of -Vera Cruz.... I commenced to fight him (Labaqui) and, after an action -lasting forty-eight hours, gained a complete victory, making two hundred -prisoners, whom I sent under escort to the province of Vera Cruz, and -returned with all my wounded to Tehuacan to give account of the action -of arms confided to me. In the interview which I had with Morelos, he -told me that he was about to send a communication to the viceroy, -Vanegas, offering him, for my father’s life, eight hundred Spanish -prisoners, and that he would inform me of the result. I immediately -returned to the Province of Vera Cruz, where, five days after leaving -Tehuacan, I had another favorable action near Puente Nacional, attacking -a convoy, which was proceeding to Jalapa with supplies; I took ninety -prisoners and betook myself to Medellin, where I established my -headquarters and from where I threatened the city of Vera Cruz, with -the three thousand men who were under my command. After a few days -Morelos notified me that the proposition which he had made to the -viceroy had not been accepted and that he (the viceroy) had, on the -contrary, commanded that my father be put to the garrote and that he was -already dead; he commanded me at the same time to order that all the -Spanish prisoners in my power be put to the knife, and informed me that -he had ordered the same to be done with the four hundred, who were in -Zacatula and other points; I received this notice at four in the -afternoon and it moved me so much that I commanded the nearly three -hundred that I had at Medellin to prepare for death and ordered the -chaplain (a monk named Sotomayor) to aid them; but during the night, not -being able to sleep, I reflected, that the reprisals I was about to -practice would greatly diminish the credit of the cause which I -defended, and that by adopting a conduct contrary to the viceroy’s I -would secure better results, an idea which pleased me far more than my -first resolution; then there presented itself the difficulty of -palliating my disobedience to the order I had received, if I carried my -resolve into effect; with these thoughts, I occupied myself the whole -night until four o’clock in the morning, when I resolved to pardon them -in a public manner, which should produce the desired effects in favor of -the cause of independence; with this end in view, I withheld my -decision until eight in the morning, when I ordered my troops to draw up -in the form usual in cases of execution; the prisoners were brought out -and placed in the centre, where I informed them that the viceroy, -Vanegas, had exposed them to death that day, in not having accepted the -proposition made in their favor for the life of my father, whom he had -given to the garrote in the Capital; that I, not caring to parallel such -conduct, had determined, not only to spare their lives for the moment, -but to give them entire freedom to go where they pleased. To this, -filled with joy they replied, that no one desired to leave, that all -remained at the service of my division, which they did, with the -exception of five merchants of Vera Cruz, who on account of business -interests were given passports for that city; among these was a Senor -Madariaga who, afterward, in union with his companions, sent me, in -appreciation, the gift of sufficient cloth to make clothing for a full -battalion.” - -Never, in past times nor in modern ages, could history record in its -pages so noble an action; and never has human magnanimity expressed its -lofty deeds with more sublime simplicity than that of the Mexican hero -in the document, which we have just copied. In the midst of that war of -extermination, Bravo displays the noble sentiment of forgiveness as a -supreme protest of humanity whose laws were being disregarded and -trampled under foot; he condemns the barbarous system of reprisals; he -teaches the conquerors, who immolated without exception so many -prisoners as fell into their hands, to respect the life of the -conquered; in contrast to Venegas, Calleja, Cruz (Alaman’s hero), -Trujillo, Llano, Porlier, Castillo Bustamente, and so many others, -stained with Mexican blood and thirsting for vengeance, he presents the -spotless figure of the patriot giving life and liberty to the prisoners -in his power; and, he does this when he knows that his noble father, -after a prolonged captivity, has succumbed under a punishment reserved -for thieves and assassins; and he forgives, when his feared and -respected leader orders him to punish. He restrains his great grief and -in the reflections to which he yields himself, on the receipt of that -order, he does not think of the blood of his father, yet warm; he thinks -only of his country’s interests, _he believes that the reprisals which -he is ordered to practice will greatly diminish the credit of the cause -of independence and that, by observing a conduct contrary to that of the -viceroy, he would secure better results_; he encounters but the one -difficulty _that he cannot palliate his responsibility in disobeying the -order which he has received_; and, after meditating all night, he -resolves to pardon the prisoners _in a public manner, in order that the -pardon may secure all the good results desirable in favor of the cause -of independence_. Bravo, on that day, conquered, for his country, titles -of universal respect and rehabilitated human dignity in that period of -unbridled cruelty. - - - - -JOSÉ MARÍA VIGIL. - -[Illustration] - - -José María Vigil was born October 11, 1829, at Guadalajara. Early left -an orphan, during the period of his education he was in straitened -circumstances. He attended the seminario in Guadalajara and studied law -in the university of that city, but failed to secure his degree, on -account of his Liberal views. He began literary work in 1849, and in -1851 his drama, _Dolores ó una pasion_ (Dolores, or a passion), was well -received at the _Teatro Principal_, at Guadalajara. In 1857 he -published a collection of his poems, under the title _Realidades y -Quimeras_ (Realities and Chimeras). In 1866 he published two volumes of -verse and drama--_Flores de Anahuac_ (Flowers of Anahuac). These -writings were varied in style, and included original compositions and -translations from Latin, French, English, Portuguese, Italian, and -German. Through this period, Vigil also edited literary periodicals--_La -Aurora Poetica_ (The Poetic Dawn), and _La Mariposa_ (The Butterfly). - -Señor Vigil’s political career began in 1855, when Comonfort occupied -the Plaza of Guadalajara. With other youths, Vigil then began the -publication of _La Revolucion_ (The Revolution), in which were expounded -the ideas of the later Constitution of the Reform. From then, on through -the period of the Intervention, he led an active public life, writing -and editing, and in other ways of fearlessly working for democratic -principles. On December 31, 1863, he retired as the French entered -Guadalajara, and sought a refuge in San Francisco, California, where he -edited _El Nuevo Mundo_ (The New World), devoted to the cause he loved. -In 1865 poverty compelled him to return to Guadalajara. There he might -have received desirable public appointments, had he been willing to -receive aught from the Imperial government. He conducted an opposition -and patriotic publication, which was more than once suppressed. - -Since the Restoration, Vigil has filled many and important public posts. -Passing to the City of Mexico, about 1870, he has been, repeatedly, a -member of the House of Deputies, always standing for radical democratic -ideas. He has done much journalistic work; has pronounced discourses, -served in judicial capacities, has edited important works, and has -served many years as an educator. He founded _La Biblioteca Mexicana_ -(The Mexican Library) in which appear the important works of Las Casas, -and Tezozomoc, and the Codice Ramirez. He has been Professor of Logic in -the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_. For many years past, and at -present, he is the Librarian of the National Library of Mexico. He is a -member of all the important literary and scientific societies, among -them the _Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica_ and the _Liceo -Hidalgo_. When, in 1881, the Mexican Academy increased its membership to -fifteen, by the addition of one new chair, Señor Vigil was the unanimous -choice of the academicians. He is now the secretary of that -organization. - -Señor Vigil is the author of volume five of the great historical work, -_México á traves de los Siglos_ (Mexico through the Centuries), treating -of the period of _La Reforma_ (The Reform). Our selection is taken from -this work. - - -THE DEATH OF MAXIMILIAN. - -Meantime the trial of the prisoners followed its course in Queretaro -and, on the 13th, at eight in the morning, the council of war met in the -theatre of Iturbide, under the presidency of Lieutenant-Colonel Platón -Sánchez, the judges being Commandant-Captain José Vicente Ramirez, -Commandant-Captain Emilio Lojero, Captain Ignacio Jurado, Captain Juan -Rueda y Auza, Captain José Verástegui and Captain Lucas Villagrán. -Maximilian excused himself from attendance on account of illness; the -whole of the defense was read and, at eight o’clock at night, the -council adjourned to meet again the next day. On the 14th, at -half-past-twelve the trial ended after the prosecutor had presented the -rebuttal, in which death was demanded, and the defenders had replied. It -was easy to guess what the sentence would be and the associate -defenders, who were in San Luis Potosí, hastened to direct to the -President a second statement begging the pardon, a petition which was -repeated on the 16th, on learning that the sentence had been confirmed -by the General-in-Chief. The following reply of the President, -communicated through the Minister of War, took the last hope from the -defenders: “Having examined this appeal for pardon and the others of a -similar kind which have been presented to him with all the care which -the gravity of the case demands, the President of the Republic has -decided that he cannot accede to them, since the gravest considerations -of justice and the necessity of safeguarding the peace of the nation -oppose themselves to this act of clemency.” At the same time the -Minister sent a telegram to General Escobedo, in which he told him that -it had been decided that the execution should not take place until the -morning of the 19th, in order that the sentenced might have time for the -arrangement of their affairs. General Miramon’s wife arrived at San -Luis, in these moments, to see if she could save the life of her -husband; but Juarez refused to see her, saying to the lawyers of the -defense: “Spare me this painful interview, which, considering the -irrevocable nature of the decision, would but cause the lady much -suffering.” Finally, when Señores Riva Palacios and Martinez de la Torre -were parting from the President of the Republic, he said to them: “In -fulfilling your duty as defenders, you have suffered much by the -inflexibility of the government. Today you cannot understand the -necessity of this nor the justice which supports it. The appreciation of -this is reserved to the future. The law and the sentence are, at this -time, inexorable, because the public welfare demands it. It also may -counsel us to the least bloodshed, and this will be the greatest -pleasure of my life.” - -The legal resources exhausted, the plan of escape, devised by the -Princess Salm-Salm, in collusion with the Ministers of Austria, -Belgium, and Italy and the French Consul, frustrated; the prisoners -waited, with resignation, until the terrible moment should arrive in -which the sentence was to be executed. The last letters and dispositions -written by Maximilian and Miramon show that their natural valor did not -abandon them in those supreme moments. Mejia wrote nothing; but in the -mental depression in which the disease from which he was suffering -submerged him, he maintained that tranquil stoicism, which marked his -temperament. - -On the 19th, at six in the morning, a division of four thousand men -under command of General Jesús Diaz de León formed at the foot of the -Cerro de las Campanas, on the northeast slope. Maximilian, Miramon, and -Mejia arrived at about a quarter past seven, brought in carriages, and -each one accompanied by a priest. Maximilian descended first and said -courteously to his companions in misfortune: “Let us go, gentlemen,” and -the three directed themselves with firm step to the place of execution, -where they gave each other a farewell embrace. Maximilian then advanced -and distributed twenty-peso gold pieces among the soldiers, who were to -shoot him, and then, raising his voice, said: “I am about to die for a -just cause, the liberty and independence of Mexico. May my blood seal -the unhappiness of my new country. Viva Mexico!” Miramon read the -following in a loud voice: “Mexicans! in the council of war, my -defenders attempted to save my life; here, soon to lose it, and about to -appear before God, I protest against the stigma of traitor which they -have tried to put upon me to palliate my sacrifice. I die innocent of -that crime, and I forgive its authors, hoping that God may pardon me and -that my compatriots will remove so foul a stigma from my sons, doing me -justice. Viva Mexico!” Placing himself on the spot indicated, -Maximilian, who had asked that his face might not be disfigured, -separated his beard with his hands, to one side and the other, exposing -his chest; Miramon said, “here,” indicating his heart and raising his -head; and Mejia, who had given the soldiers charged with his execution -an ounce of gold to divide between them, said never a word but merely -laid by the crucifix, which he held in his hand, on seeing that they -were aiming at him. The signal to fire was given and a discharge put an -end to the bloody drama of the Empire in Mexico, which was so fatal for -its authors and for its partisans. - - - - -PRIMO FELICIANO VELÁSQUEZ. - -[Illustration] - - -Primo Feliciano Velásquez was born at Santa María del Rio in the state -of San Luis Potosí, June 6, 1860. Before he was nine years of age, on -account of promise shown in the school-room, he was taken in hand by the -village priest, who taught him Latin and later secured for him -admittance to the _Seminario Conciliar_ at the capital city of San Luis -Potosí. He was a diligent student and completed his study of law on -October 23, 1880. Although his legal career opened auspiciously, he -preferred to devote himself to journalism. In 1883 he founded, at San -Luis Potosí, a publication intended to promote the celebration of the -Iturbide centennial, through which he established a standing among the -eminent literary men of Mexico. In 1885, in company with several others, -he established _El Estandarte_ (The Standard), a periodical bitterly -opposed to the State Government, which caused him many vexations and -penalties. Velásquez has made a special study of local history and -archæology. His _Descubrimiento y Conquista de San Luis Potosí_ -(Discovery and Conquest of San Luis Potosí), received recognition from -the Royal Spanish Academy. His _Instruccion pública en San Luis Potosí -durante la Dominación española_ (Public Instruction in San Luis Potosí -during the Spanish Domination) was published in the memoirs of the -Mexican Academy, of which he has been a correspondent since 1886. His -_Coleccion de Documentos para la historia de San Luis Potosí_ -(Collection of documents for the History of San Luis Potosí) in four -volumes, was published between 1897 and 1899. Senor Velásquez has during -recent years returned to the practice of law. - - -THE TLAXCALAN SETTLEMENTS. - -In this year of 1589, in which peace was arranged, Santa María del Rio -was founded by Guachichiles and Otomis on lands of the Hacienda of -Villela and at a place called San Diego de Atotonilco. Of the villages -of our State, this one and Tierra Nueva count among their founders -individuals of Otomi stock. The other colonies established were formed -with Indians brought from Tlaxcala, either because that city was -populous, or because of its relative culture, or--what is more -probable--because of its unshakeable loyalty to the Spaniards. It is -asserted that four hundred families set out from the ancient republic -for these parts, by order of the Viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco II (1591), -and with the aid of Friar Jerónimo Mendieta. Friars Ignacio de Cardenas -and Jeronimo de Zárate brought them and distributed them in -Tlaxcalilla--on the outskirts of this city of San Luis, close by the -congregation of Santiago, which was of Guachichiles--in San Miguel, -Mexquitic, Venado, San Andrés, Colotlan, and Saltillo. It can easily be -believed that these colonists would not readily consent to abandon their -soil and come to such a distance to serve as a protection against -barbarians and as a guarantee of their obedience. Far from it; they -stipulated that they should enjoy the same privileges as if they were -noble-born Castillians; that they should go on horse and bear arms; and -that their towns, in which no Spaniards were to live, should measure -three leagues on each side. - - -ANDRES DE OLMOS. - -God, who holds aloft with his right hand a torch to light the way of his -creatures and to fructify, in the very field of death, the germs of -life; behind the bearded divinities with dress of steel and armed with -thunderbolts; from the region of light, the east, that they might anoint -with the oil of charity, the victims of greed, and resuscitate for -Heaven those dead for the world, sent the friars, shorn and shaven, -unshod, clad in sackcloth, with no shield but their faith, with no -weapon but the Gospel. Among these was that notable man, who wandered -through the whole Huasteca, while the Guachichiles still obstinately -fought their fierce battles; so wise was he that, besides his -miracle-play of _The Last Judgment_ and Conversations, Sermons, and -Tractates, all written in Aztec, he left grammars and vocabularies of -that language and of the Totonaco and Huastec, as well as many other -books for the instruction and admiration of missionaries, philologists -and historians; so poor, that, when he died, there was nought but a -rosary, some beads, a _disciplina_[7] and a _cilicio_,[8] left to his -hosts in token of gratitude; so temperate, that he did not in the least -seek those things which the appetite naturally desires, nor took -pleasure in them, but ate whatever was placed before him, although bad -in savor and smell; so strong that, after bearing a heavy weight of -years, going on foot through wastes and wilds, in a trying climate, -without any kind of comfort,--not only did he not choose to accept the -rest and shelter which his brethren urged upon him, when they saw him -old, asthmatic, insect-bitten to the degree that he looked like a leper, -but, glorying in his natural strong constitution, again betook himself -to the mountains where the warlike Chichimecs had their strongholds, to -preach to them for the last time, in the name of the Crucified, a gospel -of obedience and peace. - -Already you know, gentlemen, that I speak of the friar, Andres de Olmos, -companion of the venerable Zumárraga. - - -MARTYRS TO THE FAITH. - -In the New, as in the Old World, in the deserts as in the cities, in the -mountains as in the plains, the Gospel,--light and truth, refreshment, -hope and delight at once,--has to subjugate all peoples, to soften the -fierce and uncultured and to reduce to peace, order, and progress, -whatever may be the language in which it be announced. By divine -arrangement the doorposts must be marked with blood, with blood of -innocent victims, gentle and pure, that the avenging angel may pass by -and not wet his sword with the blood of the first-born. Thus, in the -northeast, four leagues from Zacatecas, a little after the year 1556, -kneeling and with the crucifix in his hand, Friar Juan de Tapia yielded -his blood to the sharp arrows of the Guachichiles; thus, Friar Juan -Cerrato shed his blood at the hands of the pagans, to whom he came from -Jalisco, that he might raise them from their rude condition and bring -them to a knowledge of their Creator and to the bosom of the Holy -Catholic Church; thus, the friars, Francisco Doncel and Pedro de Burgos -inundated with their red life-fluid the deep gorge of Chamacuero, where, -fierce as tigers, the Chichimecs hurled themselves upon them. - -Father Doncel was returning from Patzcuaro with Friar Pedro, carrying a -crucifix which he had ordered made for the Villa of San Felipe, of the -convent of which he was guardian. Looking to the security of the image, -they came accompanied by soldiers; but, as these fled at the moment of -attack by the Indians, they left the holy monks abandoned and helpless. -As was his duty in such a crisis, Father Doncel knelt and, raising the -crucifix aloft, lifted up his voice in prayer. Devoted to their sublime -mission, both the friars suffered death from the furious rage of the -savages, which, not content with blood and with stripping off the -garments to deck itself in them, and to run races thus garbed, uttering -beast cries, sawed off the heads, tore off the skull caps, and wore -them, to make display of its triumph. That image of Jesus is still -venerated in San Felipe, under the name of the _Señor de la Conquista_; -and that gorge in which these monks perished is still called the _Arroyo -de los Martires_ (Gorge of the Martyrs). - -Near by, at four leagues distance from Colotlan, is the spot where Friar -Luis de Villalobos sealed by a glorious death, in 1582, the doctrine -which he taught the heathen; not far distant is where Friar Andrés de la -Puebla was cruelly beaten, in 1586, and the skin was torn off his head, -from the eyebrows upward, while he was denouncing idolatry and intoning -the divine praises. Ours, is that land of Charcas, where also suffered -martyrdom, the friar, Juan del Rio, brother of the general of that name, -who made the final campaign against the Chichimecs. One day in 1586, -when the Spaniards had sallied from the town, a body of Indians attacked -it and stole the cattle. The only two soldiers, whom they had left on -guard, started in pursuit; shortly after, the friar followed them on -horse, believing the robbers would respect his presence. When he arrived -where they were he saw that one soldier was dead and that the other was -in imminent peril. He besought his enemies to calm themselves and hear -him, and did not cease to speak even when a rain of arrows fell upon -him, striking him in every part of the body. Reason enough was there for -the astonishment of the assassins, for the arrows, though many and well -directed, made no impression--he held himself well on his horse and -continued speaking. The Indians then aimed at his head and, with three -or four shots, brought him to the ground. What think you was the cause -of his apparent invulnerability? To find out, the barbarians, running up -to examine the body, despoiled it of clothing and found an immense -_cilicio_, an iron network supplied with iron points inside, which -constantly tore the flesh of the penitent friar. - - -DIEGO ORDOÑEZ. - -What do you admire in the great navigator, whose fortunate discovery two -hemispheres are now preparing to celebrate? His wisdom? his valor? his -boldness? While he possessed all these in heroic grade, it is surely not -these which, in him, captivate us, but his faith, his marvelous faith, -which sustained him erect and firm in the midst of innumerable -obstacles, betrayed by treachery, mocked and harassed by adverse -fortune, and he held it against machinations and dangers, until he -planted it securely in the land of his dreams. Well, of this same faith, -which caused the inspired mariner to triumph over enemies and obstacles -and the mysterious dangers of the sea, there are also found examples in -these, our regions, which ought not to be held unworthy of esteem -because they are buried in the humble chronicles of a Province; for -even thus, in solitude, a diamond gleams more brightly. When the -immortal Genoese entered the service of Spain, there had just (1483) -taken the Franciscan habit in Salamanca, a youth of such precocity that, -at thirteen years, he had already graduated in philosophy. At sixteen, -dedicated to the study of theology, he made such progress in this -science and in Greek and Hebrew, that, with no little credit to his -order, he occupied--through many years--the professorship in his -convent, where, as is well known, Columbus found a more friendly -reception than among the proud professors of the famous university. From -Guatemala, whither the learned teacher went in 1539 to occupy himself -with the instruction of the wild Indians, he passed to Mexico, called to -serve as _Consultor_ to the Holy Office. The snows of a hundred winters -already whitened his head, but as the volcanoes which display a snowy -crown to conceal the forge where are smithed their glowing thunderbolts, -so the venerable centennarian priest. He scarcely tarried at the -vice-regal court; like a flaming arrow he went to Michoacan, Zacatecas, -and Durango, whose inhabitants enjoyed the last ministrations of the -philosopher, theologian, humanist, and eminent preacher, whose name was -Diego Ordoñez, and who, at one hundred and seventeen years of age, -seated in a chair because he could not stand, died in Sombrerete, -preaching to the Indians--he who had been the pride of the convent at -Salamanca and the venerated oracle of theologians and inquisitors. - - -ANTONIO DE ROA. - -Two methods were employed by him, or rather one only, in converting so -untamed and rude a people. No one is ignorant, that in New Spain the -worship of the Holy Cross has ever been general. Be the mountain -beautiful or barren, lofty or low, the natives were accustomed to rear a -cross upon it. Where roads forked they set it up, and also in the -streets and plazas, that they might venerate it at every step and bow -before it. With greater reason, therefore, believed Father Roa, ought -the sacred emblem to be multiplied upon the rugged mountain trails, -which, at first glance, had so much discouraged him. - -But, not consenting to erect it in spots, where, before, the Indians had -adored their idols, he taught them to honor it with great love and -unheard-of penances. When he went forth from his convent, he had them -throw about his neck a halter, dragged by two Indians; thus, with quick -step, downcast eyes, in tears, with ardent groaning, he went, meditating -on the passion of the Redeemer, until he reached the spot where stood a -cross. Scarcely knelt before it, the Indians, who accompanied him and -knew his orders, buffeted him, spat upon him, and cruelly beat him. This -was repeated as many times as there were crosses on the way--and there -were many. - -When it is stated that this practice was constant and but the beginning -of each day, one begins to have an idea of the examples, which he set to -the new followers of Christ. One is stupefied to read that, arrived at -the village he preached and administered the sacraments, then waited -until night to make a general flagellation, which, finished, he sallied -from the church, naked from the waist up and barefoot, with a halter -around his neck, in order to walk around the churchyard, which was -strewn with glowing brands. One can hardly believe that his strength -allowed him to preach, on returning into the church, a sermon upon the -torments of hell and, further, that after all this he endured the -torture of boiling water, which his rough followers threw over his -lacerated body. - -Still the idea of the sufferings, which he added to those, today, as -then, inseparable from a region so wild and remote, is not complete -until we know that, in Lent, he was accustomed, thrice weekly, to bathe -the Hermita of Molango with his blood. In his oratory he had painted the -Prayer in the Garden; and there, after his long prayers, the Indians -came to beat him, while they overwhelmed him with insults. They stripped -him from the waist up and violently tore away the coarse and rasping -cloth which was bound closely to his flesh; they threw a halter about -his neck and, in this guise, dragged him to a second oratory where was -painted a Magdalene anointing the Lord’s feet. Placing him there before -an Indian who, seated in his tribunal, represented Divine Justice, they -accused him of being a wicked man, an ingrate, proud, perverter, and -false. He replied nothing on the matter to the questions of the judge, -but, after a little time, confessed his sins, ingratitude, and faults, -in a loud voice. He replied as little to a new accusation, made against -him with false witnesses, of the truth of which the judge declared -himself convinced, and ordered that they should beat him naked, which -they did, thoroughly, until the blood ran down upon the ground from his -raw and quivering body. Afterward they kindled splinters of fat pine, -with the sizzling resin of which they scorched him from the shoulders to -the soles of his feet, and lastly they laid upon him a heavy cross, -which he bore in a procession around the enclosure over a bed of glowing -coals. - - - - -JUAN F. MOLINA SOLIS. - -[Illustration] - - -Juan F. Molina Solis, representative of one of the oldest and most -respected families of Yucatan, was born June 11, 1850, in the village of -Hecelchacan. His father was Juan F. Molina Esquivel, his mother Cecilia -Solis de Molina. In 1857, the family removed to Merida, where the boy’s -education was carried on. He received the degree of Master of Arts from -the _Seminario conciliar de San Ildefonso_, after which he studied law, -graduating in 1874. He has ever occupied a prominent position in Merida -as a successful lawyer, as teacher in the Seminario, as professor in the -Law School, as journalist, and as author. In literature he has largely -confined himself to history--especially the history of Yucatan. His -_Historia del Descubrimiento y Conquista de Yucatan con una reseña de la -Historia antiqua de esta Peninsula_ (History of the Discovery and -Conquest of Yucatan with a Summary of the Ancient History of this -Peninsula) is a standard authority. It is admirably written and is -marked by a sober criticism and constant reference to original sources. -Besides this, the largest and most important work that he has written, -we may mention a collection of polemical historical articles and of -miscellaneous editorials presented under the general title _El Primer -Obispado de la Nacion Mejicana_ (The First Bishopric of the Mexican -Nation) and an interesting historical sketch, _El Conde de Peñalva_ (The -Count of Peñalva). In his editorials Señor Molina often discusses -matters of transcendant importance to the nation. While extremely -conservative, and hence often in the opposition, his writings on such -themes are thoughtful, candid, just, and patriotic. Among such articles -are some treating of Representative Government, The Election of Deputies -and Senators to the Federal Congress, The Commercial Treaty Between -Mexico and the United States, etc. The passage presented here, in -translation, is a chapter from _El Conde de Peñalva_. - - -THE HORRORS OF 1648 IN YUCATAN. - -The Count could not arrive at a more unfortunate moment nor amid -conditions sadder than those among which fate decreed his coming to -these shores. The situation of the Peninsula could not be more sorrowful -or calamitous. An epidemic disease, whether cholera, or yellow fever, or -the black plague, is uncertain, was just ceasing to devastate the -community, and the misfortunes and ruin which it caused had not yet -ended. That pest began in the year 1648, year unlucky for Yucatan. After -the season of northers in February of that year, a drought set in, so -rigorous as to sterilize the soil and to produce intense heat, which was -increased by burning over the fields in preparation for the year’s -sowing. This drought, these heats, the Peninsula suffers ordinarily, but -for a short time only, from the month of March until the rains fall in -May--and, it even happens often that, before the rains, showers refresh -the air and moisten and fertilize the earth. The year 1648 was not, -however, such; the heats, initiated in the month of February, augmented, -more and more, until they reached the extreme degree which human nature -can endure; the inhabitants of the country anxiously begged for rain to -diminish the heat, in which they were burning; but heaven, deaf to their -clamors, refused to open its stores, and time passed without a single -drop of rain coming to refresh the thirsty earth. Sometimes, the rains -delay until the end of June, but what was seen in 1648 has never been -since repeated; June passed, July passed, August began, and the land was -as dry as a fleshless skeleton, exposed to the quivering rays of a -dog-days’ sun. The dust, fine and penetrating, was constantly raised in -clouds, from March on, at the blast of the southeast wind, and shut out -from view the barren fields which, when visible offered to the eye -nothing but leafless trees and ground overgrown with briars and brambles -without greenness. Nor was the afternoon breeze any relief from the -extraordinary heat and drought, because that little current of air, -blowing so softly and agreeably on summer afternoons, at that time came -impregnated with an odor strong and pestiferous as if the whole -Peninsula had been encircled by filthy and stinking cesspools. And this -was because that period of drought coincided with an extraordinary -infection of the fishes of the sea, which died in infinite numbers, and -their bodies, tossed up by the sea onto the shores, formed gigantic -heaps of putrefaction, which poisoned the air. How great must have been -the number of those dead fish, since it is stated that the vessels that -were navigating near our coasts were checked in their courses and -journeyed slowly, as if they were running in the belt of calms or -through spaces filled with drifting ice! In vain our police force, then -in embryo, sent out daily, from all the towns near the coast, files of -Indians led by a Spaniard, for the purpose of burning the dead fish. The -very stench of the burning came to be unbearable, so that finally the -expedient was abandoned, as harmful. - -Suffering under these tribulations, the people intensified their -affliction, by dire forebodings, which existed more in their imagination -than in reality. As always happens, in time of social calamity, aged -persons spoke of similar times, in remote epochs, which had preceded -horrible disasters. The air appearing thick and heavy, they imagined -that the sun did not shine as it was accustomed to do, but was as if -eclipsed; and, in fine, the inner sadness of minds was reflected in -external things, conspiring to exalt the fancy with dread of vague -misfortunes, of coming and fatal ills. - -And the fear became reality, since in the month of June a terrible and -contagious disease made its frightful appearance in Campeche. Whether it -was the Levantine plague, which a little before had ravaged Europe and -was brought by some vessel to the port, whether it was occasioned by the -putrefaction of the dead fishes, whether it was the cholera which -visited us for the first time, or whether it was the yellow fever -scourging with an iron hand, we cannot say. It is enough to know that it -was a terrible disease, which converted Yucatan into an immense -cemetery. Sometimes, without any warning, it showed itself in intense -pains in the bones, accompanied by excessive fever and delirium; at -other times with the fever was united vomiting of putrid blood; now it -presented the diarrhœa of the cholera patient; now the putrid -dysentery of pernicious fever. Some died in eight or ten hours; others -lasted through three, four, or even seven days. Men more than women, and -the youth, lively and vigorous, more than the feeble and infirm, were -the field preferred by the epidemic. No one escaped its deleterious -influence, and the Spaniard and Indian, the negro, the mulatto, and the -mestizo all paid their tribute to the contagion, which showed no respect -in its depredations. In its course, it sometimes skipped populations; -and while it swooped pitilessly down upon some obscure and distant -village, it neglected some town close by and exposed to its attack. -Sometimes it seemed to spare the Indians, only to return later and make -a clean sweep of them. - -There were great sadness and horror in Merida when notice was brought of -the rapid, frequent, and painful deaths, which were taking place in -Campeche, and which suggested the existence of the plague; the more so -as an effort was made to minimize the reports of conditions. The pest, -the sombre and frightful pest, which brings death as a daily thought to -the minds of all; and not sweet and peaceful death, but the most -distressing of all, death in solitude and abandonment! The stupor, -caused by the news, did not prevent some measures of sanitation to -prevent the invasion of the contagion, the principal of which was -isolation. The city completely separated itself, closed the highways, -set numerous guards in the roads, and all the inhabitants turned their -eyes to God, imploring pity; the temples were thronged and deeds of -mercy were more frequent and general. - -Nothing, however, sufficed to stay the advance of the disease; in turn, -it attacked Merida, leaping over all the populations in the line of -progress, and appearing in the city at the end of July. At first it -attacked but few, here and there a person; although the number stricken -did not cause a panic, the promptness with which they died struck -terror. This, however, was but the beginning of the affliction; because, -afterward, in the first days of August the disease increased above -measure, and by the middle of the month almost all the inhabitants of -the city were stretched upon the bed of pain by the contagion. Whole -families were stricken and died in isolation, with no one to care for -them or even to call a nurse, a physician, or a priest to give some aid. -In the sad and deserted streets were only to be seen, passing like -fugitive spectres, the secular clergy, the Jesuits, and the Franciscans -in their long gowns, rapidly crossing from house to house to administer -consolation to those dying who had the happiness to receive them; -because, not infrequently, when the priests crossed the threshold of -the house of death, they only encountered sepulchral stillness and -corpses; at other times it happened that the priest, who bore the -_viaticum_, was himself suddenly stricken with the disease and was -obliged to lay himself down to die in the first doorway, while another -priest came to take the holy elements from his hands, to continue the -sacred task of abnegation and sacrifice. In the cathedral, in Santa -Lucia, in San Cristobal, in Santiago, in San Sebastian, in Santa -Catalina, the corpses were buried in the burying grounds near the -churches; but so great was the crowd of the dead that the town -government commanded new cemeteries to be opened and blessed in the -fields; and, in order not to increase the panic, it ordered that the -bodies should be carried to all these cemeteries at dawn, where a priest -received them and repeated a prayer over them, and they were thrown into -the common trench. That was a mournful spectacle, which those fields of -death presented at that hour, with long files of corpses, badly clad or -wrapped in serapes or in henequin mattings, laid out on boards, or -stretchers. - -The Governor, Don Esteban de Ascárraga did not escape the pest; he died -August 8 and was buried quietly, not to augment the consternation of the -city. A Franciscan friar, José de Orosco, mounted, hale and hearty, the -pulpit in the church of San Francisco, to preach the sermon, and -descended ill, and died. The regidors, in the town government, died; of -eight Jesuits, who lived in the Colleges of San Javier and San Pedro, -six sacrificed their lives on the altar of charity, succoring the -sufferers day and night; twenty Franciscans perished in the same labors; -clergy, seculars, canonigos, pensioners, royal employes, in short, the -principal and choicest of the city went down to the tomb in the month of -August, 1648. - -Public consternation had reached its height; the city was completely -overwhelmed. Without physicians, without adequate supplies of medicines, -with no hospital except that of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, later known -by the name San Juan de Dios, from the fact that it was in other times -served by the mendicant friars; sustained with difficulty, without -sanitary police, without hygienic arrangements, with the deaths -increasing, the public spirit crushed. It was then, when deprived of -every human succor, the inhabitants of Merida redoubled their appeals to -heaven, and, recalling the great devotion of the Province to the Most -Holy Virgin Mary, resolved to make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of -Izamal and to bring the sacred image, there venerated, in public -procession in order to attribute to it special worship during nine -consecutive days. The Licenciate, Don Juan de Aguileta, Vice-Governor, -was appointed by the city to represent it and bring the sacred image to -Merida. In so great faith and mortal terror were all the people that the -Licenciate Aguileta, himself ill with the pest, did not hesitate a -moment to receive the commission, and without discussion started for -Izamal. Whether for the faith with which he undertook the journey, the -change of temperature, or some other reason, the fact is that the -licenciate was cured before he reached Izamal. As soon as the Indians -learned the object of his journey, they tenaciously opposed the removal -of the sacred statue, fearing that it would not be returned to its -traditional sanctuary. The persuasions, threats, and exhortations of the -authorities availed nothing, nor did those of the friars themselves; the -Indians distrusted all, and did not willingly lend themselves to permit -the departure of the sacred image until the Provincial of the -Franciscans agreed to remain in Izamal, as a hostage, until the -venerated figure should be restored to its temple. And so seriously did -the Indians take his proposal that they placed guards upon all the roads -out from the town to prevent his escape. - -These measures having been taken by the Indians, the holy image started -from Izamal for Merida. It was not a procession; it was a grand popular -festival; it was a triumphal march, with an enormous accompaniment of -people, who poured forth from their homes, to see pass by on the -highway, the statue of the venerated Patroness of Yucatan, whose aid was -besought. Those who know the faith, the ardor, the effusion of soul with -which the humble and common people devote themselves to religious -practices, can imagine the enthusiasm, bordering on delirium, with which -the inhabitants of the surrounding towns flocked together, anxious to -render their homage of love to the Virgin Mary. Long and closely packed -files of devotees, with lighted torches, formed the accompaniment, which -stretched, as a broad, blazing strip, through the dry and arid wastes -bordering the road. All on foot, all praying, all filled with remorse, -and penitent, they arrived at the outskirts of Merida, where a numerous -and select concourse awaited the procession. The Regidors, the -Canonigos, the principal ladies, had gone, barefoot in sign of -penitence, and, when the procession passed through the streets of the -city, from the Cruz de la Villa to the Plaza Mayor, the sick had -themselves brought to the doors and windows of their houses, to implore -health. After a brief rest at the Cathedral, the procession went to the -Church of San Francisco, where for nine days constantly the most solemn -worship[9] was attributed to the Most Holy Virgin. - -The nine days having passed, on the 23d of August, 1648, the Alcalde -Governor, Don Juan de Salazar y Montejo, returned the sacred image to -the Sanctuary of Izamal, with the same splendor, pomp, and -accompaniment. The pest mitigated, in fact, in Merida at the end of -August, and had almost disappeared before the middle of September, -although merely changing the scene of its ravages. - -As happens always, the gathering of people, the numerous concourse of -inhabitants from other towns, scattered the seed of the contagion, which -spread its devastation throughout the whole country. The first to be -attacked were the Indians of Izamal, who, faithful and devoted, did not -abandon the sacred image for a moment on its journey from its natal city -to Merida. From Izamal the pest extended slowly to the east and south. -The great procession took place in August, and already in September the -District of Izamal was smitten; in October the epidemic had propagated -itself to Ticul, Chapab, Bolonchen, Mani, Bolonchenticul; in December it -had spread throughout the whole coast, and, thus, spreading from town to -town, it fiercely struck its claws into the whole Peninsula during two -long and weary years. - - - - -LUIS GONZALES OBREGÓN. - -[Illustration] - - -Luis Gonzales Obregón, one of the best known of living Mexican writers, -was born in Guanajuato, August 25, 1865. After studying under private -teachers at his home, he went to Mexico, where he completed his -preparatory studies in the _Seminario_ and in the _Colegio de San -Ildefonso_. Ill health interfered with his further education, but he had -already developed a strong affection for literary, and particularly for -historical, pursuits, which has motived his whole life work. He is a -devoted student of the national history of his country and particularly -delights in the investigation of obscure and curious incidents. So far -as a feeble physical constitution has allowed, he has given himself up -to such researches and to writing. In 1889 he published a useful little -volume, entitled _Novelistas Mexicanos en el Siglo XIX_ (Mexican -Novelists in the Nineteenth Century). In an introductory section he -briefly characterizes the Mexican novel; he then presents a complete -list of the novelists of the century, to the time of his writing, with -the names of their novels and a few discriminating words regarding their -place in the national literature. Our author’s best known work is -certainly _México Viejo_ (Old Mexico), of which a “first series” was -printed in 1891 and a “second series” in 1895. These have recently been -republished, in a single volume, in Paris. The work consists of essays, -each dealing with some special event in Mexican history, or sketching -the life of some eminent person, or depicting some old custom or popular -practice. Usually they contain information derived from unpublished -manuscripts or rare and ancient works. Among the many other writings of -our author, two biographical sketches demand particular mention, on -account of the interest and prominence of the men who form the subjects. -These are _Don José Joaquín Fernandez de Lizardi_ famous as a writer, -early in the last century, under the _nom-de-plume_ of _El Pensador -Mexicano_ (the Mexican thinker), and _Vida y Obras de Don José Fernando -Ramirez_ (Life and Works of José Fernando Ramirez), the eminent literary -man, historian, and statesman. The selections, which we here present, -are from _México Viejo_. They do not as satisfactorily represent Señor -Obregón’s style as longer passages would, as he is at his best when he -narrates some ancient legend or describes some popular festival. - - -CHANGES IN MEXICO. - -For some years past Mexico has been undergoing a slow, but evident, -transformation. Everywhere the modern spirit modifies what is old. -Customs, types, dress, monuments, and buildings are completely losing -the long-fixed physiognomy of the colonial days. - -The customs of our ancestors, half Spanish, half indigenous, are -disappearing, replaced by a mixture of European practices, and now, in -the same house, one prays in the old fashion, clothes one’s self after -the French style, and eats after the Italian manner; one mounts his -horse or enters his coach _a la_ English, and conducts his business _a -la_ Yankee, in order to lose no time. - -The fountains, those ancient fountains of the colonial epoch, have been -replaced by hydrants and troughs at every corner, and the traditional -type of the _aguador_ (water-carrier) is eclipsed and forced to betake -himself to those sections where the deep shadows of the electric lights -fall, and where the precious fluid does not flow of itself, except when -it pleases heaven to inundate the streets and alleys. - -The _china_[10] has died, to live only in the beautiful romances of the -popular Fidel; the _chiera_[11] yields her gay and picturesque _puesto_ -of refreshing waters, to the experienced _señorita_, who in high-heeled -shoes and tightly-laced bodice serves us iced drink in vessels of fine -crystal; the _sereno_,[12] with his shining, varnished hat, his ladder -on his shoulder and his lantern in his right hand, withdraws shame-faced -before the _gendarme_,[13] and thus with other types, whom the curious -investigator now encounters only in the pictures of forgotten books. - -Who now remembers the habits of the humble friars, who once traveled -through the streets amid the respectful salutations of the faithful? - -The coaches slung on straps, the gigs, the omnibuses--are all passing -away, all are forgotten in the noisy whirl of English and American -carriages and the confusion of the _tranvias_,[14] which rapidly slip -over their steel rails. - -Mexico changes, principally, in its material part. The old houses fall -daily, façades change, the ancient wooden roofs give way to iron -sheeting. - -The streets are being lengthened, their names are expressed in -cabalistic signs, and their historic and traditional associations are -relegated to the verses of our poets. - -The city, born amid the rubbish of the heroic Tenochtitlan, the capital -city of the viceroyalty of New Spain, which had on every corner a chapel -or temple--or, at least, a picture of a saint--pious evidences of the -religion of the populace, now rejuvenates itself, appropriating those -old buildings, consecrated to some special purpose, to some use far -different, since the epoch of the Reform. - -What was then a church is now a library; what was a convent, a barrack; -what was a customs house, a departmental office; a corridor becomes a -gallery; a _patio_, a warehouse; a refectory, a stable. - -Before the special physiognomy of those times completely disappears, -before the crowbar demolishes the last façades, before the scaffolding -is raised against the bulging wall, before--finally--we hear the song or -whistle of the indifferent stonecutter, as he mercilessly chisels the -stone which will completely change the aspect of those things upon which -our forebears gazed, we propose to conjure up the incidents, the times, -and customs which have gone that future generations need not vainly -excavate among forgotten ruins. - - -LUISA MARTINEZ. - -The war of independence in Mexico had, also, its martyr heroines. The -insurgents never executed a woman of the royalists; but that party -stained its arms with the blood of the fair sex. - - * * * * * - -There was another heroine of humble origin whom we ought not to omit, -because she, also, was a martyr of the independence. She was named Luisa -Martínez, wife of Steven García Martínez (nicknamed ‘the reveler’), who -kept a little shop in the pueblo of Erongaricuaro, about the years 1815 -and 1816. In that pueblo all were _chaquetas_, that is to say, partisans -of the royalists. She, however, was devoted to the other flag. She -courageously aided the insurgent warriors, she gave them timely -information, victuals, resources, and communicated to them messages from -their superior officers, with whom she kept in constant touch. One day -her messenger, bearing letters directed to the insurgent leader, Tomás -Pacheco, was surprised by Pedro Celestino Negrete. Luisa Martínez fled; -but, pursued, captured, and tried, she was compelled to pay two thousand -pesos and to promise to communicate no farther with the patriots, in -order to regain her liberty. But she was not warned by her experience. -Thrice again was she pursued, imprisoned, and fined, until, at last, she -could not pay the sum, four thousand pesos, which Negrete demanded, and -was shot by his order in the year 1817, in a corner of the cemetery of -the parish church at Erongaricuaro. - -Just before her execution, turning to Negrete, she said to him: - -“Why such persistent persecution of me? I have the right to do what I -can to help my country, because I am a Mexican. I do not believe that I -have committed any crime, but simply have fulfilled my duty.” - -Negrete remained inflexible, and Luisa Martínez _fell, pierced by -royalist bullets_. - - -SOR JUANA INEZ DE LA CRUZ. - -If there is one literary glory among us, universally recognized and -applauded, it is Sister Juana Inez de la Cruz, most virtuous nun, -inspired poet, and pre-eminently admirable for her prodigious learning. - -Sister Juana was a privileged being; her beauty captivated all hearts; -her intellect astonished her contemporaries. - -The life of that surprising woman is almost a fairy tale. - -She was born near the slopes of those giants, Popocatepetl and -Iztaccihuatl, in a country place called San Miguel Nepantla, in a humble -inn known by the name of _la celda_, at eleven o’clock in the night of -Thursday, November 12, 1651. At three years of age she had coaxed the -teacher of her sister to teach her to read; she was not yet seven, when -she had written verses and addresses to the Santisimo Sacramento, in -order to win a book which had been offered as a prize; she came to -Mexico, where she devoured the few books which her grandfather owned; in -twenty lessons with her teacher, Martin de Olivas, she learned the Latin -language; she begged her mother to dress her as a man, that she might -study at the University; later, young and beautiful, as lady-in-waiting -of Doña Leonora María de Carreto, then the vice-reina of New Spain, -Juana de Asbaje charmed the gallants with her witcheries and astounded -the learned with her knowledge. - -One time, the Viceroy Antonio Sebastián de Toledo, Marquis of Mancera, -desired to convince himself whether the learning of that lady was real -or apparent. He collected at his palace all the notable men, reputed -learned, in the city. What with theologians, philosophers, -mathematicians, historians, poets, humanitarians, ‘and not a few of -those whom in sport we call _tertulios_’[15] (says Padre Calleja), forty -were present. Juana de Asbaje appeared before that severe tribunal for -examination. She astounded all by her responses. The viceroy himself, -years later, admiringly recounted the impressions of that day to Padre -Calleja, and added ‘As a royal galleon would defend itself against a few -fishing-smacks which might assail it, so did Juana Inez easily -disentangle herself from the questions, arguments, and objections which -they all, each in his own way, put to her.’ - -But she did not long shine in worldly life; mysterious -reasons--disappointments or impossible affections, or, more likely, the -repeated entreaties of her confessor--decided her to enter a convent. -She first chose that of San José, of the order of the bare-foot -Carmelites, today Santa Teresa de Antigua; but the rigors of that order -so enfeebled her that she abandoned the novitiate at the end of three -months, by order of physicians. Soon, however, she entered another -nunnery, that of San Gerónimo, never again to depart. There she publicly -made her vows, on the 24th of February, 1669. Pedro Velásquez de la -Cadena, a wealthy man of distinguished family, endowed her and her -confessor, Padre Antonio Nuñez de Mirando, bore the expenses of the -occasion, and was so delighted with her profession that he himself -lighted the evening candles and invited the leading representatives of -the civil and ecclesiastical governments, the religious notables, and -the nobility of Mexico to be present. - -Time passed. Sister Juana, in the silence of her cell, without a sign -of pride, with spirit ever thirsting for knowledge, studied incessantly, -and with modesty received the praises, which from all parts were -bestowed upon her; but, suddenly, a religious fervor, offspring of her -faith and the counsels of her spiritual director (who urged her to -abandon all dealings with the world) drove her to dispose of her books; -she divided the sum realized among the needy; she left her lyre to -gather dust, flung her pen far from her, and, grasping her _disciplina_, -scourged herself; she weakened herself by fasts, opened her veins, -signed new vows with her own blood, until, finally, a pestilence, which -had invaded the convent, stretched her upon her couch, after she had -exercised her Christian charity in ministering to her sisters. She never -rose again. Science, in vain, eagerly attempted to help her. Vain were -also the clamors for her health which the convent bells clanged forth. -Tranquil as a saint, she received her last communion on earth and calmly -closed her eyes to open them in heaven. - -Sister Juana died aged forty-three years, five months, five days, and -five hours, at four in the morning of April 17, 1695. - -The funeral was imposing. The Canon Francisco Aguilar conducted the -ceremony. The most notable men, the most distinguished ladies, and the -government officials were in attendance. ‘The populace,’ says one -biographer, ‘crowded about the doors of the church of San Gerónimo. All -mourned that loss for letters. Poets sung her praises and Carlos de -Sigüenza y Gongora pronounced the eulogy.’ - - -THE INQUISITION. - -Thus was installed, November 4, 1571, the tribunal of the Inquisition in -the very loyal and very noble City of Mexico. - -From that day terror began among its good inhabitants! Woe to heretics, -blasphemers, and Jews! Woe to sharpers, witches and sorcerers! - -Fear swept over all, and that frightful secrecy with which the tribunal -surrounded itself contributed greatly to increase the terror; that -mystery with which it proceeded; that impressive pomp which it displayed -in its public sentences--which in time were the favorite diversion of -the mob and even of the middle and comfortable class. - -No one lived at ease; unknown and secret denunciation threatened -everyone; unfortunate was he who gave ground for the least suspicion and -unhappy was he who merely failed to wear a rosary. - -It is necessary to transport one’s self to those times, to read what -history records of that dread tribunal, in order to picture, adequately, -to one’s self the terror which must have overwhelmed those who appeared -before the Holy Office in the old Cathedral of Mexico. - -With time respect diminished, and that which before caused terror now -aroused derision. - -Some of the sentences were ridiculous--mere travesties. For instance, -that celebrated in Santo Domingo on December 7, 1664, and in which -conjugal infelicities between the viceroy, Mancera, and his lady -secretly had their influence. Guido says: “There were ten condemned and -among them one who, according to his sentence, was taken to the patio of -the convent and stripped; two Indians smeared him with honey and covered -him with feathers; there he was left exposed four hours.” - -Such spectacles must have caused at first indignation, then contempt. - -No less insulting than such punishments were the penitential garments of -those condemned by the Holy Office, called _san-benitos_. These were a -kind of scapulary of linen or other cloth, yellow or flesh-red in color. -There were three kinds, known respectively by the names _samarra_, -_fuego revolto_ and _san-benito_--the latter being also a name common to -all. - -The _samarra_ was worn by the _relajados_, or those handed over to the -secular arm to be garroted or burned alive. It bore, painted upon it, -dragons, devils, and flames, amid which the criminal was represented as -burning. - -The garment known as _fuego revolto_ was that of those who had abjured, -and for this reason the flames were painted upside down, as if to -signify that the wearers had escaped from death in the fiery embrace. - -Finally, the _san-benito_, which ordinary prisoners wore, was a -flesh-colored sack bearing a Saint Andrew’s cross. - -The kind of mitre which the condemned wore upon the head was called -_coroza_, and was a cap of paper, more than a _vara_ high, ending in a -point like a fool’s-cap, with flames, snakes or demons painted on it, -according to the category of the criminal. - -The condemned carried also rosaries, and yellow or green candles; those -of the “reconciled” were lighted, those of the impenitent extinguished; -when they were “blasphemers” they were gagged. - -In time these insulting insignia were looked upon with indifference as -any other dress, and gave occasion, in Mexico, to a curious story. It -chanced that once a “reconciled” was walking through the streets wearing -his _san-benito_; some Indians seeing him noticed that the dress was new -and one thought it was the Spanish devotional dress for Lent; returning -to his house he made some excellent _san-benitos_, well painted; he -brought them to the city and offered them for sale to Spaniards, saying, -in the Indian language, _Sic cohuas nequi a san-benito?_ which means, Do -you wish to buy a _san-benito_? The thing so amused everyone that the -story even went to Spain, and in Mexico there is still a saying, “_ti -que quis benito_.” - -The common people ended by losing all fear of such scarecrows, and -defied the Inquisition in this way: - - Un Santo Cristo - dos Candeleros - Y tres majaderos.[16] - -A merited jest for that which knew not how to respect worthy and valiant -heroes, such as Hidalgo and Morelos. - - - - -FRANCISCO SOSA. - -[Illustration] - - -Francisco Sosa was born in Campeche, April 2, 1848. When he was still a -child his parents removed to Merida, where the boy received his -education. His first poetical effort appeared in a local paper, when the -writer was but fourteen years of age. At that time, he was editor--in -union with Ovidio and Octavio Zorilla--of the paper, _La Esperanza_ -(Hope), in which it appeared. Four years later his _Manual de Biografía -Yucateca_ (Manual of Yucatecan Biography) was published, showing his -early devotion to the field in which he has chiefly figured, that of -biography. With Ramón Aldana, he founded _La Revista de Merida_ (The -Merida Review), which is still published and is, unquestionably, the -most influential paper in Yucatan. In 1868, when but twenty years old, -he went, for the first time to the City of Mexico, where most of his -life since has been spent. He had, however, already been a prisoner, for -political reasons, in the famous and dreadful fortress of San Juan de -Ulúa, at Vera Cruz. He became promptly associated with the literary men -of Mexico and collaborated with them, upon a number of important -periodical publications, literary and political. In 1873 he was -associated with Gen. Riva Palacios in the editorship of _El Radical_ -(The Radical). Later as editor of the _Federalista_ (Federalist), he -gave to that paper a notable literary reputation and contributed to it, -both prose and verse. He was one of the editors of _El Bien Publico_ -(The Public Good), a paper aimed to combat the administration of -President Lerdo de Tejada; while thus connected, he went to Guanajuato -to join the standard of Iglesias, returning, at the downfall of Lerdo de -Tejada, to the City of Mexico. Since that time, he has edited various -periodicals, including _El Siglo XIX_ (The Nineteenth Century), _El -Nacional_ (The National), and _La Libertad_ (Liberty). - -Señor Sosa’s books have been mainly in the line of biography. Besides -the volume on Yucatecans already mentioned, he has published _Don -Wenceslao Alpuche, Biografías de Mexicanos Distinguidos_ (Biographies of -Distinguished Mexicans), _El Episcopado Mexicano_ (The Mexican -Episcopacy), _Efemérides Historicas y Biograficas_ (Historical and -Biographical Ephemerids), _Los Contemporaneos_ (The Contemporaries), -_Las Estatuas de la Reforma_ (The Statues of “the Reforma”) and -_Conquistadores Antiguos y Modernos_ (Ancient and Modern Conquerors). He -has also written an appreciative work upon South-American -writers--_Escritores y poetas Sud-Americanos_. Among his works in other -fields are a volume of stories--_Doce Leyendas_ (Twelve Stories), and a -book of sonnets, _Recuerdos_ (Recollections). - -In his poetry Sosa is vigorous, chaste, and strong. In prose he is -direct and simple, but careful in language. - -Señor Sosa has ever been interested in every cause tending toward the -advancement of Mexico and has actively participated in the organization -and conduct of literary and learned societies. It is to his efforts that -the interesting series of statues, that border the Paseo de la Reforma, -is due. - -Our selections are taken from his _Estatuas de la Reforma_ and -_Biografías de Mexicanos Distinguidos_. - - -THE STATUES OF THE REFORMA. - -In 1887 Sosa published an article in _El Partido Liberal_ (The Liberal -Party), which has produced a happy result. From it, we quote: - -The inauguration of the magnificent monument with which the Federal -Government has honored the memory of the illustrious Cuauhtemoc and that -of the principal chieftains of the defense of the native land in 1521, -has shown, not only that Mexico does not forget her heroes, but, also, -that among her sons are artists capable of producing works creditable to -any cultured nation. - -This affirmation is not born from our enthusiasm for all that redounds -to the glory of our native land. Foreign writers have not hesitated to -say that the monument of Cuauhtemoc may be considered the finest in -America, in its essentially American architecture and in being a work -exclusively realized by Mexican artists. - -It is well known that, in decreeing, in 1877, the erection of -Guatematzin’s monument, the government also decreed that in the -following glorietas should be erected others to the heroes of the -Independence and of the Reform; and, no one doubts that, the government -persevering in its plan of embellishing the finest _paseo_ in our -metropolis, this _paseo_ will come to be a most beautiful spot, -consequently most visited by both citizens and foreigners. We believe -that, to the laudable efforts of the Federal Government, those of the -Governors of the federative states should be united. We shall state, in -what way. - -In the great Paseo de la Reforma, there already exist pedestals, -destined to support statues and other works of art, appropriate to a -place of resort, where daily gather the most distinguished members of -society; until the present, there has been no announcement regarding the -statues and art works for which these pedestals are intended. - -It is plain that, however great may be the willingness of the Federal -Government, it will need to employ large sums and many years, in -carrying out, unaided, the whole work of adornment, demanded by a -_paseo_ of the magnitude of that of the Reforma, since they must be in -consonance with the artistic value of the monuments already erected and -those in contemplation. What would be of slow and expensive realization -for the Federal treasury, would be easy, prompt, and convenient, if each -of the Mexican States should favor our plan. - -However poor any one of the smallest fractions, into which the Republic -is divided, may be, it is certain that it could, at no sacrifice at all, -pay the cost of two life-size statues--such as these pedestals could -support; and, however meagre may be the annals of some of these -fractions, no one of them can have failed to produce two personages, -worthy of being honored with a monument, which, recalling his deeds, -perpetuates them. - - * * * * * - -... the three conditions, which ought to be demanded in accepting the -sculptures: - -1. That the honor should be decreed only to the notable dead. - -2. That all the statues should be of life-size and of marble or bronze. - -3. That the plans or models should be approved by a special jury, named -by a cabinet officer, in order that only true works of art, worthy of -figuring in a _paseo_ in which exist monuments of the importance of -those of Columbus and Cuauhtemoc, may be accepted. - -Sosa’s suggestion was well received and, up to the present, something -like forty statues have been erected, forming a notable gallery in which -the nation and the states may well take pride. The states have taken -their turns and one, each year, presents two statues, on the anniversary -of National Independence--September 16. On the whole the statues have -met the three requirements and not only form a Mexican house of fame, -but an artistic adornment to a beautiful driveway. - - -MALINTZIN. - -According to the testimony of judicious investigators, this celebrated -Indian woman was born in the pueblo of Painala, in the Mexican province -of Coatzacoalco (Vera Cruz). Her father had been a feudatory of the -crown of Mexico and lord of many pueblos. Her mother, left a widow, -contracted marriage with another noble, by whom she had a son, and “it -seems,” says an esteemed biographer, “that the love felt by the couple, -for this fruit of their union, inspired them with the infamous plan of -feigning the death of the first born, that all the inheritance might -pass to the son, availing themselves of a stratagem to remove -suspicion.” A daughter of one of their slaves had died at that very -time, and they made mourning as if the dead were their own daughter, -secretly disposing of _her_ to some merchants of Xicalanco, a town -located on the border of Tabasco. Those of Xicalanco gave, or sold, her -to their neighbors, the Tabasqueños, among whom Malintzin was, when on -March 12, 1519, the Spanish armada, under orders of Herñan Cortes, -arrived at the river of Tabasco, to which he gave the name Grijalva. It -is well known that the Tabasqueños, at first, attempted to fight against -the Spaniards in defense of their territory, but--before the unusual -valor, before the fire-arms, before the battle horses of the -Conqueror--a violent reaction took place, the combats ceased, and a -peace, which could not last, was pretended. - -Among the gifts with which the Tabasqueños desired to demonstrate their -submission, were twenty women, of whom one was notable for her -extraordinary beauty. Malintzin, the girl who had been cruelly thrust -out from the parental home, was this woman. They baptized her under the -name of Marina, which the Aztecs pronounced Malintzin. “When the -Conqueror received her as a gift from the lords of Tabasco, in company -with the other women, he distributed to each captain his woman, giving -Malintzin to the Cavalier Alonso Hernández Portocarrero, who was cousin -of the Count of Medellin.” So says the biographer to whom we have -referred. - -Continuing this imperfect narrative, we may say that Malintzin was -useful to the conquerors from their arrival at Vera Cruz, since she knew -the Aztec language,--although we cannot explain how she could, in a few -days, learn the Spanish to discharge the rôle of interpreter so -perfectly as historians declare. However that may be, this Indian woman -appears as one of the most notable characters in the epic poem of the -Conquest. To detail her doings in this biography, would be to reproduce -the whole history of the Conquest of Mexico, and good books abound for -furnishing the data, which anyone may especially desire. We limit -ourselves to giving a few further notices regarding Malintzin and to -saying some words in her defense. - -As has been said Hernández Portocarrero was the fortunate Spaniard to -whose lot the beautiful Indian maiden of Painala fell. In spite of -this, the chroniclers of the expedition state that Cortes had a son by -Marina and there is no doubt that he maintained love relations with her -until 1523. In that year, he married her definitely to Juan de -Jaramillo, who, in spite of his noble rank, had no embarrassment in -uniting himself to the woman whom Cortes abandoned. - -He, passing to Coatzacoalco, called together the lords of the province, -and among them Marina’s mother and step-father, who immediately -recognized her and plainly showed their fear that the young woman would -avenge herself for the infamous act which had brought her into the -position in which she found herself. Far from it; Marina gave them -splendid gifts and treated her injurers well--not without making some -parade of her bearing a son to Cortes. In this expedition, took place -the infamous execution of Cuauhtemoczin and Marina figures as aiding him -to a pious death. - -The Conquest ended, nothing more is heard of Marina until 1550, when she -still lived and complained to the viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza, that the -Indians of Jilantongo did not pay the tribute nor yield the service, to -which they were obligated. - -The year and place of her death are not known. There is nothing more to -state save that the son of Cortes by Marina was named Martin and that he -figures badly in Mexican history. - -The estimable writer, José Olmedo y Lama, in the biography of Marina, -with which he opens the second volume of the interesting work “_Hombres -ilustres Mexicanos_,” biography which we have had at hand in making -these jottings, says these cruel words: “Malintzin almost always appears -repugnant, and we believe that, only by lending to her fantastic and -imaginary attributes, that is to say, by falsifying history, can she be -made great.” It is strange, indeed, that one, who held such an opinion, -should have cared to introduce the name of the _repugnant_ Indian woman -into a gallery of _ilustres_, not merely _celebres_, personages. Señor -Olmedo reproaches Marina for her treason to her country, serving as -interpreter to the Conquerors; he reproaches her, because, married with -Hernández Portocarrero, she had amours, and even a son, with Cortes; he -blames her, because she did not prevent the execution of Cuauhtemoc and -because she boasted to her mother of having been the first Mexican woman -to bear a son to the Conqueror, and because she betrayed the conspiracy, -plotted by her people, for the destruction of the Spaniards. These -faults, which we would not pretend to excuse today in a heroine, have, -if not an excuse, at least some just defense, in transferring ourselves -to the sixteenth century and in consideration of the peculiar -circumstances of the woman. - -What sentiments had her parents aroused in her, by repudiating her and -selling her to merchants? What idea of fidelity, considering the -customs of her country, could she have in finding herself in the arms of -a man, to whom she had fallen by lot, like any object in a raffle, and -what respect could a man inspire, who servilely lent himself to any -arrangement rather than to cross his captain? Had she not seen that the -Tabasqueños, in place of dying, battling in hand-to-hand combat for -their native land, had made rich gifts to the Spaniards, even presenting -them with women, of whom she was one? Ought we to demand from her -greater ardor and patriotism than from the warriors? As for her not -having prevented the execution of Cuauhtomoc, employing, for that end, -her ascendency over Cortes, it must be remembered that Malintzin, as a -shrewd woman, could not conceal from herself, that in her wild lover, -other passions than love dominated, and, therefore, every plea would be -vain. - -But, above all, Señor Olmedo, in hurling the darts of his censure upon -the Indian woman, should remember that all those faults, which we today -count as such, committed by her, are explained by saying, supported by -the testimony of historians, that Malintzin loved Cortes blindly, from -her first meeting him. Señor Olmedo is intelligent enough to know that -love is the most enthralling of human passions. Malintzin loved the -great Conqueror. What wonder, then, that for him she should forget her -other duties? But, however that may be, the beautiful interpreter of -the Spaniards holds a most prominent place in the history of Mexico. - - -FRANCISCO EDUARDO TRES GUERRAS. - -The illustrious architect Tres Guerras has left us, in the Carmen of -Celaya, a work which is the monument of his fame and the proof that he -was the most skilled architect that Mexico has yet produced. - -Francisco Eduardo Tres Guerras was born in Celaya, May 13, 1745, and at -fifteen years united great proficiency in drawing, to his early studies; -soon after, he devoted himself to the fascinating art of painting, -having received lessons, in Mexico, from the most accredited artists; -but, he found no stimulus, since those paintings in which he gave full -play to his natural tendencies and which were most conformed to the -demands of art, were the least admired, while those trifles which he -dashed off in order to secure resources for his daily needs were highly -admired. Disgusted with these bitter disappointments, he desired to take -the habit of a monk and had even made some steps in that direction, but -the love of art rekindled itself in his heart with redoubled force, and -he desisted from his intention. He then began to turn the pages of -Vignola and dedicated himself to the study of architecture under -intelligent masters. - -The Carmelites entrusted to him the work of the church of Celaya and -the good taste and elegance of proportion, united with solidity, caused -its fame to be spread through the Republic and the monks were well -pleased. During the construction of this temple, some ill-disposed -persons tried to instigate the monks to deprive him of the direction of -the work; among these were the architects Zápari, García, Ortiz, and -Paz; but, to the constancy and persistency of these friars, we owe the -conclusion of a work, which does honor to the Republic. - -Tres Guerras has left many notable works in many cities of the interior -of the Republic, such as the Theatre at San Luis Potosí, the Bridge at -Celaya, and others, and in them all are noticed a perfect taste and -observance of the rules of art. - -He was Sindico, Regidor, and Alcalde of Celaya and was nominated a -member of the provincial deputation of Guanajuato, when the Spanish -Constitution was re-established in 1820. He died of cholera the third of -August, 1833. Tres Guerras was not only an artist and a painter, but -also a poet. His aptitude was great for all and he revealed genius in -whatever he undertook. His love of national liberty was such that his -demonstrations of delight on the consummation of independence were -deemed delirious.... In closing, we will narrate an anecdote relative to -the death of Tres Guerras: - -The terrible epidemic of cholera was making frightful ravages in our -land. In the presence of the peril, the celebrated architect arranged -all his affairs and, on August 2, sallied precipitately from his house -to seek a confessor. A friend met him in the street and said: - -“Where are you going in such haste, my friend?” - -“Well asked”--calmly answered Tres Guerras--“Death pursues poor mortals -with dreadful fury! As for me, but little time remains for me in this -world.” - -“But!” replied the friend, “you are still robust, healthy, and well. -Tell me--where did you get such an idea?” - -“My friend, I have no time to talk with you. Adieu.” - -Tres Guerras departed, leaving the inquirer with the question on his -lips. The following day, the octogenarian artist died. Fortunately his -works survive and they perpetuate his memory. - - -COLONEL GREGORIO MÉNDEZ. - -Born in Comalcalco and left an orphan at sixteen years of age, he -succeeded, by activity and honorable dealing, in gaining a capital, if -not large, at all events sufficient to render him comfortable. In 1859 -he founded, at his own expense, a night school and, in the following -year, another of music. Thus, doing good and devoted to his business, -he lived beloved in his village, without dreams of political ambition or -military fame, when General Arévalo took possession of San Juan Bautista -and unfurled the banner of the Intervention. The Governor, Victorio -Dueñas, offered no resistance and on the thirtieth of June, 1863, was -routed. The first step of the Conqueror, Arévalo, was to condemn to -exile those citizens who were reputed liberals, among them Gregorio -Méndez; but he, in place of bowing to the orders of the usurper, -organized a revolutionary movement, which broke out at Comalcalco, on -October 8th. In Jalpa, Méndez seized some muskets; at the same time -another patriot, Andres Sánchez Magallanes, rose in arms in Cárdenas. -The republican revolution thus initiated, the commandant, Vidaña, was -designated to act as Chief of Brigade, and Colonel Pedro Méndez as -Governor; but, as the latter was captured at the capital and Vidaña was -wounded, the military leadership fell upon the subject of our study, -with no arrangement made for the civil government. - -Thus the war of the Restoration began in Tabasco. In a few days the -forces of Méndez joined those of Sánchez Magallanes, and the two leaders -undertook the campaign with ardor, seconded by a population, unsurpassed -in patriotic spirit; most brilliant deeds of war followed one another -from then on until the final triumph of the Republic; examples of valor -and abnegation were multiplied; patriotism inspired the noblest -actions, forever placing the name of the State of Tabasco in the -foremost line. - -To follow Colonel Méndez in each and all of the events which took place -in that memorable epoch; to relate his personal deeds and those of his -brave companions, would be to transfer here the extended and detailed -report rendered by him to the Minister of War, the seventeenth of -October, 1867--report which is a veritable history of the republican -Restoration in Tabasco, which had a happy issue, the twenty-seventh of -February, 1864, with the capture of San Juan Bautista.... - -This was not, indeed, the full extent of the fatigues of those patriots, -since they maintained themselves in arms and fortified their towns to -prevent fresh assaults, since in all parts--Vera Cruz, Campeche, -Yucatan, Chiapas--combats were still taking place, and Colonel Méndez -did not limit himself to securing the re-establishment of the republican -regime in Tabasco, but placed the resources under his control at the -service of the neighboring States and, in general, at that of the cause -defended by him with such admirable vigor. - -And, it must not be thought that the work of Colonel Méndez, in those -difficult circumstances, was confined to fulfilling his duties as -military chief. Far from it; all the branches of civil administration -were carefully arranged, thanks to the fact that he was ever warmly -seconded in his noble efforts by all classes of the community, who -never refused their adhesion or their resources--because he was not only -respected for his patriotism, but admired for the stainless honor, which -characterized him. If he numbered among his soldiery, those capable of -using arms, and among them many who afterward figured in loftier posts -than he himself, he also numbered in his civil helpers the most -intelligent Tabasqueños, among them Manuel Sánchez Mármol, who -contributed (equally with any) to the Restoration, by his intelligence -and wisdom, discharging the secretaryship of the government of Méndez -and other arduous duties, with the ardor natural to youth and with the -heartfelt affection which he felt for the valiant leader, in whom he saw -his democratic ideals embodied. From the lips of Colonel Méndez himself -we have repeatedly heard, that to Señor Sánchez Mármol he owed, in that -trying epoch, services he could never forget and which influenced, in a -decisive way, in the triumph of the Republican cause, and in the public -administration. ‘If, of these services,’ Colonel Méndez has said to us, -‘full mention is not made in my report to the Minister of War in 1867, -it is because this report was edited by Señor Sánchez Mármol, and he did -not care to make his own panegyric, although the document was not to -bear his name.’ - -On the sixth of June, 1867, when, as he himself says in the -before-mentioned report, order and public repose were solidly -re-established he had the satisfaction of resigning the government into -the hands of Felipe J. Serra, named as his successor by the General -Headquarters of the Army of the East. - - - - -JULIO GUERRERO. - -[Illustration] - - -Julio Guerrero was born on April 18, 1862, a day notable in Mexican -history, in the City of Mexico. His parents were José María Guerrero and -Luisa Groso, both natives of Durango. His father, a lawyer of eminence, -was for fifteen years a Judge of the Supreme Court; a pronounced Liberal -in politics, he was a friend and trusted adviser of Benito Juarez. The -young Julio was sent to Rhodes’s English Boarding School, then to the -_Escuela Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School). He, later, studied -in the _Escuela de Jurisprudencia_, receiving his title of Licenciado by -acclamation, on October 4, 1889. In that same year, he was one of the -founders of the _Revista de Jurisprudencia y Legislacion_ (Review of -Jurisprudence and Legislation), upon which he is still a collaborator -and to which he has contributed many articles. His most important -literary work is _El Genesis del Crimen en Mexico_ (The Genesis of crime -in Mexico). The title of the book scarcely accords with its content. It -is really an analysis of the Mexican society and character. Rarely does -any student see, so clearly as does Guerrero, the actual condition of -his own society; still more rarely does one so clearly state it. In some -of his conclusions and views Guerrero differs profoundly from us, but we -are forced to admire his sincerity and earnestness. His book met a -notable reception. Under the presidency of Porfirio Parra, a group of -the leading members of the scientific societies of Mexico, devoted ten -consecutive meetings to its consideration and discussion, the author -himself being present. During the recent political agitation by the -partisans of Limantour and Reyes, Guerrero established and edited a -monthly journal, _La Republica_. It was ardently liberal and democratic -in spirit and dealt vigorously with live questions. It was suppressed by -the government, after fourteen issues. Guerrero has not abandoned his -propaganda and will shortly establish another journal for the -propagation of his ideas. He has much matter ready for printing. Of -this, undoubtedly the most important is his _Reformas projectadas_ -(Proposed reforms), in which the question of the Presidential succession -is discussed. Guerrero is a good thinker, intense in his convictions, -vigorous in their expression. Our selections are from the _Genesis del -crimen_. Guerrero’s style is not always beyond reproach and his -punctuation is absolutely his own. In translation, we have followed both -with care. - - -THE MEXICAN ATMOSPHERE. - -As a psychical phenomenon, natural to so pure an atmosphere, there have -developed in Mexico those faculties, which require perfect eyesight. -Mexican photographs have attracted notice in New York, and Mora -conducts, in competition with the best photographers of that metropolis, -a profitable business, being quite in vogue with the American -aristocracy. The photographic views of the central plateau are -distinguished by the sharpness of their outlines, shadows and details -and are exported to Europe and the United States, constituting, in those -regions, of less clear vision, an irrefutable proof of the perfection of -our landscapes transferred to their canvases by Velasco and other -painters of scenery; when he desired to exhibit his paintings of the -Valley, in the exposition of 1889, he found opposition on the part of -Meissonier, who believed it impossible that there should be such sharp -and vivid detail and coloring in a real landscape. Proofs of a different -order, and entirely practical, of the sharpness of outline, are given by -our professional hunters, who with a miserable musket, sally from their -pueblos in the morning in search of game and invariably return with two -animals. In the battalions, good shots form seventy-five per cent of the -troop, with certainty of aim at five hundred to a thousand metres -distance. The wild Indians of Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Nuevo Leon, shoot -their arrows at a five-cent piece thrown into the air; and boys on the -streets and in the villages strike the bulls-eye with their sling-stones -at a distance only limited by their strength. In billiards and bowling, -in the suburbs, with badly rounded balls and illy-leveled tables, they -make shots as brilliant as if both balls and tables were all they should -be. - -The arts of drawing have developed as rapidly as the political and -economical conditions permitted; and in all America, Mexico has been the -only country which has produced a school, so numerous, distinguished, -and original have been her painters. Their works have almost been -exhausted, by exportation to Europe as paintings of Spanish artists of -the great Seventeenth Century, but students still come, from the -republics to the south, sent to here study the masterpieces which we -still retain, since the number of the national painters, of whom some -work of merit remains, rises to one hundred and sixty-one. The art they -practised was catholic and aristocratic, religious subjects and -portraits; consequently it decayed with the colonial regime and fell -with the decline of power of the clergy; but, in the lack of demand for -such art, the national æsthetic spirit took refuge in popular modeling -in clay, rags, or wax, and produced in the figurines of Guadalajara and -Puebla an artistic school, only inferior in product and spontaneity to -that of Tanagra in ancient Greece. - -In the feather-mosaics of Michoacan, in its lacquer rivaling those of -China; in the carving on the walking-sticks of Apizaco, atavic -manifestation of the ancient Mexican wood-carving which found beautiful -expression in the choir-stalls and benches of the churches; in the -floral decorations of the Indians of Mixcoac and Coyoacan; in the -sculptures of the façades of houses--which are at times caryatids -worked, without a single false blow from the chisel, after the blocks -have been set in the wall; in the gold and silver filagree, and even in -the mural paintings of the pulquerias or in the realistic illustrations -of the newspapers, there is revealed the artistic talent, though -frequently without technique, of a nation, living in a medium propitious -to vision; and in which the line, the shadow, and the tints, are seen -without blur or dimmed by haze, since there are, on the average, one -hundred and five absolutely clear days in the year and among clouded -days, those with mists are rare; and when these _do_ occur they last but -an hour or two in wintry mornings. - - -GOVERNMENTAL DIFFICULTIES. - -This social phenomenon was aggravated by the distribution of _villas_ -within the territory of each of the provinces, later converted into -states; since in many cases it happened that the _villas_ were so much -the nearer to their respective capitals, as these were nearer to the -capital of the republic; and _vice-versa_, the _villas_ were distant -from their capitals in proportion as these were distant from the -national centre; both consequences of the political division established -by Galvez; since, as he based it upon the unequal distribution of -population, the more remote provinces must have a more extended -territory and more widely separated settlements; thus, the density of -population decreased, from the centre outward, in every direction. And -as the social development in a province, converted later into an -autonomous state, depended on the frequency and importance of the -relations between the capitals and their respective districts; it -resulted that the culture influence of the capital, weakened by its -remoteness from a state, was still further weakened in the _villas_, by -the great distances which separated them from their governmental -centres. And this phenomenon was repeated in a third degree, in the -interior of each political subdivision, in the operation of social and -political influence of any _villa_ upon the lesser settlements -subordinated to it. - -Ah well, as all the cities of the independent colony were at different -distances from the capital, they were at different stages of national -development; consequently all had different and often conflicting -interests, necessities and aspirations. The political program, -philosophical ideas, literature, ideals and models of art, social -usages, moral principles, interpretations of law, cut of dress, and even -the vocabulary and phrases of polite society, which--as useless, ugly, -harmful, absurd, or disagreeable--had been banished from the capital -were found in the provincial cities; and those, which were there -proscribed, had taken refuge in the _villas_ and secondary towns. In -matter of government the same thing was repeated and those acts by which -it displays itself--military equipment, judicial decision, tax levying, -seizure of contraband, pursuit of bandits and savages, organization of -authority, conspiracies, masonry, political intrigues,--in fact, every -political phenomenon which, depended upon or originated in the capital, -was repeated in the states, with an imperfectness, so much the greater -as the distance separating them from it was greater; and, as the -conduct of government depended upon this phenomenon, it at last resulted -that the co-ordination and harmony between the states and the centre -depended on the time necessary for the communication of official orders. -Accord between those who constituted the governing classes of all the -cities, villas, and subordinate populations, was, consequently, not only -difficult, but was often impossible, and, sometimes, useless. Thus, the -country was geographically constructed and populated for an inevitable -anarchy; an area within which every union of states, provinces, cities, -religions, races, or political parties, had to be theoretical and -unstable. - -The most important corroboration of this law was the separation of -Texas, political phenomenon, which, thanks to it, has an explanation -actually mathematical. In fact, the settlers, who recognized San Antonio -as their centre, did not amount to forty thousand inhabitants scattered -over an area larger than that of the French Republic, and depended -politically upon the State of Coahuila, of which the capital is -Saltillo. The distance which separated, by the cart-roads of that time, -these two points, was eight hundred and sixty-eight kilometres, which -they traversed in sixteen days in the dry season and in thirty-two days -in the period of rains, and the distance from Mexico to Saltillo was -nine hundred and forty-seven kilometres--or say, twenty days in the dry -and forty days in the wet season. If instead of considering the local -capitals, we consider the frontiers of the provinces, distances double -and difficulties increase. - - -ATAVISMS. - -This phenomenon, moreover, is but the anthropological expression of a -more general biological law, in virtue of which human races, in order to -adapt themselves to the medium in which they are developed, assume a -uniform physical type and character, which persists, or repeats itself -anatomically and psychically through the ages, in spite of the external -forms of their civilization; in the same way as do other animals, and -plants. Thus, for example, since the days of Trajan the bullocks of the -Danube have had enormous and diverging horns; in China the cattle are -hump-backed, despite cross-breeding with other strains; and, although -the first offspring from crossing may be like the foreign parent, in the -fifth or sixth generation there appears in the _creole_ calf the hump of -the original and native form. Among the ancient _castas_ of the -vice-reinal society the _negro_ was seen to reappear in families of -white, or even of red parentage, provided there had been blacks in the -ancestry. In the waters of the Nile, the lotus yet floats its blue -corolla, which the architects of Memphis copied in the capitals of their -temples; and the Fellah of Pharaonic days reappears in families crossed -with the Macedonians of the Ptolemies; and, in the first centuries of -the Arab domination, in spite of the torrents of foreign blood -introduced by polygamy. Even today the type reasserts itself in the -native regiments of the English army at Cairo--bronzed, titanic, -full-chested, a living model, which is copied in the colossi of Isamboul -and which is the ethnic brother type of the Rameses and Amenhotep. - -In the central tableland of Mexico, arid, hot, and luminous, where the -atmosphere keeps the nerves at high tension; where thoughts are clouded -by the abuse of tobacco, of alcohol and of coffee; by the irritation of -an eternal and fruitless battle for life; and, until lately, by the -frightful impossibility, almost age-long, of forming a plexus of social -solidarity; character, in the greater part of society has degenerated -and the ferocious tendencies of the Aztecs have reappeared. After ten -generations, there has returned, to beat within the breasts of some of -our compatriots, the barbaric soul of the worshipers of Huitzilopochtl, -of those of _the sacred springtimes_ who went, to the lugubrious sounds -of the _teponastl_ to make razzias of prisoners in Tlaxcala and -Huejotzinco, to open their breasts with obsidian knives, to tear out the -heart and eat it in the holocaust of their gods. Three centuries of -masses and of barracks have been too little for the complete evolution -of character among the people; and if, on the Silesian plain, the -Sarmatian of Attila yet appears, so too in our political struggle there -has re-appeared, with the indomitable warrior of Ahuitzotl, the -sanguinary priest of Huitzilopochtl. - -There is, in fact, nothing in our independent history, more lugubrious; -even the most illustrious leaders have stained their glory by the -shedding, needlessly, of blood. The burning of villages and executions -_en masse_ present themselves at the turning of every page like the -funeral refrain of an infernal poem; and, if it be true, that there are -not lacking some superior souls--as Don Nicolás Bravo, who set at -liberty three hundred Spanish prisoners, although he knew the Spanish -leader had just shot his father--many other leaders, of that and later -epochs, systematically executed all who fell into their hands. The -system was converted into a custom and gave such an impress of barbarity -to our political struggles as is not to be found even in negro Africa; -since there war prisoners are held as captives, whose ransom is the -motive of war; slavery redeems them from death. - -In Mexico, on the contrary, frequently no account is made of prisoners -but only of the killed and wounded; and the latter were shot or knifed -in spite of the severity of their wounds. Hidalgo himself not only -ordered that those taken in battle should be killed without fail; but in -Guadalajara and Valladolid commanded the seizure of suspects and caused -them to be stabbed at night, in remote places, that they might not, by -their cries, cause a disturbance. In this way six hundred innocent -persons perished; and he advised the leader, Hermosillo, to do the same -in El Rosario and Cosalá. Morelos, after the battles of Chilapa, Izucar, -Oaxaca, etc., shot all his prisoners without mercy; and Osorio did the -same in the valley of Mexico, García in Bajio, and all the other -insurgent leaders, though usually in the way of reprisal. - -In the first insurrection, military ferocity developed to a degree only -seen in Asiatic and African wars, without the least regard for humanity -and with systematic neglect of the rights of nations. The prisoners -surrendered with Sarda in Soto la Marina, for example, were taken to San -Juan de Ulúa, on foot, in pairs, shackled together, and in the fortress, -were entombed in humid, dark, pestilential, dungeons, hot from the -tropical sun of the coast lands. This constant corporal subjection, led -to mutual hatreds among the unhappy beings, since the natural -necessities of the two members of a couple were rarely simultaneous; and -in order to satisfy thirst or any other need it was necessary to beg -permission of one’s companion; which led to constant bickerings between -them and occasioned sport for the jailors. Orrantia personally struck -General Mina, when he was taken prisoner, with the flat of his sword. To -hasten the surrender of the Fort of Sombrero, the same leader left one -hundred corpses, of those who had fallen in the fruitless assaults, -unburied, with the object of causing pestilence. The infirm and wounded -of Los Remedios were burned in the building which served them as -hospital, and those who attempted to escape were driven back at the -point of the bayonet. Liñan forced two hundred prisoners to demolish the -embankments of the fortress of their own party; and then tied them to -tree trunks in the forest that they might be shot for target practice. -Ordoñez in Jilotepec shot one hundred and twenty-three prisoners, -including wounded and children, by thirties, at the edge of a ditch, in -the Cerro del Calvario; first causing the wounded to be carried thither -on the shoulders of the uninjured. - - -UNCERTAINTY AND GAMING. - -This atmosphere, pure and luminous, full of slumberous breezes in the -shade and of debilitating heat in the sunshine, capricious and -treacherous, not only has an influence upon the physiology, pathology, -and life of the Mexicans, but it gives to much of their labor an -unstable character. In fact, as permanent rivers are few in those great -plains, and as those which exist are due to rain, the sowings of the -rainy season, which are the more important, and their fruition, where -there are no rivers, demand rains. But since, on the other hand, -deforestation, carried on since the vice-reinal days, has been -destructive, not only are lacking forests and groups of trees, which, -as thermal centres uniformly distributed over the higher plateau, might -give shelter to the sowings against the chill of night and early -morning, or which, in the guise of fences of foliage, might intercept -the cold blasts of northers; but also, through their lack, rains have -become rare and irregular, there being regions where they have failed -for six, seven, and eight consecutive years; as happened in the -Mezquital of the state of Hidalgo, the Llano district of Chihuahua, and -the north of the state of Nuevo Leon in the years 1887 to 1895. In 1892 -and 1893 the drought was general and desolated a great part of the -Central Plateau. - -When the season of rains arrives, the fields are transformed in a single -week, and where was a barren and arid horizon, there extends itself a -mantle of tender verdure with corn-fields and springing wheat, which -from day to day develop, open their spikes to the sun, and seem to cast -back to it its last rays, as golden oceans, ruffled by the evening -breeze. The laborers busy themselves in guarding them; but an -unseasonable hailstorm destroys them, or a blast, sudden and nocturnal, -from the north freezes them in the very months of August and September; -that is to say, when surrounded by summer haze, or under a cloud -sprinkled with twinkling stars, the laborers believe their crops secure -and slumber, lulled by the most pleasing anticipations. When they wake -the corn is lost; in twenty-four hours they pass from wealth to misery; -the herd perishes; field labor stops; the laborers go forth to rob on -the highways, to swell the ranks of the insurgents, or to beg on the -street, according to the character of the government. Before the days of -the railroads, droughts were the cause of local insurrections, which -today are impossible, because grain may be transported from one district -to another--or even to the whole country from a foreign land, as -happened in 1894, when $30,000,000 worth of American maize was imported. -However, the evil is not easily remediable, and a general drought, or a -series of local dry seasons, might, as Búlnes indicates, mortally wound -our nascent nationality. Agriculture then, thanks to the droughts of the -fields on the one hand, but to the abrupt atmospheric changes on the -other, escapes calculation and prevision; and there are converted into -an enterprise as insecure as mining, labors which have ever constituted -the principal honest means of livelihood for Mexicans. - - * * * * * - -In fine, and ever due, wholly or in part, to the atmosphere, the Mexican -of the Central Plateau--and so much the less as the altitude of the -region where he lives is greater--has never been able to count upon the -future, either for his life, or for his health, or for his fields, or -for his mines, or for his daily bread; and the apparent lack of -uniformity in the phenomena of nature, experienced through generations, -has developed in him finally a standard of judgment, composed of simple -coexistences, which, in turn, has forged the fixed belief that all in -nature is uncertain and capricious. As a logical consequence, there has -arisen an unconquerable tendency toward the only manner in his power for -reproducing in the same unpredictable form the contingencies of fortune -and misfortune of life, so far at least as concerns wealth and -misery--that is, to gaming; and thus may be explained the extent of this -vice in Mexico. - - -MEXICO’S LOWEST CLASS. - -A, (_a_). Unfortunate men and women who have no normal or certain means -of subsistence; they live in the streets and sleep in public -sleeping-places, crouched in the _portales_, in the shelters of -doorways, amid the rubbish of buildings in construction, in some _meson_ -if they can pay for the space three or four centavos a night, or stowed -away in the house of some _compadre_ or friend. They are beggars, -gutter-snipes, paper-sellers, grease-buyers, rag-pickers, scrub-women, -etc. With difficulty they earned twenty or thirty centavos daily; now -they may receive more, but the general rise in prices leaves them in the -same condition of misery. They are covered with rags, they scratch -themselves constantly, in their tangled hair they carry the dust and -mud of every quarter of the city. They never bathe themselves save when -the rain drenches them, and their bare feet are cracked and calloused, -and assume the color of the ground. In general, they do not attain to an -old age, but to a precocious decrepitude, worn out by syphilis, misery, -and drink. - -The men and women of this class have completely lost modesty; their -language is that of the drinking-house; they live in sexual promiscuity, -get drunk daily, frequent the lowest _pulquerias_ of the meanest -quarters; they quarrel and are the chief causes of disorders; they form -the ancient class of Mexican _leperos_; from their bosom the ranks of -petty thieves and pickpockets are recruited, and they are the -industrious plotters of important crimes. They are insensible to moral -suffering, and physical suffering pains them but little, and pleasures -give them little joy. Venereal disease and abortion render the women of -the group refractory to motherhood; paternity is impossible on account -of the promiscuity in which they live; these two natural springs of -altruism destroyed, they are indifferent to humane sentiments and -egoistic in the animal fashion. - -Everywhere they may be seen, the repulsive feature of our streets. In -speaking they reveal a dwarfed intelligence, as sadly ruined by their -life as is their body. Their ideas are rudimentary notions derived from -the common talk of the streets, comments on public events--the escape -of one criminal, the sentence of another, the deportation of their -companions, the capture of some “crook.” They are godless, with feeble -superstition regarding the saints depicted on their scapulars or the -medal of the rosary, which they wear beneath their filthy shirt. Their -number is enormous; they constitute the dregs of the laboring classes, -and their presence betrays the vortices of vice, where the outcasts of -civilization are dragged down. - - - - -ALEJANDRO VILLASEÑOR Y VILLASEÑOR. - -[Illustration] - - -This well-known journalist was born in Mexico, July 15, 1864. His -education was gained in the _Colegio de la Sociedad Católica_ (School of -the Catholic Society), the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ (the National -Preparatory School), and the _Escuela Nacional de Jurisprudencia_ -(National School of Jurisprudence). He received the title of Advocate, -July 7, 1887. While still a student, in 1885 and 1886, he assisted upon -the staff of the _Boletin de la Juventud Católica_ (Catholic Youths -Bulletin). In March, 1889, he became associated with the editorial -management of _El Tiempo_ (The Time), with which he still continues. He -has also written many articles for other leading periodicals. In -October, 1895, he founded _La Tribuna_ (The Tribune), which was not a -financial success. An article in this was the cause of his imprisonment -in the famous city prison of Belem. - -Señor Villaseñor y Villaseñor is a member of various learned and -literary societies and has participated, as a delegate, in several -important congresses. Among the latter is the First Catholic Congress -held in the city of Puebla, in February, 1903. - -Señor Villaseñor y Villaseñor is an industrious writer. His -contributions to _El Tiempo_ alone number more than seven thousand. Of -books, he has written _Asunto Poirier_ (The Poirier Incident), _La -cuestion de Belice_ (The Belize Question), _Guillermo; memorias de un -estudiante_ (William: recollections of a student), _Estudios historicos_ -(Historical Studies), _Gobernantes de México_ (Governors of Mexico), -_Los Condes de Santiago_ (The Counts of Santiago), _Reclamaciones á -México por los fondos de California_ (The California Funds Claims -Against Mexico). This last is of high importance, being an exhaustive -discussion of this international question--the first to be submitted to -The Hague tribunal for settlement. It is particularly in questions of -public policy, in history, and in biography, that our author is at his -happiest. Our selections are taken from _Estudios historicos_. - - -ANTÓN LIZARDO. - -We have intentionally been brief in expressing our opinion regarding the -attack at Antón Lizardo and have been full in the presentation of -documentary evidence; in this manner remembering that these documents -proceed from unimpeachable sources, a clear and full realization will -result, that what took place at Antón Lizardo was not so simple a matter -as the liberal party desires to make it appear. - -In instigating foreign warships to seize vessels in Mexican waters, the -government of Juarez permitted the national independence, sovereignty, -and dignity to be outraged by the soldiers, officers, and warships of -the United States; it betrayed its country, permitting an assault -against its sovereignty and humiliated the nation by invoking foreign -mercenaries to assist it and to treat Mexicans with profound contempt, -and to shed Mexican blood, since those wounded on board the Miramon were -compatriots; and those same strangers still preserve among their -trophies taken from Mexico, the flags of that vessel. - -We believe that, after the publication of this study, no one will -venture to deny, as recently was done, that the Juarists took part in -the Antón Lizardo incident; that Turner’s intervention completely -thwarted the plans of Miramon, as a work written by a well-known liberal -confesses, and gave great courage to the Juarists; no one will again -venture to say that Marin was a pirate and that the commander of the -Saratoga did right; this assault was not merely a partisan measure, as -those who are ignorant of historical facts or filled with bad faith -pretend to believe, seeing in it an insignificant event without serious -consequences. - -It was not at Silao or Calpulálpam that the conservative party was -defeated, but at Antón Lizardo; nor was it the soldiers of Gonzales -Ortega and Zaragoza who routed them, but the marines under orders of -Turner. - -The Juarist party, beaten at all points by Miramon, Castillo, Márquez, -Negrete, Robles, Chacon, etc., at the beginning of the year 1860 held no -population of importance, and its directory was confined to the plaza of -Vera Cruz with the immediately adjacent region, and it was recognized by -the United States alone. On account of the MacLane-Ocampo Treaty, which -was then awaiting ratification by the United States Senate and with -which we shall occupy ourselves in the following pages, public opinion -had declared itself, in the most uniform manner throughout the whole -country, against the liberal doctrines, which only produced as their -bitter fruit the loss of our territory and almost that of our -independence. - -In order to end at once these parricidal tendencies and to bring to a -conclusion the bloody civil war, which was destroying the nation, there -was only necessary the effort, which the conservative government was -making, to conduct the siege of Vera Cruz by land and sea. Under -circumstances so serious for the constitutionalist party, the assault by -Turner and the protection given by President Buchanan, gave new life to -this party, and a series of disasters like that at Silao or of -defections like that of the cavalry at Calpulálpam, opened to it the -gates of the capital; but did not give it the final triumph, since the -strife still continued. - -And, looking a little deeper, it is seen that the events of Antón -Lizardo had graver consequences than might be imagined; they brought on -the European intervention. They emphasized the ideas expressed by -Buchanan in his message to Congress of December 4, 1859, and the -unconcealed tendencies of the democrats in the direction of a North -American intervention were no longer mere theories, but began to -translate themselves into facts. Antón Lizardo and the MacLane Treaty -made Europe and the conservative lovers of their country see that -Mexican independence was threatened and it was then that it was thought -that a radical remedy would save the imperilled nation, and certain -combinations, already forgotten, were recalled. - -The triumph of the party of demagoguery and the errors which it -committed precipitated events and brought on the European intervention, -which, when studied with care as to its causes, is clearly demonstrated -to be due to the liberal party. - -The name of Antón Lizardo will remain, indelible on the pages of our -history, a stain of dishonor for that party, which nothing and no one -can ever remove. - - -THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES. - -The United States have adopted a special policy with reference to -Mexican affairs, a policy which may, in time, produce results unhappy -for us. - -During the time of the Three Years War, the democratic party, which -brought so many misfortunes upon that country and America, was in power -in the North American Union. After restless and ambitious presidents, -like Jackson, Monroe, and Van Buren, who, if they had found their nation -more powerful, would have embroiled it in long and bloody wars of -conquest, came Polk, who brought the war with Mexico to an end and -snatched from us more than one-half our territory; in vain honorable -men, like Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and others, opposed that -iniquitous war which has been justly condemned by notable men in our -sister nation. - -Already owners of the “Far West” and of a great part of the coast of the -great ocean, rich by the discovery of gold deposits in California, -inflated with pride on account of the great extension already gained by -their country, believing themselves the absolute arbiters of the -destinies of the Americas, and viewing with disdain the old nations of -Europe, to which they owe everything, from their population to their -freedom, they seriously thought of putting into practice the theory of -“manifest destiny” and of making the starry banner float from the -Niagara and the Saint Lawrence to Panama. - -The Mexican enterprise, which had resulted so favorably for them, was -the school in which were educated many of the adventurers, who afterward -gave themselves to filibustering, and the example which many others, who -through more than a decade disturbed Latin-American countries, set -before themselves for imitation. The government in Washington, which -observed this tendency with singular pleasure, while publicly -reprobating, in secret nourished and aided it. - -During Polk’s administration, the government itself had given an -exhibition of the ends which it pursued, proposing to Spain to purchase -the Island of Cuba at the price of one hundred million dollars, a -proposition which that nation did not choose to entertain. This was but -the prelude to the aggressive policy which the people of the United -States adopted in their relations with other nations, even attempting to -mix themselves in European affairs. - -The revolution of Hungary and the efforts of Louis Kossuth met an echo -in the United States, and matters were carried even to the point of -proposing to aid the Hungarian agitator and his partisans to liberate -that country from Austrian domination; it was necessary for Francis -Joseph’s government to assume a vigorous attitude and for the nations of -Europe to show dissatisfaction before these plans were abandoned, and -Kossuth, instead of aid, received only a refuge in the United States. - -The island of Cuba was, and yet is, too valuable a prize to escape the -eyes of the rapacious Yankees; underhandedly they aided Narciso López to -organize his expedition, and it was only when everything was practically -arranged, that, for the sake of appearances, President Taylor issued a -proclamation, on the 11th of August, 1850, forbidding the fitting out of -expeditions to agitate that island and certain Mexican provinces. - -Notwithstanding this proclamation, López kept on and completed his -preparations and openly sailed from New Orleans, by daylight; defeated, -after the attack of Cárdenas, he found a secure refuge for himself, his -partisans, and his rich booty, on American soil, and it was only after -his second attempt that he fell into the hands of the Spanish -authorities. - -Gen. Quitman, one of the generals of the Mexican War, was accused of -having taken part in an expedition; although the fact was notorious and -the accused was arrested on February 3, 1851, the jury discharged him. - -Fillmore’s administration demanded the Island of Lobos from Peru; the -annexation of the Hawaiian Archipelago was vigorously agitated; with -Mexico the voided Garay Concession was disputed and no concealment was -made of the intention to secure possession of a right of way across the -Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and as little concealment was made relative to -the desire of right of way in Nicaragua and Honduras at points where -inter-oceanic communication was believed to be easy; it was left to the -Governor of Texas, Lane, to gain possession of the Mesilla Valley and to -qualify as aggressive the conduct of General Santa Anna and of the -Governor of Chihuahua, because they protested against such an invasion -and made military preparations; Edward Everett, Secretary of State, -refused to take part in the convention to which France and Great Britain -invited the United States, to guarantee to Spain the control of the -Island of Cuba and to prevent the island from passing to the power of -any other nation; the notes of these nations relative to the convention -were insolently answered; their conquests in the present century were -enumerated, and the advantages which the acquisition of Cuba had to the -United States, it being asserted without concealment “that it was -essential for her own security.” When, at Ostende, the plenipotentiaries -of the United States, accredited to the governments of Spain, France, -and England, were treating of the purchase of the Antillean island, for -the sum of twenty million dollars, the leaders of these -plenipotentiaries, Mr. Soule, was profoundly irritated because -negotiations in the matter were not actively undertaken. - -So much in regard to the direct participation taken by the American -government in these movements, tending solely to augment the territory -and the power of the Yankees on sea and land; as regards the expeditions -and agitations undertaken by private parties with the indirect support -of that government, the list is as long as it is instructive. - -Apart from the attempts of Narciso López and other filibusters against -Cuba, Rousset Boulbon, although working on his own account, drew all his -supplies for the invasion of Sonora from the United States; Crab came -into that same district with the hope of conquering it and annexing it, -if he had not been opportunely routed by Gabilondo in Caborca; Zerman -had an identical purpose in reaching California; Walker proclaimed the -Republic of Lower California, placing upon the flag of that newest -nation a single star, which, if his adventure had proved successful, -would have come to be one more star in the North American flag; routed -by General Blanco, he went to Central America, where his presence gave -rise to a bloody war and innumerable disturbances. - -We should never end if we were to enumerate, one by one, all the schemes -which the brains beyond the Rio Grande engender for enlarging their -territory and dismembering that of the American republics. - -Mexico was compelled to spend great sums in combatting the filibusters -who appeared and in shooting or severely punishing them; Spain was -obliged to send numerous troops to Cuba and to constantly invoke the -moral support of European cabinets; an energetic response had to be -given to the proposition to buy Savannah harbor and a round denial to -the claims for the island of St. Thomas and others belonging to Denmark -and Holland; England was forced to establish long-drawn negotiations, -resulting in the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which in part assured the -independence of Central America; necessarily this unchecked appetite for -lands and islands exhibited by the United States caused alarm and -apprehension throughout Europe. Finally, it was necessary that the great -Secessionist War should came, through which this nation expiated a part -of its great crimes, a war which brought it to the verge of ruin, but -which taught it, in time, to check itself upon the perilous descent, -upon which Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and others had started -it--men who, without having the qualities of great statesmen, -contributed, by their policy and their counsels, to bring about this -great crisis to which their unbounded ambition and the cancer infecting -their institutions bore them. - -It would seem that those men proceeded with the most refined malice, if -they were not blind, when we consider that they said with the greatest -calmness, as James Buchanan, in mounting to the Capitol on March 4, -1857, that the great territorial increase which the United States had -achieved since its independence was due to pacific and legal measures; -now by purchase, now voluntary--as with Texas in 1836--adding: “Our past -history prohibits the acquiring of territory in the future, unless the -acquisition is sanctioned by the laws of justice and of honor.” - -This is equivalent to justifying the conduct of Jackson in Florida, that -of Fremont in California, of Austin in Texas, of Gaines in the Sabine -district, the continued spoliations of the Indian tribes in the valleys -of the Ohio and Mississippi and to the west of the Alleghanies, the -scandalous invasion of California in 1842, the no less scandalous war -against Mexico, and so many, many deeds which, to the shame of the -United States, are recorded in her history. - -Thus, as in the preceding chapter, we briefly made known the situation -of Mexico in 1859, in this one we have sketched in bold outlines, the -neighboring nation, in its tendencies and aspirations, in order that our -readers may the better appreciate the bearings of the events which we -are about to narrate in the following chapters. - - - - -RAFAEL ÁNGEL DE LA PEÑA. - -[Illustration] - - -Rafael Ángel de la Peña was born in the City of Mexico, December 23, -1837. His early education was conducted by an older brother and his -father. In 1852 he entered the _Seminario conciliar_, where he pursued -the regular studies, including laws, making a brilliant record. From -1858 on, he devoted great attention to the exact sciences, particularly -to the mathematics. For three years he taught Latin in the _Colegio de -San Juan de Letran_; in 1862, he was Professor of Logic in the _Escuela -Nacional Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School), and was later -Professor of Spanish Grammar, and, for many years past, Professor of -Mathematics in the same institution. He is an excellent teacher, leaving -a permanent impression upon students. - -The writings of Rafael Angel de la Peña are didactic, thoughtful, and -chiefly in the fields of language and philosophy. “His diction is chaste -and correct; his style careful, pure, and polished; his form elegant, -terse, and limpid.” Some of his addresses have attracted notable -attention and are in print. Many of his most important studies were -submitted to the Mexican Academy and are contained in its _Memorias_ -(memoirs). Rafael Ángel de la Peña was elected to membership in the -Academy in 1875 and, since 1883, has been its Permanent Secretary. He is -a correspondent of the Royal Spanish Academy and contributed upward of -four hundred articles to the twelfth edition of its famous Dictionary. -He is a member of the _Sociedad Humboldt_, the _Liceo Hidalgo_, the -_Sociedad de Historia Natural_, and other Mexican societies, and an -honorary member of the _Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadistica_. -Outside of his important contributions to the Academy and to the -Dictionary, his most valuable work is _Gramática teórica y práctica de -la Lengua castellana_ (Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Spanish -Language), published in 1898, which has called forth high praise from -the most competent judges in Spain and in South America. - - -THE MEXICAN ACADEMY. - -The Mexican Academy has thought well to begin the third volume of its -memoirs with a brief summary of its literary labors and of the most -notable events which have befallen it since the year 1880. - -Perhaps someone may think such a sketch needless, since--the Academy -living almost completely isolated, without holding public meetings or -participating in those promoted by other literary or scientific -societies, printing its productions very slowly, and avoiding publicity -so far as it may,--it may be assumed that no one remembers it, or, if -knowing that it exists, has an interest in how it discharges the aims -for which it was established. - -But, if such considerations inclined it to preserve silence regarding -its internal life, it has nevertheless felt that it should make a report -to the Royal Spanish Academy, as to how it has endeavored to respond to -the high honor which that body extended to it, in inviting it to -participate in the formation of the last Dictionary. It believed, as -well, that it was under obligation to supply notice of its doings to its -few devoted friends, who, far from relegating it to oblivion, do not -lose sight of it, but stimulate and nourish it by the favor with which -they receive its publications. - -Already, in an earlier sketch, it has been stated that the Academy has, -by preference, from the days of its establishment, dedicated itself to -the discussion of the additions and emendations which should be made to -the Dictionary of the language. It persevered in this laborious task -until the month of August, 1884, when it remitted to the Royal Academy -the nineteenth and final list of items for the Dictionary. The -definitions proposed by this Academy were twelve hundred and eighty-five -in number; of these, six hundred and fifty-two were accepted by the -Spanish Academy, some with slight modification, and six hundred and -thirty-three were not admitted, the greater part of these being our -provincialisms. - -It is necessary to admit that the harvest gathered is not large; but, -though so scanty, it gave occasion to mature studies, and long -discussions, of all of which there remains no other vestige than the -brief notice recorded in the proceedings of the meetings. - -It can be readily understood that, as the Dictionary invades the domains -of the sciences and of philosophy, of the arts and industries, we were -forced often to discuss topics so heterogeneous that the only points -they had in common were the initial letters of their names. Thus, from -the word _Prostesis_, we passed to study the word _Positivismo_, -considered as the name of a school of philosophy. The mere exposition of -this system and its definition occupied long and serious sessions. -Equally long and exhaustive were the discussions of the definitions of -one and another science, as that of Biology and that of Astronomy, or -those fixing the acceptations of technical scientific and philosophic -terms. Such discussions were often interrupted by dissertations and -discourses upon points of Literature, Philology, and the History of our -Literature. Some of these productions have been printed in two preceding -volumes of the Memoirs. - -The Academy has also undertaken to discover and bring together materials -for forming the history of the national literature and an example of -this activity is the article entitled _Francisco Terrazas and other -poets of the Sixteenth Century_. Señor Don Francisco Pimentel, member -_de numero_ of this corporation has taken the lead in this and has, -unaided, written that history and has begun to print it. - -With the publication of the last Dictionary of the language, by the -Royal Spanish Academy, the Mexican Academy considered the lexicographic -work, which had been entrusted to it, as completed; not so with that -which it had undertaken for forming a _Diccionario de Provincialismos_ -(Dictionary of Provincialisms), which should contain, in addition to -those current throughout the Republic, those which have been limited to -a certain State or to a district of whatever extent and importance. In -order not to delay the publication of this Lexicon, it was decided, as -soon as items were secured under each letter of the alphabet, to give -the list at once to the press; then to make as many more, with new -alphabets, as might be necessary. - -The Venezuelan Academy, Correspondent of the Royal Spanish Academy, -notified us promptly of its inauguration on the 26th and 27th of July, -1883, the Director being His Excellency, Señor General Don Antonio -Guzmán Blanco, then President of that Republic. The Mexican Academy was -delighted with such agreeable news and gave a cordial welcome to the -Venezuelan. Later that learned body proposed the establishment between -the two Academies of an exchange of national printed works and -manuscripts of value for literary merit. The Mexican Academy consented -with pleasure and later sent such parts of its _Memorias_ as were not -exhausted to that of Venezuela, and also to those of Ecuador and -Colombia. - -The Spanish Academy has given ours constant tokens of esteem and -kindness, now, by accepting our additions and emendations to the -Dictionary; now, in sending its diplomas of foreign correspondents to -those individuals, whom the Mexican Academy recommended; and, again, by -naming members for newly-established seats or by filling the chairs left -vacant by the death of some Academicians. - -Unhappily, there has hardly been a year which has not been mournfully -marked by the loss of one or more members of this body.... - -Being desirous of knowing those provincialisms of each State which -combine the conditions necessary for inclusion in the _Diccionario_, -which it is forming, the Academy has considered it necessary to name as -Academic Correspondents persons resident outside of the Capital, who are -notable for their love of the Castilian tongue and for the knowledge of -it which they possess. In this capacity, the following gentlemen belong -to it: Señor Melesio Vázquez, Archdeacon of the Church of Tulancingo, -Señor José María Oliver y Casares, residing in Campeche, and Señor -Audormaro Molina, who resides in Merida. - -In truth, the Mexican Academy has been able to do but little in behalf -of our language and literature, but it can present in excuse the -complete lack of all those means without which it is impossible to -achieve the ends for which it was established. - -The indispensable funds are lacking to the body and the time necessary -for long and serious studies is lacking to the members. Those who -compose it do not live entirely by literary pursuits; some give their -chief attention to their professional occupations, others to the -direction of affairs--personal or other--others, finally, to the -discharge of high offices in State or Church. - -Academies are, usually, liberally subsidized by their governments; they -count upon their own sources of support, and those who compose them are -suitably remunerated. The Mexican Academy lacks everything; there only -remains to it the will to do what its scanty resources permit. Neither -the poverty in which it lives, nor the little time at its disposition of -its members and correspondents for carrying out the labors already -begun, discourages it. Constant in its purposes, it will continue its -labors, slow, it is true, but never interrupted; it will continue, by -preference, to collect materials for the _Diccionario de -Provincialismos_, and in a day, perhaps not very distant, will thus make -known how the Castilian language is spoken in Mexico. - - - - -IGNACIO MONTES DE OCA Y OBREGÓN. - -[Illustration] - - -Ignacio Montes de Oca y Obregón was born at Guanajuato, June 26, 1840, -his father being Demetrio Montes de Oca, a well-known lawyer, and his -mother being Mara de la Luz Obregón. When at the age of twelve years he -was sent to England to study, returning to Mexico and entering the -_Seminario conciliar_ in 1856. He later went to Rome, where he received -the degree of Doctor in Theology, in 1862. In 1863, he was Presbitero -at the Basilica of San Juan de Letran in Mexico, and in 1865 became -Doctor in Laws. For a time, he served as parish priest at Ipswich, -England, but was soon appointed to a similar position in his native -city. He was Chaplain of Honor to Maximilian and Pius IX appointed him -his Secret Chancellor. Having raised Tamaulipas from a _vicariato -apostólico_ into a diocese, Pius IX appointed Señor Montes de Oca y -Obregón its first Bishop, in 1871. Without availing himself of the -permitted delay of one hundred days, the new-appointed prelate at once -took charge of his exceptionally hard field. He was indefatigable in the -discharge of his duties, making two pastoral journeys over his whole -diocese, establishing a _Seminario_ and founding a cathedral at the -episcopal city, and restoring and enlarging churches throughout his -domain. After this remarkable career in Tamaulipas, he was made Bishop -of San Luis Potosí, where he has continued to display exceptional energy -and wisdom. - -Bishop Montes de Oca y Obregón writes both poetry and prose. In poetry -he has published _Poetas bucolicos Griegos_ (Greek Bucolic Poets), -_Ocios poeticos_ (Poetic Loiterings) and _Odas de Pindaro_ (Pindar’s -Odes). Of all three, editions have been printed both in Madrid and -Mexico. His translations from the Greek poets are close and beautiful. -In prose, he has published six volumes of _Obras pastorales y oraciones_ -(Pastoral Works and Orations) and a volume of _Oraciones funebres_ -(Funeral Orations). Señor Montes de Oca y Obregón especially shines in -oratory. Of him Portilla says: “As a sacred orator, he possesses those -endowments of spirit essential to oratory--most brilliant talent, vast -and agreeable erudition, exquisite literary taste,--and to these -spiritual endowments he joins in happy combination the physical -qualities which serve for their realization--a fine presence, a noble -bearing, a musical quality of voice--all that, in fine, which -constitutes the irresistible enchantment of eloquence. All these -qualities shine, in never-witnessed brilliancy, in his famous funeral -oration on the Literary Dead, magnificent novelty which will make an -epoch in the annals of sacred oratory in Mexico.” - -Bishop Montes de Oca y Obregón is a member of the famous Arcadian -Academy of Rome, bearing in it the name Ipandro Acaico. He was a member -of Maximilian’s _Academia de Ciencias y Literatura_ (Academy of Sciences -and Literature). He is a Corresponding Member of the Mexican Academy. In -1899, he was Secretary of the Latin-American Council at Rome. In travels -in Italy, France, and the United States, during the past three years, he -has made several notable addresses. - - -JOAQUÍN GARCÍA ICAZBALCETA. - -Great is my satisfaction at presiding over this meeting. It is more than -two years that you have not gathered in general assembly; and on seeing -three-months after three-months pass, without your coming to invite me -to your regular meeting, I had come to ask myself the question: “Do the -Conferences of San Vicente de Paul still exist in my diocese?” The -President General of your pious brotherhood has, on various occasions in -Mexico, directed to me the same question and with that zeal which -distinguished him has asked me, with tears in his eyes: “Is it possible -that charity is dead among the distinguished gentlemen of San Luis -Potosí? Is it possible that there is no one who can arouse the members -and revive the almost extinguished meetings?” - -The sign of life, which you now give, coincides with the death of that -illustrious President, and it is fitting that, in addressing you, I -shall pay a tribute to the eminent _savant_, the fervent Christian, the -exemplary member of your conferences, Don Joaquín García Icazbalceta. - -Others have already pronounced his eulogy as a man of letters, as a -historian, as the type of a man of wealth and of the flower of Mexican -aristocracy. It falls to me to present him to you as a model member of -the conferences and to briefly praise before you his charity and his -obedience and attachment to the Church. - -His was a long life and he employed it all in distributing benefits. -Rich from his cradle, he preserved and increased his capital, without -ever extorting from the poor, without unduly taking advantage of their -labors, without ever practicing usury, that plague of our society which -seems to most tempt those who have most wealth, and which the Gospel so -clearly anathematizes. In all his vast territorial possessions, that -dissimulated slavery, so common in some parts of the country, which -chains the peasant for his whole life to one master and to one piece of -ground without hope of bettering his condition, was never known. Most -exact in his payments, he had further a box of savings, as he called it, -for each of his employees, from the humblest to the highest, which -really consisted of systematic gifts which he made them on the more -important occasions of their lives or of the lives of their wives and -children. Were they marrying? He supplied the necessary expenses without -making any charge against them. Were children born; did disease come to -afflict them; did death arrive? He generously opened his chest and -alleviated their pains and necessities. - -The works of mercy which he did among his own, he also practiced with -strangers. Through long years, the conferences of Mexico found him -visiting the houses of the poor and liberally succoring them; when he -was their President, he exerted his influence inside and outside of the -Capital, maintaining the fervor of the old members, and attracting new -ones by his fine demeanor, his opportune appeals and his prudent -persistency. How important is such tact in those who occupy the high -posts in the conferences! The most ardent zeal, unless accompanied by -prudence and judgment, far from attracting, repels, and instead of -aiding, hinders good service of the poor and the prosperity of the -association. - -Great as were his material works of mercy, they are eclipsed when -compared with the spiritual. It is, indeed, a meritorious work to teach -the ignorant, to correct the erring, to pardon injuries, and all this -Joaquín García Icazbalceta did in a high degree. Not only did the Lord -give him great wealth, but also the inestimable gift of wisdom. The -leisures, which his condition of comfort afforded him, were all employed -in gathering an immense store of solid doctrine and in placing this at -the service not only of the wise, but also of the humble and the -ignorant. The devotional books compiled and _printed_ by him have gained -an enormous circulation among the faithful and have greatly fomented -piety among Mexicans. _Printed_ by him, I have said, and this is true in -the full meaning of the word. Convinced that manual labor dishonors no -one, he, personally, worked at his printing, and, to his talent and -assiduity, the typographic art owes much. - -All these labors, all these studies, were placed at the service of the -Church and of the public by Señor García Icazbalceta. How, except for -him, would we know how much the early missionaries did for the -civilization and the prosperity of the New World? Thanks to his -researches, books, and manuscripts, long forgotten, were reborn, and, in -circulating, decked in the typographic beauty of Señor García -Icazbalceta’s private press, and adorned with his commentaries and -notes, they dissipated many prejudices and made those holy men, the -apostles of New Spain, who were despised by the few who recalled them, -known to the world. - -Among them he presents Friar Juan de Zumárraga, how beautiful, how -grand! Not without reason did the history of that life, so beautifully -written, fly through the world, and, attracting the attention of the -highest dignitaries of the Seraphic Order, to which the first Bishop of -Mexico belonged, it was translated by one of them into the Tuscan and, -in that idiom, circulated about the Vatican and throughout the whole -Italian peninsula. - -Such pious undertakings could not fail to arouse the envy of the -world--and of hell. The demon, disguised as an angel of light, clothed -in a religious garb, attacked him, as envy ever attacks, with -bitterness, with acrimony, with implacable cruelty. What he had -published was malinterpreted and _what he had not written_ was thrown -into his face; his intentions were calumniated and productions foreign -to his genius were attributed to him. - -The fruitful writer replied never a word, nor even attempted to defend -himself. At the suggestion of a prelate he cut out one chapter, an -entire chapter, from his most cherished work; a chapter which cost him -long years of study and diligent labors. Nor did his sacrifices end -here. On seeing that those who were most embittered against him were -ministers of that Church of which he was an obedient and submissive son -and which he desired to defend, he broke, forever, his learned pen. Ah, -beloved members of the conferences of San Vicente, how many injuries a -misguided zeal inflicts! To the unjust and uncharitable attacks of which -he was the victim, we owe it that most important works upon the Mexican -Church remained unfinished, that documents of the highest interest lie -mouldering in dust, that your learned President General dedicated the -last years of his life only to the compilation of dictionaries and to -grammatical studies, which could scare no one. - -The Lord has already rewarded his ardent charity, his obedience to the -prelates of the Church, his readiness to forgive even those injuries -which most deeply wound one who is conscious of being a fervent -Catholic and a conscientious historian. Without the sufferings of -illness, without the bitterness of the final agony, sudden death, though -not unforeseen, which is accustomed to be the punishment of sinners and -the recompense of the righteous, lately snatched him away. Although a -layman, he exercised, upon the earth, an apostleship more fruitful than -that of many who are called by God to the highest destinies; and on -receiving him to his bosom, the Lord without doubt has given him that -reward, which he offered to those, who, without occupying a high place -in the Church, duly fulfil their mission, and, being the _last_ in the -hierarchic scale, come to be _first_ in heaven. - -That which he could not gain in this world by his persistent efforts and -courteous appeals to men, he will gain, we trust, in the better land by -his prayer to the Almighty--the regeneration of the conferences of San -Luis Potosí. May heaven rekindle your fervor, reanimate your charity, -and infuse that zeal, as ardent as prudent, and that respect to the -ministers of the Church, which animated Don Joaquín García Icazbalceta -through his mortal life. Pray for him, and try to imitate him. - - -MEXICO’S PROTOMARTYR. - -Today, it is fifteen months since I terminated the longest pilgrimage of -my life, arriving at the shores of that enchanted Japan, in which our -Mexican protomartyr was crucified. Terrible are, in all times, the seas -of the Far East. The cyclones, which, in the century of Vasco de Gama -and Francis Xavier, engulfed so many ships, have not lost their force; -and the most that modern science can do is to predict them by a few -hours, to indicate their probable course, and to teach mariners, if -their vessels are capable of such speed, to fly before these messengers -of death. - -Just so, steaming at full speed before one of these tremendous -hurricanes, our vessel was sailing the night before we reached the -desired haven of Nagasaki. Although we were considerably in advance of -it, our velocity was not so great but that the effects of what is called -the anticyclone overtook us. The waves tossed, the wind whistled, and -while, on the one hand, I promised Felipe de Jesús, if he saved me from -peril, to honor him in an especial manner on the next centenary of his -martyrdom, on the other hand, my thoughts transported me to that galleon -of imperishable memory, which, through these same seas, bore the saint, -three hundred years ago, to the very coasts whither we were bound. -Before entering fully upon the brilliant epic, which through good -fortune, it falls to me to narrate to you this happy day, I desire to -carry you also on board of it. - -Do not expect to see in it a rival of the colossal steamers which today -plow the ocean. Although a marvel for that time, it is comparatively -small and shows not a few defects in construction, which render it -unsafe in tempests. It is scarcely ninety feet in length and its highest -mast is of equal measure. In spite of criticisms already beginning to be -made among naval architects, the enormous castles of the poop and prow -rise high above the rest of the ship; and, that slope, which has begun -to be given to the hull of merchant vessels destined for the Indies, in -order that the waves in striking may lose some of their force, is -impossible here on account of the many heavy pieces of artillery which -garrison it. Its hulk is broad and the means of controlling the rudder -are crude. - -It sailed from the port of Cavite, in the Philippine Islands, July 12, -1596, bound for Acapulco; and, though now it is September 8, far from -being near the Mexican coast, it is at 33 degrees of latitude, and the -hurricane is constantly driving it toward the northwest. Almost from the -start storms have troubled it and contrary winds have driven it from its -course; on this night the tempest has culminated, and the Commander, -Matéas Landecho, though an expert mariner, despairs of its salvation. -The sails have been torn to tatters, the yards float in the sea, it has -been necessary to destroy the masts, and the pumps have been worked -unceasingly, in vain. To cap all these misfortunes, a wave of -irresistible force shattered the rudder, and one of those moments has -arrived, when even the most impious of sailors, the last hope gone, -looks to God alone. - -Officers, soldiers, crew, and passengers, all threw themselves upon the -deck and cried with one voice, like Peter on the Lake of Tiberias, -_Lord, save us, we perish_. Among these last were two Augustinian monks, -one Dominican, and two Franciscan. Of these, the youngest remained on -his knees, holding fast to one of the broken masts, his eyes fixed on -heaven, and absorbed in profound prayer. By the gleam of the frequent -lightnings, his manly face could be seen, upon which were visible -traces, not only of recent privations, but also of long penances, and -were observed that fineness of features, that ardent glance, that Roman -nose, that sun-darkened skin, peculiar to the Spanish race as modified -in the New World. His companion, older than himself, and named Friar -Juan de Zamora, has often spoken of the austerity of that youth, during -the five years which he had spent in Manila, in the Franciscan -community. There he took the habit, May 20, 1591; there he made his -vows, and not content with the penances prescribed by the rules, he had -given himself up to greater austerities and was accustomed to make daily -confession of his sins, before the Seraphic Family. Named _enfermero_, -he had practiced such acts of charity and abnegation with the suffering -and dying as are scarcely recorded of the most famous saints, and this -not occasionally, but through entire years. - -On the other hand, during the first days of the voyage, when the sea, -yet tranquil, left opportunity for jests and idle talk, the careless -soldiers pointed at him with their fingers and told the story of the -young Franciscan, to one another, in terms but little flattering. He is -the son of Alonso de las Casas (they say), a rich Spaniard of the City -of Mexico, and he has a very pious mother, who came from Ilescas to New -Spain, where this young fellow was born. This is not the first time he -wears the seraphic habit. Formerly he was a novice in Puebla de los -Angeles; but, after a few months, he threw aside his gown and gave -himself again to the libertinage, which had distinguished him. His -parents sent him to China, for punishment, where not a few of us have -seen him living the gay life of a merchant. They say that he goes, now -to Mexico, to take sacred orders and console his pious mother. We shall -see whether he now gives proof of greater constancy. - -Thus passengers and sailors of the galleon _San Felipe_, painted the -youth, Friar Felipe de las Casas, at whom, apparently absorbed in -meditation, we look from the bridge. The sea has calmed somewhat and the -thick cloud masses, separating a little, permit us to see the -constellations of the two bears, and, particularly, the polestar, -shining brighter than ever. The Franciscan has his eyes fixed in that -direction and after a half hour of silent prayer, he rises majestically -and pointing southwest of the Great Bear exclaims with prophetic voice, -“Look, look, our ship shall not perish! We shall soon arrive in safety -on the coast of Japan.” - -“A miracle! a miracle!” exclaim the sailors in chorus, seeing for the -first time the prodigy, which Friar Felipe had been watching for a half -hour, and the meaning of which the Lord had made known to him by -inspiration, as in another time, to the Magi, that of the mysterious -star in the East. It is a cross, an immense cross, much larger than that -constellation which we call the Southern Cross; a cross, whose pale and -peaceful glow at first resembled that of Venus; but which afterward -appeared red, the color of blood, (such as we saw the planet Mars in -last December), surrounded by a refulgent aureole and afterward -enwrapped in a black cloud. It is a cross, but not such as that of Jesus -Christ, which we are accustomed to see. Besides the customary arms, it -has another transverse piece near the feet and a little protuberance -near the centre, all perfectly drawn against the blue of the clear sky. - -Passengers and sailors rejoice at the celestial vision. A board is soon -rigged out as rudder; those sails, which the wind has not completely -destroyed are quickly repaired; the countless holes are covered up and -the prow is turned, not toward New Spain indeed, but, in the direction -indicated by Providence. Yet there lack thirty-two days of stormy -sailing, but they journey gaily in the midst of dangers, and on arriving -at the port of Tosa, on October 20, they intone hymns of thanks to the -Savior. - -They journey gaily; yes, but beyond all Felipe de Jesús de las Casas, to -whom God has revealed his high destinies. He knows that martyrdom upon a -cross, such as he has seen in the sky, awaits him; martyrdom, the -supreme recompense to which we, who run the race of life, aspire, but -which the Lord grants to few; the martyrdom which Francis Xavier and his -companions in religion and apostolic labors, sought with longing, but -which God in His lofty purposes refused to them, to give it to Felipe de -Jesús and to some companions, who arrived but yesterday, who did not -seek it. _Omnes quidem currunt sed unus accipit bravium._ - -To relate to you the details of that glorious martyrdom, is what I -propose in this discourse, longer than usual. Do not refuse me your kind -attention. The story is so interesting and so brilliant notwithstanding -its dark passages, that the sublimity of the event will compensate for -my deficiencies. Furthermore, as the Holy Virgin has never yet refused -me her aid, she will surely assist me in this memorable centenary. -Invoke her with me, saluting her with the sweet words of the angel--_Ave -Maria_. - - - - -IGNACIO M. ALTAMIRANO. - -[Illustration] - - -Once and again in Mexico there arises, from the mass of the Indian -population, a man who leads, not only his race, but his nation. Such a -man was the great President Juarez, who established Mexico’s present -greatness; such in art were the artist Cabrera and the sculptor -Instolinque; such in letters was Ignacio M. Altamirano. - -No one who knows not the Mexican Indian village can appreciate the -heroism of the man who, born of Indian parents, in such surroundings, -attains to eminence in the nation. It is true that the Aztec mind is -keen, quick, receptive; true that the poorest Indian of that tribe -delights in things of beauty; true that the proverb and pithy saying in -their language show a philosophic perception. But after all this is -admitted the horizon of the Indian village is narrow: there are few -motives to inspiration; life is hard and monotonous. It must indeed be a -divine spark that drives an Aztec village boy to rise above his -surroundings, to gain wide outlook, to achieve notable things. - -And when once started on his career, what an enormous gulf yawns -_behind_ him! How absolutely severed henceforth from his own. And what a -gulf opens _before_ him! He is absolutely alone. Poor, friendless, with -race prejudice against him, obstacles undreamed of by the ordinary man -of talent confront him. Only immense ambition, tenacious purpose, -inflexible persistence, unconquerable will, can succeed. - -Ignacio M. Altamirano, pure Aztec Indian, was born at Tixtla, State of -Guerrero, December 12, 1834. The first fourteen years of his life were -the same as those of every Indian boy in Mexico; he learned the -Christian Doctrine and helped his parents in the field. Entering the -village school he excelled and was sent, at public expense, in 1849, to -Toluca to study at the _Instituto Literario_. From that time on his life -was mainly literary--devoted to learning, to instructing, and to -writing. From Toluca he went to the City of Mexico, where he entered the -_Colegio de San Juan Letran_. In 1854 he participated in the Revolution. -From that date his political writings were important. Ever a Liberal of -the Liberals, he figured in the stirring events of the War of the -Reform, and in 1861 was in Congress. When aroused he was a speaker of -power; his address against the Law of Amnesty was terrific. Partner with -Juarez in the difficulties under Maximilian, he was also partner in the -glory of the re-established Republic. From then as journalist, teacher, -encourager of public education and man of letters his life passed -usefully until 1889, when he was sent as Consul-General of the Republic -to Spain. His health failing there, he was transferred to the -corresponding appointment at Paris. He died February 13, 1893, at San -Remo. His illness was chiefly _nostalgia_, longing for that Mexico he -loved so much and served so well. - -Altamirano was honored and loved by men of letters of both political -parties. Although a pronounced Liberal, he numbered friends and admirers -among the Conservatives. His honesty, independence, strength, and -marvelous gentleness bound his friends firmly to him. He loved the young -and ever encouraged those rising authors who form today the literary -body of Mexico. - -We may not even enumerate his writings. He produced graceful poems, -strong novels, realistic descriptions, delicate but trenchant criticism, -strong discourses, truthful biographies. He ever urged the development -of a national, a characteristic literature, and pleaded for the -utilization of national material. Unfortunately, his writings are -scattered through periodicals difficult of access. A collection of them -is now being made. Our selections are taken from his _Revista Literaria_ -(Literary Review) of 1861, from a discussion of Poetry dated 1870, and -from his well-known _Paisajes y Leyendas_ (Landscapes and Legends) of -1884. - - -GENIUS AND OBSTACLES. - -Rigorously speaking, it can not be said that popular neglect can be a -chain which holds _genius_ in the dust of impotence. - -No: the genius, powerful and lofty eagle, knows how to break with his -talons the vulgar bonds with which the pettiness of the world may -attempt to shackle thought. - -Thus Homer, aged beggar, to whose eyes the sun denied its light, but -whose divine soul inspiration illuminated, was able to endow ungrateful -Greece, in return for his miserable bread, with the majesty of Olympus, -with the glory of the heroes and with the immortality of those eternal -songs which survive the decay of the agonies and the ruin of empires. - -Thus, Dante, proscribed by his countrymen, has been able to cause to -spring from the depths of his hatred and his grief the omnipotent ray -which was to illuminate the conscience of his time and to be the -admiration of future ages. - -Thus, that other blind man, who, as Byron says, made the name _Miltonic_ -synonym of _sublime_ and who died as he had lived the sworn enemy of -tyrants, in the cell to which ingratitude consigned him, improvised for -himself a throne, and from its dominated creation saw prostrate -themselves at his feet not only his country, but the world. - -Thus Cervantes, the poor cripple, disdained by persons of distinction -and persecuted by fortune created, in the midst of the agony of misery, -the sole treasure which can not be wrested from old Spain, more precious -truly than the ephemeral grandeur of kings and the imbecile pride of -nobles. - -Thus lastly, Camoens, soldier also like Cervantes, and like him -unfortunate, left in his deathbed in a foreign hospital, as a great -legacy to his country, his _Lusiadas_, the most beautiful monument of -Portuguese glory. - -Thus many others, dead through the hemlock of contemporary disdain, and -compensated with tardy apotheosis, have not found obstacles in poverty, -in envy and in defeat; and abandoning with thought the narrow spheres of -the world, have gone to grave their names upon the heaven of poetry. - -But such is the privilege of genius and of genius only. The talents -which cannot aspire to such height, nor feel themselves endowed with -force divine, are eclipsed in the test, the same test which causes him, -who is predestined for sublimity, to shine forth more resplendent and -more grand. - -And in Mexico the genius enwraps himself yet in the shades of the -invisible, or does not belong to the new generation. - -Those of us who penetrate, with timidity and difficulty, into the sacred -enclosure of poetry and literature, belong to the crowd of mortals; and -scarcely may we aspire to the character of second rate workers in the -family of those who think. - -Thus for us are heavy those chains which for geniuses would be but -spider webs; discouragement crushes us at times--discouragement, that -poisoned draught, whose vase of vile clay is shattered before the glance -of genius, accustomed to sip the nectar of the immortals in the myrrhine -cup of faith. - -As for us, we need, not the applauses of the world, but the sympathy of -our countrymen, the word of encouragement, the hand which saves us from -the waves which threaten to submerge us in their bosom. - -It is not the necessities of material life which hamper us. We may rise -superior to those or may supply them with the product of honorable -labor, though outside of literature. As little do we seek, the patronage -of the mighty. The _gilded mean_ of Horace were unbearable for us if we -have to supply in exchange for it a _Hymn to Maecenas_; the palatial -advantages of Virgil would cause us loathing if we had to purchase them -by placing the sacred lyre of the aged singer of the Gods at the feet of -Augustus. - - -PLEA FOR A MEXICAN SCHOOL OF WRITING. - -We do not deny the great utility of studying all the literary schools of -the civilized world; we would be incapable of such nonsense, we who -adore the classical memories of Greece and of Rome, we who ponder long -over the books of Dante and Shakespeare, who admire the German school -and who should desire to be worthy to speak the language of Cervantes -and of Fray Luis de Leon. No: on the contrary, we believe these studies -indispensable: but we desire that there be created a literature -absolutely our own, such as all nations possess, nations which also -study the monuments of others, but do not take pride in servilely -imitating them. - - * * * * * - -Our last war has attracted to us the eyes of the civilized world. It -desires to know this singular nation, which contains so many and such -coveted riches, which could not be reduced by European forces, which -living in the midst of constant agitations has lost neither its vigor -nor its faith. It desires to know our history, our public customs, our -private lives, our virtues and our vices; and to that end it devours -whatever ignorant and prejudiced foreigners relate in Europe, disguising -their lies under the seductive dress of the legend and impressions of -travel. We run the risk of being believed such as we are painted, unless -we ourselves seize the brush and say to the world--_Thus are we in -Mexico_. - -Until now those nations have seen nothing more than the very antiquated -pages of Thomas Gage or the studies of Baron Humboldt, very good, -certainly but which could only be made upon a nation still enslaved. -Further, the famous _savant_ gave more attention to his scientific -investigations than to his character portraits. - -Since his day, almost all travelers have calumniated us, from Lovestern -and Madam Calderon, to the writers--male and female--of the court of -Maximilian, trading upon public curiosity, selling it their satires -against us. - -There is occasion, then, to make of fine letters an arm of defense. -There is a field, there are niches, there is time, it is necessary that -there shall be the will. There are talents in our land which can compete -with those which shine in the old world. - - -THE PROCESSION OF THE CHRISTS. - -If there is one thing characteristic in the Holy Week at Tixtla, it is -this procession of the Christs, ancient, venerated, and difficult to -abolish. It responds to a necessity of the organization of the Tixtla -Indians, strongly fetichistic, perhaps because of their priestly origin. -This propensity has caused the maintenance always in the pueblo of a -large family of indigenous sculptors who live by the fabrication of -images--poor things!--without having the least idea of drawing, nor of -color, nor of proportion, nor of sentiment. For them sculpture is still -the same rudimentary and ideographic art that existed before the -conquest. Thus with a trunk of bamboo, with the pith of a _calchual_, or -of any other soft and spongy tree, they improvise a body which resembles -that of a man, give it a coat of water-glue and plaster and paint it -afterwards in most vivid colors, literally bathing it in blood. _Á mal -cristo, mucho sangre_ (bad Christ, much blood); such is the proverb -which my artistic compatriots realize in an admirable fashion. After -they varnish the image with a coat of oil of fir, they have it blessed -by the priest and then adore it in the domestic _teocalli_, on whose -altar it is set up among the other penates of similar fabrication. - -The only day on which such Christs sally forth to public view is Holy -Thursday and in reality few family festivals assume a more intimate -character than the especial festival with which each native family -celebrates the sallying forth of its Christ. _A padrino_ (godfather) is -selected who shall take it out, that is to say who shall carry it in the -procession, on a platform if it is large, in his hand if it is little. -But every Christ has an attendance which bears candles and incense. - -With such a cortege, the Christs gather in the portico of the church, -awaiting the priest and the Christ who shall lead the procession, the -one which is called the _Christ of the Indians_. When these issue from -the church the procession is organized; the cross and the great -candlesticks go before and then file by slowly and in good order some -eight hundred or a thousand Christs with their retinues. Tixtla has some -eight thousand inhabitants, hence there is a Christ to about each eight -persons. This might well dismay an iconoclast. - -The procession passes through the more important streets, in the midst -of the crowd gathered at the corners, the doors, windows and public -squares. What a variety of images! It should be stated that not all -represent crucifixes; there are also Christs with the cross on their -shoulders, some simply stand, others of ‘Ecce-homos of the pillar,’ but -these are few; the crucifixes are in majority. The sole respect in which -all are equal is in the rude sculptural execution. There are some in -which the chest muscles rise an inch above the ribs, others which have -the neck of the size of the legs; some are the living portrait of -_Gwinplaine_ or of _Quasimodo_; they smile lugubriously or they wink the -half closed eyes with a grimace calculated to produce epilepsy. All have -natural hair arrangement, the hair arrangement of the Indians, -disordered, blown by the wind, tangled like a mass of serpents around -the bleeding body of the Christ. - -As to size they vary from the colossal _Altepecristo_,[17] which the -Indians hide in caverns, which is almost an idol of the old mythology, -to the microscopic Christ which wee Indians of nine years carry with -their thumb and forefinger, before which are burned tapers as slender as -cigarettes. All the sizes, all the colors, all the meagerness of form, -all the wounds, all the deformities, all the humped-backs, all the -dislocations, all the absurdities which can be perpetrated in sculpture, -are represented in this procession. When by the light of torches (for -this procession ends at night), this immense line of suspended, behaired -and bloody bodies is seen in movement, one might believe himself -oppressed by a frightful nightmare or imagine himself traversing some -forest of the middle ages in which a tribe of naked gypsies had been -hung. - -Callot in his wild imagination never saw a procession more fantastic, -more original. - -Yet this spectacle was the delight of my boyhood days! - -Then the Christs withdrew with their _padrinos_ and retinues to the -houses whence they issued and there the family prepared a savory feast. -The _atole_ of cornmeal called _champol_ and the sweet and delicate -_totopos_. - -Ah, General Riva Palacio, never in thy days of campaign in Michoacan, -have you had a more sumptuous banquet than that which you have enjoyed -in the land of your fathers, an evening of the Christs--and of -_champol_! - - - - -VICTORIANO AGÜEROS. - -[Illustration] - - -Victoriano Agüeros was born September 4, 1854, in the pueblo of -Tlalchapa, in the State of Guerrero. His father was a Spaniard, his -mother a Mexican. Young Victoriano was given good opportunity for -education, being sent, at twelve years of age, to the Capital city where -he attended the _Ateneo Mexicano_. In 1870 he was qualified to teach in -primary schools. In 1877 he entered the National School of Jurisprudence -and was admitted to the practice of law December 19, 1881. - -He commenced literary work when but sixteen or seventeen years of age, -signing his productions with the name “José.” Using this _nom-de-plume_ -he published his _Ensayos de José_ (Essays of José) in 1877. This was -followed by _Cartas Literarias_ (Literary Letters) and _Dos Leyendas por -José_ (Two Legends by José). Shortly after he published a series of -articles--_Escritores Mexicanos Contemporaneos_ (Contemporary Mexican -Authors)--in the literary journal, _La Ilustracion Espanola y -Americana_, of Madrid. This was reprinted in book form and gave the -author deserved credit. _Confidencias y Recuerdos_ (Confidences and -Recollections) completes the list of Agüeros’s books. - -Renouncing law for literature Señor Agüeros became editor of _El -Imparcial_ (The Impartial) but shortly after, on July 1, 1883, he -founded and has ever since, conducted, _El Tiempo_ (The Time), the most -conservative of the periodicals published in the Mexican capital. During -the twenty years and more that have passed since then his pen has been -well employed. His editorials are always carefully written and--though -ultra-conservative--are marked by thought and judgment. No modern -Mexican writer uses Spanish in a more accurate and graceful way. As a -literary critic he ranks high, though it is difficult for him to see -aught of good in the radical and liberal movement of the day or in those -who are its exponents. - -Deploring the neglect of the national literature by Mexican readers -Señor Agüeros is attempting to arouse new interest by publishing, in -uniform style, the works of the best authors under the general title -_Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos_ (Library of Mexican Authors). The -series has passed its fiftieth volume, is being well received, and is -serving a most useful purpose. - - -THE DAY OF THE DEAD. - -_Las ofrendas_; (the offerings) this is the custom which gives a special -character to the Day of the Dead in my village. Those candles of whitest -wax, those human-figure shaped loaves of bread, those crowns, those -exquisite sweets which for six days have been offered for sale in the -booths in the Plaza are to be deposited upon the graves in the -cemetery--in such wise, that the rude bench covered with a cloth of the -finest cotton, assumes the appearance of a carefully prepared table, -fitted with the richest and most delicate dishes. There are placed -earthen jars of syrup, dishes of wild honey in the comb, cakes made of -young and tender corn--sweetened and spiced with cinnamon, preserves, -vessels of holy water, and the best of whatever else the mother of the -family can provide. It is the banquet which the living give to the -dead.... - -From three in the afternoon, at which time the bell of the -parish-church begins to strike the doubles, sadly and slowly, as the -doubles are always struck in the villages, families sally from their -houses and direct their way to the cemetery or to the church porch, -where there are also some graves. There they traverse the pathways -between these and by examining the crosses (not the names nor epitaphs, -for there are none) they recognize the place where relatives or friends -rest.... They then place the objects which they bear as the _ofrenda_, -light the candles, sprinkle the grave with some drops of holy water, and -soon after there is heard in that enclosure of the dead, the murmur of -the prayers they raise to Heaven.... Thus the afternoon passes: neither -curiosity, nor the desire to see, nor other profane pastime, distract -the attention of these simple villagers, who, absorbed in the sanctuary -of their most intimate recollections, pray and sigh with tender and deep -sadness. - -When the evening shadows drive them thence, they bear the _ofrendas_ to -the interior of the houses. The lights are renewed, a sort of an altar -is improvised upon which are placed the objects which before were on the -graves, and other prayers and other mournings begin. It is not rare to -see, high in some tree in the grove, or in some solitary and retired -spot, a taper which gleams, in spite of the night breeze: it is the -offering for the _ánima sola_ (the lonely soul)--that is to say, of one -who has in the village neither a relative nor a friend who remembers it -and decorates its grave. A bit of bread and a little taper, and a prayer -repeated for it--this is what each family dedicates to the soul of that -unknown one. - -Thus do the poor people of my village honor the memory of the dead. - - -THE STUDENT AT HOME. - -The student who returns to his village is generally reputed to be a man -of learning, who knows everything. The most perplexing questions are -submitted to him, though they may be remote from the studies which he -has pursued. If the priest is preparing a Latin inscription, he consults -about it with the student; if the townspeople desire to make a petition -to the town government, the chief of the district, or the governor of -the state, they request the student to compose the document to be -presented; if it is planned to celebrate with a festival the -anniversaries of some prominent personage of the place, they invite, -first of all, the newly-returned collegian, to pronounce a discourse and -enthuse all with his words; if some person is seriously ill, they call -the student to examine the patient and hold his opinion decisive -regarding the disease. That year he has studied civil procedure and -international law in the Law School; but what of that? He has lived in -Mexico, where there are so many physicians and must know and understand -something of medicine. The judge of the lower court is about to decide a -case; ah, well, before doing so he strolls around to the house of the -collegian, and after asking him a thousand things about Mexico, -regarding politics, theaters, the promenades and driveways, etc., -inquires his opinion concerning the matter with which he is occupied. - -“You can enlighten me,” he says humbly. “Perhaps I have not sufficiently -informed myself regarding the value and force of the evidence; I fear -that I have badly interpreted such and such articles of the Code. Come, -let us walk down to the courtroom and have the good will to show what is -best.” - -“But that will be useless, because I know nothing of this matter,” -replies the collegian. “This year I have been studying mathematics in -the School of Mines.” - -“So much the better; thus you will have a clear head for this kind of -questions; because it is plain, had you been studying law you might now -have difficulty in co-ordinating your ideas. No excuses, no excuses; -come to my house, I have great confidence in your knowledge and sound -judgment.” - -Such is the part which the student fills, in his village, during -vacations. If he yields to all the requests made of him and speaks of -matters which he does not understand, words cannot be found sufficient -for praising him. How wise! how humble and good he is! he refuses no -one. If, on the contrary, the student is timid and only desires to speak -of matters with which he is acquainted; if he refuses to decide a -law-suit, to cure a sick man, to preach a sermon, then--who so ignorant -as he, he knows nothing, he is good for nothing! - - -CRITICISM OF THE NEW SCHOOL OF MEXICAN WRITERS. - -Well, then, in my opinion the new literary generation has no importance; -I discover no virtues in it, neither love for study, nor noble -tendencies favoring the advancement of our literature. Who can endure -this crowd of youth who write in the papers and who, in spite of their -ignorance, give themselves the airs of learned men? With what eyes can -we observe their affectations? They think they know all, but because -they have learned jokes in the low plays, history in the novels and -librettos of the opera, and gallantries in the almanacs and reviews of -fashion. They believe themselves men of letters and poets, because they -have published some article in the ---- and have, in the ---- given forth -some verses in which they speak of their _disenchantments_ and of their -_ennui_, of their _doubts_ and _hours of pain_. Although beardless -youths, they are already miserable, very miserable, their complaints and -laments for the disillusions they have suffered have no bounds.--They -speak everywhere of politics and literature; in the interludes at the -theater they render judgment on the play in an epigram, and if some -praise it they criticise it, or they celebrate its beauties when all -find it defective. And thus they are in other things; because they -believe that, in following public opinion, even though well founded, -they fall into vulgarity, and to be singular is what they most desire. - -Moreover, these youth, neither by the literary education they receive, -nor by the system of studies pursued today in the schools, nor by their -tastes and inclinations, nor finally by the models which they set before -themselves for imitation in their writings, will ever succeed in giving -days of glory to our literature. Profoundly inflated by the praises of -their friends, without direction or desire to receive it, their -self-esteem nourished by the very persons who ought to reprove and -correct it, tainted with modern skepticism, rebellious, in a word, to -the authority of rules and of good models, what hopes do they offer? -What class of works are to sally from their hands? They do not study nor -accumulate new information; they are not mindful of the literary -movement of the epoch; still less do they attempt to correct their -defects by following the teaching and example of the masters in the art. -And if they do none of these things it is useless for them to write and -publish verses, since the progress of a literature has never yet -consisted in the abundance of authors and of works. Love for study and -for work, close thought, good selection of subjects and care in -expression--these are the things necessary. - -Criticism, further, is completely lacking among us; criticism, so -necessary for correcting and instructing, so useful for preventing our -lapses to bad taste and for forming good taste. Who has thought of it? -Who has ventured to exercise it, here where all desire praises and where -it is customary to lavish them? For my part, I hold, that if our -literature has not progressed so much as it should, if there are -ignorant, insolent writers, inflated with vanity and pride, it has been -due not exactly to the lack of criticism but to the mutual flatteries -which all have exchanged in the papers. Today, as a French writer says, -one utters one compliment, to gain the right of demanding twenty. No one -ventures to frankly express his opinion, since friendship, the hope of -obtaining a favor, considerations of respect and other various -circumstances, deprive the critic of his freedom; and although he ought -to be severe, impartial and just, he becomes a benevolent dispenser of -unmerited eulogies, an encourager of unpardonable defects and veritable -literary heresies. - -Criticism, to give efficacious results, should be severe always, above -all here in Mexico where many believe themselves endowed with the -talent of Gustave Becquer, of Figaro, of Delgas or of Theophile -Gauthier. It should eulogize with much moderation, and that to the -humble, modest and timid, because these need kindly words for their -encouragement. - - -PEON Y CONTRERAS AND HIS ROMANCES DRAMATICOS. - -These suggestions and many others which it would be impertinence to -present in this article were suggested to me by the precious little -volume which, with the title _Romances dramaticos_, our inspired poet -José Peon y Contreras has just published; and in order to render a -tribute to justice and merit, rather than to praise one who is -sufficiently praised by his very work, I am about to say something about -it. - -Fourteen pieces form the collection, and although short they are -choicest gems in which are brilliantly displayed the most exquisite and -delicate beauties. In my opinion the first is a certain originality in -the form, under which the poet encloses a veritable drama, a terrible -and sad catastrophe, a poem in which the great passions of the soul are -stirred and the tender breathing of the purest affections are felt. The -form, I say, but I do not mean precisely the meter--since it is -understood what that must be--but the unfolding of the romance, the -design of the composition, the manner employed by the author to present -and develop his thought. In these lovely ballads (for such they appear) -there are no details; the movement of the action, the rapid development -of the plot, the violence and precision with which the figures appear -upon the scene, demand few but energetic pencil strokes and do not -permit digressions nor long and minute descriptions of places and -persons; they are like those pretty miniatures whose merit consists in -the exactness, the clearness, the grace, with which the scene or picture -is reproduced in spite of the small space at the disposition of the -artist. As little are there inopportune references to times preceding -the drama which develops; nothing to distract the reader from the scenes -which the poet places in view: all is _actual_, if I may so express -myself, and only the final catastrophe is presented in which a passion -or a misfortune culminates, at the conclusion of a series of unhappy -incidents. For the rest, it is easy to divine what elements Peon y -Contreras employs in his dramatic romances; love with all its -tendernesses, jealousies with their terrible ravages, virtue with its -power and its struggles against temptation and vice, the energy of a -manly heart, the storms resulting from defiled honor, from violated -faith, from lost hope ... all that which the soul feels in its hours of -joy or despair. And what pictures he can paint with a single stroke; how -he transports us to those distant times of Castilian honor, of solitary -and retired castles, of somber and silent cities; what strength of -coloring there is at times in the scenes he paints and at other times -what enchanting ingenuity, what adorable simplicity, what innocence, -what grace. - - - - -MANUEL GUSTAVO ANTONIO REVILLA - -[Illustration] - - -Manuel Gustavo Antonio Revilla was born in the City of Mexico, February -7, 1863. His father, Domingo Revilla, was a distinguished author and -from him the son appears to have inherited his studious inclinations. -Young Revilla studied law, completing his course in 1887, but the -practice of that profession had little attraction for him, and he has -devoted himself to teaching and writing. Having a strong taste for the -fine arts, he developed sound art criticism, and in 1892 was appointed -Professor of the History of Art in the National School of Fine Arts. -During the following year he wrote his _Arte en Mexico_ (Art in Mexico), -of which the Spanish art writer, Menéndez y Pelayo, said:--“I have read -with much pleasure, and I believe with much profit, _Arte en Mexico_, -learning from it new data regarding architects, sculptors, and painters, -of the times of the Viceroys, who are almost unknown in Spain. As well -from the novelty and interest of its subject, as for the good taste and -sound art criticism with which it is treated, the book deserves every -kind of praise, and will no doubt receive it, from all intelligent -readers.” After ten years of class instruction Professor Revilla was -appointed Secretary of the same school, in February, 1903. At the same -time he was appointed one of a committee of three to prepare a -systematic catalogue of the works of art belonging to the institution. - -Señor Revilla is a public speaker of power and some of his addresses -have attracted notable attention. Among these may be mentioned the -Independence Day oration of September 16, 1889, and that commemorating -the forty-third anniversary of the Death of the Cadets of the Military -School of Chapultepec. He has also been a prolific writer for -periodicals. To _El Tiempo_ (The Time), he has long been an editorial -contributor, especially upon topics of public law, political economy, -and social problems. Traveling in Guatemala, he was connected for a time -with _El Bien Publico_ (The Public Weal), in which he published an -article upon the Monroe Doctrine, which attracted considerable attention -in Latin America. In his writings of every kind, Revilla shows the -greatest care in the choice of words and use of language. In 1902 he was -named a Correspondent of the Mexican Academy. - -At present Señor Revilla is writing a series of critical biographies of -Mexican artists. This is an absolutely new undertaking in Mexico and the -work demands exceptional information and much research. Volumes have so -far appeared regarding the sculptors Patiño, Ixtolinque, and Guerra, the -architect Hidalga, the painter Rebull, and the musicians Paniagua and -Valle. This series is being published by Agüeros and will be extended. -Revilla has also written a biography of Francisco Gonzales Bocanegro, -author of the Mexican National Hymn. - -Our selections are taken from _El Arte en Mexico_. - - -THE FINE ARTS IN MEXICO. - -The three arts do not attain the same grade of development, nor prosper -equally, at all times. At the beginning, that is, during the sixteenth -century, their growth was slow, as was to be expected of all pertaining -to a young community, and they were sustained, thanks to masters from -the art centres of Spain. But, from the very beginning of the -seventeenth century, these are to be seen surrounded by disciples, many -born in the colony, to whom they transmit their knowledge, and, owing to -the increasing demand for works, which they receive, the production -augments and a new artistic manifestation appears, which, although -derived from the Spaniards, may be considered indigenous. - -During the seventeenth century is when painting was practised with -greatest brilliancy and the schools of Mexico and Puebla were formed, -which, although decadent, were maintained in the following century. - -On the contrary, this eighteenth century, is the period of greatest -lustre for architecture; during it, ancient edifices, begun long before, -were carried to completion, many others were rebuilt, and new ones were -erected, and there appears in houses, palaces, and churches, a style in -which symmetry is but laxly observed and ornamentation is profuse or -lavish. - -Sculpture, long confined to imperfect wooden statues and crude -bas-reliefs in stone, acquires an actual existence only near the close -of the past century, with the famous Valencian[18], author of one of the -most famous of equestrian statues; with him also architecture assumed -correctness, simplicity and proportions in harmony with the classical -canon. - - * * * * * - -The fine arts in Mexico, without having arrived, in general, to the -perfection to which the Spaniards carried them, ... cannot, for that -reason, be considered unworthy of esteem and study, since in them are -found undeniable and many excellences. The defects met with in them are -not sufficient to invalidate their merits. The literary works of that -time are also open to criticism, but no one has denied the value of the -literature of the vice-royal period, during which arts and letters -attained equal prosperity. Echave, the elder, yields in nothing to -Balbuena; José Juarez and Arteaga stand forth conspicuously as Sister -Juana Inéz de la Cruz; Perusquía or Tres Guerras are comparable with -Navarette; and, as famous as is Ruíz de Alarcón in his line, is Tolsa in -his. - - -TRES GUERRAS AND TOLSA. - -Independently, in a modest city, a creole artist, Eduardo Tres Guerras, -followed the same impulse, with result and applause. Student of the -Academy, he had been trained in painting; having attained no great -result in which, he dedicated himself to architecture, which yielded him -merited laurels for constructing--besides various beautiful private -houses--the Church of the Carmen of Celaya and the Bridge of the Laja in -the same city. - -Tolsa and Tres Guerras have many points of likeness; both, professing -another art,--the one statuary, the other painting--dedicated themselves -later to construction; both cultivated the same style, that of the -Renaissance, and succeeded in imparting majesty to their buildings. -Tolsa is more severe, elegant, and grand; Tres Guerras better knows how -to express grace and is more audacious. This one sometimes lacks good -taste, the other--rather frequently becomes heavy. Withal, both are -notable architects; and, if one wins constant applause, the other gains -an enduring fame. - -Although it might be thought that Tres Guerras felt Tolsa’s influence, -nothing is further from the truth, since Tres Guerras had already -constructed the Carmen and the Laja bridge, before Tolsa had reared his -edifices. - -With these two artists, the cycle of vice-royal architecture ended. -Beginning rude and coarse it developed brilliant and overloaded, and -ended simple and correct, ever showing itself strong and robust as the -virile, conquering, race that produced it. - - -WOOD CARVING IN PUEBLA. - -When these glaring offenses against art were not only condoned, but -authorized by religion, it will be appreciated how great credit is due -to a group of modest and industrious artists, who, in the City of -Puebla, about the second half of the past, and the beginning of the -present, century, without good masters nor great models for imitation, -cultivated the sculpture of images, forming their own canons. The Coras, -with all their defects, play the rôle of restorers to respect of an art, -which could not fall to a more lamentable extremity. There were three -principal--though other artists of lesser value figure in turn--José -Villegas de Cora, the master of all; Zacarias Cora, and José Villegas, -who also took the surname Cora, as an honorific title. - -José Villegas de Cora, called in his time the _Maestro Grande_, from -having been the founder of the school, was the first to insist upon the -observation of the natural, from which indeed he himself took but a -general idea, leaving the arrangement of the details of the projected -work to fancy; from this proceeds the arbitrary character, to be -observed in the minutiæ of almost all of his images. At the same time he -sought naturalness in the arrangement of draperies; that for which he -was most esteemed, was the grace and beauty of the faces, particularly -those of his Virgins; which, like most of his other works, were made to -be clothed. - -Zacarias Cora made show of some knowledge of anatomy, accentuating the -muscles and veins, which did not prevent his figures from frequently -lacking proper proportions and appearing to have been supplied with them -from sentiment rather than accuracy. In expression, he competed with -his master. His best work was the _San Cristóbal_ with the infant Jesus, -which is in the temple of that name in Puebla. - -Unlike the preceding, most of the works of José Villegas were of full -size; in them he handled the draperies well, though at times falling -into mannerisms, as did Zacarias also, in exaggerating movements and -delicacy in them. His faces are less pleasing. His _Santa Teresa_, -larger than life, belonging to the church of that name in Puebla, offers -a good example of draperies, and presents the feature,--common to all -the works of the sculptors of this school, of a pursing of the lips, -with the purpose of making the mouth appear smaller. - -Each of the three artists named had some quality in which he was -distinguished from the others; one in the attractiveness of the faces, -another in the greater attention to the natural, the other in the -regular proportions and in having preferred to make figures of life -size. After them the school decayed and died. - - -THE WORKS OF TOLSA. - -Tolsa did not make many statues, since another art robbed him of a great -part of the time which he might have given to sculpture. The few, which -remain, suffice to show his knowledge, his talent, his brilliancy and -his power. - -Besides the superb equestrian statue of Charles IV, legitimate pride of -the City of Mexico, he made the principal statues of the _tabernaculo_ -of the Cathedral of Puebla, those of the clock of the Cathedral of -Mexico and some pieces in wood. Only two of his sculptures were run in -bronze, the _Charles IV_, and the _Conception_, of the _tabernaculo_, -the others which adorn this, and which represent the four great doctors -of the Latin Church, being of white stucco, imitating marble, and those -of the façade of the Cathedral of Mexico, which represent the three -virtues, being of stone. The size selected for all of these is the -colossal, which so well lends itself to the grand. And this is Tolsa, -beyond all, grand in proportions, in type conceptions, in postures, in -gestures, in dress. - -The horse of the statue of the Spanish monarch, treated after the -classic, is of beautiful outline, natural movement, graceful and -animated in the extreme; as for the figure of the king, although a -little heavy, it is majestic, in movement well harmonized with that of -the noble brute, and forms with it a beautiful combination of lines. -There has been abundant reason for counting it one of the best -equestrian statues. - -The remaining sculptures of Tolsa, that is, the _Doctors_, the -_Conception_, and the _Virtues_, are distinguished by the movement, -which gives them an appearance full of grace and life. All reveal -sufficient personality combined with conscientious study of the -antique. If one sought to find defects he might say that at times he is -heavy, over-emphasizes and gives a berninesque execution to his -draperies. - -In wood, he has left two heads of the _Dolorosa_ and a _Conception_, -artistically colored. - - -BALTASAR DE ECHAVE. - -We have the scantiest personal notices of Baltasar de Echave, commonly -called Echave the elder, to distinguish him from the painter of the same -name, his son, who is designated as Echave the younger; but although -these data are scanty, they are abundant in comparison with those which -are preserved of other painters (of the time), of whom we know only the -names. He was a Basque, born in Zumaya, in the Province of Guipúzcoa, -and besides being a painter was a philologist, having published a work -upon the antiquity of the language of Cantabria. He has several sons, of -whom two were painters. Torquemada states that, at the time when he was -writing his _Monarquia Indiana_ (1609), Echave finished his great -retable of the Church of Santiago Tlaltelolco; further, it is known by -the examination of his works, that already in 1601, he was painting, as -the colossal canvas of _San Cristóbal_, which bears that date, shows, -and that still in 1640, the activity of his brush had not ceased, since -in that year he executed the _Martyrdom of Santa Catarina_ for the -Dominicans of Mexico.... - -His fecundity did not prevent his pictures from having that completeness -and detailed study which makes them so agreeable; yet, at times he falls -into carelessness of drawing, which cannot at all be attributed to lack -of skill, but to the fact that his pictures were generally destined to -occupy high places in churches, rendering unnecessary a minute attention -to finishing, unappreciable at a great distance and in the feeble light -of the interior of churches.... - -Being of versatile genius Echave displayed varied characteristics; -sometimes we see him most painstaking in outlines; sometimes easy and -firm in handling the brush; now varied in types and attitudes and again -attentive to the arrangement of draperies; now skillful in the nude, of -which but few examples are found in the Mexican school; now notable as a -colorist, worthy of comparison with the Venetians. When it suits him, he -can give beauty of expression, but he does not so persistently seek it, -that it becomes a mannerism. - -He neglected, yes, systematically, the figures of secondary importance, -his draperies are often hard and confused, and his halos and glories -lack luminous intensity. Without being weak, he lacks strength in his -modelling and he does not delight in strong contrasts of light and -shade--both qualities in which the Spaniards surpass. His pictures, in -general, do not profoundly move, although they produce an agreeable -impression largely because he does not highly develop expression, -although undertaking highly emotional incidents, such as the martyrdom -of certain saints, at the moment of their suffering. Thus it is not the -expression which most interests in his _San Ponciano_, _San Aproniano_, -and _San Lorenzo_, but the nude figures of the martyrs, the character in -the participants in the scene, and the fine coloring. - -As an example of feminine beauty and of undeniable and palpable -Raphaelean influence, may be cited the figures of the Saints and the -Virgin, respectively, in the paintings of _Santa Cecilia_, _Santa -Isabel_, _Queen of Portugal_, the _Porciuncula_, and the _Adoration of -the Magi_. - -In the latter, one figure is seen, that of the king who adores the -infant Jesus, which is admirably conceived and executed; type, -expression, attitude and drapery, are worthy of a great master. The -coloring and rich draperies of the _Santa Isabel_ and of _Santa Cecilia_ -are also notable. But the best pages of Echave, and at the same time the -most mystical creations, are his _Christ praying in the Garden_, and -_Saint Francis receiving the Stigmata_; both compositions as simple as -they are beautiful; the figure of Jesus, in the first, is so peaceful -and resigned, that it has been justly compared to the celestial visions -of Overbeck; that of Saint Francis is equally imposing and majestic for -its great asceticism, for the sincerity and truth with which the -ecstasy in which the Christ of the Middle Ages is overwhelmed, is -represented. - -To him belong also the _Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple_, the -_Visitation_, and a masterly _Conception_, which is in the State College -of Puebla, of vigorous execution and strong light and shade. Echave gave -life size to most of the figures on his canvases, as did--indeed--most -of the other painters of the school. - - -MIGUEL CABRERA. - -Miguel Cabrera exaggerated the defects of Ibarra and fell into others, -because he is more incorrect in form, more neglects the study of the -natural, lacks strength in execution, and reduces coloring to the use of -five or six tints, monotonously repeated; he is weak in perspective, and -in composition never maintains himself at any great height; yet, with -all this, his vogue was great during his lifetime and his prestige has -not ceased today. The religious communities outbid each other for his -works, connoisseurs sought his canvases, the University entrusted -important commissions to his hand, Archbishop Rubio y Salinas appointed -him his court painter, and when, in 1753, a group of painters were -organizing the first Academy of Painting, they elected him perpetual -president. How can we explain the high opinion in which he was held? -The reason may be found in the bad taste then prevalent, bad taste which -in other times has even elevated a Gongora, or has caused that a Lucas -Jordán shall be compared with, and preferred to, a Claude Coello. But -there is a further reason for the popularity, which Cabrera enjoyed; -that he painted prettily, taking great pains with the faces, even when -he neglected the rest, and employing brilliant coloring, pleasing to the -crowd. - -To his fame, have contributed his activity and extraordinary -productiveness, shown by the quantity he produced, but particularly by -his having painted the thirty-four great canvases of the life of San -Ignacio, and the same number of that of Santo Domingo, in the short -period of fourteen months. The fact is not, really, so surprising if one -considers on the one hand his unfinished style, and on the other that it -is in those very pictures, that his style reached its fullest -expression; these being, for that reason, the worst we have seen of that -artist. It must be added, too, that other artists worked in his studio, -who naturally assisted him in his heavier commissions. Furthermore, it -is not the quantity of the works of an artist, nor the rapidity with -which he turns them out, that gives the measure of his value, but their -quality, no matter how small their number. Otherwise, Luca, of course, -would have long since been proclaimed the greatest painter of the world, -and criticism would have relegated to oblivion such works as the _Santa -Forma_ of Claude Coello, for having been made, although marvelously -perfect, with patient slowness. - - - - -JOSÉ PEON Y CONTRERAS. - -[Illustration] - - -José Peon y Contreras was born at Merida, Yucatan, January 12, 1843, -being son of Juan Bautista Peon and María del Pilar Contreras. Studying -medicine in his native city, he received the degree of M.D., at the age -of nineteen years. In 1863, he went to the City of Mexico and saying -nothing of his earlier course, again went through the medical -curriculum. By competition, he obtained an appointment in the _Hospital -de Jesus_; in 1867, he was Director of the _San Hipólito_ Hospital for -the Insane; for several years he was in charge of public vaccination for -the city. - -Giving his leisure to letters, José Peon y Contreras soon gained high -rank as a lyric poet and a dramatist. He had already entered the field -of letters before leaving Merida. His first effort was _La Cruz del -Paredon_, a fantastic legend, printed when its author was eighteen years -of age. A volume of _Poesias_ (Poems) appeared in 1868. In Mexico, in -1871 he printed, in the paper, _El Domingo_ (Sunday) a collection of -_Romances historicos Mexicanos_ (Mexican Historical Romances), in which -he dealt with Aztec themes and actors. These have merit, but are little -known. The field of José Peon y Contreras’s greatest triumphs is the, in -Mexico, much neglected drama. In 1876 he published his _Hasta el cielo_ -(Unto Heaven), a drama in prose, which was a great success. It was -rapidly followed by others, mostly in verse. On May 7, 1876, _La hija -del Rey_ (The Daughter of the King) being presented, the writers of -Mexico presented the author of the piece a gold pen and a Diploma of -Honor signed by all. Agüeros says of José Peon y Contreras that he is to -be compared with José Echegary. He is of “marvellous dramatic talent; -profound knowledge of the human heart; his descriptions are paintings; -his dialogue is natural, sound, and moral. His faults are claimed to be -similarity of argument and absence of certain dramatic resources, -showing lack of originality.” - -In 1880, he published _Romances dramaticos_ (Dramatic Romances), in -which he presents fourteen brief, rapid sketches, each of them capable -of expansion into a drama. In 1881 he published _Trovas Columbinas_ -(Columbian Metres), lyrical poems dealing with Columbus and his -discovery. In 1883, a volume of poems, _Ecos_ (Echoes) was published in -New York. Two novels by our author _Taide_ and _Veleidosa_, have been -well received, the latter being, perhaps, the favorite. - -José Peon y Contreras at one time represented Yucatan in the lower house -of Congress; later, in 1875, he was Senator for the same State. He has -recently been a Deputy for the State of Nuevo Léon. - - -HASTA EL CIELO! - -The scene is laid in the City of Mexico; the time is the seventeenth -century. The play is in three acts and is written in prose. The -selections are from Act III. The action takes place at Sancho’s house. -Sancho is the private secretary of the Viceroy; he is passing under an -assumed name and is seeking vengeance against the Viceroy, who does not -know his identity, for his father’s death and his mother’s dishonor. -Blanca, supposed to be the Viceroy’s ward, is in reality his daughter; -this Sancho knows and gains her love, with the intention of making her -dishonor the Viceroy’s disgrace. To escape a hated suitor, Blanca, -trusting to Sancho’s pretended love, has left her father’s house and -taken refuge with Sancho. The Viceroy, distracted seeks her. Ultimately, -the true love, which Sancho would give her, proves impossible. - - -SCENE IV. - -Blanca: Sancho! - -Sancho: Ah, Blanca--what is the matter? - -B.: Nothing; nothing; how happy I am to find you here. - -S.: Did you not sleep? - -B.: No. I could not. Slumber fled from my eyes. - -S.: Why? Are you not here secure? What do you fear? Have I not told -you----? - -B.: In vain I seek repose. My agitated spirit wakes; my afflicted soul -recalls the past and trembles for the future. There are moments, when I -feel that I shall go mad! - -S.: You tremble, are cold--Blanca, calm yourself. - -B.: The memory of this misfortune haunts me. - -S.: You still insist----! - -B.: You attempt to conceal it from me, in vain.... Last night I -overheard, when Fortun announced to you the death of this--of this -marquis. - -S.: Well! What of that?--Man’s days are numbered. His hour of punishment -arrives. - -B.: Moreover, I can not conceal it from you, Sancho; the passing moments -seem to me eternities.--We cannot continue living thus.--It is necessary -that God should sanctify this union. - -S.: Soon--very soon. - -B.: This is not my house. Much as I love you, much as I have sacrificed -my dignity upon the altar of this love, I cannot be tranquil. I feel -something here, in my breast, of which I had no idea before,--and--you -see, I cannot venture to raise my eyes in your presence.--The blush, -which inflames my cheek, is the shame of guilt---- - -S.: You, guilty----? - -B.: Just the same!--What am I, here?--When I am alone no one beholds me, -but I would even hide me from myself.--If, in snatching me from my home, -you have taken advantage of my love, do not sport with my weakness. - -S.: Blanca, God reads our hearts---- - -B.: Yes, and because God reads them, I implore you, once for all, to end -this situation. What is past is as the image of a fearful dream.--To -have dreamed it alone had seemed to me impossible. Cruel! this is very -cruel!--Your very presence is enough to humiliate me--and I could not -live without your presence!--I would desire that looking at you my heart -should beat with joy. I wish to feel that which I have always felt at -seeing you! that which I felt before!--Why turn your face away? Why does -your stern and sombre glance uneasily conceal itself beneath your lids, -and why do you not look at me as heretofore? - -S.: Blanca, you suspect---- - -B.: No, I do not suspect; I believe. I confess it frankly.... Love is -born and grows slowly, but it may die in a single instant!--Mine is the -guilt. - -S.: Cease.--Do you not see that you are lacerating my soul? - -B.: Listen! At night you slept--I watched! I shuddered, for presently I -heard your voice, as if distant, broken and tremulous--you were speaking -as if an enormous rock weighed down upon your breast---- - -S.: You are right--it was so----! - -B.: You uttered crushing words,--words of vengeance--of dishonor--of -love! - -S.: Also of love! - -B.: Among those words, which issued as if drawn from the innermost -places of your heart, and which escaped from your lips like an echo--I -heard my name.--What was this, Sancho?--Tell me. - -S.: A dream!--an awful nightmare! I know not whether I dreamed. I know -not whether I was awake. I saw you, Blanca, humiliated, degraded, -vile,---- ... and in this fearful struggle between my love and my -vengeance---- - -B.: Your vengeance! - -S.: You do not know what that is! Grief wrung my soul; I felt madness in -my brain; despair sprung up in my heart as the tempest in the black -centre of the storm-cloud and a torrent of blasphemies and prayers broke -from my lips. - -B.: Sancho! But you are still delirious! - -S.: No, Blanca; no, my poor Blanca--Now, I am not delirious; no! but I -believe indeed, I shall go mad. There still continues, in my soul, a -frightful combat--here I feel the battle, fierce, desperate,--mortal. -Go--recover yourself.--Leave me alone! - -B.: Sancho! - -S.: I love you.--Go----! - -(Blanca leaves, weeping.) - - -SCENE V. - -Sancho, who has watched Blanca disappear, when she has gone, says: -Unhappy being! Why does a cursed blood course through your veins? -Aye!--What blame have I, for having loved you ere I knew the stock from -which you came--the blood that gives color and freshness to your cheeks, -smile to your lips, light to your eyes? Why do I love you, when I ought -to hate you? Why ought I to hate you, when I love you with all my -heart?--What is this?--Aye! Aye! I cannot. I cannot more. - -(The curtain falls darkly on the scene. A short pause.) - - * * * * * - - -SCENE VII. - -Viceroy: Sancho---- - -Sancho: Enter sir! So great an honor!-- - -V.: I have already told you, Sancho, that I love you as a son. It is not -the Viceroy of Mexico, who comes now to your house. I enter it as a -friend. Receive me as such. - -S.: And--to what, then, do I owe this pleasure? Seat yourself, sir, seat -yourself. - -(The Viceroy seats himself.) - -V.: I come to you, Sancho, because I am most unhappy. - -S.: (With pleasure.) You, most unhappy! - -V.: Yes. If you knew---- - -S.: And what has happened to you? Let me know--but allow me to close -this door because a draught enters. (He bolts the door that communicates -with the interior and through which Blanca had passed.) Ah, well! sir! -what makes you unhappy? It seems incredible; a man, powerful, rich, -immensely rich, cradled from infancy in the arms of fortune--Perhaps, -your wife!---- - -V.: My wife?--No! My wife has never been able to make me unhappy, just -as she has never made me happy. We have never loved. I married her for -family reasons and, in fine---- - -S.: I do not understand, then---- - -V.: Hear me, Sancho! For many years my only good, my only joy, my sole -delight in this world, has been a lovely girl---- - -S.: Yes, yes,--a lovely girl who has grown up, receiving her education, -in the Convent of Seville. - -V.: You know it! (Profoundly surprised.) - -S.: And whom you brought with you to Mexico, two years ago. - -V.: Yes. - -S.: You lodged her with the Sisters of the Conception where you caused -her to be loved and respected as if she were your daughter. - -V.: That is true! - -S.: You visited her daily, secretly, at evening---- - -V.: Yes, because---- - -S.: You have already said it. Because you loved her with all your -soul---- - -V.: With all my soul! but---- - -S.: But they have robbed you of her. (Very brief pause.) - -V.: (Approaching Sancho, with great emotion.) And you, you Sancho, know -this also! - -S.: As I tell you---- - -V.: And, who, who has been--? Who--? Do not tell me his name, that -matters nothing! Tell me where he is,--tell me that--because I desire -his life’s blood. - -S.: Calm, Señor Viceroy, more calm! - -V.: Calm! and she is not at my side--Calm! and the hours pass.--Calm! -and the grief increases and the suffering grows stronger, and despair -kills! - -S.: You suffer greatly! - -V.: Tell me who it is, Sancho! You know it. I see it in your eyes.--Tell -me.--You know that here I am the equal of the King! The King, himself, -is not more powerful than I! Ask, from me, riches, honor, -position,--all, all, for your single word! Speak! You know! Is it not -so? - -S.: Yes. It is true. - -V.: Oh, joy! And you will tell me! - -S.: No. - -V.: (Furious.) No?--You will not tell me, _you_? (He directs himself -toward the door, raising his voice)--Halloa, here! - -S.: (Gently detaining him.) Ah! I will close this door because a draught -enters. (Locks the door with a key. The Viceroy looks at him with -frightened surprise.) - -V.: Sancho!--Are you making sport of me? Are you trifling with my -agony?--But, no, no, you would not be capable of that, impossible.--You -are not an ingrate. - -S.: Seat yourself, Señor Viceroy, and hear me. - -V.: Seat myself?--Good, I obey you--Now, you see--I seat myself.--But -you must tell it me. - -S.: Listen. Only last night, Señor Viceroy, I told you that Juan de -Paredes,--the person who has been recommended to you---- - -V.: My God! but--and, what has this to do? - -S.: If you are not calm----! - -V.: Sancho! - -S.: If you are not calm, I will say nothing and then you would know -nothing, even if you put me to the torture. - -V.: Well! well!--I am silent--I listen--What anxiety! - -S.: Juan de Paredes, unhappy orphan, entrusted to a friend--very -intimate--in fact a second self--the mission of avenging his wrongs upon -the person who dishonored his mother, Doña Mencia, and assassinated his -father--and this firm friend finally discovered the scoundrel--ah, he -was a man of great power! - -V.: And you know his name? - -S.: If you interrupt---- - -V.: I am silent. - -S.: The good friend of Juan de Paredes succeeded in approaching--then in -speaking with--and, later, in introducing himself into the house -of--and, soon in ingratiating himself in the heart of the criminal.--He -spied upon him as the wolf-hunter spies upon his prey,--scrutinized his -movements--informed himself of his most insignificant actions. He -studied his character, his most hidden motives; he followed him -everywhere and at all times and at last discovered the place--the place -in which the lair of the beast was hidden! He had but a single love on -earth!--And there he fixed his eyes, because fixing his eyes there he -thrust a dagger into the assassin’s heart.--Not into his heart, -no,--into his very soul!--Because, that love was his daughter--a lovely -maiden!---- - -V.: Continue----! - -S.: She gave him evidences of her love. - -V.: Continue----! - -S.: She loved him with all the blindness and strength of a first love. - -V.: And he----? - -S.: He did not love her! - -Blanca: (From within, with a feeble cry.) Aye! - -V.: That cry---- - -S.: A cry?--Did you hear a cry? - -V.: I thought--perhaps, no--I deceived myself,--continue. - -S.: And one night--at night! - -V.: I know it, now!--Be still! his name! - -S.: He stole her--to dishonor her---- - -V.: Silence. - -S.: To defile her---- - -V.: To defile her!--and, she? - -Blanca: (Within.) Open. (Violently shakes the door.) - -S.: Hear her. - -V.: There--she, there! Wretch--! What have you done? You shall die. -(Placing his hand on his swordhilt.) - -S.: Yes, yes! Come on, infamous assassin; because, I abhor you as I do -her. - - -SCENE VIII. - -The same; also Blanca, who has broken open the door. - -B.: (Addressing Sancho.) You lie! You do not abhor me! - -V.: Blanca! - -S.: (Pointing at Blanca.) Look at her--! look at her--! She was -_there_--! (Indicating his inner apartments, where she was.) And when, -soon, you die at my hand, Viceroy of Mexico, you will _have suffered two -deaths_! - -V.: (To Blanca.) And is it true----? - -B.: Sancho! Save me from this dishonor! - -S.: (Paying no attention to her; to the Viceroy.) When finally a father -meets---- - -V.: (Trying to stop Sancho’s mouth.) Silence, cursed wretch, -silence----! - -S.: Blanca; this is not your guardian, he is--your father! - -V.: Ah----! - -B.: My father! (The viceroy and Blanca stand as if stupefied.) - -S.: (Contemplating them.) And how much a father’s heart must suffer in -presenting himself with this sacred title for the first time, to a -daughter’s heart. She cannot let him kiss her brow--no, she cannot. - -B.: (Supplicatingly.) Sancho! - -S.: He cannot feel his eyes wet with tears of joy--but only with tears -of vengeance! How much she must suffer and how much he! - -V.: Infamy. - -S.: Infamy, no! because her suffering is multiplied a hundred-fold in -yours. - -V.: (Drawing his sword.) Blanca, you die! - -B.: (Shrinking, horrified.) Ah! - -S.: (Throwing himself upon the viceroy.) Do not touch her; look at -her--she is innocent! Love has robbed me of my prey. I love her so much -that my love conquered my vengeance. (Joy appears on the face of the -viceroy.) But do not rejoice, Viceroy. You who rob women of their honor, -and assassinate old men, do not rejoice. Only God and you and I know -that she is pure. I have not dared to outrage her by a single glance; -but, tomorrow---- - -V.: Ah! - -S.: Tomorrow the whole court shall know that she’s your daughter. - -V.: No! - -S.: And that she passed the night here. (Pointing to the inner rooms.) - -V.: Thou shalt die. - -S.: My squire knows it---- - -V.: (Drawing his sword.) Enough!--blood!--what thirst so frightful----! - -S.: (Unsheathing.) ’Tis less than mine! - -B.: Señors, hold! Sancho, is this possible? - -S.: Her voice again--again the cry of her love here in my heart! -Withdraw your glance from me Blanca, since at its influence my heart -fails and the coward steel trembles in my hand. - -B.: Sancho! enough! - -S.: Hear it----! Hear it, my father! She asks it----! Have pity on me, -since, now that the hour has come for avenging thee, the pardon -struggles to issue from my lips! My father, pardon! - -V.: Your father, you have said! Who was your father? What is your name? - -S.: My name is Juan de Paredes. - -V.: You--you are the son of Don Diego and Doña Mencia? - -S.: Why do you remind me of it? Why do you summon before me their bloody -spirits? Yes, I am--I am he, whom you have robbed of all. - -V.: You, who dishonored _her_! - -S.: Yes. - -V.: It seems as if Satan possesses you and hell inspires your words! - -B.: What does he say? - -S.: What do you say? - -V.: Unhappy being, know that those secret _amours_ with Doña Mencia bore -fruit and that fruit is---- - -S.: She! oh cursed love! She is my sister----! Oh, almighty God! - - * * * * * - - - - -JOSÉ MARÍA ROA BÁRCENA. - -[Illustration] - - -José María Roa Bárcena was born at Jalapa, State of Vera Cruz, on -September 3, 1827. His father, José María Rodriguez Roa, was long and -helpfully engaged in local politics. The son entered upon a business -life, and literary work was, for him, at first, but a relaxation. His -youthful writings, both in prose and poetry, attracted much attention. -In 1853 he removed to the City of Mexico, at that time a center of great -political and literary activity, where he devoted himself to a -politico-literary career. As a contributor or editor he was associated -with important periodicals,--_El Universal_, _La Cruz_, _El Eco -Nacional_ and _La Sociedad_. He favored the French Intervention and the -Imperial establishment. Soon disapproving of Maximilian’s policy, he -came out strongly against that ruler and refused appointments at his -hands. When the Empire fell, he returned to business life, but was -arrested and detained for several months in prison. - -Señor Roa Bárcena has ever been associated with the conservative party, -but has always commanded the respect of political foes by his firm -convictions and regard for the calls of duty. He is eminently patriotic -and in his writings deals with Mexican life and customs, national -history, and the lives and works of distinguished Mexicans. His writings -are varied. His poetry has been largely the product of his early years -and of his old age; his prose has been written in his middle life. - -Of his early poems _Ithamar_ and _Diana_ were general favorites. In 1875 -his _Nuevas Poesias_ (New Poems) appeared, in 1888 and 1895, two volumes -of “last lyric poems”--_Ultimas Poesias liricas_. In 1860 he published -an elementary work upon Universal Geography; in 1863 an _Ensayo de una -Historia anecdotica de Mexico_ (Attempt at an Anecdotal History of -Mexico). This _Ensayo_ was in prose and was divided into three parts, -covering ancient Mexican history to the time of the Conquest. In 1862, -in _Leyendas Mexicanos_ (Mexican Legends) he presented much the same -matter in verse. These three charmingly written books, while -conscientious literary productions, were intended for youth. Of stronger -and more vigorous prose are his political novel, _La Quinta modelo_ (The -Model Farm) and his famous biographies of _Manuel Eduardo Gorostiza_ and -_José Joaquin Pesado_. Of the latter, often considered his masterpiece, -one writer asserts, it shows “rich style, vast erudition, admirable -method, severe impartiality in judgment, profound knowledge of the epoch -and of the man.” Famous is the _Recuerdos de la invasion Norte-Americana -1846-1847_ (Recollections of the American Invasion: 1846-1847), which -appeared first in the columns of the periodical _El Siglo_ XIX, and was -reprinted in book form only in 1883. But it is in his short stories that -Roa Bárcena appears most characteristically. His _Novelas, originales y -traducidas_ (Novels, original and translated) appeared in 1870. They are -notable for delicacy of expression, minute detail in description and -action, some mysticism, and a keen but subtle humor. In his translations -from Dickens, Hoffman, Byron, Schiller, our author is wonderfully exact -and faithful both to sense and form. - - -COMBATS IN THE AIR. - -Some of Roa Bárcena’s characteristics are well illustrated in the little -sketch, _Combates en el aire_ (Combats in the air). An old man recalls -the fancies and experiences of his boyhood. To him, as a child, kites -had character and he associated individual kites with persons whom he -knew; they had emotions and passions; they spoke and filled him with joy -or terror. One great kite, a bully in disposition, was, for him, a surly -neighbor, whom all feared. This dreadful kite had ruined many of the -cherished kite possessions of his young companions. Once his teacher, -the boy himself, and some friends, fabricated a beautiful kite. In its -first flight it is attacked by the bully and the battle is described. - - * * * * * - -The preliminaries of the sport began with the manufacture of the kite. -The kinds most used were _pandorgas_, parallelograms of paper or cloth, -according to size and importance, with the skeleton composed of strong -and flexible cane, called _otate_, with hummers of gut or parchment or -rag, at the slightly curved top or bottom--or they bore the name of -_cubos_ (squares), made with three small crossed sticks covered with -paper and with a broad fringe of paper or cloth at the sides. Both kinds -usually displayed the national colors or bore figures of Moors and -Christians, birds and quadrupeds. The tails were enormously long and -were forms of tufts of cloth, varying in size, tied crosswise of the -cord, which ended in a bunch of rags; in the middle of the cord were the -‘cutters,’ terribly effective in battles between kites; they were two -cockspur-knives of steel, finely sharpened, projecting from the sides of -a central support of wood, with which the bearer cut the string of his -opponent, which, thus abandoned to its fate on the wings of the wind, -went whirling and tumbling through the air, to fall at last to the -ground, at a considerable distance. Night did not end the sport; they -had messengers or paper lanterns, hanging from a great wheel of -cardboard, through the central opening in which the kite-string passed, -and which, impelled by the wind, went as far as the check-string and -whirled there, aloft, with its candles yet lighted. - - * * * * * - -A neighbor of gruff voice, harsh aspect, and the reputation of a surly -fellow, was, for me, represented by a great _pandorga_, with powerfully -bellowing hummer, which on every windy day sunk--if we may use the -term--some eight or ten unfortunate _cubos_, thus being the terror of -all the small boys of our neighborhood. It was made of white cloth, -turned almost black by the action of sun and rain; its long tail twisted -and writhed like a great serpent, and even doubled upon itself midway, -at times, on account of the weight of its large and gleaming cutters. -Its hoarse and continuous humming could be heard from one end of the -town to the other and sounded to me like the language of a bully. - - * * * * * - -Just then was heard a bellowing, as of a bull, and, black and -threatening, the well known _pandorga_ bully appeared in the air, more -arrogant than ever, glowering with malicious eyes upon its unexpected -rival and preparing to disembowel it, at the least. For a moment the -members of our little company shuddered, because, in the anxiety and -haste to raise the _cubo_, we had forgotten to attach the cutters. To -lower it then, in order to arm it, would have looked like lowering a -flag, which was not to Martínez’s taste. Trusting, then, to his own -dexterity, he prepared for the defence, intending to entangle the cord -of our _cubo_ in the upper part of the tail of the enemy, which would -cause the kite and its tail to form an acute angle riding upon our -attaching cord, and would hurl it headlong to the earth.... The bully -rose to the north, in order to fall almost perpendicularly, on being -given more string, upon the cord of the _cubo_, and then, on ascending -again with all possible force, to cut it. Once, twice, three times it -made the attempt, but was foiled by our giving the _cubo_ extra cord, -also, at the decisive moment. Raging and bellowing, the enemy drew much -nearer, and taking advantage of a favorable gust, risked everything in a -desperate effort to cut us. As its sharp set tail, keen as a Damascus -blade, grazed our cord, the watchful Martínez gave this a sudden, sharp -jerk against the tail itself, causing both it and the kite to double and -plunge. In its headlong dash, it cut loose the _cubo_, which, alone, and -whirling like a serpent through the air, went to fall a quarter of a -league away. But the aggressor too fell, and fell most ignominiously. -Thrown and whirled by the treacherous cord of its victim, it could not -regain its normal attitude, and like the stick of an exhausted rocket, -fell almost vertically to the earth, landing in the center of our court, -where it was declared a just prisoner. - - -NEAR THE ABYSS. - -In _Noche al raso_, the coach from Orizaba to Puebla breaks down a -little before reaching its destination. The passengers beguile the night -hours with stories. The story told by “the Captain” is entitled _Á dos -dedos del Abismo_ (At two fingers from the abyss). An exquisite, Marquis -del Veneno, is the hero. Of good birth and well connected, with no -special wealth or prospects, frequenting good society, he has never -yielded to feminine charms. A young lady, Loreto, daughter of an aged -professor of chemistry, is beautiful and socially attractive, but a -blue-stocking, fond of mouthing Latin, of poetry and of science. The -Marquis has no idea of paying attentions to Loreto, in fact he despises -her pedantry. But gossip connects their names and a series of curious -incidents give color to the report that they are betrothed. The aged -chemist clinches the matter, despite desperate efforts on the part of -the Marquis to explain, and the engagement is announced. In his dilemma -the Marquis seeks advice and aid from his _padrino_, General Guadalupe -Victoria, and from his friend, the famous Madame Rodriguez. All, -however, seems in vain. Just as he decides to accept the inevitable, an -escape presents itself. The passages selected are those which describe -the interview between the old chemist and the Marquis and the opening of -a way of escape. - - * * * * * - -Somewhat disquieted as to the purport of such an appointment, del -Veneno, after many turns, back and forth, in his chamber, was inclined -to believe that reports of his supposed relations having come to the -ears of Don Raimundo, the old man proposed to hear from his own lips the -facts. Basing himself on this supposition, the Marquis, whose conscience -was entirely clear, decided to be frank and loyal with the old -gentleman, explaining fully his own conduct in the matter, and -endeavoring to dissipate any natural vexation which the popular gossip -had caused him;--gossip, for which the Marquis believed he had given no -cause. Having decided upon this procedure, he succeeded in falling -asleep and the following day, with the most tranquil air in the world, -he directed himself, at the hour set, to the place of appointment, -feeling himself, like the Chevalier Bayard, without fear and without -reproach. - -... He installed himself at one of the least conspicuous tables of the -café and soon saw Don Raimundo, who saluted him, and seating himself at -his side, spoke to him in these terms: - -“Dissimulation is useless, my friend, in matters so grave and -transcendental as that which you and my daughter have in hand; I do not -mean that I disapprove the prudence and reserve with which you have both -acted. It is true that you, as Loreto, have carried dissimulation and -secrecy to such an extreme, that----” - -“Permit me to interrupt you, Don Raimundo, to say that I do not -understand to what matter you refer----” - -“My friend, you young people believe that, in placing your fingers over -your eyes you blot out the sun for the rest of us. But, we old folks, we -see it all! We decompose and analyze; further--what will not a father’s -insight and penetration discover? From the beginning of your love for -Loreto----” - -“But, sir, if there has not been----” - -“Nothing indecorous, no scandal will come from the relations between -you--that I know right well; it could not be otherwise in a matter -involving a finished gentleman, to whom propriety and nobility of -character have descended from both lines, and a young lady who, though -it ill becomes me to say it, has been perfectly educated, has read much, -and knows how to conduct herself in society. I tell you, friend -Leodegario, that for months past no one has needed to whisper in my ear, -‘These young people love each other,’ because the thing was evident and -had not escaped me. Accustomed, from my youth, to decomposition and -analysis, I have questioned my wife, ‘Do they love each other?’ and she -has answered, ‘I believe they do.’ I then inquired, ‘Have you spoken -with Loreto about it?’ and she replied, ‘Not a word.’ Days pass and your -mutual passion----” - -“It is my duty, Don Raimundo, to inform you----” - -“It is your duty to hear me without interrupting me. Days pass and your -mutual passion, arrived at its height, enters the crucible of test. You -withdraw from Loreto and she pretends not to notice it. Thoughtless -people say, ‘They have broken with each other’; but I say, ‘Like sheep -they separate for a little, to meet again with the greater joy.’ Others -say, ‘The Marquis is fickle and changeable’; but I say, ‘He gives -evidence of greater chivalry and nobility than I believed him to -possess.’ Friend Leodegario, what do not the eyes of a father discover? -What, in the moral as in the physical world, can resist decomposition -and analysis? With a little isolation and examination of the elements -composing such an affair, the truth is precipitated and shows itself at -the bottom of the flask! I know it all; I see it, just as if it were a -chemical reaction! You--delicate and honorable to quixotism, knowing -that the grocer Ledesma is attentive to Loreto, and considering yourself -relatively poor, have said to yourself, ‘I will not stand in the way of -the worldly betterment of this young lady,’ and have abruptly left the -field. Loreto, in her turn, offended that you should believe her capable -of sacrificing you upon the altar of her self-interest, has determined -to arouse your jealousy by pretending to accept the attentions which -Ledesma offers in the form of raisins, almonds, codfish and cases of -wine. I repeat that this is all very plain; but it is a sort of trifling -that can not be prolonged without peril, and which I have ended so far -as my daughter is concerned. Your future and hers might both suffer from -the rash actions of irritated love; no, my dear sir: let Ledesma keep -his wealth, or lavish it upon some Galician countrywoman; and let -respectable financial mediocrity, accompanied by the noble character and -the delicacy and chivalry which distinguish you, triumphantly bear away -the prize. A bas Galicia! viva Mexico!” - -“The complete mistake under which you labor----” - -“My friend, one who, like myself, decomposes and analyzes everything, -rarely or never makes mistakes! Last night, I brought my wife and -daughter together and, to assure myself of the state of mind of the -latter, made use of this stratagem: ‘Loreto,’ I said, ‘Don Leodegario -has asked me for your hand; what shall I answer him?’ Immediately both -mother and daughter flushed as red as poppies and embraced each other. -Loreto then replied, ‘I am disposed to whatever you may determine.’ ‘But -do you love him?’ I asked. ‘Yes, I love him,’ she answered with downcast -eyes. With this, my friend, the mask fell and these things only remained -to be done, what I have done this morning and what I am doing now; to -wit: to intimate to Señor Ledesma that he desist from his aspirations -regarding a young lady who is to marry another within a few days, and to -tell you that Loreto’s parents, duly appreciative of the noble conduct -of the aspirant for their daughter’s hand, yield her to him, sparing all -explanations and steps unpleasant to one’s self-respect, and desiring -for you both, in your marriage relation, a life longer than Methuselah’s -and an offspring more numerous than Jacob’s.” - -“But, sir, Don Raimundo----” - -“Neither buts nor barrels avail.[19] You were marvelously -self-controlled, in believing yourself unworthy of Loreto, and in -refusing the happiness for which your heart longed; but I am also -master[20] of my daughter’s lot and I desire to unite her to you and -render you happy perforce. Come, friend Leodegario, there is no escape. -Dr. Román has promised to marry you in the church; I have ordered my -wife to announce the approaching marriage to her lady friends and I am -making the announcement to the gentlemen. Everyone cordially -congratulates me upon my selection of a son-in-law.” - - * * * * * - -With this object, he took up his hat and gloves. Just then he heard a -noise and voices in altercation in the corridor; the door opened -violently and Don Raimundo entered the room in his shirt sleeves and a -cap, his face pallid, and a breakfast roll in his hand. He entered, and -saying nothing to the Marquis beyond the words, “They pursue me,” ran to -hide himself under the bed, frightened and trembling. - -Seeing this, the young man seized a sword from the corner of the room -and set forth to meet the pursuers of Don Raimundo. - -He found, in the next room, Fabian, Don Raimundo’s servant, almost as -old as his master himself. With him were two porters, bearing no arms -more serious than their carry-straps. The Marquis having asked Fabian -what this meant, the faithful old servant took him to one side and said, -“The master has left home, against the doctor’s orders, and we have come -to fetch him, as my lady and her daughter do not wish him wandering -alone on the streets.” - -Without yet understanding the enigma, del Veneno further questioned -Fabian and learned that Don Raimundo, after some days of symptoms of -mental disturbance, had become absolutely deranged and, for a week back, -had been locked up in the house. - -Immediately the Marquis understood the conduct of his -father-in-law-to-be toward himself and a gleam of hope appeared. But, -moved by sympathy and without thinking of his own affairs, he tried to -persuade the old man to leave with Fabian, which, with great difficulty, -he at last did. - -He then hastened to the house of Madame Rodriguez, where he was received -almost gaily. “I was about to send for you,” said that lady, “because I -have most important matters to communicate to you. Perhaps you know that -the unfortunate Don Raimundo is hopelessly insane. Ah, well, Loreto and -her mamma, after cudgelling their brains vainly to explain why you never -whispered a word about the wedding, of which Don Raimundo only spoke, -as soon as they knew the old man was deranged, understood everything -else, and I have confirmed them in their conclusions. It is needless to -dwell upon the mortification the matter has caused them: you can imagine -it; but, fulfilling the commission which they have intrusted to me, I -tell you that they consider you free from all compromise and that they -are greatly pleased at the prudence and chivalry you have displayed in -so unpleasant and disagreeable a matter.” - -“But I am not capable,” impetuously exclaimed the Marquis, “of leaving -such a family in a ridiculous position. No, my dear lady, pray tell -Loreto that, decidedly and against all wind and sea, I _will_ marry her, -and that in the quickest possible time.” - -“Marquis! tempt not God’s patience! Now that a door is opened, escape by -it without looking back and consider yourself lucky. Moreover, although -Loreto babbles in Latin and writes distiches, she is not so stupid as -you think, and knows well how to take care of herself. She has -understood conditions perfectly and knows her advantage; a single glance -has sufficed to draw to her feet the grocer, more attentive and enamored -than ever.” - -“How, madam? Is it possible that Loreto would----” - -“Loreto marries Ledesma within a week.” - -Who can know the chaos of the human heart? The Marquis, who a moment -before had been supremely happy at the mere idea of his release, now -felt vexed and humiliated in knowing that Loreto so promptly replaced -him. His pupils grew yellow, his nervous attack returned and this, -without doubt, was all that prevented his hovering about Loreto’s house -as a truly enamored swain and challenging Ledesma to the death. - - - - -JUSTO SIERRA. - -[Illustration] - - -Justo Sierra was born January 26, 1848, at Campeche, the capital city of -the State of the same name. The son of a man known in the world of -letters, he early showed himself interested in literary pursuits. -Determining to follow the career of law, he was licensed to practice at -the age of twenty-three. Chosen a member of the Chamber of Deputies, he -promptly gained a reputation as an orator. He became one of the -justices of the Supreme Court. At present he is Sub-Secretary of Public -Instruction and has been connected with all recent progress in Mexican -education. For some years he was professor of general history in the -_Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School). Among his -works are _Cuentos románticos_ (Romantic Tales), _En Tierra Yankee_ (In -Yankee Land), and _México y su evolución social_ (Mexico and its Social -Evolution). In style Sierra is poetical and highly fantastic, with a -strain of humor rare in Mexicans. Our selection is a complete story from -_Cuentos románticos_. - - -THE STORY OF STAREI: A LEGEND OF YELLOW FEVER. - -Examining a volume, pretentiously styled _Album de Viaje_ (Album of -Travel), which lay amid the sympathetic dust, which time accumulates in -a box of long-forgotten papers, I encountered what my kind readers are -about to see. - -We were in the _diligencia_ coming from Vera Cruz, a German youth, -Wilhelm S.--with flaxen hair and great, expressionless, blue eyes,--and -myself. We had not well gained the summit of the Chiquihuite, when the -storm burst upon us. The coach halted, in order not to expose itself to -the dangers of the descent over slopes now converted into rivers. I -neared my face to the window, raising the heavy leather curtain, which -the wind was beating against the window-frame; it looked like night. -Above us, the tempest, with its thousand black wings, beat against -space; its electric bellowings, rumbled from the hills to the sea, and -the lightning, like a gleaming sword tearing open the bosom of the -clouds, revealed to us, within, the livid entrails of the storm. - -We were literally in the midst of a cataract, which, precipitating -itself from the clouds, rebounded from the mountain summit, and rushed, -with torrential fury, down the slopes. - -“I am drenched in oceans of perspiration,” said my companion to me in -French, “and I have an oven inside of me.” - -“Go to sleep,” I replied, “and all this will pass,” and, joining example -to counsel, I wrapped myself in my cloak and closed my eyes. - -Two hours later the tempest had passed, drifting to the west, over the -wooded heights. It was five in the evening and the declining sun was -nearing the last low-lying patches of cloud. The light, penetrating -through the exuberant vegetation, colored everything with a marvelous -variety of hues, which melted into a glow of gold and emerald. To the -east an infinite sheet of verdure extended itself, following all the -folds and irregularities of the mountain mass, flecked here and there -with the delicate and brilliant green of banana patches, and undulating -over that stairway of giants, became blue with distance and broke like -a sea against the broad strip of sand of the Vera Cruz coast. The road -which we had followed in our ascent, wound like a serpent among trees, -which scarcely distinguished their foliage masses amid the dense curtain -of vines and creepers, passed over a lofty bridge, descended in broad -curves to a little settlement of wooden buildings, and went, between -dense and tangled patches of briers, to confound itself with the bit of -railroad which led from the foot of the mountain to the port. At the -bottom of the picture, there, where the sea was imagined, were rising -superb cloud masses against whose blue-gray ground were defined the -black and immovable streaks of stratus, seeming a flock of seabirds -opening their enormous wings to the wind, which delayed its blowing. - -The German slept as one much fatigued and from his panting bosom issued -heavy sobs; he seemed afflicted with intense suffering; a suspicion -crossed my mind; if he should----! - -The branches of a neighboring tree projected, through an open window, -into the _diligencia_, which was standing still, until the torrents -should have spent something of their force. Upon a yellowed leaf -trembled a raindrop, the last tear of the tempest. Preoccupied by the -dismal fear which the condition of my companion caused me, I looked -attentively at that bead of crystal liquid. This is what I saw: - -The drop of water was the Gulf of Mexico, bordered by the immense curve -of hot coast and cut off, on the east, by two low breakwaters, crusted -with flowers and palms,--Florida and Yucatan, between which, in flight, -extended a long string of seabirds, the Antilles, headed by the royal -heron, Cuba, slave served by slaves. - -In the midst of the Gulf, surmounted by a yellow crown, which gilded the -sea around like an enormous sunflower which reflects itself in a flower -of water, arose a barren island of the color of impure gold, where -currents deposited the seaweeds like the wrappings which swathe Egyptian -mummies. Above that rocky mass the sun gleamed like copper, the rapid -moon passed veiled by livid vapors, and on days of tempest the -storm-birds described wide circles around it, uttering direful -croakings. A voice, infinitely sad, like the voice of the sea, sounded -in that lost island; listen, it said to me. - -The very year in which the sons of the sun arrived at the islands, there -lived in Cuba a woman of thirteen years, named Starei (star). She was -very beautiful; black were her eyes and intoxicatingly sweet like those -of the Aztecs; her skin firm and golden as that of those who bathe in -the Meschacebé; celestial her voice as that of the _shkok_, which sings -its serenades in the zapote groves of Mayapán; and her little feet were -as graceful and fine as those of Antillean princesses, who pass their -lives swinging in hammocks, which seem to be woven by fairies. When -Starei appeared one morning on the strand, seated on the red shell of a -sea-turtle, she seemed a living pearl and all adored her as a daughter -of god, of Dimivan-caracol. The priestess of the tribe prayed all night -near the sacred fire, in which smouldered leaves of the intoxicating -tobacco, and at last heard the divine voice, which resounded within the -heart of the great stone fetish, saying: “Kill her not; guard and -protect her; she is the daughter of the Gulf and the Gulf was her -cradle; God grant that she return there.” - -Starei completed her thirteen years and the old and the young, prophets -and warriors, caciques and slaves, abandoned their villages, temples, -and hearths, to run after her on the seashore. All were crazy with love, -but, if one of them approached her, the Gulf thundered hoarsely and the -storm-bird flew screaming across the sky. - -Starei sang like the Mexican _zenzontl_, and her song soothed like the -seabreeze which kisses the palms in hot evenings, and in laughing she -opened her red lips like the wings of the _ipiri_ and her bosom rose and -let fall in enticing folds, the fine web of cotton that covered it. Men -on seeing her wept, kneeling, and women wept also, seeing their palm -huts deserted and their beds of rushes chilled and untouched. - -One stormy night, the divine Starei returned to the village, after one -of her rambles on the shore, in which she passed hours watching the -waves, as if waiting for something; those who followed her determined to -heap high their dead and bury them; the aged who had died from weariness -in the pursuit of the Gulf’s daughter, the youths who had thrown their -hearts at her feet, the mothers who had died of grief and the wives who -had died of despair. - -It was a night of tempest; Hurakan, the god of the Antilles, reigned -with unwitnessed fury. The priests spoke of a new deluge and of the -legendary gourd in which were the ocean and the sea-monsters, which, one -day, broke and inundated the earth, and, terrified, they ascended to the -summit of their temple-pyramid and took refuge in the shadow of their -gods of stone, which trembled on their pedestals. The people of the -island, overwhelmed with terror, forgot Starei. All the night was passed -in prayer and sacrifice; but at daybreak, they ran, infatuated, to where -the song of the maiden called them. - -Starei was on the shore, seated on the trunk of one of the thousands of -palm trees, which the wind had uprooted and thrown upon the sand; upon -her knees rested the head of a white man, who appeared to be a corpse. -The beauty of that face was sweet and manly at once and the just -appearing beard indicated the youthfulness of the man, whom Starei -devoured with eyes bathed in tears. - -“Whoever saves him,” she exclaimed, “shall be my husband, my life -companion.” - -“He is dead,” solemnly replied an aged priest. - -“He lives,” cried a man, opening his way through the crowd. - -The astonished Indians fell away from him; never had they seen so -strange a being among them. He was tall and strong; his hair, the color -of corn-silk, rose rigidly above his broad and bronzed forehead and -dividing into two masses fell thick and straight upon his shoulders; his -eyebrows were two delicate red lines, which joined at the root of his -aquiline nose; his mouth, of the purple hue of Campeche wood, bent -upward at the tips, in a sensual and cruel arch. The oval of his face, -unbroken by even a trace of beard, did not so much attract attention as -his eyes, of the color of two coins of purest gold, set in black -circles. He was naked, but splendidly tattooed with red designs; from -the gold chain that encircled his waist hung a skirt, deftly woven of -the feathers of the huitzitl, the humming-bird of Anahuac. - -That man, who, many believed, came from Hayti, approached that which -seemed to be a corpse, without paying attention to the glance, of -profound anger, of Starei. He laid one hand upon the icy brow of the -white man, and, on placing the other to the heart, instantly withdrew it -as if he had touched a glowing brand; rapidly he tore open the -still-drenched shirt of linen, which covered the youth’s breast and -seized an object that hung at the neck. This object Starei snatched from -him. Was it a Talisman? When that singular man no longer had beneath his -hand that, which had, doubtless, been to him a hindrance, he placed it -upon the stilled heart of the shipwrecked stranger and said to the -maiden, “Kiss him on the lips,” and had scarcely been obeyed when the -supposed dead man recovered and, taking the piece of wood from Starei’s -hand, knelt, placing it against his lips and bathing it in tears. It was -a cross. - -“Adieu, Starei,” said he of the eyes of gold; “yonder is the hut of -Zekom (fever) among the palms; there is our nuptial couch; I await you -because you have promised.” - -The daughter of the Gulf could not restrain a cry of anger at hearing -the words of the son of Heat; she approached the Christian, clasped his -neck in her arms and covered his mouth and eyes with kisses. “No! no! -leave me, thou loved of Satan,” cried the youth, trying to release -himself from the beautiful being. Starei took him by the hand, led him -to her hut, and said to him, in expressive pantomime, “Here we two will -live.” - -Then her companion replied in the language of those of Hayti, which was -perfectly understood in Cuba: - -“I cannot be thy husband; I will be thy brother.” - -“Why not? Who are you?” - -“I am from far, far beyond the sea. I come from Castile. With many -others, I arrived, some months ago, at Hayti, and knowing that this, -your isle, had not been visited by Christians, we desired to visit it, -but were shipwrecked in the fearful tempest of last night and I was -about to perish, when thy hand seized me amid the waves and brought me -to the shore.” - -“And why do you not wish to be my husband?” - -“Because I am a priest and my god, who is the only god, orders his -priests not to marry; he orders us to preach love. I come to preach it -here, but not the love of the world,” added the Spaniard, sighing. - -“This cannot be; it is not true,” replied the island woman, with vigor, -“remain here with me in my hut, and we will be the rulers of the island -and our children will be heirs of all.” - -“I will be thy brother,” replied the missionary. - -And the Indian woman left, weeping. In the way she met Zekom, who fixed -his terrible yellow glance upon her. - -“Comest to my hut, Starei?” he asked her. - -“Never,” she answered firm and brave. - -“We will be the rulers of all the islands of the seas and our children -will be gods on earth, because we are children of the gods; the Gulf -begot you in a pearlshell; the glowing Tropic begot me in a reef of gold -and coral.” - -Starei paused; she was upon the summit of a rock, from which the whole -coast was visible. - -“Look,” continued Zekom, “this will be our kingdom.” And before the -fascinated eye of the daughter of the Gulf there was spread out a -surprising panorama. In the midst of an emerald prairie, a _cu_ or -_teocalli_ reared its high pyramid of gold, which shed its light around, -even to the distant horizon. Over that gleaming plain were prostrated -innumerable people with fear depicted on their faces. Genii, clad in -marvelous garments, discharged upon these people, innumerable flaming -arrows, the touch of which caused death. And upon the summit of the -_cu_, she stood erect, as on a pedestal, more beautiful than the sun of -springtime. The daughter of the Gulf remained long in silent ecstasy. - -“Come, Starei,” murmured Zekom in her ear, “tomorrow I await thee in my -hut.” - -Starei departed thinking, dreaming. When the new day dawned, she saw the -Spaniard, hidden in the forest, kneeling, with his eyes turned -heavenward. At seeing him, the Indian maiden felt all her love -rekindled; she threw herself, anew, upon him and clasping him within her -arms, repeated: - -“Love me; love me, man of the cold land. I will adore thy god, who -cannot curse us because we fulfil his law, the law of life. Come to my -nuptial hut; I will be thy slave; we will pray together and I will be -as humble and as cowardly as thou; but love me as I love you.” - -“I will be thy brother,” replied the missionary, pale with emotion. - -“Cursed art thou!” said Starei, and fled. - -The priest made a movement, as if to follow her, but restrained himself, -casting one sublime glance of grief toward heaven. - -Again, through all that night, the Gulf thundered frightfully. At break -of day, Zekom and Starei issued from the nuptial hut, but as the maiden -received the first rays of the sun in her languid eyes, they lost their -luminous blackness like that of the night and turned yellow with the -color of gold, like those of her lover. He cast a stone into the sea and -instantly there appeared, in the west, a black pirogue, which neared the -shore impelled by the hurricane, which filled its blood-red sails. - -“Come to be my queen,” said Zekom to the daughter of the Gulf and they -entered into the bark, which instantly gained the horizon. - -Then the missionary appeared upon the shore, crying: - -“Come, Starei, my sister, I love thee.” - -The silhouette of the pirogue, like a black wing, was losing itself in -the indistinct line where the sea joins the sky. Starei had joined -herself in marriage to the devil. - -And the voice which resounded, sad and melancholy, from the rock, -continued--this is the centre of the domain of Starei; from here her -eternal vengeance against the whites radiates. The missionary died soon -after, of a strange disease, and his cold body turned horribly yellow, -as if from it were reflected the eyes of gold of Zekom. Since then every -year Starei weeps for him, disconsolate, and her tears evaporated by the -tropic heat poison the atmosphere of the Gulf, and woe for the sons of -the cold land. - -The raindrop fell to the ground; the coach proceeded on its way, and I -turned to glance at my friend; he was insensible; a livid, yellow hue -was invading his skin and his eyes seemed to start from their orbits. “I -die, I die, oh, my mother,” said the poor boy. I did not know what to -do. I clasped him in my arms trying to sooth his sufferings, to give him -courage. We reached Cordoba. The poor fevered patient said: “Look at -her--the yellow woman.” “Who? Is it Starei?” I asked him. “Yes. It is -she,” he answered. - -It was necessary for me to leave him. On arriving at Mexico I read this -paragraph in a Vera Cruz paper: “The young German, Wilhelm S., of the -house of Watermayer & Co., who left this city in apparent health, has -died of yellow fever at Cordoba, R. I. P.” - - - - -VICTORIANO SALADO ÁLBAREZ. - -[Illustration] - - -Victoriano Salado Álbarez was born at Teocaltoche, in the State of -Jalisco, September 30, 1867. He studied law in the _Escuela de -Jurisprudencia_ in the city of Guadalajara, taking his title of -_Abogado_, on August 30, 1890. He has long been engaged in journalistic -work, serving as editor of various periodicals. For three years past he -has lived in the City of Mexico and has represented the State of Sonora -in the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress. He is also -professor of the Spanish language in the _Escuela Nacional -Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School). He is a member of the -Mexican Academy. - -In literature, Señor Álbarez stands for the careful and discriminating -use of pure Spanish, and for the treatment of truly Mexican themes in a -characteristically Mexican way. He is an uncompromising antagonist of -the present tendency, in Mexico, to copy and imitate the “modern” (and -quite properly called “decadent”) French writings. His _De mi cosecha_ -(From My Harvest) is a little volume of reviews and criticisms, in which -he assails this modern school and pleads for a sane and truly national -literature. _De autos_ (From Judicial Records), is a collection of -tales, original and reworked. His largest work so far in print is _De -Santa Anna á la Reforma_ (From Santa Anna to the Reform), an anecdotal -treatment of that period of the national history. His latest work, _La -Intervencion y el Imperio_ (The Intervention and the Empire) is now -being published in Barcelona, Spain. It is of similar character to the -preceding, but deals with the time of Maximilian. The two first parts of -this, _Las ranas pidiendo rey_ (The Frogs Begging for a King) and -_Puebla_, are in press as this notice is being written. - -Our selections are from _De autos_ and _De mi cosecha_. - - -DE AUTOS. - -In the village of Huizache, on the twentieth day of February, one -thousand nine hundred, having received the accompanying summons, we went -to the place known by the name of _Corral de Piedra_, situated about one -kilometre distant, and held an inquest upon the body of a man about -twenty-two years of age, tall, dark, with a light down on his upper lip, -with black hair, eyebrows, and eyes; he showed, in the precardial -region, an opening produced by the entrance of a bullet, which had its -hole of exit in the left scapula, and another wound, produced by a -sabre, in the forehead, the wound measuring eleven centimetres in -length, by one centimetre in breadth, the depth not being ascertainable -for lack of suitable instruments for its examination. With the body were -found a red serape sprinkled with blood, a leather pouch containing -cigarettes, twenty-two cents in copper, twenty-five cents in silver, a -copy of the religious print known as the _anima sola_, and a -recommendation signed by Manuel Tames, of Guadalajara, in which the good -character of a person, whose name cannot be made out, is attested. After -the inquest, it was ordered that the corpse should be buried in the -village cemetery, after first being exposed to public view, clad in the -garments in which it was found--which are white drill pantaloons, calico -shirt, sash, sandals, a palm hat--for possible recognition. Near the -spot, where it is supposed that the deed was committed, a piece of a -sabre was found, which is believed to be one of the weapons used in the -attack. - -Thus stands the record, signed by the Alcalde, and the other witnesses, -as, also, the citizen, Gregorio López, practising physician, forty years -of age, married, citizen of a neighboring town, there being no licensed -physician in this jurisdiction. No autopsy was ordered, there being no -suitable instruments for making it. - - * * * * * - -On this date appears a complainant, who after being duly sworn, says -that she is named Damiana Pérez, married, without vocation, seventy -years of age, native and inhabitant of Guadalajara; that the corpse here -present is that of her son, Ignacio Almeida, twenty years old, -carpenter, son of deponent and her husband Pedro Almeida; that said -mentioned son died by the police force of this place, the matter -occurring as follows: That for some time past the said mentioned son -maintained honorable relations with Marta Ruiz, resident in the same -house with the complainant in Guadalajara, which house is the -_alcaiceria_[21] called _La Calavera_, that, as the parents of the Ruiz -girl unreasonably opposed the relation of the lovers, Ignacio arranged -to carry the girl away, which he did, coming to this village, where he -proposed to work at his trade; that the deponent, being acquainted with -the whole matter, and having gained consent of the parents of the Ruiz -girl, who is a minor, desired to legalize the marriage and, for that -purpose, had come to Huizache, where she learned that Ignacio had been -put in prison and that he had afterward been killed; that this is all -that she has to declare and that Don Juan Cortes, his employer, Don -Manuel Tames, and many others who knew him can testify to the good -character and conduct of her son. - - * * * * * - -This same day, appears a witness, who stated, after the customary oath, -that he was named Antonio Vera, married, fifty-five years of age, native -of Ixtlan, and now chief of police of this place; that the body present -is that of a person, who yesterday morning was sent to him by the -municipal President, to be conducted to the capital of the district, -accused, if he does not remember wrongly, of vagrancy, disorderly -conduct, and abduction of a girl, who accompanied him; that, as is -known, these accusations were made to the Señor President by Señor Don -Pedro Gómez Gálvez, owner of the Hacienda de San Buenaventura, who also -made complaint against the now defunct, that he had lost from one of his -pastures two horses, which were there enclosed, one of them being known -by the name of _El Resorte_, and the other being called _El Jaltomate_, -as well as twenty pesos in money, and other objects which had -disappeared from the general store on his place; that, this morning at -dawn, he commanded his subordinates that they should saddle and mount -their horses, which they did, and lead the prisoner, who walked bound -with cords, between them riding in two files; that on reaching the place -known as _Corral de piedra_, the now defunct, who had succeeded in -loosening his cords, on account of the darkness, tried to escape, crying -“_Viva la libertad de los hombres_; chase me, if you wish,” for which -reason, those who accompanied the deponent, discharged their arms -against him who was escaping, ceasing their attack when they saw that -the prisoner fell dead; that Almeida, in attempting to escape fired two -shots, of which one pierced the hat worn by one of the police and the -other imbedded itself in deponent’s saddle; that he did not know how the -prisoner could have secured the revolver, nor where he threw it when he -ran; that he was equally ignorant as to how the body received the gash -which it showed, as none of his subordinates used his sabre against the -accused. - -The declaration having been read, he approved it, not knowing how to -sign his name. - - * * * * * - -(Similar declarations of the four auxiliaries.) - -Thereupon the coroner was shown a gray hat, with brim and crown pierced -by a shot, apparently of a fire-arm, and a cowboy’s saddle with signs of -a bullet shot in the horn. - - * * * * * - -On the twenty-fourth of February appeared a witness, who, being duly -sworn, stated that she was named Marta Ruiz, unmarried, sixteen years of -age, without vocation, native and inhabitant of Guadalajara; that she -knew Ignacio Almeida, with whom she had lived in illicit relations for -six months, having before been in honorable relations with the purpose -of contracting marriage; not succeeding in their desires, on account of -the opposition of deponent’s parents, they agreed to run away together, -intending to marry later; that, arriving at this place, and being -without work, Almeida sought and secured it at the Hacienda de San -Buenaventura, situated a half league’s distance from here; that, at -first they lived there content; but that, soon, the Señor Don Pedro -Gómez Gálvez, owner of that place, began to pay attention to her, urging -her to abandon Almeida, and that she resisted; that Don Pedro was -angered and threatened her to incriminate her lover, which he afterward -did, since, about two weeks later Almeida was taken prisoner, without -deponent’s having succeeded in seeing him meantime; that it is false -that Ignacio had a pistol, and, more so, that he had shot at anyone; -that she knows that the hat and the saddle (given in evidence at the -inquest) are shown in all the cases similar to this, to prove that they -were pierced; but that said marks are ancient, as she had been told -that, in the inquest held two years ago on the death of Perfecto -Sánchez, they were in evidence; that three days since, on the death of -her lover being known in San Buenaventura, the Señor Gómez Gálvez came -to her and said “Now, ingrate, you see what has happened. You may blame -yourself for this.” And, that then he attempted to embrace her and when -deponent resisted him, the Señor Don Pedro ordered that they should put -her off the place, which was done without permitting her to remove her -possessions. - -The declaration having been read, she approved it, not knowing how to -sign her name. - - * * * * * - -On the fourteenth of June, when it was known that Señor Don Pedro Gómez -Gálvez was there, the personnel of the court went to the house of said -person, for the purpose of interrogating him. After the affirmation -prescribed by law, he stated that he was married, forty years of age, -native of the Hacienda de San Buenaventura and inhabitant of -Guadalajara; that he knew Ignacio Almeida, carpenter, who worked on his -place for the space of six months; that, finally, having lost various -animals from San Buenaventura, as well as money and other things, and -having suspicion that the thief might be Almeida, he had informed the -Municipal President, who ordered the arrest of the criminal; that he -knows the said Almeida was killed by his guards, when attempting escape, -at the place called _Corral de piedra_, and that he shot a pistol at the -said policemen; that he does not know Marta Ruiz, nor has ever made love -advances to her, nor was this the motive of his denunciation of Almeida, -but the desire to recover the property, which he had lost. - - * * * * * - -On this date, the preceding deponent was confronted with the witness -Marta Ruiz (who was brought by force from her house), on account of the -discrepancies found in their statements. The Ruiz woman, greatly -excited, said to Señor Gálvez, “You demanded my love and told me, if I -gave you no encouragement, you would incriminate Ignacio.” The Señor -Gómez Gálvez replied to the Ruiz woman, “It is false: I do not even know -you.” - -It was impossible to proceed further in the matter, as the Ruiz woman -could not reply, having suffered a nervous attack; the investigation was -therefore held as closed; the presiding Judge, the Alcalde, and the -witnesses signed the records. - - * * * * * - -Huizache, July 1, 1900. No grounds for proceeding against any specific -person, having resulted from the investigation, these records may be -placed in the archives. It is so ordered. Thus decreed the first -constitutional Judge, acting in accord with the assisting witnesses. - - -FEDERICO GAMBOA. - -If I must confess the truth, Don Federico Gamboa was not agreeable, as a -writer, to me. His book, _Del Natural_, seemed to me the effort, not -always well sustained, of a beginner of promise; his _Aparencias_, I -considered a translated and adapted novel, after the fashion of the -dramas and comedies which formerly were “adapted” for the Mexican stage; -his _Impresiones y Recuerdos_, in which the author describes and -discusses the time when he smoked his first cigarette, the color of the -eyes of his first sweetheart, the ferrule with which his teacher -punished his boyish pranks, and other equally interesting matters, made -on me the impression of an immense exhibition of personal vanity, in -which the writer announced his _res et gesta_, with the gravity with -which a Goncourt or a Daudet might make known what he had done in life. - -Thus, then, his new book, _Suprema Ley_, surprised me agreeably, -constituted a revelation,--of a truthfulness so admirable, so vivid, so -passional, so full of that well-founded realism, which does not permit -a book to remain on the shelf of the bookseller, but places it upon the -table of the reader and in the memory of the lover of the beautiful. - -If one did not see, at the close of the volume, the dates on which it -was begun and concluded, he might believe that it had sprung forth -complete, a spontaneous improvisation, a work of the instant, in which -neither art, nor trammels of execution, nor imperfections of detail had -had a part. - -In the novel there is not a needless character, nor a useless incident, -nor a single page which does not contribute to the completing of the -action and which has not a direct relation to the plot. Even the -descriptions, in which our novelists are prodigal to the degree of -piling them up indiscriminately, are in _Suprema Ley_, only different -modes in which the subject is impressed by reality. In Gamboa’s work, -Belen, the Theatre, the Alameda--especially the Alameda--perform the -part of the chorus in Greek tragedy. - -The characters are enchantingly real, to the degree that, after reading -the book, we feel that we have encountered, seen, and spoken with the -actors. Ortegal is a degenerate, whom we all know; Clothilde is a fallen -woman with a mask of sanctity, a profligate, who entered the world for -man’s undoing; Berón, Holas, even the Comendador and Don Francisco are -the very breath of life, are full of enchanting and noble realism. - -One given to seek similarity between the old and the new would claim a -likeness between Dr. Pascual, the learned man of the Rongón Macquart and -the poor court writer, between Clothilde of Zola and the Clothilde of -Gamboa, between the first night which the lovers spent united and the -first night of Laurent and Therese Raquin, between the servant whose -type Gamboa barely sketches and the Juliana Conseira de Eça of Quieros. -These similarities may or may not exist, but no charge can be made -against Gamboa on account of them; he painted reality and the other -novelists painted reality, and nothing resembles itself more closely -than truth. - -Gamboa does not possess what I will call the epic faculty, that is, the -faculty of describing external nature, as Delgado for instance; as -little does he have, as Campo, the privilege of retaining, in memory, -phrases and gestures; nor does he possess a vein of humor, as these -writers and as Cuellar; he is, before all and beyond all, an analyst, a -dissector of souls who sees to the bottom of hearts, who seeks the lust -that dishonors, the meanness that kills, the hatred that causes horror. -For this reason, in my opinion, he will never be popular, while his -luckier fellows will gain proselytes and friends as long as they write. - -This is not saying that his book lacks attractive characters. Prieto is -a well depicted jester, Chucho an admirably cut figure, Don Eustaquio, -though somewhat melodramatic and somewhat out of place in that -collection of beings of flesh and bone, is the providence which, dressed -in jeans and working in clay, is brought in to give some outlet from the -tangle; but, above all, the family of Ortegal is of the most delicate -and tender which has been here described. Lamartine and Daudet might -well have drawn the picture, if Lamartine and Daudet had dedicated -themselves to painting Mexican types of the humbler class. - -There is no doubt that the world of Gamboa is, as that of Carlyle, a -heap of fetid filth, shadowed by a leaden sky, where only groans and -cries of desperation are heard; but, as in the terrible imagination of -the British thinker, flashes of kindliness bringing counsel and -resignation, cleave the sky of this Gehenna. - -In fine, _Suprema Ley_ is a great success, a success which compensates -for many failures and, by it, Señor Gamboa has placed himself among the -first Mexican novelists--not, indeed, first of all, because for me, -Delgado and _Micros_ hold yet a higher place. - - - - -IRENEO PAZ. - -[Illustration] - - -Ireneo Paz was born at Guadalajara, on July 3, 1836. His father died, -when Ireneo was a child, leaving the widow in poverty. When a boy of -thirteen years, he began his studies at the _Seminario_, laboring for -his support throughout his course. By diligence and earnestness, he made -an excellent record, gaining the respect and esteem of teachers and -fellow-students. Graduating from the _Seminario_ in 1851, he took his -baccalaureate in philosophy at the University in 1854, and was licensed -as a lawyer in 1861. In his youth he wrote verse “as a tree sprouts -leaves.” Identifying himself with the liberal party, he soon became -prominent in politics. He was also a Captain in the national guard. -During this period he published _El Independiente_ (The Independent), -_El Dia_ (The Day), and _Sancho Panza_. - -When the Imperial forces, in 1863, took possession of Guadalajara, -Ireneo Paz withdrew to Colima, where he was editor of the Official -Periodical of that State, and Magistrate of the Court of Justice. A year -later, the approach of the Imperialists forced him to abandon these -offices. He was with the Federal forces of the coast until their rout at -Zapotlan, when he was one of the three to arrange the terms of -capitulation with General Oroñoz. He was kept under surveillance at -Guadalajara, where he, nevertheless, dedicated himself to the Republican -cause, establishing _El Payaso_ (The Clown), which vigorously combatted -monarchical ideas, with audacity and satire--replacing it later by _El -Noticioso_ (The Well-Informed). Maximilian himself was impressed by the -little sheet and ordered that a full set should be secured for him. On -the occasion of an operatic triumph, at Guadalajara, by the prima donna, -Angela Peralta,--Ireneo Paz gave vent to some democratic sentiments, -which led to his arrest and imprisonment on November 12, 1866. His stay -there was brief, as the Republican forces gained possession of the -town, one month later. With the full re-establishment of the Republic, -he was appointed in 1867 Secretary of State for Sinaloa. A few months -later, he was again actively interested, against Juarez, in favor of the -ideas of Diaz. The opposition failed and Paz was again in prison, this -time in Santiago Tlaltelolco; he was later transferred to La Députacion. -During his eleven months in prison, he vigorously assailed the Juarez -regime in the popular anti-administration journal, _El Padre Cobos_ -(Father Cobos). After his release, he continued his attacks in newspaper -articles, in popular clubs, and in the secret plottings preceding the -revolution known as La Noria. Notwithstanding all the efforts against -him, Juarez was re-elected in 1871, but shortly died. Ireneo Paz was -active in the revolution of La Noria and in that of Tuxtepec, four years -later--supporting Diaz on both occasions and suffering imprisonment -twice. - -The mere list of the books written by Ireneo Paz is too long for quoting -here. Many of them are historical novels dealing with Mexican themes. He -has written too much for all of it to have great literary merit, but he -is widely read and well known. His style is often tedious and prolix, -but many interesting, and even thrilling, passages occur in his works. -He has a quiet and dry humor and, sometimes, keen satire. His _Algunas -Campañas_ (Some Campaigns), is practically a history of events in which -he himself has participated. Our quotations are from it. In poetry Paz -ranges from satire to love, from humor to philosophy. - -Ireneo Paz has long lived in the City of Mexico, where he has been a -member of Congress, in both houses and a Regidor. He has been, and is, -editor of _La Patria_ (The Fatherland). He has been president of the -_Prensa Asociada_ (Associated Press) and of the _Liceo Hidalgo_. He was -a Commissioner from Mexico to the World’s Columbian Exposition, and as a -result of his visit to our country wrote _La Exposicion de Chicago_ (The -Chicago Exposition). - - -THE AGREEMENT OF EL ZACATE GRULLO. - -In an hacienda, situated on the Autlan road, with an obscure name, -which, nevertheless became famous in the annals of the period, we, the -troops under command of the Generals Anacleto Herrera y Cairo, Antonio -Neri and Toro Manuel, including a whole regiment of officers and some -few common soldiers, pulled ourselves together, though truly in a -pitiable state. - -The name of this afterward celebrated hacienda deserves special -mention--_El Zacate Grullo_. - -At the hacienda of El Zacate Grullo we planned to impart some -organization to those forces, the scanty remnants of what had been the -Army of the Centre. It was agreed that, for the time, they should bear -the name of the United Brigades. But, promptly, this other question had -to rise--who was to command them? - -The regular leaders at once fixed their eyes upon the valiant and -sympathetic General Herrera y Cairo; but the chief obstacle to his -taking command was in the great preponderance of irregulars. Would Rojas -and his companions submit to the command of a man of fine manners and -good education? The next thought was of Rojas or of Julio García; it was -certain that two State Governors would not place themselves at the -orders of the former, even though he had the greater forces, -particularly as he had, among the French, the reputation of a bandit, -for which reason they had declared him an outlaw and had proposed -pursuing him and treating him as other bandits. Don Julio had the -friendship of all and possessed qualities, which connected him with both -of these opposite factions. He had been a companion of Rojas, he -understood pillage, and he also knew how, at the proper time, to assert -his dignity as a public man, rising above his antecedents; but no one -gave him credit for military ability. That Don Julio was a sort of bond -of union between the two leaders mentioned, served for nought then, in -that emergency. - -But to continue with the facts. - -The Generals Herrera, García and Rojas, assisted by Aristeo Moreno, who -was the secretary of the first and the very intimate friend of the -last, passed the whole day in private conference. I supposed, and my -supposition was later confirmed, that Rojas had refused to permit my -presence in that council. - -A general order was issued, that after the six o’clock roll-call, all -the leaders and officers should present themselves at the lodgings of -General Rojas, in order to be informed of what had been decided in the -council of generals. - -We all hastened to the meeting, hoping that from the discussion had -flashed out the ray of light so much needed in escaping from the -difficulties, in which we were entangled. Rojas occupied the centre of a -table placed at one end of the main saloon of the hacienda. At the sides -were Generals García and Herrera y Cairo, and at the end, near six -candlesticks with lights was Aristeo Moreno, surrounded by papers. I do -not know whether because the candles were of tallow, or because of the -state of agitation in which our spirits were, we observed that the faces -of those at the table appeared extremely pale. - -When the hundred and more officers, of the grade of Lieutenant and -upward, of which the United Brigades boasted, were gathered together in -the hall, we observed that five hundred _galeanos_ surrounded the -hacienda house. We were, then, to deliberate under pressure of five -hundred bandits, who could pulverize us at the least signal from their -chief. - -Rojas solemnly said: “Mr. Secretary, read the agreement which we have -made.” - -Aristeo Moreno read the considerations of that abortion, which -terminated with the following articles: - -Article 1. The undersigned solemnly bind themselves, under oath, to -defend the Republic against all intervention, battling, if need be, -until death. - -Art. 2. All those who do not approve the present compact, showing -themselves indifferent to the national defense, will be considered -enemies and shot. - -Art. 3. Those who, in any manner whatever, shall be unfaithful to the -Republic, and shall make alliance with the Empire, shall be shot. - -Art. 4. Populations where the Republican forces are not received with -rejoicing, open hospitality being refused, shall be burned and their -inhabitants shall be compelled to fight as common soldiers or to be -shot, according to the gravity of their offense. - -Art. 5. All prisoners taken from the enemy, of whatever category they -may be, will be immediately shot, without the necessity of personal -identification. - -Art. 6. All individual property becomes the property of the United -Brigades; consequently all who refuse to furnish rations, fodder, -money, or whatever else may be demanded, shall be shot. - -Art. 7. All who compose the United Brigades are free to sign this -agreement or not, but once having signed it, he who does not support it, -or who shall commit the crime of desertion, shall be shot. - -Given in the Hacienda del Zacate Grullo, etc. - -When Aristeo Moreno had finished reading, General Rojas with a voice -apparently calm, but with the black rings about his eyes unusually dark -and deep, a certain sign that he was breathing out hatred and that bad -sentiments animated him, said, addressing those of us who were in the -hall: - -“That is what I and my companions have sworn to sustain. Those who are -in accord with the plan may come to sign it. Those, who are not, are -free to ask for their passports.” - -The profoundest silence reigned. - -“Does no one wish his passport?” he asked. - -And as an equal silence reigned, he said in a voice less abrupt: “Very -well, let them come to sign.” - -Some started to the table in order to sign, but as others vacillated or -remained near the door, Rojas spoke again: - -“No one can leave the hacienda, unless accompanied by one of my aides, -after he has signed. That is the order I have given the guard which is -watching the doors.” - -In fact, the _galeones_ were watching the door from the hall to the -corridor, that of the street, and all the other exits; there seemed no -possible means of escape without placing one’s signature to the shameful -document. Nudgings with the arms, joggings with the feet, and words said -so low that they seemed rather the buzzing of a fly, were the only -protests which worthy and honorable leaders, there present, dared make. - -Rojas signed, and his secretary who was an insignificant Indian, signed; -Herrera y Cairo followed, his secretary, Aristeo Moreno signing beside -him; General Julio García was called and I felt a shiver run through me -from head to foot, because I ought to follow him as his secretary, and, -no less, the secretary of the republican government of Colima.... In -that moment of supreme anxiety, I felt it the height of folly to -publicly oppose the signing of that infernal abortion, which would be -the same as to provoke an undesirable quarrel in which the probabilities -were that we who were decent men, being few, would perish at the hands -of the bandits, who were many. Fortunately three copies had to be -signed; Don Julio wrote slowly and I had time to climb, unobserved, -through a small window, which opened from the hall into the inner rooms -of the hacienda, which served us as lodgings, where I arrived, greatly -agitated, and, promptly undressing, went to bed. As a precaution, which -served me well, I bound a white cloth around my head and surrounded -myself with medicines. - -Scarcely had I done all this, when an adjutant entered my room and asked -if I were there. - -“What is wanted?” I asked him. - -“The generals need you.” - -“Tell them to excuse me; my head aches terribly and you see that I am -lying down.” - -“Are you not coming to sign?” he asked. - -“No,” I replied, rolling myself up in the bed. - -“Why?” - -“Because I do not wish to dishonor myself, even more in the eyes of my -fellow-patriots than in those of the enemy.” - -“Then you believe we have done badly in signing it?” - -“Yes, sir; very badly.” - -“Then you will not sign it?” - -“No, sir.” - -“But, what shall I say to Rojas?” - -“That he may order me shot.” - -“Very well,” he said and withdrew, annoyed. - -Three copies were signed, one for each general, and when the act was -concluded my room was filled with leaders and officers, who desired to -know my opinion about that absurd agreement. I said to them all that it -was unworthy and that I would not sign it. - -Some said that there ought to be an uprising, others desired to fly, -though they saw this pact, like an anathema, which would follow them -everywhere, a sentence of death. Death and dishonor if they fulfilled -it; death and dishonor if they did not. There were some who wept with -rage. I attempted to console them as well as I could and gradually they -departed until, finally, only Crispin Medina and Juan Valadéz were with -me. - -“Did you sign?” I asked them. - -“Unfortunately yes, but only on one of the copies.” - -“On which?” - -“On that of Don Julio.” - -At that moment, he entered. - -“Are you still talking of that unhappy document?” he asked us. - -“Yes, sir.” - -“And what do you think?” - -“We think, General,” I said to him, “as every worthy man, who respects -himself and who desires an honorable career in politics, must think; -this agreement is absurd because impracticable; it is hateful because it -wars against all the good sentiments of mankind; and it is monstrous, -immoral, iniquitous, because it orders destruction and slaughter.” - -“You are right,” he answered. “I ought not to have agreed so far with -Rojas, and for my part, the compact is broken from this moment.” - -He drew forth his copy and tore it to pieces. - -The next day on taking up our line of march, Rojas said to me: “You not -only do not sign yourself but breed disaffection among the other -leaders.” - -I frankly told him my opinion, which he heard with interest. When I had -finished he added: - -“I am not shooting you now, because Julio and his people forbid it.... -But, we will see later.... We have a lot of unsettled accounts.” - -He cast a sinister glance at me and then left, urging his horse to a -gallop. - - - - -JOSÉ LÓPEZ-PORTILLO Y ROJAS. - -[Illustration] - - -José López-Portillo y Rojas was born at Guadalajara May 26, 1850. His -father was an eminent lawyer and teacher in the law school. Son of -wealthy parents, the young man was given every opportunity for study, -first in his home city and later at the capital. His final studies in -law were made at Guadalajara, where, in 1871, he became _licenciado_. -His parents then gave him an opportunity for foreign travel. He visited -the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, France and Italy, Egypt -and the Holy Land. On his return he published his _Impresiones de viaje_ -(Impressions of Travel). Since that time Señor López-Portillo y Rojas, -has practiced law, represented his state in the National Congress, -taught in the law school and done important work in journalism. His -writings are always clear, direct and marked by a literary style of -unusual grace and purity. Besides his scattered articles and the book -already mentioned, he has edited--with notable scholarship--the -interesting _Cronica de Jalisco_ (Chronicle of Jalisco) of Fray Antonio -Tello, and written a novel, _La Parcela_ (The Piece of Land). It is from -this last work that our selections are taken. - -In _La Parcela_ the author presents a sketch of characteristic country -life. The novel has for purpose the illustration of the strong, almost -morbid, affection for land felt by the native proprietor. - -Don Pedro Ruiz is a wealthy and progressive _haciendero_ of pure Indian -blood. He is noble-hearted, thoughtful, shrewd, intelligent and a man of -resources. A widower, he is devotedly attached to his only son, Gonzalo, -a fine young fellow of twenty-three years. The owner of the adjoining -property, Don Miguel Diaz, has been a life-long friend, and between them -exists the artificial relation of _compadre_. His wife, Doña Paz, is a -cousin of Don Pedro; there is one daughter, a beautiful, gentle but -rather weak lady named Ramona. The two young persons--Gonzalo and -Ramona--have grown up like brother and sister; their childish affection -has ripened into love, and at the beginning of the story they are -engaged to be married. Don Pedro is by far the richest man of all the -district. Don Miguel is also wealthy, but has seen with some jealousy -and dissatisfaction the constantly increasing difference between their -fortunes. This dissatisfaction, encouraged by a scheming lawyer, leads -to his claiming a worthless bit of property on the borders of his and -Don Pedro’s lands. The value of the land is but a trifle to either -party; but Don Pedro, sure that right is on his side, refuses to yield -to the unjust demands of his neighbor. - -Don Miguel at first seizes the property by force, but is dispossessed by -Don Pedro’s tenants. The bitter feeling aroused by this incident leads -to a battle between two tenants of the two masters; both of the fighters -are thrown into jail. Carried into the courts, the boundary line is -infamously determined by a corrupted judge; a higher court reverses the -decision and Don Pedro is supported in his rights. Furious with anger, -Don Miguel seeks to injure his neighbor. Through a wicked scheme plotted -with the local authority, the tenant of Don Pedro, who has been in jail, -is assassinated. A great dam, which holds back a mighty volume of water -for driving mills, irrigating the property, etc., is damaged by Don -Miguel’s orders, with the idea that the inundation will ruin the -property of Don Pedro. - -Throughout these various exciting incidents--seizure, dispossession, -law-suit, appeal, assassination and diabolical destruction--the love -affairs of the young people are naturally more or less disturbed. Having -carried things to such a climax, the author brings about a sudden -reconciliation and the story ends. - - -EXTRACTS FROM LA PARCELA. - -“Good morning, _compadre_ Don Miguel,” said Don Pedro as soon as he -recognized the horseman who arrived. - -“Good morning, _compadre_,” replied the newcomer, checking his horse and -dismounting. - -The servant who accompanied him quickly dismounted from his horse and -went to hold, by the bridle, that of his master. Then he bent to remove -his master’s spurs. - -“No, Marcos,” said Don Miguel to him, “do not remove them. We shall go -on at once.” - -“How! _compadre_,” said Don Pedro; “then you will not remain to take -breakfast with me?” - -“No, not today, because I must arrive at Derramadero before 6, and it is -yet distant.” - -“That is true, _compadre_; but there will be another day, will there -not? Pass in, pass in. Do you desire that we sit down here on the bench -to enjoy the fresh air, or shall we go into the office?” - -“We are very well here. Do not trouble yourself.” - -“Very well. What are you doing so early?” - -“It does not please me to visit. I come to treat of our business.” - -“What business?” - -“That which we have pending.” - -“But we have nothing pending.” - -“How not? The Monte de los Pericos.” - -“What about it?” - -“I want you to decide whether you will yield it to me.” - -“Why do we speak of this? A thousand times I have told you that the -Monte is mine.” - -“That is what you say, but the truth is that it belongs to me.” - -“_Compadre_, it is better that we talk of something else; leave this -matter. Are we not friends?” - -“We are so; but that is not to say that you may deprive me of my things. -What sort of friendship is that?” - - * * * * * - -In fact, at a very short distance from where the group found itself, -there were seen down below, through the shrubbery, the four men of Don -Miguel. They were stretched out on the ground upon their blankets, and -in the shadow of the trees conversed without suspicion, with their eyes -fastened on the house of Palmar, which was visible from there. Their -horses, unbridled and fastened to the trees, were pasturing on the green -herbage. - -“But man! How good was that blow?” said one of the _mozos_. “It still -gives me delight.” - -“What a surprise for the poor _montero_!” exclaimed another. - -“What will Don Pedro say?” - -“He will have to calm his rage.” - -And they laughed with their mouths open. Just then they heard the tramp -of horses, and turning their heads saw Don Pedro, followed by his men. -They tried to rise to draw their pistols. - -“Do not stir!” said Don Pedro in a terrible voice, “or we will shoot -you.” And he and all his held their arms ready. - -There was nothing to be done. The servants of Don Miguel comprehended -that all resistance was useless. - -“Master, we are taken,” said one of them. - -“Do you surrender at discretion?” - -“There is no way to avoid it.” - -“Then give up your arms. Look, Roque, dismount and take away from the -gentlemen their rifles, their pistols, their sabres and their cartridge -boxes.” - -They gave up with trembling hands the pistols and the cartridge boxes. -The rifles were hanging from the saddles of their horses. - -“Now,” continued Don Pedro, “tie their hands behind them and help them -to get onto their horses. Distribute their arms so that their weight -shall not be too great, and let each one take the halter of a horse in -order that he may lead it.” - -All was done with the rapidity of lightning. The men of Don Pedro -strongly tied the hands of the conquered behind their backs with the -satisfaction of the tyrant characteristic of all conquerors. One of the -captured, Panfilo Vargas, was vexed and said: - -“They gain advantage because they are more than we. Tie quickly for some -day you will know who I am. We are _arrieros_, and we go through the -country.” - -“Shut your mouth, braggart!” said Don Pedro angrily. “How many were you -this morning? There were six of you to take the poor _montero_, who was -alone and not expecting anyone. As for you, you were left here to guard -and had the obligation of not permitting yourselves to be surprised. You -have lost because you are fools. Who told you to be careless? They shall -know that I do not sleep nor neglect mine own. Let him who jokes with me -be careful.” Then he turned to Oceguera, saying to him, “Where is the -_montero_ hidden?” - -“Here am I, master,” replied the _montero_ himself, appearing from the -bushes. - -“I was looking for you to order you to attend to your business in your -place. Have no fear. I shall send reinforcements. Do not move from here -until I tell you.” - -“Very well, sir.” - -“Let us go then,” ordered Ruiz. And the party put itself on the road to -the _hacienda_, just as the sun began to set and the great shadows from -the mountains were extending themselves across the valley. - - * * * * * - -Roque passed the _arroyo_ and entered the camp. Some time passed and he -did not return. Panfilo began to believe that he did not come to the -appointment because he was afraid; but soon he heard a whistle at the -foot of the slope and saw Roque on horseback, striking his chest -arrogantly, as if saying: - -“Here you have me at your orders.” - -On seeing him Panfilo hastened to meet him. - -“Now yes,” said Roque, “here I am ready to serve you and give you all -you want.” - -“Well, you know what I want; that we shall have a good tussle.” - -“It seems to me that here we have a good place.” - -“Well, then, do me the favor,” exclaimed the impetuous Panfilo, drawing -a revolver. - -“Listen to me,” said Roque, drawing his also; “if really you desire that -we shall kill each other, don’t let us create an excitement. Put away -your pistol and take your machete.” - -“I will do what I please. Are you afraid of the noise?” - -“It is you who should be afraid of the noise, lest they hear us and come -to part us. If we do not succeed at the first shot nothing will come of -it, for they will come and separate us. Is that perhaps what you want?” - -“You are right,” replied Panfilo. “Well, then, there is no time to lose. -Let us get at it.” - - * * * * * - -Soon they found themselves on foot, lame, covered with dust, pale, -horrible. They seemed not men, but fierce beasts. - - * * * * * - -The contest could not prolong itself for the combatants were exhausted. -They could scarcely move; but they did not wish to yield, since although -strength failed, anger more than abounded. - -Chance finally settled the contest. When Roque raised his arm to deal a -blow with his machete upon Panfilo’s head, the latter by a quick -movement tried to parry the blow, to save his head from being cleft -open. But he parried it, not with his blade, but with the haft, and the -heavy weapon of his antagonist severed his smaller fingers. With this -there fell to the ground the sword and the amputated fingers; that -tinged with blood, these livid and convulsed. - -“Now, yes, I have lost,” exclaimed the wounded man with a gesture of -grief. - -“Yes, friend,” replied Roque, filled with consternation. “What need was -there of this?” - -“It is a thing of bad luck; who may gain may lose. You have proved me a -man; you cannot deny that.” - -“How have I to deny it? The truth is that you have much courage. Let me -bind your hand with this cloth to see if the blood can be staunched.” - -Saying this Roque wrapped the hand with his great kerchief. - -“Where do you desire that I take you?” he asked. “You cannot go alone.” - -“Go and leave me; do not let them take you prisoner,” replied Panfilo. - -“Though they take me to jail, I will not leave you.” - -“Well, then, help me to get near to Chopo. When we are within sight of -the hacienda save yourself.” - -“Wherever you wish; let us walk along.” - -They started. Panfilo advanced with difficulty; he murmured and suffered -with thirst. He stopped frequently to drink in the _arroyos_ and Roque -gave him water in the hollow of his hand. - -“Friend,” he said, “it gives me sorrow to see you so injured.” - -“There is no reason; I am to blame.” - -“It had been better that we had not fought.” - -“Why do we speak of this? There is now no remedy.” - -The wounded man was presently unable to walk. Supported on Roque’s arm -he progressed very slowly. Finally it was necessary to carry him like a -child. Thus they came in sight of Chopo. Panfilo did not wish Roque to -carry him farther. - -“May God reward you,” he said to him. “Leave me upon this stone and -hurry away that they may not come to seize you.” - -“Though they seize me, how can I leave you alone?” - -“Every little while the _peons_ and their women pass; they will carry me -to my house. Go.” - -“Good friend, since you wish it, I will go; but one thing is necessary -first; without it I will not go.” - -“What?” - -“That we may henceforth be good friends.” - -“With much pleasure--from now on.” - -“Do not hold hatred toward me and forget the things that have happened.” - -“Why should I hold hatred?” - -“Because of what I did.” - -“You did it like a man; it needs naught said.” - -“Then give me the good hand.” - -“Here it is,” answered the wounded man, extending his hot left hand. -Roque grasped it with feeling. - -“God grant that you may soon be well,” he murmured. - -“With a maimed hand,” added the wounded man, his pallid and dry lips -contracted in a sad smile. - -“God’s will be done,” said Roque, sympathetically. - -At this moment a whistle was heard from near by. - -“Indeed it is time that you go,” said Panfilo. “Do you not see that -persons are coming?” - -He could scarcely speak; he was on the point of losing consciousness. - -Roque hesitated. - -“How leave you?” he said. - -“Go, if you desire that we be friends; if not, remain.” - -“Then I leave.” - -“Farewell, and run fast that they may not overtake you.” - - * * * * * - -So urgent and impassioned was his request that the girl was moved in -spite of herself. To quench the sympathy which rose in her bosom she -recalled to herself that he who thus spoke was the nominal friend of -Gonzalo, and on remembering this she felt that for her budding pity was -substituted vexation and indignation. Thus this harsh reproach escaped -her lips: - -“And you call yourself the friend of Gonzalo.” - -Had a thunderbolt fallen at the feet of Luis it would not have produced -a more prostrating effect. - -“Gonzalo is my friend, in fact,” he gasped. - -“Not if he knew himself,” insisted Ramona, ironically. “If it were so -you could not have spoken as you have just done.” - -“Then are you yet in relations with him?” - -“You know it very well.” - -“No,” replied the unfortunate youth, pale as a corpse; “I give you my -word as a gentleman that I did not know it. My father told me some days -past that he knew these relations were broken; only for this reason have -I forced myself to reveal to you my love. I may endure the fact that you -do not love me, since such is my lot, but I cannot be willing that you -should consider me disloyal. I desire that you should esteem me even if -you may not love me.” - - * * * * * - -The youth in the meantime had arrived at his home, mounted his horse and -immediately sallied forth to the house of Luis. He sent a message to his -former friend by a servant, begging him that he would come outside, -which Medina did immediately, well bred and polite as he was. - -“Gonzalo!” said Medina, extending his hand. - -“I come to arrange with you a very serious matter,” replied our youth, -without extending his. - -“You have me at your orders,” replied Luis, exchanging the friendly -expression of his face for another more severe. - -“Only we cannot do it here. Mount your horse and take your arms. I await -you.” - -And by the contraction of his features and the pallor of his -countenance, Medina knew that Gonzalo had come on a warlike errand, and -was not slow in divining what was the cause of his annoyance. Without -replying a single word he entered the house and soon reappeared and -mounted his horse, with a pistol at his belt and a sword at the saddle. -“Here you have me,” he said to Gonzalo. - -“Come,” replied Gonzalo, “let us go to the field.” - -Together they took the street which most quickly would bring them to the -end of the village, and went a considerable stretch outside the town. -Leaving the road they went into the meadows and stopped at a little open -space formed by four immense _camichines_, which, extending over the -space, their broad, flat and immovable boughs projected a dense and -heavy shadow around. - -“I have brought you to this spot,” said Gonzalo, stopping his horse, -“because it is retired and no one may see or hear us. It is unnecessary -to enter into explanations; you know how gravely you have offended me, -and in what way. That is sufficient. Now I desire that you shall give me -satisfaction with arms in hand.” - -“Although I am not valiant, I have some dignity and never will I yield -before an enemy who challenges me,” answered Luis, tranquilly; “but I -have one remark to make to you, which is, that my conscience does not -reproach me with having done anything to offend you.” - -“Yes, I was expecting that you would deny responsibility for your acts. -Anything else was impossible.” - -“Moderate your words. Do not let us pass to a serious occasion without -some rational cause.” - -“Pretext,” cried Gonzalo; “you do not desire to fight. You are a -coward.” Saying this he placed his hand upon his pistol for a moment. -Luis was livid and acted as if he would follow his example; but he -stopped and left his arm in place, recalling his promise to Ramona at -the ball. - -“One moment,” he said, “only one moment; if you are a man and not a -brute, as you seem to be, you must first hear me. By my mother’s honor, -I assure you that I am disposed to fight; but not before we understand -each other. What is the matter?” - -“You love Ramona. Deny that if you can.” - -“God save me from committing such a vile act! It is true.” - -“You have courted her.” - -“That is true.” - -“You danced with her the night of the _fiesta_.” - -“That also is true.” - -“You made a declaration of love to her.” - -“I cannot deny that.” - -“You are a shameless being, because you knew she was my sweetheart and -that we were engaged to be married.” - -“That is not true.” - -Gonzalo threw upon Luis a glance of infinite contempt on hearing these -words. - -“You are a wretch,” he cried, “and it is necessary that I punish you. -Defend yourself.” - -“Assassinate me if you wish; I will not draw my pistol until you have -heard me. Come, dispatch me; here you have me,” and he exposed his -breast to his challenger. - -“There is nothing to do but hear you in order to quit you of every -excuse for your cowardice. Speak, and hurry, for I am impatient to -punish you.” - -“I call God to witness that I believed your love relations with Ramona -were broken. Don Miguel had told my father that with absolute certainty. -Every one in Citala asserted the same. You did not come to town, and as -your father and Don Miguel were quarreling it seemed to me probable and -I believed it. For this reason I made love to Ramona. Had it not been -for this I would have remained silent, as I have been silent for so -many years, for my love to her is nothing new. I have always had it. -Ramona informed me of my error, and accused me of perversity and -treason, as you have just done. She herself can tell you how astonished -I was when I learned that it was not true that all was ended between you -and that you still loved each other. It caused me infinite grief. Now,” -pursued the youth, “that you have heard me, I have done, and am at your -orders.” - - * * * * * - -The caravan for some leagues journeyed silently, but seeing that the -storm approached, the sergeant neared himself to one of the soldiers and -said to him in a low voice: - -“The storm is coming; here is a good place.” - -“Yes, we have already gone six leagues and there has not been one person -on the road.” - -“Well, then, let us at once to what we have to do; then let us get back -to the pueblo.” - -“That is what I say,” responded the soldier. - -“Go on then, you already know what you have to do; see if you can do it. -I pretend not to look; I will fall behind.” - -“I go then to see what happens.” - -The soldier drew near to Roque. - -“What cheer, friend? How goes it?” - -“Diabolically, friend. How do you expect it goes with me with these -cords?” replied the prisoner. - -“Yes, it must go very unpleasantly. Why don’t you smoke a cigarette?” - -“Friend, impossible. Don’t you see that I go tied?” - -“‘Tis true, I see it with pity. Now you will see what we will do. At -last the sergeant has fallen behind and will not see us. I’m going to -untie you to give you a little rest.” - -“But will not the sergeant see it? Thank you much; but will he not see?” - -“Have no concern; anyway it is very dark.” - -And the soldier leaned over and untied the knot which held Roque’s -hands. - -“May God reward you, friend,” said he, stretching his arms in front of -him; “I was very tired. But tell me, why are your hands so cold? Are you -chilled?” - -“Nothing is the matter with me. The air is damp. But, take a cigarette. -Here is the light;”--and he reined up. - -The unsuspecting Roque rolled the cigarette and lighted it by that which -the soldier was smoking. They then went on, talking. After talking for a -little time of indifferent matters the gendarme said: - -“Man, friend, I sympathize with you and it pains me that you are going -to jail.” - -“There is no alternative, friend! Some day I will be out. Anyway the -jail does not eat people.” - -“Good; but it is always atrocious to be a prisoner, and God knows for -how long. Why not escape. I will dissemble and you will run. I will -fire into the air and you race along into the country and no one can -find you.” - -“I am afraid they will shoot me.” - -“Don’t be afraid; I will help you.” - -The unfortunate man fell into the snare. - -“Do you say it seriously? Are you not fooling?” - -“I advise you in earnest. All you need is courage.” - -“But you tell me when.” - -“Right now--race along before the sergeant comes.” - -Roque gave rein to his horse and urged it with quick strokes of his -heels against its flanks, but he hardly succeeded in making it take a -slow and measured gallop. He had gone but a few steps when a report -sounded just behind him and a bullet passed, grazing the brim of his -_sombrero_. - -“Zounds,” he murmured, “what a scare this man has aimed to give me.” - -And instinctively he tried to place himself in the field at one side of -the road to hide himself in the brambles. But there was no time for -anything. For all his urging the horse would not do better than his -little gallop. He heard the nearing band of horses and various shots -sounded. Then he understood that he had fallen into a trap and that he -was about to lose his life through it. Impelled by the instinct of -self-preservation, he tried to dismount to seek shelter; but it was too -late. The gendarmes were upon him, firing with their rifles. - -“Jesus help me! Mother receive my spirit!” he said in thought, and fell -penetrated by the bullets. Two had entered at the shoulders and emerged -at the chest, and the third entered at the neck and destroyed the skull. - - * * * * * - -What was it which the terrified Diaz then saw? Upon a plank, borne by -four peasants, tied down with coarse cords, was a corpse, rigid and -yellow. The miserable clothing which covered it, coarse cotton drawers -and shirt, was soaked with blood, principally upon the breast, where the -abundant and coagulated flow had darkened and become almost black. Above -the forehead, in the black harsh hair, matted and stiffened with blood, -were visible clots of red, mingled with whitish bits of brain. The livid -face, turned toward heaven, bore an expression of anguish which was -heart-rending; the eyes half opened and glazed fascinated by their -glance; and the opened mouth, dark and full of earth, seemed to exhale -inaudible groans and complaints. - -The _gendarmes_ surrounded the body and the curious crowd followed it. -In the midst of the group a woman walked, weeping and uttering cries of -grief. She carried a babe at her breast--bearing it with her left arm, -and as well as she could led with her right another boy about four -years old, barefoot and tattered. - -“Roque! my Roque! my husband,” cried the miserable woman. “They have -killed my husband! They have killed him! Children! My little ones! Poor -little ones! They are orphans! What shall I do? What shall I do? What -shall I do? Ay! Ay! Ay!” - -In passing close to Don Miguel she saw him and said to him, sobbing: - -“Señor Don Miguel, do you see? They have killed my husband! That is what -is there on the board! What shall I do Señor Don Miguel? What shall I -do? Ay! Ay! Ay!” - - - - -MANUEL SÁNCHES MÁRMOL. - -[Illustration] - - -Manuel Sánches Mármol was born in the State of Tabasco. He displayed a -literary tendency very early, and, while still a student, collaborated -in such literary reviews as _La Guirnalda_ (The Garland), _El Album -Yucateco_ (The Yucatecan Album), and _El Repertorio pintoresco_ (The -Picturesque Repertoire). His first essays in the field of fiction were -_El Misionero de la Cruz_ (The Missionary of the Cross), and _La -Venganza de una injuria_ (The Revenge of an Injury). - -At the time of the French Intervention, he joined the Republican forces. -He acted as Secretary of State of Tabasco, and aroused the patriotism of -his fellows by his writings. He founded _El Aguila Azteca_ (The Aztec -Eagle), a paper devoted entirely to the national cause. During this -period of disturbance he was a Deputy to the State Legislature, -Secretary of Colonel Gregorio Méndez, and his Auditor of War. The course -of local events during this stormy period was largely directed by him. -(See p. 148.) - -After the war had passed, Manuel Sánches Mármol continued his activity -both in politics and letters. He has been Magistrate of the Supreme -Court of the State of Tabasco, several times member of the Federal -Congress, Director and Founder of the _Instituto Juarez_ of Tabasco. He -has constantly contributed to those periodicals which represent the most -pronounced liberal ideas--as _El Siglo XIX_ (The Nineteenth Century), -_La Sombra de Guerrero_ (The Shade of Guerrero), _El Radical_ and _El -Federalista_. He represented Mexico in the second Pan-American Congress, -which met in the City of Mexico in 1902. He is now Professor of History -in the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ (National Preparatory School). - -Besides his early essays in fiction, he has written the following -novels--_Pocahontas_, _Juanita Sousa_, and _Antón Pérez_ (titles -untranslatable, as being personal names). He has now in press _Piedad_ -(Mercy), and is preparing three others. - -Our selections are taken from _Antón Pérez_, a novel dealing with the -French Intervention in Tabasco. Antón Pérez was the son of poor but -decent parents, but was _pardo_ (“_dark_”), a fact certain to be to his -disadvantage, no matter what abilities he might possess. Having gone -through the public school of the village, he attracted the attention of -the priests, who had newly come to his town, the villa of Cunduacán. -Their school was below Antón’s needs but the good priests taught him -privately to the extent of their ability. He was their trusted protege -and they encouraged him to high hope of a brilliant future. In the -parochial school for girls was Rosalba del Riego. She was ugly and -unattractive but of good family and aristocratic connection. She adored -the big boy, handsome as a picture, who studied with the priests and -aided them in all ways, occupying quite a lofty place in their little -world, but her admiration merely irritated him, as it called down upon -him the laughter of the little school boys. When Antón had learned all -that his patrons could teach him they tried to secure for him a -scholarship at the _Seminario_, at Merida; the effort appeared likely to -be successful, but it failed;--a youth with more powerful influence -behind him securing the appointment. The blow was keenly felt by the -poor and ambitious boy. Soon after, his father died, the old priests -left for new fields, and two old aunts who have been to him in place of -mother depended upon him for support. The brilliant dreams of a career -faded; life’s realities fell upon the boy. He was equal, however, to the -demands and earned enough for their modest needs. He was busy, useful, -respected, and content. He was lieutenant of the local guard and had -some notions of military drill and practice. Meantime his little -admirer, Rosalba, completed her education outside the State, and, at -last, returned transformed. Beautiful as a dream, brilliant, educated, -she was immediately the centre of attraction in the town. Antón was -madly in love with her. But her childish admiration had given place -to--at least, apparent--aversion. She insulted him openly on account of -his inferior position. Rosalba had a maiden aunt, Doña Socorro -Castrejón. Just as Antón’s love for Rosalba arose, Doña Socorro saw the -boy, appreciated his handsome face and fine bearing, and was smitten -with an infatuation, which had only a passionate and unworthy basis. She -was a scheming and intriguing woman but not without charms and -brilliancy. When events were in this condition the French Intervention -took place. The foreign forces appeared in Tabasco; the governor, -Dueñas, traitorously yielded the capital; later, pretending to arrange -for local defense, he scattered the forces, so that they could present -no obstacle to the invader. One after another these separated bodies of -the national guard suffered defection. The Doña Socorro was an ardent -imperialist. Antón, at Cunduacán, was lieutenant of the yet loyal -forces, under Colonel Méndez. One day, while Colonel Méndez and his -brother, Captain Méndez, were breakfasting with a friend Doña Socorro -influenced Antón to “pronounce,” with his soldiers, in favor of the -Empire. His deed was represented, in brilliant colors to the young -commander of the Imperial forces, Arévalo, and Antón was rewarded. He -was the confidential friend and trusted adviser of Arévalo, and, for a -time, all their plans prospered. But Gregorio Méndez and Sánchez -Magellanes gathered a handful of loyal men and made a stand. A battle -was fought, the invading forces looking for an easy victory; they met -with dire defeat. Antón Pérez was mortally wounded. The death of the -youth, who had sacrificed loyalty, patriotism, and honor, to a foolish -love, is depicted in dreadful detail. - - -EXTRACTS FROM ANTÓN PÉREZ. - -Doña Socorro was somewhat irritated, that the compliment for which she -sought was not given, and that only her niece was praised. She -controlled herself, however, merely saying inwardly--“what a fool the -boy is! he must be waked up.” Then she said aloud: - -“Well, since you do not care to stay, feel that I am interested in your -welfare. I should like to see you at my house, tomorrow.” - -“I will be there, madam,” Anton answered respectfully. And slipping, -timidly, through the crowd of guests, directing a furtive glance at -Rosalba, he went to his work at the humble desk in Ajágan’s shop. - -But he could not keep track of the figures; sums and differences came -out badly; everything was topsy-turvy; seven times six was forty-eight -and five would not contain three. His head was in a whirl. That night he -could not sleep. - -In the morning, he performed his usual duties and at midday, his heart -high with vague, happy hopes, he went to his appointment with Doña -Socorro. - -He was expected. The lady received him with expressive signs of -affection, and seating him, said: - -“I have invited you here for your own good. You are poor; I wish to aid -you. Do not be ashamed; speak to me frankly. What are your resources for -living? Go into full particulars.” - -Antón lowered his eyes and turned his hat around and around in his -hands, until the lady again encouraged him: - -“Go on; don’t be brief. Speak! boy.” - -“Well then, lady,” answered the young man, hesitatingly, “I can’t say -that it is so bad; I earn my twenty-five pesos a month.” - -“And from whom?” - -“From what persons, you mean”--continued Antón, with somewhat greater -frankness,--“why then, Don Ascencio Ajágan gives me ten pesos because, -every night, I go there for a little while to make up his accounts and -to write a letter or two. Master Collado pays me five pesos for the -class in arithmetic, which I teach in the public school; another five, -the receiver of taxes, who scarcely knows how to sign his name, pays me -for balancing his accounts at the end of the month; and the other five -the town treasurer gives me for doing the same.” - -“That is not bad; but Collado and the collector pay you a miserable -price.” - -“The latter, perhaps, yes; but the other, no--he receives a salary of -barely twenty-five. As much as I earn.” - -“Ah, well! bid farewell to Master Collado and Ajágan, and the collector -and the town treasurer, and enter my employ. _La Ermita_ is wretchedly -cared for; mayorsdomos succeed one another and all rob me. You shall go -to _La Ermita_ as manager, with house and table, horses for your use, -servants to do your bidding--that is to say, as master, because you will -command there; the twenty-five pesos per month, which you now earn by -your varied labors, will continue to be paid you and in addition fifteen -per cent of the annual income of the place. I am making you not a bad -offer!”[22] - -“No, indeed, lady! I appreciate that it is more than liberal; but, I -cannot accept it.” - -“Why not?” asked Doña Socorro, thoroughly vexed. - -“Because, I must not abandon my good aunts.” - -“You need not do so. _La Ermita_ is only three leagues from here; a mere -nothing. You can come here in the evenings, Saturdays, to spend Sundays, -and Mondays you are at your duties again. Finally, in case they are not -satisfied, take them out to the place.” - -“They were not made for country life; still, for my good, they would -make the sacrifice. But there is another--an insuperable--difficulty.” - -“What?” - -“I do not understand rural affairs and one who controls should know what -he commands. I would not know where to begin; there would be neither -head nor foot, and you would gain nothing, with your unhappy -administrator.” - -“What I gain or do not gain, does not concern you; it is not your -affair. If you do not know rural affairs, I will instruct you, and, as -you are not stupid, you will be, within two months, more dexterous than -San Ysidro[23] himself. When shall we begin, come now?” - -“But, lady, I am sorry; I believe I will not go. Agriculture does not -attract me. The few studies I have made do not tend thither.” - -“Ah! You aim at a literary career, to some public office!” replied Doña -Socorro, sneeringly. - -“Do not make sport of me, lady; I know right well, that I shall never -fill the position of a general or a magistrate. You asked me to be -frank, and I frankly admit that I have my aspirations.” - -“Very good--what difficulty is that. Better and better. Go and fill this -position, save money, put yourself in contact with people of -consequence, and from _La Ermita_, you may go to be Regidor, or -something higher. You know well that Alcaldes, and even Jefes Politicos, -come from the country-places. What hinders?” - -“Really, lady, speaking plainly, the position does not attract me in the -least.” - -“H’m!--You are not telling me the truth; at least, you are concealing -something from me--something--what is the real cause of your refusal?” - -Antón maintained silence: the lady urged him. - -“Why are you not frank with me--who care so much for you?” - -“It is”--he stammered--“the truth is that just now, less than ever, do I -care to leave the town.” - -“Come, come, tell it all”--insisted the lady, piqued with lively -curiosity--“who is your sweetheart?” - -“Sweetheart?--No; indeed I would rather----” - -“Yes, indeed; who?” - -“I say she is not my sweetheart--Perhaps----” - -“Finish, man--perhaps what?” - -“She may come to be----” - -“And, who is the girl? Do I know her?” - -“Very well.” - -While Antón was silent, Doña Socorro thought over the riddle, and, after -some minutes, declared: - -“I’m sure I don’t know, child; give me a clew.” - -“She is your relative.” - -The lady passed over in her thought, to whom Antón could allude, and -could not imagine which one of her relatives, the poor and obscure youth -presumed to win. Suddenly, like a flash, came the remembrance of the -words, which he had pronounced when she invited him to remain at the -party; but it was a thing so unheard of, so unthinkable, that she dared -not mention the name, but desired to assure herself, indirectly, that -she was not on a false trail. - -“Was she at the party last night?” she asked. - -Antón replied by a nod of his head. The lady was confounded; her face -lengthened, her eyes rounded, her mouth opened, and she exclaimed: - -“Rosalba!--well, but, you are a fool!” - -Antón was stupefied; it seemed as if the ground sank under him and he -was raised into the air. Why, was he a fool? - -Doña Socorro saw the boy’s emotion and something like pity stirred -within her. Certain that, later, this senseless delirium would vanish, -she said to him: - -“Poor child! You will get over it. When you decide to accept my offer, -you know that I am here. Think well over it. I wish only your own good.” - -Antón, overwhelmed, could scarcely murmur a “thank you, madam,” rose -half tremblingly and walked away, with bowed head. - -Doña Socorro remained absorbed in reflection. “To think of it--but the -child aims high--to aspire to Rosalba--he is handsome--who would have -thought it--decidedly, he is a fool.” - - * * * * * - -Doña Socorro, attentive to what was passing in the Republican ranks, -prompt to aid the triumph of her cause, had displayed all the resources -of her astuteness to complete the demoralization of the remnants of the -brigade and to foment desertion. Her efforts were meeting abundant -success and in seeing the resources of war which had been grouped around -Dueñas, completely disorganized, she was greatly rejoiced. Not content, -however, with such signal successes, when she saw the companies of the -coast guard,--the most loyal to the Republic--evacuate the villa, to the -loyalty of which the Méndez brothers entrusted themselves for some -hours, she had an inspiration, truly worthy of her brain. She conceived -the idea of capturing the two officers, to offer to Arévalo, as a prized -trophy. How to realize it? It was not beyond her power--capable as she -was, of all in the domain of evil. - -There was Antón Pérez; Rosalba would be the incentive. - -“Paulina! Paulina!” she called, and a servant appeared. - -“Run, at once, to the barracks; ask for Lieutenant Pérez, and urge him, -from me, to come here immediately.” - -Pauline departed, encountered Antón, and gave the message; the -lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and replied, with evident dislike: - -“I will come presently: I am busy, now.” - -No more than five minutes had elapsed, when the servant returned with -new and more urgent summons to Antón, who displayed no more interest -than before, responding abruptly: - -“I will come.” - -Doña Socorro was dying with impatience; the moments seemed like hours to -her and she paced restlessly to and from the door anxious for Antón’s -coming; but, he came not. - -Tired of waiting, she resolutely entered her room, threw a _rebozo_ over -her shoulders, and went directly to the door of the barracks. Without -her having to announce herself, a soldier ran to give notice to the -lieutenant of the presence of the lady; this time, unable to escape, he -advanced to the encounter. - -Doña Socorro, plainly desirous of losing no time, threw aside her -natural pride, and without a word of reproach to Antón, said, with -affected surprise: - -“But, what are you doing! child? Now is your time.” - -“I do not understand, madam.” - -“Then you are not in this world. If you let this chance escape, farewell -to your hopes.” - -“But, I do not understand, madam.” - -“Ah! come now! then you no longer think of Rosalba----” - -“As God is my witness, madam; with greater desperation, now, than ever.” - -“Then, today is when you ought not to despair; today your hopes are -realized. Your fate is in your own hands.” - -“In my hands?” exclaimed the astonished youth. - -“In your own hands, boy; Rosalba will be yours.” - -“Where is she?” he asked yet more surprised. - -“Here in your barracks.” - -Antón believed Doña Socorro was trifling with him, but she, without -giving time for further surprises, hastened to explain herself. - -“You know that our party, the Imperialist, is composed of the best -people of the country. If you join it, you will come into contact with -the most elevated classes. Rosalba does not respond to your love for -sheer pride, not because she is not interested in you, not because she -does not love you--it is _I_, who tell this to you,--when she sees that -you are not the insignificant ‘_pardo_’ of the village but a personage -of consequence, or even of importance, she will herself make the -advances and will surrender herself to you. I tell you true. Come--now -or never! Place yourself in the first line, become the chief authority -in the town, and who knows what more.--Your happiness depends upon -yourself; it is in your own hands. Enter your barracks, ‘pronounce’ -yourself and your soldiers for the Empire, and that the blow may be -decisive, that you may at a single bound reach the greatest height, go -and seize the two Méndez brothers, who are breakfasting at the house of -Sánchez, make them prisoners, and you will gain the full favor and -protection of General Arévolo. Go! do not hesitate.” - -Doña Socorro had launched this speech at one breath, accompanying her -words with gestures and posturings which the most consummate -elocutionist might envy. - -Poor Antón felt his head whirl; he was taken by surprise and only -ventured this one objection: - -“Pronounce myself, yes; but capture my old chief, who has loved me well, -madam, that is too much! I have not the bravado for such a thing.” - -“But what harm are you going to do to him, innocent? Do you think he -runs any danger with Arévalo?” - -“Who can say that he does not?” - -“No one; no one. Perhaps he will catch them in arms on the field? No; on -the contrary, they will become great friends, and the two Méndez will -join our party also. Above all, it is to your interest to raise yourself -as nearly to Rosalba’s level as possible, to dazzle her----” - -“Very well, madam,” murmured Antón, with a trembling voice. - -Without further hesitation, he entered the barracks, spoke with the two -sergeants of the dwindled company, bade them form it, rapidly exchanged -words with his men, and, then, drawing his sword and facing the files, -cried out--his voice still trembling: - -“Boys! _viva el Imperio!_” (May the Empire live). - -“Viva!” (may it live)--one soldier answered. - -“Sergeant Beltran,” said Antón, “fifteen men with you to guard the -barracks; twenty-five, with Sergeant Federico, may follow me.” - -The order was carried out to the letter, and at the head of his -twenty-five men, Antón marched to the house, where the two Méndez -brothers were gaily breakfasting. - -At the moment when the colonel exclaimed, “Impossible,” denying Don -Vencho’s report, there was heard, on the walk in front, the sound of -guns, on falling to rest. - -“Sergeant Federico!” ordered Antón, “advance and order Colonel Méndez -and the officers who accompany him to yield themselves prisoners.” - -There was no necessity for the sergeant to enter, since Captain Méndez -rushed out at once, and standing, from the opposite sidewalk, with hair -bristling and eyes flashing, as if he were the personification of -indignation, burst forth in these cries, which issued in a torrent from -his frothing lips: - -“Bravo! Lieutenant Pérez! Thus you fulfil the oath of fealty, which you -swore to your flag! thus do you employ the arms which your country -placed in your hands for her defence! Traitors! traitors to your native -land! What do you seek here? What wish you, of us? Assassinate us! We -shall not defend ourselves. Lieutenant Pérez, complete your crime, -fulfil your part as assassins! Here, am I! let them kill,” and, saying -this, he stepped forward and drawing back the lapel of his coat, bared -his breast. “What delays them? Traitors! Assassins!” - -At that moment a soldier among those who heard the violent and insulting -reproach raised his gun. Antón Pérez saw it and drawing his sword, threw -himself upon the soldier, crying: - -“Lower that gun! The first man who attempts to aim, I will run him -through.” - -Captain Méndez continued: - -“I prefer death to the ignominy of finding myself in your company. -Traitors! Assassins!” - -“Assassins, we are not, my captain, that you have already seen,” replied -Antón. - -“I am not the captain of bandit-traitors, ex-Lieutenant Pérez.” - -“We are not traitors,” returned Pérez, “we desire to save our country, -from Yankee usurpation.” - -“To save it indeed! and give it over to the foreigner! noble patriots! -famous Mexicans!” continued Méndez. “Would that I had no eyes to behold -you! Would that I were a lightning-stroke to destroy you. Cursed race! -race of scorpions, who repay our country, our sacred motherland, by -stinging her to the heart. One last word, Lieutenant Pérez; in the name -of our native land, in the name of that oath of fealty, which you swore -to the flag, in the name of a man’s sacred duty, I implore you to fulfil -your obligations as a soldier, as a Mexican, as a man. Lay down those -arms which you are converting from sacred to infamous. Lieutenant Pérez; -worthy fellows of Cunduacán, _Viva la Republica_.” - -No one responded. - - * * * * * - -The moon, in its second quarter, shed a yellowing light through the -trees and impressed upon the night an infinite sadness. When the beams -of dawn came, that funereal light paled, until completely extinguished, -and the sky became tinted with a rosy flush, which kindled in measure as -the new day neared. A trembling of leaves agitated the branches at the -awakening of the birds, which after shaking themselves, took silently to -flight. Suddenly earth and trees appeared enveloped in dense fog, as if -a night of whiteness had substituted itself for that, which had just -ended. The fog, thinned little by little, until it seemed like heaps of -spider webs, piled one on another, through the elastic meshes of which -was seen a sun of polished silver. Suddenly the spider webs broke into a -thousand tatters, falling to the ground, converted into a tenuous rain, -and the day shone forth in full splendor. The trees gleamed in their -beauteous verdure, the flowers of vines and the morningglories opened -their chalices, sprinkled with dew drops, to the glowing and incestuous -kisses of their father and lover, the regal star of day. Meantime Antón -Pérez, in an agony, which seemed endless, lay at the foot of the -oak-tree, which, indifferent, spread forth its broad and abundant leaves -to the solar heat. - -In fact, Antón Pérez, braced between the roots of the tree, in the -immovableness of death, the life concentrated in his eyes, participated -in his own torture, like those guilty immortals, whom Alighieri’s -pitiless fancy created. Bloodless, annihilated, yet he felt himself -living. Who ever had seen the gleam of his eyes, would have known that -his conscience was accusing him. What implacable moral law had he -broken, that his punishment should be so horribly prolonged, by his -marvelous vitality? Was it because he had loved madly? that he had -aspired to raise himself to a sphere higher than that, in which he had -been born? that he had endured, perhaps disgracefully, the scorn and the -disdain of the human being whom he had worshiped? Why had he not -deserved Rosalba? Why had God made her so bewitching? _Where_ was his -sin? Perhaps that he had passed from the flag of the Republic to the -Imperial standards? And was he, perchance, the only one? Were not a -thousand distinguished Mexicans aiding and defending the new cause, -shown to be pleasing to Heaven, by the rapidity with which it had spread -and gained proselytes? Did not God’s ministers suggest it in the -confessional and, even, preach it in the pulpit? Was not that cause, -indeed, to be the savior of Mexico?--Where was his sin? Thus, in his -moments of lucidity, the unhappy condemned being thought, and then fell -into lethargies from which he again, presently, aroused himself. How -slow and tedious the passage of the hours! And the sun continued to -mount at its accustomed speed and, now, gained its greatest height. -Piercing through the leafy branches, its rays designed odd patches of -sunlight on the ground which every breeze complicated into fantastic -deformations. The nymph of light amused herself at her fancy, with such -sports. - -At one moment, Antón raised his gaze, and before him, perched upon the -pointed leaf of a _cocoyol_, found that he, at last, had a companion in -that loneliness; it was a buzzard, which looked at him fixedly, moving -his neck regularly, up and down, as one who meditates. The presence of -that living being caused Antón a vague sensation of comfort; that, even, -was much, at the end of so long and complete abandonment, to see in his -last moments that he was not alone in the world. He then fell into a -syncope,--condition which now came on more frequently and lasted, each -time longer, sign that his agony was nearing its end. On returning to -himself, he mechanically turned his gaze to the palm-tree and saw that -now there was not only one, but three, of the buzzards, which with the -same nodding movement of the neck, and with no less attention, looked at -him. A sinister and dreadful thought shot through his sluggish brain; -those birds were there, in expectation of his death, to devour him. -Then, a horror of death seized him; a shudder of dread passed through -his nerves, and he longed that his miserable existence might be -prolonged, with the hope that some human being might draw near and -discover him. The nervous disturbance, which that idea produced, -provoked a new unconsciousness. On recovery, he could see that not -three, but a considerable number of vultures had settled on the palm and -on the neighboring trees. He believed they might take him for already -dead, and to let them see that he was not, he attempted to raise and -move his left arm, which, with enormous effort, he succeeded in doing. -The scavengers seemed to understand their error since they looked at one -another, exchanging guttural croakings. But night,--last refuge to which -Antón trusted against the danger of being torn to pieces, while yet -alive,--showed no signs of approach. It was now his duty to preserve the -little remaining life. The vultures, on the contrary, ought to be -impatient to gorge themselves with the banquet which they had before -them, since others were constantly arriving, hovering, and settling, on -the neighboring tree-tops, where they formed moving spots of black. - -One, bolder than the rest, descended from the branch, on which he -rested, to the ground and, like an explorer, was cautiously approaching -Antón, who, divining, in his last gleams of lucidity, the purpose of the -bird, renewed the effort, which he had made before, and continued to -raise and, even, shake, his arm and to bend his undamaged leg, at the -moments, when the buzzard stretched out his neck to give the first peck. -The carrion-eater drew back his head and retreated a few steps, but did -not take to flight. Encouraged by this his companions descended, one by -one, from the tree and took possession of the space around, forming a -semi-circle at the foot of the oak-tree. - -Perhaps, through an instinctive respect to man’s superiority, felt by -other animals, even though seeing him helpless, the line of vultures -remained at a considerable distance from Antón and limited themselves to -contemplating him, nodding and stretching out their heads, and -repeatedly croaking. A Hoffmanesque fancy would have seen, in them, a -group of zealots in prayer, making reverence. - -But this did not last long. One of the vultures ventured to dash at the -head of Antón, who still had enough energy to guard himself against the -attack, raising his arm and striking the bird with his fist, so that it -returned to stand on the ground again, though without any sign of fear. -The effort Antón had made was so great that he fell into a new stupor. -The same vulture again raised himself, but not to dash directly upon the -dying man; he hovered a moment over his head and, then, hurling himself -upon Antón’s face, tore out, at a single clutch, his right eye. The pain -was so intense that the victim not only returned to consciousness but -gave a cry of agony, which echoed like the last shriek of one who dies -exhausted under torture. Yet, he could, by an instinctive sentiment of -preservation, turn his head, so that the left eye was protected by the -tree trunk. Then he felt that the crowd of vultures fell to tearing his -clothing, doubtless to discover his wounds, to commence there with -devouring him. So it happened. The shattered leg was the first to suffer -tearing by the beaks, which tugged at the already lifeless tendons and -muscles; his arm, though somewhat protected by the astrakan, which, -finally, with no little difficulty, the vultures ripped open, was not -long in suffering the same fate. Suddenly, Antón turned his face, which -bore a frightful expression of pain, for which he had no sounds to -express. A powerful beak had seized the anterior, branchial, muscle and -was pulling furiously at it. The involuntary movement was fatal to -Antón. Other vultures cast themselves upon the exposed face and dragged -out the left eye. The last suffering of the unfortunate was only -indicated by a convulsive trembling of all his members. He felt as if a -black pall, very black, heavy, very heavy, fell upon him and then there -came over him a sentiment of the profoundest joy--perhaps, that his -nerves could no longer carry a sensation to his brain. The mouth opened, -closed, and he lost himself, forever, in the night without end, in the -loving bosom of Mother Nature, who received the remains of that -organism, her creation, to decompose it into its component elements, and -then to distribute these, as the materials of other organisms, in the -endless chain of life. - -Meantime, that other night, which with the sun engenders time and, with -him, divides it, began to envelop the earth, and the carrion-eaters, -not accustomed to eat in darkness, abandoned Antón’s corpse and perched -themselves on the neighboring branches, to await the feast until the -following day. - - - - -PORFIRIO PARRA. - -[Illustration] - - -Porfirio Parra was born in the State of Chihuahua. In 1869, when he was -scarcely fourteen years of age, he was voted a sum of money by the State -Legislature, to take him to the City of Mexico for purposes of study. -From 1870 to 1872, he attended the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ -(National Preparatory School), where he stood first in his classes and -where his conduct was so exemplary, as to gain him state aid until the -time of his graduation. In 1871, entering the competition for the -Professorship of History in the Girls High School, he gained the second -grade, although three eminent historians were among the contestants. -Entering the _Escuela Nacional de Medicina_ (National Medical School), -in 1873, he maintained high rank there and took his degree in February, -1878. In March of that year, he was appointed Professor of Logic in the -_Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_. In 1879, by competition, he received -the Professorship of Physiology in the National School of Medicine, with -which he has been associated in some capacity ever since. In 1880, by -competition, he became Surgeon and Physician of the Juarez Hospital. In -1886, after a brilliant examination, he became a member of the _Academia -de Medicina de México_ (Academy of Medicine). In the _Escuela Nacional -de Agricultura y Veterinaria_ (National Agricultural and Veterinary -School), he has held chairs of mathematics and zootechnology. - -An alternate Deputy in 1882, he was in 1898 elected Deputy of the -Federal Congress, and has been re-elected until the present time. He was -made chairman of the House Committee on Public Instruction. In 1902 he -was named Secretary of the Upper Council of Education. Dr. Parra has -participated, officially, in several of the most important medical -congresses held in Europe during recent years, sometimes as a delegate -from his native State of Chihuahua, at others as delegate from the -Mexican nation. In 1892, he was elected a member of the Mexican Academy. - -Dr. Parra has written both in poetry and prose. Most of what he writes -is in scientific lines. Even in poetry he is a scientist, and in a -volume of his poems, we find odes to the mathematics and to medicine, a -sonnet to a skull, and poems on the Death of Pasteur, Night, Water. Of -very great importance is his _Nueva Sistema de Logica, inductiva y -deductiva_ (New System of Logic, Inductive and Deductive). He has -written one novel, _Pacotillas_, in which the life of the medical -student is depicted. It is from this work that we have drawn our -selections. - -López (Santa Anna), Robles (El Chango--“the monkey”), Albarez -(Patillitas) and Tellez (Pacotillas), are fellow-students in the School -of Medicine. They are friends but present four quite different types of -character. Santa Anna figures least in the story and attends most -strictly to business; Patillitas is a dandy, anxious to make feminine -conquests; El Chango drops out of school before he has completed his -course, toadies in politics, rapidly rising to importance as the private -secretary of a departmental minister, and marries great wealth. -Pacotillas, the hero, is an astonishing combination of strong and weak -qualities. Of lofty ideals, of great firmness in announcing and -supporting them, and of brilliant intellectual powers, he is cold, -morose, lacking in initiative, easily depressed, and procrastinating. -He smokes constantly and excessively and readily yields to drink. He -loves a beautiful and amiable girl and lives with her without marriage; -though he realizes the injustice this is to her, the injustice--excused -at the time by poverty--is never atoned for in his days of comparative -prosperity. Pacotillas and his beautiful Amalia suffer enormous trials -of poverty; Paco finally secures a position on the force of an -opposition paper. He antagonizes the government, is arrested and thrown -in jail, where he dies of typhus. The book is an interesting picture of -Mexican life, but it is a particularly difficult task to make brief -selections from it for translation. - - -EXTRACTS FROM PACOTILLAS. - -The next day the vigilant argus, accompanied by a faithful friend, was -at his post from nine o’clock in the morning. He was not on beat but he -warned his fellow policeman to pay no attention to what was about to -take place at the house, since it concerned a personage of consequence, -closely connected with the official world, whose plans it were best not -to disturb; that the gentleman did not ask something for nothing and -would not fail to reward him; that everything would go on behind closed -doors, and was really no more than a joke; that it concerned a private -matter, with no political bearings; that the woman living in the house -badly repaid him who supported her, and that he merely wished to scare -her and put her to shame. - -The policeman on the beat permitted himself to be convinced by Pablo’s -diplomatic arguments; he demanded, indeed, a guarantee that nothing -serious should take place, that there should be no fight, wounds, shots, -or other scandal. - -No, comrade, answered Pablo, it only concerns giving a thrashing to a -young fellow who is accustomed to enjoy women, whom other men support. -Put yourself in the place of the deceived man; what would you do? What -would any other decent man do, in such a case? Just what he is going to -do. I shall not compromise you. You see that I am also one of the -police-force. Further, this may help you, the gentleman we are helping -is in with the government, and he does not expect service for nothing. - -Completely convinced, the policeman agreed that, at a signal from Pablo, -he would walk slowly toward the Plazuela del Carmen, to see what was -going on there. - -The astute Pablo had arranged for two stout fellows of evil mien to meet -him at the corner _pulqueria_; they arrived at the place appointed at -half-past-nine carrying heavy cudgels as walking sticks. - -A little before ten the servant of Mercedes left the house; Pablo, who -had already made her acquaintance, overtook her and said: - -“Where are you going so fast, my dear?” - -“I am going far; I am taking a message to the Arcade of Belem and from -there to Sapo street, to the _socursal_.” - -“Does not my pretty one want a drop?” - -The pretty one did want a drop, entered the _pulqueria_, drank, -submitted to various pinches, and left. Pablo at once said to his -friend: “Run and call the General,” and he planted himself where he -could see the house. - -A little later poor Mercedes, who suspected nought of what was plotting -for her undoing, opened the windows and looked out. It was the signal, -arranged between her and Patillitas, indicating that there were no Moors -on the coast and that the happy lover might enter. He was not slow in -appearing, strutting pompously as if enjoying in anticipation the -pleasure he was about to have. He caught sight of his sweetheart, which -was equal to seeing the gates of paradise opening, saluted her with much -elegance and cautiously entered the doors of the court-yard, which were -ajar. - -“The fish falls into the net! how easy! how easy!”[24] murmured the -malicious Pablo, humming the accompanying tune in a low voice. - -A quarter of an hour had passed when, by San Pedro y San Pablo St., the -General was seen approaching, as grave, as correct, and as arrogant as -ever, smoking his unfailing cigar, without hastening his pace or -displaying the least emotion. - -As soon as Pablo saw him, he spoke to the policeman on the beat, who at -once walked slowly in the direction of the Plazuela, as he had promised. -Then Pablo summoned his assistants from the _pulqueria_ and all three -joined the messenger, who had been sent to call the General and who had -now returned; the whole party stopped on the sidewalk opposite Mercedes’ -house. - -The General, without quickening his pace, without looking at the men, -nor making any signal to them, had already arrived before the house. -When he had almost reached the gateway, the four men crossed the street -and, when he entered, they cautiously followed. - -López, with measured tread, crossed the court, followed by his men; he -turned to the left and knocked at the house-door, which was fastened. No -one responded, but noises of alarm were heard within, a sound as of a -person running and finding some piece of furniture in his way, a stifled -cry, and the murmur of troubled voices. - -The General knocked a second, and a third time with briefer interval and -with greater force. No one replied and now nothing was heard. The -General knocked for the fourth time and said, in his stentorian voice, -though without displaying anger or emotion: “Open, Mercedes, it is I.” - -“I am coming,” shrilly answered a woman’s voice, “I am dressing; I was -ill and had not yet risen.” - -The General waited with the utmost calm. No escape was possible; from -the hall one passed directly into the room, which was the scene of the -guilty love and which received light by a grated window, that opened -onto the _patio_ of the next house. The General, who knew all the hiding -places and the location of the pieces of furniture in the room, was -delighted, imagining the little agreeable plight of the student, who had -already, tremblingly, hidden himself under the bed. - -After ten minutes waiting, Mercedes, visibly pale with _chiquedores_[25] -on her temples, her head tied up in a handkerchief, and covered with a -loose gown, which she was still hooking, finally opened the door, smiled -at the General, and attempting to overcome her manifest uneasiness, -said: “Ah, sir! what a surprise!” - -“Good morning, madam,” said the General, abruptly entering the hall and -then the inner room, followed by his four men, and paying no attention -to Mercedes, who, following them all, exclaimed, each time more -afflicted: - -“What do you wish, sir? What are you looking for? Why have these men -come here?” - -Once in the room, the General stopped near the door, and, as he -expected, saw under the bed the coiled up body of the student who would -gladly have given his whiskers to be elsewhere. - -“Drag out that shameless fellow,” said the General to his men, “and beat -him for me.” - -“Señor, for God’s sake!” cried Mercedes. - -The four men obeyed the order. The unhappy student did not even try to -escape. One took him by the feet and dragged him out into the middle of -the room; the others began to discharge a hail of blows upon him, -distributing them evenly over the shoulders, back, seat, and legs of -that unfortunate, who squirmed upon the floor like an epileptic, -writhing, screaming, and howling, with a choked voice: - -“Ay! ay! they are killing me! ay! ay! help! Ay! ay! infamous fellows! -assassins!” - -Meantime the General looked on at that calamitous spectacle, without a -word; when the flogging seemed to him sufficient he exclaimed--“Hold!” -and then, addressing the man who had been flogged, added: “Be warned by -this experience and let the women of other men alone.” - -The maltreated Patillitas arose, hurled some insolence at the General, -and threw himself upon him with his fists clenched; the floggers started -to seize him, but the General said, “Leave him to me.” And, with the -greatest calmness, he allowed him to deal his inoffensive blow, and, -then, seizing his wrist, gave it such a wrench that the poor fellow -suffered more than from the beating, and, notwithstanding all his -efforts to the contrary, fell upon his knees before his conqueror, -howling with pain. - -“Listen well, jackanapes,” said the General, without loosening his hold, -“get away from here at once; and, if you prefer the least complaint or -cause the least scandal, I will put you into jail and afterwards send -you into the army as a vagabond and mischief-maker.” - -He loosed his prisoner who rose uttering suffocated groans and muttering -inarticulate insolences. Limping, and with his dress disordered, he -started to walk away; he took his hat, which one of the floggers, at a -signal from the General, handed him. Pablo followed him and at reaching -the hall door gave him a kick behind, saying with a hoarse laugh: - -“There! take your deserts, you!” - -“Now,” said the General, addressing Mercedes, who, huddled on the sofa, -with her kerchief thrown over her head and covering her face, was -sobbing violently, “indicate what you wish to take with you and get out -into the street.” - -“Keep it all, horrible old man, monster without heart or entrails of -pity,” said the unhappy woman, drying her eyes; and, arranging her dress -as best she could and wrapping up her head, she left. - -When she had disappeared, the General, as pleased as if he had -consummated some great act of justice, dismissed the floggers, after -paying them; then, he went out onto the street with a lofty air, and, -smoking his ever-present cigar, closed the gate of the court, put the -key into his pocket, and walked away. - - * * * * * - -The Chango did not pronounce this long discourse at one breath, but -interrupted himself from time to time to sip coffee or to ask Pacotillas -incident questions, which he answered in his usual laconic style. He -expressed himself somewhat more upon his matrimonial troubles and the -faults of his wife’s parents. Then, changing his tone, he said: - -“Now I have tired you in speaking of myself and my affairs; now you must -reciprocate, as a good friend, and tell me all about yourself.” - -“I can do that in a few words: I am slowly continuing my course of study -and with more or less of difficulty and labor gain my bread.” - -“Spartan! You do wrong not to confide in me. Am I to understand that you -desire nothing? that you do not care to better your condition?” - -“I do not say so; I desire many things; I desire to escape from poverty; -but, I am content with my situation.” - -“What a fool you are! I could do much for you, because I love you well, -and I would willingly offer you more than one chance of improving your -condition.” - -“I thank you for your good will but I see no means of taking advantage -of it.” - -“See Paco, let us speak frankly; notwithstanding your assertion that you -are content with your situation, I cannot believe it; the fact is that -you are very proud, that you do not care to ask anything from anyone; -that is all right with strangers, but when I, your school-fellow and -friend, anticipate your desires and offer----” - -“I thank you and beg you to respect my freedom of action.” - -“What a hard-shell you are! Come, consent to this anyway--separate -yourself from the _Independiente_; I promise to supply resources for you -to found a paper of your own, which will bring you at least double what -Don Marcos can pay you, and also to secure you a grant to aid you in -your studies, and, if you desire more, you shall have more.” - -“But, truly, I desire nothing; I owe consideration to Don Marcos and -cannot treat him cavalierly,” said Paco, at the same time saying to -himself, “Oho, now I see!” - -“You are fearfully stubborn,” said the Chango, “but you are your own -master and I will not insist further; but, now, I come to one favor, -begging you affectionately, in the name of our old friendship, to grant -it; do not continue to discuss, in your bulletins, the objectionable -question upon which you have been writing.” - -“In my soul, I regret that I cannot gratify you, since I have resolved -to examine that matter in all its aspects.” - -“You are more tenacious than a Biscayan! Don’t you understand that in -this you do me a personal injury and expose me to public criticism?” - -“I do not see why? I have never mentioned your name, nor shall I mention -it; nor are you responsible for that contract.” - -“Don’t be a ninny; although you do not mention me by name; although, -legally, you do not treat of me; yet the odium of the transaction falls -on me.” - -“Whether the part you play is odious or not, I am not to blame; you have -chosen it freely. You act, and I judge. We are both within our rights.” - -“In fine, Paco, if you continue to write as heretofore, you do me an -injury, you attack me.” - -“That is not my intention, nor do I believe it the necessary result of -my procedure.” - -“Of course, if you attack me, you give me the right to defend myself.” - -“Granted,” answered Paco, coldly. - -“And you know that I have many means of doing it?” - -“I know it and they have no terrors for me.” - -“Paco, you despise me,” said the Chango with annoyance. - -“No, I merely answer you,” replied Paco, coldly. - -“For the last time I will sum up the situation. If you consent to -withdraw from the _Independiente_ you shall have whatever advantages you -desire that I can give you; you shall have the same if you consent, at -least, to speak no more of the contract. Do you agree?” - -“I have already said no,” replied Paco with dignity. - -“Very well; it is hard for me to proceed against a fellow-student, whom -I have always esteemed for his talents and his brilliant promise; for -that reason, I desired to speak with you beforehand and give you proofs -of my friendship, but since you are obstinate, I warn you that I shall -prosecute you criminally.” - -“Thanks for the warning.” - -“Do you reflect that you will be proceeded against, that you will be -sent to jail, that you will be sentenced?” - -“Yes, I consider all, and I am prepared for all; you will allow me to -say that I appreciate the kindness and politeness, with which you have -treated me; but now, as it seems your wish to induce me to maintain -silence and to separate myself from the _Independiente_, and as I will -never agree to this, I judge my further presence here to be useless and, -with your permission, will leave.” - -And the young man at once rose and left; the Chango followed him without -a word; they went down the stairway, crossed the corridor, Pacotillas -took his hat in the hall, and on saying adieu to Robles, the latter -involuntarily moved by the dignity of Pacotillas, said to him: “Think -yet, Paco.” - -“I need not think; neither threats nor bribes can swerve me from what I -believe to be my duty.” - - - - -EMILIO RABASA. - -[Illustration] - - -Emilio Rabasa was born in the pueblo of Ocozautla, State of Chiapas, on -May 22, 1856. He studied law in the City of Oaxaca, being licensed to -practice on April 4, 1878. He returned to his native State, where he was -a Deputy to Congress and Director of the Institute during the years 1881 -and 1882. He then removed to Oaxaca, where he was Judge of the Civil -Court, Deputy to the State Legislature and Secretary to Governor Mier y -Teran, during 1885 and 1886. Removing to the City of Mexico in 1886, he -there filled various judicial and other offices. In 1891, he was elected -Governor of Chiapas, which office he filled for two years, particularly -interesting himself in improving the financial condition of the State. -In 1894, he was elected Senator from the State of Sinaloa, an office -which he still fills. He resides in the City of Mexico, where he is -engaged in legal practice. - -The work which has given him literary fame is a four volume novel, -written under the _nom-de-plume_ of Sancho Polo. These volumes bear -special titles--_La Bola_ (The Local Outbreak), _La gran Ciencia_ (The -Grand Science), _El cuarto Poder_ (The Fourth Power), and _Moneda falsa_ -(False Money). These novels have their importance in Mexican literature. -Victoriano Salado Álbarez, speaking of the notable advancement of the -Mexican novel in recent years, says: “The works of Sancho Polo, precious -studies,--initiated this truly fecund and permanent movement.” Luis -Gonzáles Obregón says of these books: “These are notable for the -correctness of their style, for masterly skill in description, most rich -in precious details, for the perfect way in which those who figure in -them are characterized, for the natural and unexpected development, as -well as for many other beauties, which we regret not being able to -enumerate here.” Emilio Rabasa’s active public life has prevented his -following up his early success in literature. Since the Sancho Polo -series, he has written but one brief novel, _La Guerra de tres años_ -(The Three Years War). In 1888, in connection with the well-known -publisher, Reyes Spindola, he founded _El Universal_ (The Universal), -which is still published, and which really initiated a new era in -Mexican journalism. - -The hero in the Sancho Polo novels is a youth named Juan Quiñones. Born -and reared in an obscure village, he loves a pretty girl who lives with -her uncle, a man of common origin and mediocre attainments. Don Mateo -is, however, a rising man, and, as he mounts, his ambitions for his -niece mount also. The boy has real ability, but is petulant and -precipitate, throwing himself into positions from which there should be -no escape, and learning nothing by experience. He passes through a -series of remarkable experiences--a local outbreak, a State revolution, -anti-governmental journalism in the capital city, a discreditable love -affair--finally, of course, gaining the girl. - - -THE DAY OF BATTLE. - -I attempted in vain to restrain and reduce the uneasiness and -disquietude, by which I was possessed and which Minga and her mother but -increased, now dragging me away from the window, now preventing me from -drawing the bolt to open the door, now bringing me back from the -courtyard whither I had desired to go to escape their oversight. - -“What a Don Abundio!” said Minga, jeeringly. “Trust him! But have no -fear; he will not now let the girl go.” - -Nevertheless, I sent the old woman back to see Felicia, to beg her, if -preparations for the journey were not immediately discontinued, to send -me word by her servant. And the good old woman, who was brave and -fearless, started out again, cautioning her daughter not to allow me to -commit any imprudence. - -What a day was that for me. The sun ran its course with desperate -slowness, but finally stood in mid-heaven. The old woman had not yet -returned, nor had Don Mateo made his attack, nor had I news of any one. -I do not understand how I could remain shut up all those hours, without -breaking out and letting myself be killed. - -While thus chafing, and more often than ever peeping from the window to -catch a distant glimpse of the old woman, a choked and panting voice, at -my shoulder, cried: - -“They are coming.” - -It was ‘Uncle Lucas,’ who seemed in that one day to exhaust all his -remaining life’s force. He seated himself on Minga’s bed, with his -mouth open, his chest puffing like a blacksmith’s bellows, his head -nodding in time to his heavy breathing. - -In spite of his breathlessness, I made him speak, although his words -were broken by his gasps for air. Don Mateo and his force were -organizing at half a league’s distance. Uncle Lucas had told the Colonel -all that the Sindico[26] had said and had returned with the order to -unite as many men as possible from our quarter of the town, in order to -impede and disconcert Coderas’s force, when it should return to town, as -probably it would only skirmish in the open field. Just as he arrived at -the creek, Uncle Lucas saw five men on horseback, the advance guard of -Coderas, descend from the terrace. - -In fact, while he was speaking we heard the noise of horses running -through the street and the clank of swords against the stirrups. Almost -at the same moment the door opened and Minga’s mother burst into the -room, her face pale, her eyes flashing fire. - -“A little more and those dogs had had me!” she cried angrily and hurled -forth a tirade which I cannot repeat. - -“What is the matter?” I asked, agitated. - -“What is it! If it were not for my nephew Matias, who was in the -trenches by the church, they would not have let me go. Cursed wolves. -When Pedro comes I will tell him that they would not let me go and the -foul words they said to me. As I told you, were it not for Matias, I -would still be there in the Plaza.” - -“And what did Felicia say?” I interrupted, impatiently. - -“The horses are all ready; but Don Abundio told her to tell you to have -no concern; Remedios need not go. But remember, Juanito, this man has no -shame.” - -Keeping her to the point, I made her tell me all that could concern us. -Coderas and Soria had agreed upon a plan of defense, believing that Don -Mateo could not take the Plaza in several days; meantime the auxiliaries -from the next district, whose Jefe politico was in communication with -San Martin, could arrive. At the last moment, it had been decided that -Coderas should sally with two hundred men, for a skirmish just outside -the town, falling back upon the hundred, who remained in the Plaza with -Soria; if fortune should prove averse to them, which the intrepid leader -did not believe, they would withdraw to the best entrenchments, in order -to force Don Mateo to attack them there. - -“Now for the main thing,” said the old woman to me. “Remedios told me to -say that they plan to take the prisoners from the jail and put them in -the trenches, to terrify the other party, who cannot fire without -killing their own friends and relatives.” - -My hair stood on end, I felt a giddiness and almost fell, with my face -convulsed with emotion and with shortened breath, I could scarcely turn -to Uncle Lucas. Terrified, he rose and tried to detain me; but I -promptly regained my self-control and assumed the voice of command -which, in such cases, constitutes me a leader of those about me. - -“Run!” I said to him quickly. “Immediately collect all those who last -night promised to follow us and bring them here at once.” - -My voice was so authoritative and commanding that I scarce awaited a -reply. The old man made none and directed his way to the door; on -opening it, he started violently. - -“There they come! they come!” he said in a whisper. - -Minga drew me violently back from the window, and Coderas and his force -galloped down the road from the creek. - -Some villagers followed the force from curiosity, others appeared in -their doorways, and some few shut themselves in, cautiously barring -their doors. - -My wisdom and patience were now completely exhausted, and, my excitement -depriving me of all prudence, I rushed forth with Uncle Lucas, ordering -him to promptly meet me at that spot. - -With no attempt at concealment, without precaution and without fear, I -ran to Bermejo’s house, to the houses of the imprisoned regidors, to -the houses of all those who were suffering in jail, alarming all with -the terrible notice which I had received. In this house, I secured a -man; in that one, some weapon; from here I led forth a terrified son; -from there, a half-crazed father. Everywhere I carried terror and -awakened the most violent manifestations of hatred and affliction. - -Half an hour later, in Pedro Martin’s _patio_, I had collected some -thirty men, who, worthy followers of a leader such as I, would fight -like tigers and would not be sated with three hundred victims. One -proposed hanging the wife and children of Coderas; another proposed -dragging Soria through the streets and casting his lifeless body on the -dungheap; another suggested sacking of the house of the Gonzagas, and -another, cutting the throats of all who lived in the ward of Las Lomas, -with a few exceptions. To me, this all appeared excellent and I -energetically approved these savage propositions, while I distributed -arms to those who had none and issued my orders to Uncle Lucas. - -At that moment, the first discharge of the battle was heard; a cold -chill ran through my body, mixture of terror and of impatience for the -combat. I felt myself impelled toward the Plaza, and from my lips issued -a torrent of foul words, which I was astonished at myself for knowing. -Evil predominated in me; under the kindled passions of the _bola_, I was -unconsciously transformed, my nature becoming that of the mass around -me. - -In such moments I had no idea of forming a plan of campaign. I only knew -that I was going in defence of my mother, whose life was gravely -imperilled, and that I ought to hasten to achieve my object. I did not -think how I should attain it, nor did it occur to me to think. Uncle -Lucas ventured to remind me that the Colonel’s plan was for us to hamper -the enemy in his retreat. - -“All follow me!” I cried with authority. - -And all, with resolution equal to my own, followed me. - -Passing behind Minga’s house, to the edge of the village, we took the -road to the right and marched at quickstep up the street parallel to -that which led to the Plaza. On arriving in front of this we halted, to -the terror of the neighbors, and then cautiously advanced until the jail -was in sight. - -Not dreaming of enemies so near, the soldiers in the Plaza were -listening to the fusillade which was taking place, almost on the banks -of the creek. In front of us was a gentle slope, from the gully up to -the Plaza and the prison door; at that place, which could scarcely be -seen, because of the village corral which intervened, a sentinel was -visible. - -“They have not yet taken out the prisoners,” I said to my companions; -“we will wait here until we see some movement showing that they are -about to remove them.” - -Among our arms was a single gun; the rest were machetes, darts, or -knives tied to the end of staves. I nevertheless believed myself -invincible. - -The distant noise of musketry, which, to tell the truth, was not great -or terrible, consequent on the small number of the combatants and the -still smaller number of the firearms, became less at the end of a few -minutes, and the few shots heard seemed to me to be already discharged -within San Martin. I ordered my party to approach the foot of the slope, -I myself remaining where I was so as not to lose sight of the jail; and -I ran to join them, when the discharges from the entrenchments showed me -that Soria had entered the Plaza and that Don Mateo was in front of it. - -We mounted to the jail, before the sentinel could give the alarm and at -the moment when Coderas and Soria repulsed Don Mateo in his first -assault. Taken by surprise, the sentinel fled to the Plaza, and we, -without thought of the imprudence of our hasty action, hurled ourselves -against the prison door, and, after a few efforts, burst it in, broken -into fragments. - - -LA BOLA. - -How many then, as I, wept orphaned and cursed the _bola_! In that -miserable village, which scarcely had enough men to till its soil, and -in which the loftiness of citizenship was unknown, its victims had -floods of tears and despair, instead of laurels, the reward of right. -Here the father, love and support of the family, was mourned; there, a -son, hope and stay of aged parents; there, again, a husband, torn from -the fireside to be borne to a field of battle, which had not even tragic -grandeur, but only the caricaturing ridiculousness of a low comedy. - -And all that was called in San Martin a revolution! No! Let us not -disgrace the Spanish language nor human progress. It is indeed time for -some one of the learned correspondents of the Royal Academy to send for -its dictionary, this fruit harvested from the rich soil of American -lands. We, the inventors of the thing itself, have given it a name -without having recourse to Greek or Latin roots, and we have called it -_bola_. We hold the copyright; because, while revolution, as an -inexorable law, is known in all the world, the _bola_ can only be -developed, like the yellow fever, in certain latitudes. Revolution grows -out of an idea, it moves nations, modifies institutions, demands -citizens; the _bola_ requires no principles, and has none, it is born -and dies within short space, and demands ignorant persons. In a word, -the revolution is a daughter of the world’s progress and of an -inexorable law of humanity; the _bola_ is daughter of ignorance and the -inevitable scourge of backward populations. - -We know revolutions well, and there are many who stigmatize and -calumniate them; but, to them we owe the rapid transformation of -society and of institutions. They would be veritable baptisms of -regeneration and advancement, if within them did not grow the weed of -the miserable _bola_. Miserable _bola_? Yes! There operate in it as many -passions as there are men and leaders engaged; in the one it is avenging -ruin; in the other a mean ambition; in this one the desire to figure; in -that one to gain a victory over an enemy. And there is not a single -common thought, not a principle which gives strength to consciences. Its -theatre is the corner of some outlying district; its heroes, men who -perhaps at first accepting it in good faith, permit that which they had -to be torn to tatters on the briers of the forest. Honorable labor is -suspended, the fields are laid waste, the groves are set on fire, homes -are despoiled, at the mere dictate of some brutal petty leader; tears, -despair, and famine are the final harvest. And yet the population, when -this favorite monster, to which it has given birth, appears, rushes -after it, crying enthusiastically and insanely, _bola! bola!_ - - -THE INDEPENDENT PRESS. - -Albar came down into the editorial room and, approaching me, picked up, -one by one, the yet fresh sheets. He was satisfied, extremely so. - -“Very good,” he said to me, “this will cause a sensation, and will exalt -your name yet more. Attack fearlessly.” - -At twelve, he called me up to his writing-room, not without my feeling a -strange fear, presentiment of danger. - -“I want you to take one matter on yourself,” he said, “because this -Escorroza is of no use sometimes. Besides, I know you are from the State -of X---- and I suppose you know its men, its history, its conditions, -better than anyone else on the force.” - -“I think so,” I replied, trembling. - -“It is so,” affirmed Albar. “Put special care on the articles relative -to the matter, to which I refer; because it is of importance to me and I -entrust it to you because you are the best man on the staff.” - -“You are very kind----” - -“Not at all; it is mere justice----” - -“And the matter----” - -“In a moment, in a moment; you shall hear.” - -The interest of the Director must indeed be great, when he was so -friendly and courteous with me. His dark skin wrinkled more violently -and a forced smile incessantly contracted his lips, separating yet more -widely from each other, the two halves of his typically Indian -moustache. - -We heard, sounding in the patio, the footsteps of several persons. My -suspicions had grown with Albar’s words, my fears increased, and that -noise caused me such disturbance that I was forced to rise from the sofa -to conceal it. - -In spite of my efforts to control myself, I felt that I turned pale, -when Don Mateo entered the room, accompanied by Bueso and Escorroza. -Instinctively, I stepped back a step or two and appeared to occupy -myself with something lying on the table. - -Don Mateo awkwardly saluted Albar, with scant courtesy, and passed with -him and Bueso into an adjoining room. As he passed near me, I noticed -that the General looked at me and hesitated a moment as if he wished to -stop. Albar, who went last, indicated to Escorroza, by a sign, that he -might retire, and when he, in turn, repeated the signal to me, Albar -said, shortly, “Wait here; I will call you.” - -Escorroza withdrew, casting at me a glance of terrible hatred, which in -some degree compensated me for my anxieties, by the vain satisfaction it -caused me; but, hearing the first phrases exchanged between the three -men, I understood at once that Pepe was right in telling me that I had -lost my cause. I should have fled from the place, on feeling myself so -completely routed, at comprehending the event and its significance to -me; but, I know not what painful desire to know the end, held me, as if -bound, to the chair in which I had seated myself near the door. - -At first Don Mateo himself desired to present the matter; but his rustic -awkwardness, little suited to the presentation of so difficult a matter, -overcame him, and it was necessary that Bueso should take up the -conversation for him. - -For some minutes his tranquil, unvarying, and unemotional voice was -heard; for him, no matter was difficult of presentation, no -circumlocutions were necessary to express the most delicate affairs. The -General had seen, with surprise, a paragraph in _El Cuarto Poder_ which -demanded evidence proving what _El Labaro_ had stated concerning him; -that his surprise was the greater from the fact that he had before -considered Albar as his friend, although they had had merely business -relations through correspondence. All that was printed in _El Labaro_, -and much more, was true, as could be testified by thousands of persons, -who knew the General as their own hands. It could be proved (indeed it -could!) with documents from State and Federal governments; with -periodicals of different epochs which he had preserved; with this and -with that---- - -But, why? Albar could not doubt the word of a gentleman. The important -matter now is that the eminent Director should recognize in the General -a good friend, and in place of raising doubts in regard to his glorious -past, should strive, as a good friend, to make it well known, -appreciated, and recompensed by the applause to which a man so -distinguished as the General is entitled. While he understood this -involved considerable expense, that was no obstacle. - -At this critical point Albar interrupted Bueso with a grunt, which said -neither yes nor no. It is not necessary to mention that; no, sir. The -unlucky paragraph in question had crept into the paper, without the -Director’s knowledge; but, as soon as he discovered it, he determined to -apply the remedy; which would consist in publishing a complete biography -of the General, stating that it had been written after inspection of -convincing and authentic documents; and, even, that the portrait of the -General should be printed in the paper, if he would have the kindness to -furnish a photograph. - -Clouds of blood, blinding me, passed before my eyes; my whole body -trembled convulsively; with my contracted fingers I clutched the arms of -the chair and dug my nails into the velvet upholstery. In the fury of my -rage and anger, I scarcely heard some words about thirty subscriptions, -which Don Mateo would send the following day, to be mailed to his -friends in the State. Bueso asserted that this was important for the -General, because the General was a man with a great political future, -that he ought, therefore, to act promptly and vigorously, to augment his -prestige and propagate his renown everywhere. - -To me, nailed to my chair, that scene appeared for some minutes the -horrible illusion of a cruel nightmare. I was perspiring and choked. - -The door suddenly opened and the three actors in the comedy entered the -writing-room. Trying to compose myself, and rising, I heard Albar, who, -pointing at me, said: - -“Here is the best pen on my staff; this young man will be charged with -writing all relative to your life.” - -Don Mateo and I faced each other, exchanging a glance of profound -hatred; hatred, kneaded with the passion of purest love, as mud is -kneaded with water from the skies. - -I knew not what to say, much as I desired to speak, but Don Mateo, -incapable of controlling himself, said insultingly: - -“This young man going to write? And what does _he_ know?” - -And, filled with rage, he turned his back on me, pretending to despise -me. - -“I know more than will suit you, for writing your biography,” I replied, -“but I warn Señor Albar that my pen shall never be employed in the -service of a man like you.” - -Don Mateo made a motion as if he would throw himself upon me, and I made -one as if seizing a bust of bronze to hurl at him. - -Albar leaped between us. - -“What is this?” he cried, in terror. - -“You are a miserable puppet,” thundered Don Mateo, shaking his fists at -me above Albar’s head. “When I meet you in the street I will pull your -ears.” - -“We shall see,” I replied. - -“Wretched, insignificant boy.” - -“Stop! enough of this,” cried Albar, with all the force of his lungs. -“What is the matter?” - -“Señor Albar,” I said, “I heard all that was said. I can write nothing -about this man; not a word.” - -“Nor will I permit that he shall write,” bellowed Don Mateo, choked with -rage; “I will not consent to it.” - -“Then he shall not write; enough said,” replied Albar. - -Bueso stood before me undisturbed; with his hands in his pockets he -looked me over with an air of curiosity. - -“That means that Javier will write it,” he said completing Don Pablo’s -thought. - -Escorroza, at the sound of voices, had come upstairs and, at this -moment, arrived. - -“Very well,” said the Director, “let it be so. As Quiñones refuses and -the General does not consent, Escorroza will be charged with writing all -relative to----” - -“To the Señor General? With the greatest pleasure,” broke in Don Javier. - -“And he will do it much better,” said Bueso. - -Don Mateo looked at me with an air of triumph and derision. - -“The Señor Director may order what seems best to him,” I said, -restraining myself with difficulty, “but I ought to inform him that I -withdraw from the staff, the moment when the paper publishes the least -eulogy of this man.” - -And without saluting, with clenched fists and gritted teeth, I left the -room. While in the corridor I heard the voices of Cabezudo, Bueso, and -Escorroza, who cried at once: - -“Canasto! this puppet----” - -“Talked to you, in that manner!” - -“How can you permit----” - -The noise of the loud voices reached the editorial room. Pepe and -Carrasco asked me what had happened, but I simply shrugged my shoulders -and the two became discreetly silent. - -The noise continued for half an hour. At the end of that time the -footsteps of the three men were heard in the _patio_, and their yet -angry voices. As they passed the doorway I heard them saying: - -“Astonishing how much Don Pablo thinks this boy to be!” - -“Canasto! recanasto! this I will never forgive.” - -Elevated pride, satisfied hatred, gratified and exalted vanity, almost -choked me and I had to rise for breath. Pepe and Sabas looked at me -astonished, and I, my face twitching and working with a nervous smile, -threw my pen upon the table. - -“This pen is worth more than most persons imagine.” - - - - -RAFAEL DELGADO. - -[Illustration] - - -Rafael Delgado was born in Cordoba, State of Vera Cruz, August 20, 1853, -of a highly honorable and respected family. His father was for many -years the Jefe politico of Cordoba, but at the close of his service -retired to Orizaba. This removal was made when Rafael was but two months -old, and it was in Orizaba that he was reared and has spent most of his -life. After receiving his earlier instruction in the _Colegio de Nuestra -Senora de Guadalupe_, he was sent, in 1865, to the City of Mexico, -where, however, on account of the turbulence of that time, he spent but -one year. On account of the disturbances due to civil war his father -lost the greater part of his fortune. In May, 1868, Rafael entered the -_Colegio Nacional de Orizaba_, then just organized, where he completed -his studies. From 1875 on, for a space of eighteen years, he was teacher -of geography and history in that institution. The salary was so small -and irregular that, at times, he was compelled to give elementary -instruction in other schools in order to meet expenses. In his own -personal studies, outside of his professional work, he was especially -interested in the drama, and he carefully read and studied the Greek, -Latin, French and Italian dramatists, as well as the Spanish. In 1878 he -wrote two dramas, _La caja de dulces_ (The Box of Sweets), prose in -three acts, and _Una taza de te_ (A Cup of Tea) in verse in a single -act. These were staged and met a good reception. At a banquet tendered -to the author after the first rendering of _La caja de dulces_, his -friends presented him a silver crown and a gold pen. In 1879, Rafael -Delgado published a translation of Octave Feuillet’s _A Case of -Conscience_ and later an original monologue--_Antes de la boda_ (Before -the Wedding). - -Between the ages of sixteen and thirty years, Delgado wrote much lyric -poetry. Francisco Sosa compares his work in this field with that of -Pesado, and adds: “Greater commendation cannot be given.” From the time -when he was a student in the _Colegio Nacional_ at Orizaba, Delgado -always received the helpful encouragement of his old teacher, the head -of that school, Silvestre Moreno Cora. It was due to this truly great -man’s efforts that the _Sociedad Sánchez Oropeza_ was founded in -Orizaba, in the literary section of which Rafael Delgado was active. At -this society he gave a series of brilliant _Conversaciones_ and to its -Bulletin he contributed both prose and verse. He has written _Cuentos_ -(Tales) of excellence, showing the influence of Daudet. More important, -however, than his lyric poems and his stories, are Delgado’s novels, -three in number, _La Calandria_, _Angelina_, _Los parientes ricos_ (Rich -Relations). In fiction he is a realist. He prefers to deal with the -common people; he is ever a poet in form and spirit; his satire is never -bitter; beauty in nature ever appeals strongly to him. Without being a -servile imitator, he has been influenced by Daudet and the Goncourts. -His plots are simple--almost nothing. In regard to this, he himself, in -speaking of _Los parientes ricos_, says: “Plot does not enter much into -my plan. It is true that it gives interest to a novel, but it usually -distracts the mind from the truth. For me the novel is history, and thus -does not always have the machinery and arrangement of the spectacular -drama. In my judgment it ought to be the artistic copy of the truth; -somewhat, that is, as history, a fine art. I have desired that _Los -parientes ricos_ should be something of that sort; an exact page from -Mexican life.” - -In _Calandria_, the story opens with the death of Guadalupe, an -abandoned woman, poor and consumptive. The man of wealth, who betrayed -her, has a lovely home and a beautiful daughter. Carmen, “the -Calandria,” as she is nicknamed by those about her on account of her -singing, the illegitimate daughter of Don Eduardo by Guadalupe, is left -in poverty. An appeal, made in her behalf, by a priest to Don Eduardo -fails to secure her full recognition and reception into his home, but -leads to his arranging for her care in the tenement where she lives and -where Guadalupe died. An old woman, Doña Pancha, who had been kind to -her mother, receives the orphan into her home. Her son, Gabriel, an -excellent young man, a cabinet-maker by trade, loves her, and she -reciprocates his love. A neighbor in the tenement, Magdalena, exerts an -unhappy influence upon Carmen, leading to estrangement between her and -Doña Pancha. Magdalena encourages her to receive the attentions of a -worthless and vicious, wealthy youth named Rosas. At a dance given in -Magdalena’s room, Rosas is attentive, and Carmen, flattered and dazzled, -is guilty of some indiscretions. This leads to a rupture between her and -Gabriel. To escape the persecutions of Rosas, Carmen goes with the -friendly priest to a retreat at some little distance. The troubles -between the lovers approach adjustment, but at the critical moment Rosas -appears upon the scene, and the girl, though she rejects him, is -compromised. Gabriel stifles his love and actually casts her off. In -despair, the girl yields to the appeals of Rosas, who promises marriage. -He is false, and soon tiring, abandons her. From then her downward -career is rapid and soon ends in suicide. - - -EXTRACTS FROM CALANDRIA. - -And she sighed and spent long hours in gazing at the landscape; -attentive to the rustling of the trees, to the flitting to and fro of -the butterflies, to the echoes of the valley, which repeated, -sonorously, the regular stroke of the woodman’s axe, to the rushing of -the neighboring stream, to the cooing of the turtle-dove living in the -neighboring cottonwood. - -I need to be loved and Gabriel has despised me. I need to be happy and -cannot because Gabriel, my Gabriel, is offended. He has repulsed me, he -has refused my caresses, he has not cared for my kisses. I desire to be -happy as this sparrow, graceful and coquettish, which nests in this -orange tree. How she chirps and flutters her wings when she sees her -mate coming. I cannot forget what took place that night. Never did I -love him more, never! I was going to confess all to him, repentant, -resolved to end completely with Alberto, to say to Gabriel: “I did this; -pardon me! Are you noble, generous, do you love me? Pardon me! I do not -covet riches, nor conveniences, nor elegance. Are you poor? Poor, I love -you. Are you of humble birth? So, I love you! Pardon me, Gabriel! See -how I adore you! I have erred--I have offended you--I forgot that my -heart was yours. Take pity on this poor orphan, who has no one to -counsel her. Pardon me! You are good, very good, are you not? Forget -all, forget it, Gabriel. See, I am worthy of you. I do not love this -man; I do not love him. I told him I loved him because I did not know -what to do. I let him give me a kiss because I could not prevent it. -Forgive me! And he appears to be of iron. He showed himself haughty, -proud, and cruel as a tiger. But, he was right; he loved me, and I had -offended him. One kiss? Yes--and what is a kiss? Air, nothing! I wanted -to calm his annoyance, sweetly, with my caresses, and I could not. -Weeping, I begged him to pardon me, and he refused. I said to -him--resolved to all--what more could I do?--I said to him, here you -have me--I am yours--do with me what you will! And, he remained mute, -reserved, did not look at me. He did not see me; he did not speak to me, -but I read distrust, contempt, restrained rage, in his face. He almost -insulted me. If he had not loved me so much, I believe he would have -killed me! Again I tried to conquer him with my caresses. I wished to -give him a kiss--and he repulsed me! Ah, Gabriel! How much you deceive -yourself! How self-satisfied you are! You are poor, of humble birth, an -artisan--and you have the pride of a king! Thus I love you, thus I have -loved you. Haughty, proud, indomitable, thus I would wish you for my -love! I would have softened your character; I would have dominated your -pride; I would have conquered you with my kisses. You love me, but my -tears have not moved you! You are strong and boast of your strength, for -which I adore you! You are generous, and yet you do not know how to -pardon a weak woman! And we would have been happy. One word from you and -nothing more! If it were still possible--and--why not?” - - * * * * * - -But, when he heard from the mouth of Angelito that Carmen had responded -to the gallantries of Rosas, when the boy described the scene which he -had witnessed, and in which, yielding to the desires of Alberto, the -orphan had permitted herself to be kissed, the very heavens seemed to -fall; he raged at seeing his love mocked and dragged in the mud, and -promptly told Doña Pancha all he had learned. The old woman strove to -calm him; made just remarks about Carmen’s origin, telling him that she -might have inherited the tendency to evil from her mother and the desire -for luxury, which had been _her_ perdition; she begged him to cut -completely loose from the orphan, and, fearful that he might, after the -first impression caused by what Angelito described had passed, involve -himself in humiliating love entanglements, appealed to her son’s -generous sentiments, not to again think of the girl. And she succeeded. - -Gabriel armed himself with courage and fulfilled his promise. Hard, most -cruel, was the interview; his heart said: _pardon her_. Offended dignity -cried: _despise her_. Love repeated: _she loves you; is repentant, have -pity on her; see how you are trifling with your dearest illusions, with -all your hopes_; but in his ears resounded his mother’s voice, tender, -trembling with sympathy, supplicating, sad, _Gabriel, my boy, if you -love me, if you wish to repay me for all my cares, if you are a good -son, forget her!_ He loved her and he ought not to love her. He wanted -to despise her, to offend her, to outrage her, but he could not. He -loved her so much! Wounded self-esteem said with stern and imperious -accent: _leave her_. - -When the cabinetmaker left his home that night, wishing to escape from -his grief, almost repenting what he had done, wandering aimlessly, he -journeyed through street after street, without note of distance. The -main street of the city, broad and endless, lay before him, with its -crooked line of lamps on either side, obscure and dismal in the -distance. So the future looks to us, when we are victims of some -unhappy disappointment, which shakes the soul as a cataclysm,--with not -a light of counsel, not a ray of hope on the horizon. - -He arrived at the end of the city and on seeing the broad cart-road that -began there, passed a bridge, at the foot of a historic hill; he felt -tempted to undertake an endless journey to distant lands, where no one -knew him; to flee from Pluviosilla, that city fatal to his happiness, -forever. But, he thought--my mother? - -The river flowed serene, silent. The cabinet-maker, with his elbow on -the hand-rail of the bridge, contemplated the black current of the -river; the great plain which lost itself in the frightful shadow of the -open country. A sentiment of gentle melancholy, consoling and soothing, -came over his soul. Meantime, the more he dwelt on his misfortune, the -more desolate appeared his life’s horizon, and something akin to that -sad homesickness, which he experienced in his soul, when the maiden -first said to him, _I love you_, passed like a refreshing wave through -his soul. The abyss at his feet attracted him, called him. What did -Gabriel think in those moments? Who can know? “No!” he murmured, turning -and taking his way to the city. - -The next day, he told Doña Pancha in a few words what had happened and -then said no more of the matter. In vain Tacho, Solis, and López -questioned him, on various occasions. He did not again mention Carmen. -He learned that she had left Pluviosilla, but made no effort to learn -where she had gone; and, not because he had forgotten her, but because -he had resolved never to speak of her again. The journeyman and Doña -Pancha repeated to him the conversation of Alberto and his friends, what -they said of the planned elopement, but he scarcely deigned to listen, -and answered with a scornful and profoundly sad smile. - -When Angelito found him and told him that Carmen was at Xochiapan, -repeating all that she had said, he hung his head as if he sought his -answer on the ground, and exclaimed: - -“Say you have not seen me. No--tell her that I beg she will not think of -me again.” - -And he turned away, disdainful and sad. - - * * * * * - -The young man placed himself in a good position, resolved to hear the -mass with the utmost devotion; but he could not do it. There, near by, -was Carmen; there was the woman for whom he would have given all that he -had, even to his life. He did not wish to see her, and yet did nothing -else. He turned his face toward the altar, and without knowing how, when -he least expected it, found his eyes fixed upon the maiden, whose -graceful head, covered with a rebozo, did not remain still an instant, -turning to all sides, in search of him. Gabriel remained concealed -behind the statue of San Ysidro which, placed on a table, surrounded by -candles and great sprays of paper roses, served him as a screen. - -Why had he come? Was he determined to reunite the interrupted loves? -Would he yield to Carmen’s wishes? He had come to look at her, not -desiring to see her; he had come to Xochiapan dragged by an irresistible -power, but he would not yield. How could he blot out of his memory that -kiss, that thundered kiss, which he had not heard but, which, -nevertheless resounded for him like an injury, like an insulting word -which demands blood? And yet he had seen her; there she was, near him, -never so beautiful. - -At the close of the service, at the _ite misa est_, Gabriel left -promptly, so that when the faithful flocked out to the market-place, he -was mounting his horse. On crossing the _plaza_, he met some -_rancheros_, his friends, who invited him to drink a cup and then to eat -at the ranch, which was not far distant. He accepted; it was necessary -to distract himself. To leave the _plaza_, on the way to the house of -his friends, it was necessary to pass along one side of the church; -almost between the lines of vendors. - -The Cura, Doña Mercedes, Angelito and Carmen were in the graveyard. -Gabriel did not wish nor dare to greet his love; he turned his face -away, but could see and feel the gaze of those dark eyes fixed upon -him, a gaze profoundly sad which pierced his heart. - -After dinner he returned to the town to take the road to Pluviosilla. -His friends proposed to accompany him, but he refused their offer. He -wished to be alone, alone, to meditate upon the thought which for hours -had pursued him. - -She loves me--he was thinking as he entered the town.--She loves me! -Poor child! I have been cruel to her.--I ought to forgive her.--Why not? -I will be generous. I will forgive all. - -The energetic resolutions of the young man became a sentiment of tender -compassion. His dignity and pride, of which he gave such grand examples -a month before, yielded now to the impulses of his heart. He could -resist no longer. Carmen triumphed; love triumphed. - -I will speak with her; yes, I will speak with her; I will tell her that -I love her with all my soul; that I cannot forget her; that I cannot -live without her! I will tell her that I pardon; that we shall again be -happy. Poor child! She is pale, ill----. I do not wish to increase her -unhappiness. - -At the end of the street, through which at the moment he was passing, -the cabinet-maker saw two men on horseback, one on an English, the other -on a Mexican saddle. Apparently, people of Pluviosilla. - -The riders stopped a square away from the Curacy. The one dressed in -_charro_, dismounted and cautiously advanced along the hedge. A terrible -suspicion flashed through the young man’s mind. He quickly recognized -the cautious individual. While this person was going along on tiptoe, as -if awaiting a signal to approach, Gabriel took the lane to the right, -then turned to the left and passed slowly in front of the window of the -Curacy, at the moment when Rosas was speaking with Carmen at the -grating. - -His first idea was to kill his rival like a dog and then the infamous -woman who was thus deceiving him--but--he was unarmed. He cursed his bad -luck, hesitated a moment, between remaining and going, and, at last, -whipping up his horse, went almost at a gallop, by the Pluviosilla -road. - - - - -FEDERICO GAMBOA. - -[Illustration] - - -Federico Gamboa was born in the City of Mexico, December 22, 1864. After -his elementary studies he attended the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_ -(National Preparatory School), for five years, and the _Escuela de -Jurisprudencia_ (Law School) for three more. After an examination, he -entered the Mexican Diplomatic Corps, October 9, 1888, and was sent to -Guatemala in the capacity of Second Secretary of the Mexican Legation in -Central America. In 1890, he was appointed First Secretary of the -Mexican Legation to Argentina and Brazil. In 1896, he returned to -Mexico, where he remained until the end of 1898, as Chief of the -Division of Chancery of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was then -sent again to Guatemala, as _Charge-d’affaires_. In December, 1902, he -was appointed Secretary of the Mexican Embassy at Washington, which -position he now holds. - -Through the year 1898, Señor Gamboa was Lecturer on the History of -Geographical Discovery in the _Escuela Nacional Preparatoria_. From 1886 -to 1888, inclusive, he was engaged in newspaper work in the City of -Mexico. In June, 1888, he presented on the Mexican stage a Spanish -translation of the Parisian operetta, _Mam’selle Nitouche_, under the -title, _La Señorita Inocencia_ (Miss Innocence). In 1889, he presented a -translation _La Moral Electrica_ (Electric morality) of a French -vaudeville. Besides these translations, Señor Gamboa has produced -original dramatic compositions--_La Ultima Campaña_ (The Last Campaign), -a three act drama, and _Divertirse_ (To amuse oneself), a monologue; -these appeared in 1894. Señor Gamboa has written several books. _Del -Natural--Esbozos Contemporáneos_ (Contemporary Sketches: from nature) -was published when he was first in Guatemala and has gone through three -editions. _Apariencias_ (Appearances), a novel, was published while he -was at Buenos Ayres, in 1892. _Impresiones y Recuerdos_ (Impressions -and Recollections) appeared in 1894. Three novels, which have been well -received are _Suprema Ley_ (The Supreme Law), 1895, _Metamorfosis_ -(Metamorphosis), 1899, and _Santa_, 1900. At present Señor Gamboa is -writing a new novel _Reconquista_ (Reconquest), and his biographical _Mi -Diario_ (My Journal), the latter in three volumes. - -As may be seen from this brief sketch Señor Gamboa has been a -considerable traveler. He has made two European journeys, has twice -visited Africa, and has traveled over America from Canada to Argentina. -He lived in New York in 1880 and 1881 and holds a city schools -certificate for elementary teaching. He was elected a Corresponding -Member of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1889, an officer of the French -Academy in 1900, and a Knight Commander of Carlos III in 1901. - -In _Suprema Ley_ we have a tale of common life. Julio Ortegal is a poor -court clerk, of good ideals, decent, married, and the father of six -children. His wife Carmen is hard-working, a good wife and a devoted -mother. Clothilde, well-born and well-bred is a native of Mazatlan, -where she becomes infatuated with a young man named Alberto; they live -together and, on the discovery of dishonest dealings on his part, flee -to the interior and to the City of Mexico, where he suicides. Clothilde, -suspected of his murder, is thrown into jail; there she meets Julio, in -the discharge of his duties, whose kindness awakens her gratitude. -After her acquittal, her father, who does not wish her return to -Mazatlan, arranges, through Julio, for her support in Mexico. She goes -first to Julio’s home and, later, to a hired house. Julio’s love for her -is kindled; it grows during the time she lives in his house and is the -real cause of her removal. He finally abandons wife and children -although he still turns over his regular earnings at court to their -support, working nights at a theatre for his own necessities. Meantime, -consumption, from which he has long suffered, continues its ravages. -Clothilde’s parents, who can no longer endure her absence, finally send -her aunt to bear their pardon and implore her return. Clothilde, -repentant, casts off Julio and returns to Mazatlan. He is furious, -crushed; but repentant he determines to rejoin his abandoned wife and -family; his old and normal love revives, but in that moment, he dies. - - -EXTRACTS FROM SUPREMA LEY. - -Julito no longer resisted and he also lay down to sleep; he would make -his aunt’s acquaintance in the morning. Carmen, sitting by the spread -table, solitary and silent, after the fatiguing day, could not sleep. - -She was thinking----. - -Through her thoughts passed vague fears of coming misfortunes and -dangers; of a radical change in her existence. Her poor brain, of a -vulgar and unintellectual woman, performed prodigies in analyzing the -unfounded presentiments; what did she fear? On what did she base these -fears? While she attempted to define them they weakened, though they -still persisted. She reviewed her whole life of hard struggle and scanty -rewards; she examined her conduct as an honorable wife and a decent -mother of a family, and neither the one nor the other, justified her -fear. This stranger woman, this stranger who was about to come; would -she rob her of something? Of what? Her children? Surely, no. Of her -husband, perhaps? Her presentiment was founded in this doubt; yes, it -was only of her husband that she could rob her. And her humble idyl of -love, which she had cherished among the ancient things of her memory, as -she cherished in her clothes-press some few artificial flowers, -shriveled and yellowed, from her bridal crown, her idyl revived, -shriveled and yellowed also, but demanding an absolute fidelity in -Julio; not equal to her own; no, Julio’s fidelity had to be different, -but it must be; but, however much Carmen assured herself, with the mute -assurances of her will, that Julio was faithful, she continued to be -possessed by the idea that he would sometime prove unfaithful, just -because of the long period of their marriage, that cruel irony of the -years which respect nothing, neither a loving marriage nor the hearth -which belonged to us in infancy; the marital affection is choked by the -ivy of disgust and the bind-weed of custom; the home disappears covered -by the weeds, which grow and grow until they overtop the very pinnacle -of the façade. Carmen then appreciated some things before not -understood; all the little repugnances and the shrinking apart of two -bodies, which had long lived in contact and no longer have surprises to -exchange, no new sensations to offer, no curves that are not known, no -kisses that are unlike those other kisses, those of sweethearts and the -newly-wed, then novel and celestial, afterward repeated without -enthusiasm as a faint memory of those gone never to return. Believing -that Julio was yet in word and deed her own, she resolved to carry on a -slow reconquest, displaying the charms of a chaste coquetry; her -instincts of a woman, assuring her that this was the infallible mode of -salvation. - -But on considering her attractions marred by child-bearing; her features -sharpened by vicissitude; her hands, the innocent pride of her girlhood, -deformed by cooking and washing; she felt two tears burn her eyeballs -and, unable to gain in a contest of graces and attractions, her face -fell upon the table, supported by her arms, in silent grief for her lost -youth and her perished beauty. - - * * * * * - -At two o’clock in the morning there was a knocking at the gate and then -at her door. It was they, Clothilde and Julio. - -“Carmen, the Señora Granada.” - -They embraced, without speaking; Clothilde, because gratitude sealed her -lips; Carmen, because she could not. - -The supper was disagreeable; the dishes were cold, the servant sleepy, -those at the table watching one another. - -When, in the silence of the night and of the sleeping house, Julio -realized the magnitude of what he had done, he read, yes, he read in the -darkness of the room, the fatal and human biblical sentence, and began -to understand its meaning: - -“The woman shall draw thee, where she will, with only a hair of her -head.” - - * * * * * - -Clothilde’s first impulse was to conceal herself; to tell her servant -that she was not accustomed to receive evening visits; but, besides the -fact that Julio had certainly already seen her, the truth is that she -felt pleasure, a sort of consolation and discreet satisfaction. Thank -God the test was about to commence; she was about to prove to herself -the strength of her resolution. - -Julio, now nearer, saluted, lifting his hat; Clothilde answered with a -wave of the hand, in all confidence, as two friends ought to salute. She -waited for him smilingly, without changing her place or posture, -determined not only to show a lack of love but even of undue -friendliness. Julio, paler than usual, crossed the threshold. - -“Bravo, Señor Ortegal, this is friendly; come in and I will give you a -cup of coffee.” - -Julio gave her his hand with extraordinary emotion and looked -searchingly into her eyes as if to read her thoughts. Clothilde, -scenting danger, led the way to the dining-room. How were they all at -home? Carmen and the children? Do they miss her a little? - -Julio promptly answered that all were well, all well but himself, and -that is her fault, Clothilde’s. - -“My fault?” - -“Yes, your fault. And I ought to have spoken with you alone, long ago.” -And, saying this he covered his face with his hands. - -The coffee-pot boiled noisily; the servant placed two cups upon the -table and Clothilde, not entirely prepared, because she had not counted -upon so abrupt an attack, betook herself to her armory of prayers. She -served the coffee with a trembling hand, putting in two lumps of sugar, -which she remembered Ortegal always took. - -“Will you tell me the truth?” he burst out. - -“Certainly.” - -Ortegal collected all his nervous energy and without taking his hands -from his face, as if he did not desire to look at Clothilde, and poured -out his words in a torrent: - -“Clothilde, I am a wretch to offend you; to dare to speak to you as I -do, but I can endure it no longer; I adore you, Clothilde, I adore you -and you know it! You have known it---- Pardon me, I beg you; and love me -just a little--nothing more,” he added, sobbing, “have pity on my life -and soul. Do you love me sometimes?” - -“No,” replied Clothilde, closing her eyes, with a transport of cruelty -and the consciousness that she caused immense suffering, and terrified -at having caused such a passion. “I can never love you because I idolize -and will ever idolize the memory of Alberto.” - -When he heard the sentence, Julio bowed his head upon his arm as it -rested on the table; pushed back the coffee without tasting it and rose. - -“You forgive me?” - -“Yes,” said Clothilde, “and I pray God to cure you.” - -“Will you not come to my house? Will I not see you again?” exclaimed -Julio with a sweeping gesture of his arm that indicated that his -suffering was incurable. - -“Yes, yes, but the least possible.” - -The two felt that the interview was ended; and Julio believed himself -finally cast off. As in all critical situations, there was a tragic -silence; Clothilde looked at the floor; Julio gazed at her with the -yearning love, with which the dying look for the last time upon the -familiar objects and the dear faces, never so beautiful as in that -awful moment. Thus he gazed, long, long, taking her hand and kissing it -with the respect of a priest for a holy thing. Then he passed the wicket -of the little garden, and departed without once turning his head, -staggering like a drunken man; he was lost on the broad pavement, his -worn garments of the poor office hack, hanging in the sunlight in such -folds as to throw into relief the narrow shoulders of the consumptive. - -I am dismissed, he thought, and I am glad that it was with a “no.” What -folly to think that a woman like Clothilde could ever care for a man -like me! What can I offer her?--A worthless trifle, an illegal love, a -legitimate wife, children, poverties! How could I pay her house rent, -the most necessary expenses, the most trifling luxuries? Better, much -better, that they despise me, the more I will occupy myself with my wife -and my children, what is earned they will have; I will return to the -path of rectitude, to my old companion; I will cure myself of this -attack of love. And walking, walking, he reached the Alameda, seated -himself in the Glorieta of San Diego, on a deserted bench, in front of -two students, who were reading aloud. - - * * * * * - -“But what has happened to you, Señorita?” and the lie presenting itself -for sole response; the lie which augments the crime and the risks of -what is foreseen. Her situation was not new; the eternal sufferings, one -day a little worse than another. Then, in the little alcove, where she -had thought herself strong enough to resist, the encounter with -Alberto’s portrait, a life-size bust photograph, in a plain frame, with -an oil lamp and two bunches of violets on the bureau, upon which it -stood. It was there waiting for her, as it waited for her every night, -to watch her undressing as he had in life, seated on the edge of the bed -or on a low chair, mute with idolatrous admiration, until she had -completed her preparations, and, coquettish and submissive, came to him, -who, with open arms and waiting lips embraced her closely, closely, -saying, between kisses, “How much I love you.” - -Clothilde remained leaning against the bureau, unable to withdraw her -gaze from the portrait or her thought from what had just happened. Why -had she yielded? Why had she not screamed, or drawn the cord of the -coach, or called the passersby or the police? Scarcely a year a widow, -because she _was_ a widow although the marriage ceremony had not been -performed, and she had already forgotten her vows and promises, and had -already enshrined within her heart another man, who was not the dead, -her dead, her poor dear dead, lying yonder in his grave between two -strangers, without protest or opposition to infidelity and perjury; -enclosed in the narrow confines of the grave, without light, nor air, -nor love, nor life; lost among so many tombs, among so many faded -flowers, among so many lies written in marbles and bronzes. She could -redeem her fault with nothing, not only was she not content to dwell at -the graveside, but she had given herself to another and still dared to -present herself before his portrait, defying its wrath. Trembling with -terror she recalled a mutual oath sworn in those happy times, when in -their flight across half the Republic, they enjoyed a relative calm in -hotels and wayside inns. The sight of a country graveyard, peculiarly -situated, had saddened them; with hands clasped, they were walking after -supper before the inn, when Alberto, affected by one of those -presentiments which so often appear in the midst of joy, as if to remind -us that no happiness is lasting, clasped her to his bosom, and stroking -her hair, had asked her: “What would you do, if I should die?” - -She had answered him with tears, shuddering; had stopped his mouth with -her hand; had promised him, sincerely, with all her loving heart and her -voice broken with sobs, that she would die also, but Alberto had -insisted, who can say whether already possessed with his coming suicide, -had begged her to make him an answer. - -“Come tell me what you will do, since that will not cause it to happen, -and I will tell you what I would do if you should prove false.” - -“Why do you say such things? Why do you invoke death?” And Alberto, -with solemn face had replied, what she had never since forgotten. -“Because disillusionment and death are the two irreconcilable enemies of -life and one ought ever to reckon with them.” - -As Clothilde remained silent, Alberto, after drying her eyes, which were -immediately again filled with tears, demanded a solemn oath from her, -not of the many with which sweethearts constantly regale each other, but -of those which fix themselves forever, which impress us by their very -solemnity; would she swear it by her mother? Would she fulfil it -whatever happens? Truly--? If--? - -“Then swear to me, that only in honest wedlock will you ever belong to -another man!” - -And Clothilde swore; and now, before that portrait and that scene as it -rose in her memory, she felt herself criminal, very criminal, lost, and -unhappy. She did not leave the bureau; she could see the road, obscure -in the night; she could see the little inn; some muleteers, the -tavernkeeper, who spoke of robbers, ghosts, crops, and horses; she could -see Alberto and now she dared not raise her eyes to look at his face in -the plain frame. Turning her back to it, she lay down in the bed, buried -her head among the pillows, and closed her eyes; but instead of -conciliating sleep, there presented themselves before her, pictures of -her brief domestic life with Alberto; and, worst of all, amid these -pictures, the figure of Julio, of Julio supplicating and ill, of Julio -wearied and weighed down with cares, was not hateful to her. - - * * * * * - -“Here is the fortnight’s pay, do me the favor of handling it.” - -In the handling the cashier came out bankrupt, but could never make up -her mind to tell Julio that to meet necessities she was forced to take -in sewing, at night, while others slept and her loneliness was -emphasized. The little Julio kept her company, studying his lessons or -reading aloud one of those continued stories, which delight women and -children by the complexity of their plot and by the happy exit, which -ever favors virtue. Sometimes, the romantic history contrasted with her -own, so mean and prosaic, and a tear or two, unnoticed by the reader -absorbed in the story, fell upon the white stuff of the sewing and -expanded in it as in a proper handkerchief. But if Julito learned of the -tears, he stopped his reading and kneeling before his mother dried them, -more by the loving words with which he overwhelmed her, than with his -coarse schoolboy’s kerchief. - -“Come, foolish mama; why are you crying? Don’t you know it isn’t true? -The whole book is made up.” - -He never added that he knew well that she was not weeping for the -characters of the story, but for the neglect of her husband; but, as her -husband was also his father, he employed this pretext in order not to -condemn Julio, openly and aloud, to Carmen. Thus, there happened, what -was to be expected, that between Carmen and Julito there grew up love in -one of its sublimest forms, the love of mother and son, with open -caresses, but caresses the most pure, with no touch of sin; and ideal -love which illumines our spirit and assures us that we would have loved -our mother so, had we not lost her too early. - -Julito’s fifteen years spent in tenements and public schools, had -acquired for him an undesirable stock of had habits, of which perhaps -the least was smoking, inveterate, demanding his withdrawal at the end -of each chapter, to the corridor to smoke a cigarette in the open air. -One night Carmen, who knew not how to show him the extreme affection, -which by his treatment of her he had gained, said, unexpectedly: “If you -wish to smoke, you may do it before me.” And the boy, who, on the -streets, at school, and in the neighborhood, was a positive terror, -could not smoke near Carmen, look you! He could not; he loved her too -much to be willing to puff smoke from mouth and nostrils in her -presence. He did not smoke secretly, but as before, in the corridor, -after each chapter. - -How sadly beautiful was the sight of these two in the dismantled dining -room of their miserable tenement! The immense house, the squalid -quarter, so noisy and turbulent during the day, presented the silence -of the tomb in the late hours of the night. Carmen and Julito, separated -by a corner of the table with its tattered cover of oil-cloth, and a -tallow dip, which needed snuffing every little while; Julito greatly -interested in his reading and Carmen, sewing at her fastest, -contemplating, with infinite love the black and curly head of her son, -when she stopped a moment to thread her needle. Now and again, the -coughing of the other children came to them from the adjoining room, and -Julito exclaimed: “Listen to my brothers.” - -“Yes, I hear them; poor little things.” - - -FOOTNOTES: - - [1] The word used is _espejismo_, literally, mirroring. - - [2] There is a hard drive here upon the old teacher, which will be - understood only by those who have seen him. - - [3] The second is, it will be costly. - - [4] Little Chavero: half-affectionate, half-jocular diminutive of - Chavero. - - [5] This and the following Aztec terms are either actually fictitious - or have meanings which are ridiculous in the connections given. - - [6] Public granary. - - [7] A scourge. - - [8] A band or strip of wire netting with sharp points, to be bound - upon the body for self-torture. - - [9] Mas solemne culto. - - [10] A pretty mestizo girl, of the common people. - - [11] Seller of fruit waters, including one made with _chia_. - - [12] Night watchman. - - [13] Soldier police. - - [14] Street cars. - - [15] Regular frequenters of _tertulias_--i. e., social, literary - gatherings. - - [16] A holy Christ, two candle bearers, and three gawks. - - [17] Village Christ. - - [18] Tolsa. - - [19] There is here a play on words not easy to render well. - _Pero_--but: _pera_--pear; _aguacate_ is a sort of fruit. The text - runs: - - “Pero--señor Don Raimundo” - “No hay peros, ni aguacates que valgan.” - - The exact translation is: - - “But--señor Don Raimundo----“ - There are no pears, nor aguacates, which avail. - - - [20] Here again is a _double-entendre_. The same word _dueno_, owner, - is here translated as self-controlled, and master. The young man is - master (of himself), the old man is master of his daughter’s lot. - - [21] Market for raw stuffs or materials. - - [22] _Moco de pavo_; literally, a turkey’s crest. - - [23] The patron of agricultural labor. - - [24] - - Cayo el pez en la remanga: - Qué ganga! qué ganga! - - - [25] Small round plasters stuck upon the temples for the relief of - headache. - - [26] Town treasurer. - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Readings from Modern Mexican Authors, by -Frederick Starr - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS *** - -***** This file should be named 52968-0.txt or 52968-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/9/6/52968/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Readings from Modern Mexican Authors - -Author: Frederick Starr - -Release Date: September 2, 2016 [EBook #52968] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="c"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="339" height="500" alt="[cover -image unavailable.]" /> -</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="border: 2px black solid;margin:auto auto;max-width:50%; -padding:1%;"> -<tr><td> -<p class="c"><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents.</a></p> -<p class="c">The author's spelling of Spanish words and names has -not been corrected.</p> -<p class="c"><span class="nonvis">(In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] -clicking on the image -will bring up a larger version.)</span></p> - -<p class="c">(etext transcriber's note)</p></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_i" id="page_i"></a>{i}</span></p> - -<h1> -READINGS<br /> -<br /> -<small>FROM</small><br /> -<br /> -MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS<br /> -<br /><br /><small> -BY<br /> -<br /></small> -FREDERICK STARR<br /> -<br /> -CHICAGO<br /> -THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY<br /> -<small> -<span class="smcap">London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd.</span><br /> -</small> -1904 -</h1> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ii" id="page_ii"></a>{ii}</span> </p> - -<p class="c"> -Copyrighted, 1904<br /> -<small>BY<br /> -FREDERICK STARR<br /> -<span class="smcap">Chicago</span></small></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_iii" id="page_iii"></a>{iii}</span> </p> - -<p class="c"> -<small>THIS LITTLE BOOK IS DEDICATED<br /> -TO<br /> -SEÑOR DON VICTORIANO AGÜEROS,</small><br /> -<small>AUTHOR OF</small> <i>Escritores Mexicanos Contemporaneos</i>,<br /> -<small>EDITOR OF</small> <i>El Tiempo</i>,<br /> -<small>PUBLISHER OF</small> <i>La Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos</i>,<br /> -<small>FAITHFUL FRIEND, VALUED HELPER.</small><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_v" id="page_v"></a>{v}</span><a name="page_iv" id="page_iv"></a></p> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> - - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr><td><a href="#EDUARDO_NORIEGA">Eduardo Noriega</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_1">1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#ANTONIO_GARCIA_CUBAS">Antonio García Cubas</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_15">15</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JOAQUIN_GARCIA_ICAZBALCETA">Joaquín García Icazbalceta</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_26">26</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#AGUSTIN_RIVERA">Agustin Rivera</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_43">43</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#ALFREDO_CHAVERO">Alfredo Chavero</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_59">59</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JULIO_ZARATE">Julio Zárate</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_77">77</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JOSE_MARIA_VIGIL">José María Vigil</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_87">87</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#PRIMO_FELICIANO_VELASQUEZ">Primo Feliciano Velásquez</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_94">94</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JUAN_F_MOLINA_SOLIS">Juan F. Molina Solis</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_106">106</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#LUIS_GONZALES_OBREGON">Luis Gonzales Obregón</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_118">118</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#FRANCISCO_SOSA">Francisco Sosa</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_132">132</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JULIO_GUERRERO">Julio Guerrero</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_150">150</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#ALEJANDRO_VILLASENOR_Y_VILLASENOR">Alejandro Villaseñor y Villaseñor</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_168">168</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#RAFAEL_ANGEL_DE_LA_PENA">Rafael Ángel de la Peña</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_181">181</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#IGNACIO_MONTES_DE_OCA_Y_OBREGON">Ignacio Montes de Oca y Obregón</a> </td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_189">189</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#IGNACIO_M_ALTAMIRANO">Ignacio M. Altamirano</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_204">204</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#VICTORIANO_AGUEROS">Victoriano Agüeros</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_216">216</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#MANUEL_GUSTAVO_ANTONIO_REVILLA">Manuel Gustavo Antonio Revilla</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_228">228</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JOSE_PEON_Y_CONTRERAS">José Peon y Contreras</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_243">243</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JOSE_MARIA_ROA_BARCENA">José María Roa Bárcena</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_259">259</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JUSTO_SIERRA">Justo Sierra</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_275">275</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#VICTORIANO_SALADO_ALBAREZ">Victoriano Salado Álbarez</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_288">288</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#IRENEO_PAZ">Ireneo Paz</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_301">301</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#JOSE_LOPEZ_PORTILLO_Y_ROJAS">José López-Portillo y Rojas</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_313">313</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#MANUEL_SANCHES_MARMOL">Manuel Sánches Mármol</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_334">334</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#PORFIRIO_PARRA">Porfirio Parra</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_358">358</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#EMILIO_RABASA">Emilio Rabasa</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_373">373</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#RAFAEL_DELGADO">Rafael Delgado</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_392">392</a></td></tr> -<tr><td><a href="#FEDERICO_GAMBOA">Federico Gamboa</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_405">405</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_vi" id="page_vi"></a>{vi}</span> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_vii" id="page_vii"></a>{vii}</span> </p> - -<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> - -<p>When I began visiting Mexico, in 1894, my knowledge of Mexican authors -was limited to those who had written upon its archæology and -ethnography. Even the names of its purely literary writers were unknown -to me. My first acquaintance with these came from reading some of the -writings of Icazbalceta, a critical historian of whom any nation might -well be proud, and a man of literary ability. I then sought the books of -other Mexican authors and have been accustomed, when in Mexico, to read -only those, in such hours of leisure as travel and work have left me. -This reading has led me to prepare this little book, in the hope that it -may introduce, to some of my countrymen, the literary men of the -neighboring Republic.</p> - -<p>I call the book Readings from <i>Modern</i> Mexican Authors; I might almost -have said <i>Living</i> Mexican Authors, for my intention has been to include -only such. I have, for personal reasons, made two exceptions—including -Icazbalceta and Altamirano. This I have done because I owe much to their -writings and because both were living, when I first visited Mexico.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_viii" id="page_viii"></a>{viii}</span></p> - -<p>Mexican authors write, to a notable degree, for periodical publications. -Many Mexican newspapers devote space to literary matter and many -extensive works in fiction, in history, in social science and political -economy have appeared as brief chapters in newspapers and have never -been reprinted. Mexico is remarkably fond, also, of literary journals, -most of which have a brief existence. Many of the writings of famous -Mexican writers exist only in one or other of these forms of fugitive -publication, and are almost inaccessible. The tendency to republish in -book form grows, however, and Señor Agüeros is doing an excellent work, -with his <i>Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos</i> (Library of Mexican Authors), -now carried to more than fifty volumes, in which the collected works of -good authors, past and present, are being printed.</p> - -<p>Of course, many authors have been omitted from my list, some of whom may -have well deserved inclusion; I have omitted none for personal reasons. -Specialists, unless they have written literary works outside of their -especial field of study, have been intentionally omitted. Men like -Nicolás Leon, Herréra, Orvañanos, Belmar, Batres, could not be left out -in a history of Mexican literature, but their writings do not lend -themselves to translation of brief passages to represent the literary -spirit of the country.</p> - -<p>It has not been easy to devise a definite plan of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ix" id="page_ix"></a>{ix}</span> arrangement for my -selections, but the matter is roughly grouped in the following -order—Geography, History, Biography, Public Questions, Literature, -Drama, Narrative, Fiction. One demand, made of all the material, is that -it shall show Mexico, Mexican life, Mexican thought. Every selection is -Mexican in topic and in color; together the selections form a series of -Mexican pictures painted by Mexican hands.</p> - -<p>I hesitate at my final remark, because it will sound like a lame excuse -for failure. It is not such. In these translations I have not aimed at a -finished English form. I have, intentionally, made them extremely -literal; I have sometimes selected an uncouth English word if it exactly -translates the author, have frequently followed the Mexican form and -order of words, and have even allowed my punctuation to be affected by -the original. To the English critic the result will be unpleasing, but -to those who wish to know Mexico and Mexican thought, it will be a gain. -And it is for these that my little book is written.</p> - -<hr style="width: 15%;" /> - -<p>The sections dealing with Icazbalceta, López-Portillo, Altamirano, -Agüeros, Roa Bárcena, Obregón and Chavero, were originally published in -<i>Unity</i>. Part of the matter relative to Guerrero, has been printed in -the <i>American Journal of Sociology</i>.<a name="page_x" id="page_x"></a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_1" id="page_1"></a>{1}</span></p> - -<h1>READINGS FROM MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS.</h1> - -<h2><a name="EDUARDO_NORIEGA" id="EDUARDO_NORIEGA"></a>EDUARDO NORIEGA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_001_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_001_sml.jpg" width="226" height="264" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Eduardo Noriega was born in the city of Mexico on October 4, 1853. He -came of a notable family of Liberals, his father being General Domingo -Noriega, and his brother Carlos, being, at the time of his death, -adjutant-colonel to President Juarez. Eduardo was educated in the -<i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School), where he -spent five years and received his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_2" id="page_2"></a>{2}</span> bachelor’s degree. Since that time he -has dedicated himself to literary work and to teaching.</p> - -<p>He has written both prose and poetry. Besides two volumes of verse, he -has printed a number of monologues—among them <i>Primeros nubes</i> (First -clouds), <i>El mejor Diamante</i> (The better diamond) and <i>La hija de la -caridad</i> (The daughter of charity). He has translated dramatic writings -and has himself written two plays. From the age of forty years he has -confined his teaching and writing to scientific subjects. He holds the -chair of History and Geography in the <i>Escuela de Comercio y -Administracion</i> (School of Commerce and Administration). He is author of -a <i>Geografía general</i> (General geography), which has gone through two -editions, of a capital <i>Geografía de Mexico</i>, and of a handy <i>Atlas de -Mexico miniatura</i> (Miniature atlas of Mexico) which is in its third -edition.</p> - -<p>Eduardo Noriega is a directing member of the <i>Sociedad Mexicana de -Geografía y Estadistica</i> (Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics) -and many valuable papers read by him before that body are printed in its -Bulletin.</p> - -<p>Our selections are taken from his <i>Geografía de Mexico</i>. A school -text-book of geography is hardly a promising place in which to seek -examples of literary value, but in his descriptions Noriega often shows -facility in expression and felicity in statement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_3" id="page_3"></a>{3}</span></p> - -<h3>CLIMATIC ZONES OF MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>The climatic contrasts occasioned by the mountainous relief, are sharply -produced only in the middle portion of the Republic, that is to say, in -the central <i>mesa</i> and upon the slopes of the <i>cordillera</i>. The section -from one coast to the other, from Vera Cruz to Acapulco, for example, is -the line best situated for observing well-marked climatic changes.</p> - -<p>The low zone of the seaboard contains, at once, the marshes and the -barren sands of the coast, the well-watered open plains, and the lower -slopes, where the luxuriant branchings of a thousand differing trees -mingle and crowd, closely bound together by festoons of trailing and -pendent vines, forming lovely masses of verdure, sprinkled through with -fruits of many and brilliant colors, which stand out conspicuously from -the magnificent, chlorophyll-laden foliage, and above all of which tower -the graceful forms of palm trees. To such a charming tropical -combination is given the name—<i>tierra caliente</i> (hot land).</p> - -<p>Within this range, where the temperature passes 23° C., there are places -which must be included among the hottest on the globe; such, for -example, is the port of La Paz, in Lower California. The high -temperature of this region, gave to it the name, derived from the words -<i>calida fornax</i>, which signify <i>hot oven</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_4" id="page_4"></a>{4}</span></p> - -<p>Above the two seaboard zones, one sloping toward the Gulf, the other -toward the Pacific, rises the <i>tierra templada</i> (temperate land), at an -altitude of from 1000 m. to 2000 m., but higher in the south than in the -north. This region corresponds to the southwest of Europe, not so much -in climate—for it has no winter—as in mean temperature, productivity -and salubrity.</p> - -<p>Lastly, the central tableland, the part of the territory where the -maguey is cultivated with notable profit and every class of cereals is -produced, constitutes the <i>tierra fria</i> (cold land). It is the most -populous part of the Republic.</p> - -<p>In the high valleys, as those of Toluca and Mexico, the descent of the -mercurial column often shows considerable falls of temperature; in -winter the column reaches 8° or 10° below 0 C. and frosts are frequent. -In general, however, the winters are mild. The mean temperature is from -13° to 14° C.</p> - -<p>In many places exceptional conditions have brought the vegetable areas -into abrupt juxtaposition; thus, while upon the summit of some ridge, -only plants of European character may live and flourish, in the plains -surrounding it are seen palms and bananas. From the summit of the great -volcanoes, the three superposed zones may be clearly seen, at once.</p> - -<p>The rapid communication, which today happily exists, presents to the -traveler the marvelous opportunity<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_5" id="page_5"></a>{5}</span> of passing, in a few hours, through -the three distinct regions of which we speak, which in other parts of -the globe are separated by thousands of kilometres.</p> - -<p>In some places these zones remain clearly distinguished from one -another, but this is exceptional, since commonly they crowd upon each -other, mingling one with another by imperceptible transitions. It is -common to mention some certain place as belonging to one and the other -zone, because the line of separation for both runs irregularly in -mountainous regions. A zone of reciprocal penetration has been formed, -on account of the multiple phenomena of temperature, of winds and of -plant groupings. So, too, cañons and slopes are met with, which, by -their vegetation, may be considered foci of <i>tierra caliente</i>, included -within the fully developed <i>tierra templada</i>.</p> - -<h3>POPOCATEPETL.</h3> - -<p>The valley of Mexico lies, then, surrounded by various chains, which -are: to the north the Sierra de Pitos and its branches, of which one is -the Sierra de Guadalupe; to the east the Sierra de Zinguilacan, which -ends in an extensive ridge, channeled by deep furrows, which connect the -Sierra mentioned with the Sierra Nevada. By means of mountains and -ridges forming the Sierra de Xuchitepec, to the southeast of the valley, -the Sierra Nevada<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_6" id="page_6"></a>{6}</span> is connected with that of Ajusco, which is connected -to the southwest with that of Las Cruces, which, extending to the -northwest, forms the Cordillera de Monte Alto, which is connected, as -already stated, with the western arm of the Sierra de los Pitos.</p> - -<p>In all these chains there are heights of importance such as; in the -Sierra Nevada, Popocatepetl, lovely volcano, and Ixtaccihuatl, merely a -snow-cap.... Popocatepetl—smoking mountain—is the highest mountain in -Mexican territory and measures 5452 m. above sea-level. The ascent of -this colossus is full of discomforts, but when these have been endured, -the result is surprising.</p> - -<p>The most suitable road for the ascent is the one which goes from -Amecameca to the ranch of Tlamacas, which is situated at 3897 m. -altitude and almost at the limit of tree growth; the trees there met -with are stunted; the day temperature is 8°, and at night 0 C., in -summer. In winter these temperatures are more extreme.</p> - -<p>Until one thousand metres beyond the ranch some firs are seen, which are -the last; to these follows a soil covered with a dark sand, very fine -and slippery, over which the horses can scarcely make their way. Here -and there upon this sandy zone are tufts of dry grass. These gradually -disappear, until, finally, there remains no sign of vegetation. A little -later snow begins, at a place called La<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_7" id="page_7"></a>{7}</span> Cruz, to which a great wooden -cross, reared upon a heap of rocks, gives name. At this point, the line -of perpetual snow is found, at 4300 m., little more or less, above -sea-level.</p> - -<p>From here the ascent is made on foot, and ever over the snow. The trail -zigzags, because the slope is 24° or 25°, becoming more abrupt, until -reaching 30° and 34°, at times. The walking is, naturally, very -difficult.</p> - -<p>When some hundred metres have been traversed, great difficulty in -breathing begins to be experienced, the lungs feel oppressed, and every -step, every movement of the body, causes great fatigue and compels the -stopping to take breath. Feeble constitutions cannot endure the -weariness and illness which are experienced. The reflection of the sun -upon the snow is intense, for which reason the wearing of dark glasses -is necessary. The face should also be veiled, to prevent the vertigo, -which the white sheet surrounding the traveler produces toward the -middle of the journey; when the day is fine and the atmosphere clear, -the panorama is incomparably beautiful. The city of Puebla is clearly -seen, and, at a greater distance the peak of Orizaba and the Cofre of -Perote. There may also be seen, with all clearness, the summit of -Ixtaccihuatl, totally without a crater. After some four hours of travel, -the end of the journey, the summit of the volcano is reached; the last -steps are particularly difficult, because the slope is now<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_8" id="page_8"></a>{8}</span> 40° and the -rarity of the air is greater; progress is difficult.</p> - -<p>From the point where the crater is reached it is not easy to take full -cognizance of its depth, though the general form may be appreciated. -This is elliptical; the major diameter measures some fifty metres more -than the other. A crest of rock, of varying elevation, forms the edge, -which makes it very irregular; it is very narrow; a simple step leads -from the outer, to the inner, slope. This edge presents two heights—one -is the <i>Espinazo del Diablo</i> (Devil’s Backbone), the other is the <i>Pico -Mayor</i> (Greater peak), which is, as its name indicates, the highest -point of the volcano, being 150 m. higher than the Espinazo. The <i>Pico -Mayor</i> is almost inaccessible, but its summit may, with difficulty, be -reached.</p> - -<p>The major diameter of the crater corresponds to the two summits named, -has some 850 m. length, and its direction is from south 20° west to -north 20° east. The transverse diameter may be estimated at 750 m., -which would give the crater a circumference of 2,500 m. In descending -from the border, the crater presents three distinct parts; a slope of -65°, a vertical wall seventy metres in height, and another slope, which -extends to the bottom. In total, the mean depth of this imposing abyss -will reach 250 m. to 300 m.</p> - -<p>At the place, where the vertical wall begins and the first slope ends, -there has been set up a sort of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_9" id="page_9"></a>{9}</span> windlass, below which an enormous -beam slopes downward toward the abyss; by this beam, and lowered by a -cord, the workmen who extract sulphur descend.</p> - -<p>In the bottom of the crater are four fumaroles, whence vapors escape, -which in issuing produce slight hissing sounds. Abundant deposits of -sulphur exist near these. Besides the fumaroles mentioned, there are -seven points at the borders of the crater, where gases escape, though in -less abundance; six of these points lie to the east of the major -diameter, and the seventh on the opposite side. All are inaccessible.</p> - -<p>The interior of the crater is formed by sheets, which form a regular -wall with vertical sides. In some places these layers are profoundly -shattered and there various species of rocks, of notably different -natures are seen; first, below, are sheets of trachyte, very compact and -rich in crystals of striated feldspar and partly decomposed amphibole; -above these more or less regular trachytic layers are beds of -well-characterized basalt—also very compact and rich in peridote; -lastly, above these layers are porous scoriæ, of dark purple color, -which indicates the presence of a considerable quantity of iron oxide. -These scoriæ must have originated from the fusion of the porphyritic -rocks.</p> - -<p>Every little while, at the summit, rage violent storms of snow, which -falls in thick sheets; at such times the atmospheric clouds do not -permit objects<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_10" id="page_10"></a>{10}</span> to be seen at a metre’s distance and the temperature -falls to 20° and 22° below 0 C.</p> - -<p>The exploitation of the sulphur is insignificant since only some -forty-eight or fifty tons are taken out, in a year; this sulphur is -distilled at the ranch of Tlamacas; it is sold in Mexico and Puebla at -the same price as that of Sicily—that of Popocatepetl being superior in -quality. The snow, too, on the side of Ozumba, is exploited, but this -exploitation is on the smallest scale.</p> - -<p>Various expeditions have been organized for the ascent of Popocatepetl, -some scientific in nature, others for amusement. The first was made in -1519 by Diego de Ordaz, one of the soldiers of Cortes; others followed. -In our own day, such expeditions are frequent and their results happily -verify each other.</p> - -<p>Ixtaccihuatl,—“white woman”—connected to Popocatepetl by a ridge of -graceful outline, rises to 5,288 m. altitude above sea-level. Down the -slopes of this mountain, several torrents, derived from the melting -snows, pour and form cascades and falls up to forty-five metres in -height. These same slopes, covered by a sheet of astonishingly rich and -luxuriant vegetation are gashed by deep crevices, in which are enormous -masses of porphyritic and basaltic rocks. Conifers form dense forests up -to 3,000 m. altitude; from there the vigor of arborescent vegetation -diminishes and at 4,000 m. it completely ceases; from that point on -there<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_11" id="page_11"></a>{11}</span> are only stretches of brambles, which completely disappear at -about 4,200 m.; then follow the sands, and, lastly, the perpetual snows, -which begin at 4,300 m.</p> - -<p>The crest, which is very grand and beautiful, resembles in the -arrangement of its rock masses, the form of a woman’s body, stretched at -length upon its back, and covered by a white winding sheet. From this, -the name of white woman,—<i>izta</i>, white; <i>cihuatl</i>, woman—with which -this lovely mountain was baptized by the dreamy imagination of the -Aztecs.</p> - -<h3>THE CAVERN OF CACAHUAMILPA.</h3> - -<p>In the limestone mountains of Cacahuamilpa, thirty kilometres north from -Tasco, in a ravine, lies the village of the same name, near which is -situated the famous cavern, one of the most beautiful in the world, -commonly designated by the name of the <i>gruta de Cacahuamilpa</i> (grotto -of Cacahuamilpa).... Dominating the eminence formed in the cordillera -running eastward and which has already been mentioned, is perceived the -great mouth of the cavern, with the green festoons of foliage which -adorn it and some stalactitic formations which seem to announce the -marvels of the interior. Access to this entrance is gained by a short -and narrow path.</p> - -<p>The mouth measures five metres in its greatest<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_12" id="page_12"></a>{12}</span> height and thirty-six -metres from side to side; after it has been traversed, there begins a -plane sloping toward the interior; the soil is sandy; shortly one -arrives at the first gallery, which is lighted by the sunlight.</p> - -<p>This gallery is very large; its walls are formed of enormous masses of -tilted rocks, which look as if about to fall; the spacious and lofty -vault is furrowed by broad and deep crevices and from it hang many -stalactites in the form of columns, or colossal pear-shaped masses of -marble. Crossing the broad space of this gallery, a second is reached, -where the darkness is dense and appalling, the torches scarcely dispel -the gloom, and the spirit is oppressed.</p> - -<p>In the first gallery the most notable concretions are “the enchanted -goat” and “the columns.” The former has lost much of its resemblance, as -the head of the goat has fallen, but the second is wonderfully -beautiful, because of its astonishing originality; its form is that of a -column adorned with a capital, in the form of a tuft of plumes, which -supports the base of a natural arch.</p> - -<p>The third gallery, called “the pulpit” on account of the shape of its -principal concretion is no less beautiful, grand, and imposing, than the -preceding. Here the darkness is absolute.</p> - -<p>Beyond this third gallery there are twelve more, very imperfectly known; -they are called—the cauliflower, the shell, the candelabrum, the -gothic<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_13" id="page_13"></a>{13}</span> tower, the palm tree, the pineapple, the labyrinth, the -fountain, and the organ-pipes. The rest have no special names. All of -these galleries are marvelously beautiful; all are extensive and have -lofty vaultings.</p> - -<p>The total extent of the cavern is unknown; though the guides assert that -it ends in the gallery of the organ-pipes, there are indications that -the statement is false. These indications are: the air, which, even at -such profound depths, is perfectly respirable; the lack of exploration; -the superstitious fears of the guides to go further; and, some -traditions, which declare that new galleries exist and have been -explored by persons, who report a rushing torrent producing a terrible -noise, for which reason no one cares to penetrate further. But, although -the extent of the cavern is unknown and the gallery of the organ-pipes -may not be the last, we ought not to believe the reports, which give the -cavern immense extension. For example, some say that the galleries and -ramifications extend to the mountains of Tasco, and there is one -tradition, which affirms that the cavern prolongs itself, through the -interior of the mountains which limit the Valley of Mexico on the south, -until it unites with the cavern of Teutli, near Milpa Alta.</p> - -<p>This tradition, although improbable, is curious; it states that some -families hid their treasure in the cave which occurs in the mountain of -Teutli; this has a very narrow entrance at first, but after some<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_14" id="page_14"></a>{14}</span> twelve -or fifteen metres broadens, forming a most beautiful cavern; this cavern -has a series of chambers, of greater or lesser size, which finally -communicate with the cave of Cacahuamilpa, more than one hundred -kilometres distant.</p> - -<p>The tradition cited adds that but few persons have dared to penetrate -the cave of Teutli, and on but one occasion, a herd of sheep having -entered it, some peons followed to collect and bring them out—a thing -they could not do because the animals penetrated far into the cave; -those who went in pursuit of them returned after two days of journeying -through these rough passages.</p> - -<p>In conclusion, it only remains to state, that the existence of the -cavern of Cacahuamilpa remained unknown to everyone, until the year -1833. Before that year, not even the Indians had entered it, because -they believed that the stalagmite in the form of a goat was a bad -spirit, that guarded the mysteries, which the cavern enclosed; but a -criminal who took refuge in it and was there during the period of his -pursuit, after which he returned to his home, astonished the inhabitants -of Tetecala by his fantastic reports; they made the first exploration -and announced their expedition, describing the wonderful cavern. Since -then, until now, expeditions have not lacked; unhappily, none of them -has been scientific.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_15" id="page_15"></a>{15}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="ANTONIO_GARCIA_CUBAS" id="ANTONIO_GARCIA_CUBAS"></a>ANTONIO GARCÍA CUBAS.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_015_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_015_sml.jpg" width="201" height="279" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Antonio García Cubas was born July 24, 1832, in the City of Mexico. He -began study looking toward engineering in the year 1845, although not -actually taking the degree of engineer until 1865. His technical studies -were pursued in the <i>Colegio de San Gregorio</i>, the <i>Minería</i> (School of -Mines), and the <i>Academia de San Carlos</i>. His studies were repeatedly -interrupted by appointments of importance and by public commissions. -Thus, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_16" id="page_16"></a>{16}</span> 1853 he published a general map of the Mexican Republic. Since -that date he has done much geographical and engineering work of -importance. In 1865, he served on the Scientific Commission of Pachuca. -In 1866 he did the leveling for the Mexican Railway to Tulancingo. He -published his first Atlas in 1857; in 1863, his <i>Carta general</i> (General -map), in 1876 his <i>Carta administrativa</i> (Administrative map), in 1878, -his <i>Carta orohydrographica</i> (Orographic-hydrographic map), still -perhaps the best maps of Mexico, of their kind. In 1882, his great -<i>Atlas, geografico, estadistico, y pintoresco de la Republica Mexicana</i> -(Geographical, Statistical, and Picturesque Atlas of the Mexican -Republic) was published. In addition to these and other equally -important scientific works, Señor García Cubas has written various -school books in geography, history, etc. Our selections are taken from a -little volume, <i>Escritos diversos</i> (Miscellaneous Writings).</p> - -<p>The work of Señor García Cubas has received wide and well-deserved -recognition. He is a member of the Geographical Societies of Paris, -Lisbon, Madrid and Rome; he has received scores of medals and diplomas; -he holds the Cross of the Legion of Honor. In his own country he is a -member of all the scientific societies but has naturally been most -interested in the <i>Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadstica</i> (The -Mexican Society of Geography and Statistics). He has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_17" id="page_17"></a>{17}</span> ever been active -in movements for public advancement and among many results of his -interest we may mention the Conservatory of Music.</p> - -<h3>THE INDIANS OF MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>The statistical data, imperfect though they have been, have given force -and value to the opinion, which for me is a fact, that the indigenous -race becomes debilitated and decreases in proportion as the white race -becomes strong and advances. This fact is in complete accord with the -laws of nature; the disadvantage of the indigenous race consists, for -its decrease, in its customs and in the hygienic conditions of its mode -of life. A miserable hut serves as a habitation for a numerous family -and in it, the inmates actually packed together, cannot but breathe a -polluted air; food is scanty and innutritious, while the daily -occupations are heavy and hard. Sad indeed is the sight of these unhappy -indigenes who without distinction of sex and age are encountered in our -city streets and who, exhausted under the weight of enormous burdens, -return to their villages with the miserable pittance gained from their -trading.</p> - -<p>If we consider the Indian from the time of his birth, or even from -before his birth, we see his life to be but a series of miseries and -abjections. The Indian women, even at the time of travail, do not cease -from their wearisome tasks and, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_18" id="page_18"></a>{18}</span> thought for the being who stirs -within them, occupy themselves in grinding maize and making tortillas, -labors which cannot but prove hurtful to the act of giving birth. While -the period of suckling has not passed, the child is fed with tortillas -and fruits and other foods unsuited to its digestive powers, causing by -such imprudence diarrhœas and other diseases, which carry the -children to the grave or, as they grow, leaves them infirm and feeble. -Smallpox, in consequence of the neglect of the parents and their -indifference to vaccination, causes frightful ravages—the disease being -most pernicious in the indigenous race.</p> - -<p>Such statistics as I possess of the movement of population in the pueblo -of Ixtacalco, while they indicate that the Civil Registry has not yet -extended its dominion to that pueblo, corroborate the opinion that the -decrease of the race is mainly due to infant mortality.</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr><td>In 1868 there were born </td><td class="rt">165</td></tr> -<tr><td>There died</td><td class="rt">190</td></tr> -<tr><td><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Loss</span></td><td class="rtbt">25</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>In this mortality there were one hundred and forty children. In the year -1869, although the data show an augmentation of fifty-nine persons in -the population, the infant deaths number sixty-five, to thirty-four of -adults.</p> - -<p>One fact ought to particularly call our attention because it proves that -the degradation of the race<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_19" id="page_19"></a>{19}</span> is not in its constitution but in the -customs of its members. The Indian women of the villages near the -Capital, hiring themselves out as nurses in private homes, rear -healthful and robust children, because in their new employment they -improve their condition, by enforced cleanliness, by good food, and by -the total change in their hygienic conditions. But this very -circumstance is a serious misfortune for the race, the women impelled by -the desire to gain better wages, abandoning their own children to the -mercenary cares of other women, as if the lack of a mother’s love and -care could be made good!</p> - -<p>Another of the reasons which, in my opinion, cause the degeneration of -the indigenous race, is that marriage takes place unwisely and -prematurely. According to medical opinion, the nubile age of woman in -our country is eighteen years, in the hot lands fourteen; between -medical theory and actual practice there is an enormous difference. As -regards the Indians, frequently union occurs between a woman scarcely -arrived at the term of her development and a man of forty years or more, -entirely developed and robust; as a consequence, the woman becomes -debilitated and infirm and her children are weak and degenerate.</p> - -<p>If to these causes, which operate so powerfully toward the decrease of -the indigenous race, is added the sensible diminution it has suffered in -our civil wars,—since the indigenous race supplies far<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_20" id="page_20"></a>{20}</span> the larger part -of the army—the truth of my assertion seems fully corroborated.</p> - -<h3>THE SEASONS IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>Few must be the places in the world which, from the picturesque and -poetical point of view, surpass in beauty the Valley of Mexico. The -varied phenomena, which the seasons of the year there present, -powerfully contribute to this.</p> - -<p>Some European savants assert that the seasons of the year are, in the -intertropical regions, reduced to two, the dry and rainy seasons. In our -country this assertion is without foundation. The truth is, that, in -those regions, weather variations less sharply determine seasonal -changes than in the temperate zones; but, in the Valley of Mexico -seasonal changes really take place as shown by the beautiful fresh -mornings of its Spring, prodigal in exquisite and varied flowers; the -hot days of its rainy Summer, rich in delicious fruits; the warm -afternoons of Autumn with its wondrously beautiful drifting clouds, and -the cold nights of Winter, with its clear and starry sky.</p> - -<p>As the last hours of night shorten in the lovely season of Spring, the -deep darkness which envelopes the earth’s surface dissipates little by -little and objects become visible as the delicate light of dawn -gradually invades the east. The sun’s rays, propagating themselves with -a constant undulatory<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_21" id="page_21"></a>{21}</span> movement, cause successive reflections and -refractions, in the atmosphere and clouds, scattering the light in every -direction and permitting the distinguishing of objects not yet directly -illuminated by that body. If this light, known by the name of diffused -or scattered light, did not exist, the shadow cast by a cloud, or by any -object whatever, would produce the darkness of night, and—there being -no twilight—the sun would appear on the horizon suddenly and in full -splendor.</p> - -<p>The sweet trills of the goldfinch, the warbling of other birds, the -harmonious sound of bells, which announce in the towns the hour of dawn, -and the laborer, who betakes himself to the field, with his oxen, to -begin his daily labors, mark the moments in which the splendid rays of -the sun, which precede the rising of the luminary, diffuse themselves -through the transparent fluid of the atmosphere. Before the sun mounts -above the horizon the eastern heavens are successively colored with the -brilliant tints of red, orange, yellow, green, and purple; the limit of -the white light of dawn, extending in the form of an arch through space, -rapidly advances toward the zenith, while, at the same time, the upper -heavens about that point, gradually acquire the most intense hue of -azure.</p> - -<p>The crest of the eastern cordillera sharpens and defines itself against -a background of rose and gold; the majestic snow caps of Popocatepetl -and Iztaccihuatl, which rise as two colossi in order to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_22" id="page_22"></a>{22}</span> display the -beauties of the sunrise, feebly illuminated on their western flanks by -the diffused light, appear as if made of Bohemian crystal. At times a -dense column of smoke, rendered visible by the whiteness of dawn, issues -from the crater of Popocatepetl, demonstrating the constant activity of -this volcano, which retains evidences of tremendous activity.</p> - -<p>When the sun, rising above the horizon, pursues its upward march, it -presents a beautiful spectacle, difficult of description. Its disc, red -and apparently increased in size, on account of atmospheric refraction, -presents itself surrounded by a luminous aureole, and gradually -diminishes in diameter as it mounts higher. The antecrepuscular curve -submerged in the horizon, the west acquires the same succession of tints -and the upper part of the sky is colored with a brilliant, most vivid -blue.</p> - -<p>From that moment the surroundings of the Capital city are most charming. -Chapultepec, with its many and limpid springs, its picturesque rock -mass, its poetic palace and its dense grove of ancient cypresses, from -the branches of which depend masses of gray moss—the honored locks of -their hoary age; Tacubaya with its palaces, its parks, and gardens; -Mixcoac with its pleasing environs and its lanes of fruit trees; San -Angel, Coyoacan, and Tlalpam, with their clear brooks, their gardens, -their fields, and their pretty glades, covered with plants, trees, and -interlacing climbers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_23" id="page_23"></a>{23}</span></p> - -<p>In all these places one enjoys the intoxicating freshness of the -morning, the attractiveness of the fields, the breathing of the fresh -air loaded with the perfume of flowers. There swarms of butterflies, -with gleaming and brilliant wings, display their beauties and -humming-birds, those precious winged gems which, endowed with an -extraordinary flight, cleave the air like an exhalation, or, sucking -honey from some flower, suspended in space, incessantly beat their wings -and expose the green and pearly lustre of their plumage to the -reflections of the sun.</p> - -<p>South of the capital, the soil differs from that of the places -mentioned. There the camelia, the lily, the Bengal-rose, and the other -exquisite flowers of careful cultivation are not met; but there, in the -<i>chinampas</i>, those artificial islands which have converted swamps into -lovely gardens, grow the luxuriant poppy, the purple pink, the elegant -dahlia, the perfumed violet, and the fragrant rose of Castile.</p> - -<p>The canal which unites the lakes of Texcoco and Xochimilco in the days -of Spring is to be seen covered with canoes loaded with flowers and -vegetables bound for the city markets; and everyone, who has -participated in the Lenten festivities of the Viga, will ever remember, -with delight, the animation that constantly reigns in that place, where -the common people finds its greatest joy. It may be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_24" id="page_24"></a>{24}</span> said that there is -the place of the festival of Spring and flowers.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Summer, in the Valley, as the other seasons of the year, has its -especial attractiveness.</p> - -<p>The atmospheric strata being unequally expanded by the fierce heat from -the earth’s surface, the order or arrangement of the layers in contact -with the soil is, so to say, inverted. It is well known that the lower -layers of air have the greater density, from the fact that the upper -layers weigh down upon them; from the earth’s surface upward there is a -gradual decrease in density until the last, the lightest and most -subtle, which is called ether. This general law being interfered with by -the expansion of the lower layers, refraction of the light rays,—or the -deviation which they suffer in passing from one medium into another of -differing density—takes place in a manner contrary to that when the -atmospheric layers are normally superposed, and the mirage<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> is -produced, an optical illusion, which causes us to see objects, below the -horizon or in the air, inverted.</p> - -<p>In the dry and level stretches in the north of the Valley, one -frequently sees the thick vapor stretch itself out over the surface of -the ground, and upon it, inverted, are portrayed the mountains with all<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_25" id="page_25"></a>{25}</span> -their irregularities and details, as if reproduced in a limpid mirror of -waters.</p> - -<p>The mirage is yet more interesting, more wonderful, in the Lake of -Texcoco, though the phenomenon is there less frequent. On clear days, -from the shore, one sees the full extent of the lake and the -tranquillity of its water. Miserable, frail canoes, the form of which -has not varied since the days of the conquest, are seen crossing the -lake, loaded with grains and vegetables for the Mexican markets. The -unsteady and narrow <i>chalupas</i> of the fishermen and flower-dealers -rapidly cleave the watery surface and only the creaking of the oars, or -the notes of the monotonous songs of the boatmen break the silence of -the solitude.</p> - -<p>When the temperature of the water of the lake is less than that of the -air with which it is in contact, those little crafts suddenly disappear -from the surface of the water and are seen, inverted, floating in the -air, coursing to the stroke of the oars, through a shifting sea of -clouds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_26" id="page_26"></a>{26}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JOAQUIN_GARCIA_ICAZBALCETA" id="JOAQUIN_GARCIA_ICAZBALCETA"></a>JOAQUÍN GARCÍA ICAZBALCETA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_026_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_026_sml.jpg" width="225" height="284" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>No name better deserves to be first mentioned in the list of modern -Mexican writers than that of Joaquín García Icazbalceta. He was born in -the City of Mexico Aug. 25, 1825. His father was a Spaniard, his mother -a Mexican. On account of the disorders connected with the Revolution, -his parents left Mexico, going first to the United States and later to -Spain, where they remained until 1836. In that year they returned to -Mexico.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_27" id="page_27"></a>{27}</span> The boy showed early earnestness in study and was well -instructed by private tutors. He was acquainted with and encouraged by -the great historian, Lucas Alaman, who no doubt had much to do with his -decision, about 1846, to devote himself to historical study.</p> - -<p>The list of his works is a long one. He translated Prescott’s <i>Conquest -of Peru</i> into Spanish and enriched it with valuable notes. To the well -known <i>Diccionario Universal de Historia y Geografía</i> (Universal -Dictionary of History and Geography) he contributed the biographical -sketches of many personages of the sixteenth century. In 1858 he began -publishing the <i>Coleccion de Documentos para la Historia de México</i> -(Collection of Documents for the History of Mexico), two volumes of -ancient, and for the most part unknown, matter of the highest value. -This was continued by the publication in 1870 of Mendieta’s <i>Historia -Ecclesiastica Indiana</i> (Ecclesiastical History of the Indians). Still -later in 1886-1892 these volumes were followed by four similar volumes -under the name <i>Nueva Coleccion de Documentos para la Historia de -México</i> (New Collection of Documents for the History of Mexico). These -papers were all original works, many of them from the sixteenth century, -of the greatest importance and interest, and most, if not all, of them -would have been lost or never known but for Icazbalceta’s care. In -publishing this matter our author always<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_28" id="page_28"></a>{28}</span> added notes and explanations, -characterized by lucidity, interest, and learning. Two important works -were published in 1875 and 1877—<i>México en 1554</i> (Mexico in 1554) and -<i>Coloquios espirituales y sacramentales y Poesias sagradas</i> (Spiritual -and Sacramental Colloquies and Sacred Poems). The former was a reprint -of three interesting dialogues in Latin by Francisco Cervantes Salazar; -the book is most rare; Icazbalceta printed the original Latin text with -a Spanish translation and added his usual valuable notes. The other -book, chiefly composed of religious dramas for popular representation, -was by Fernan Gonzales de Eslava, who was by no means a mean poet. In -reprinting this curious sixteenth century book Icazbalceta practically -traced the whole history of the religious play in Mexico of the past. No -Mexican bibliographer has done more important work than Icazbalceta. Two -works in this line need special mention. His <i>Apuntes para un Catalogo -de Escritores en lenguas indigenas de America</i> (Notes for a Catalogue of -Writers in the Native Languages of America) is not only interesting in -itself, but has been the necessary foundation for everything since -written regarding Mexican languages. As for his <i>Bibliografía Mexicana -del siglo xvi.</i> (Mexican Bibliography of the Sixteenth Century), it is a -wonderful work, representing forty years of labor. “It is a systematic -catalogue of books printed in Mexico in the years between 1539 and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_29" id="page_29"></a>{29}</span> -1600, with biographies of authors and various illustrations, facsimiles -of ancient title pages, extracts from rare books, bibliographic notes, -etc., etc.” It is far more—it is really a restoration of the life of -that wonderful age in American letters. In biography our author is -eminently happy; he usually loves and reverences his subject. In 1881 he -published his <i>Don Fray Juan de Zumárraga, Primer Obispo y Arzobispo de -México</i> (Friar Juan de Zumarraga, first bishop and archbishop of -Mexico). It is a magnificent example of such work. Another subject of -his love was Alegre, and besides a biography of him he -wrote—1889—<i>Opusculos ineditos Latinos y Castellanos de Francisco -Javier Alegre</i> (The Unpublished Works, Latin and Spanish, of Francisco -Javier Alegre). Icazbalceta’s last great work was <i>Diccionario de -Provincialismos Mexicanos</i> (Dictionary of Mexican Provincialisms). This -was passing through the press at the time of his death, November 26, -1894.</p> - -<p>Many of Icazbalceta’s choicest writings were monographs of no great -length prepared for reading before the Mexican Academy or other -organizations of which he was a member. These always show the same -careful gathering of facts, the same just criticism, and the same -literary character as his greater works. Our selections—all but -one—are from such a discourse read before the academy in June and July, -1882, entitled, <i>El instruccion<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_30" id="page_30"></a>{30}</span> publica en México durante el siglo -xvi.</i> (Public Instruction in Mexico during the Sixteenth Century). The -other is from a paper—<i>Los Medicos de México en el siglo xvi.</i> (The -Physicians of Mexico in the Sixteenth Century). These passages will no -doubt surprise many readers, who have been pleased to believe that -Spain’s policy was to hold its conquered territories in deep ignorance.</p> - -<h3>THE EARLY MISSIONARIES.</h3> - -<p>When the first Spanish missionaries arrived, they faced that great mass -of uncivilized folk, which it was necessary to convert and civilize in a -single day. Today there exist an enormous number of establishments and -private teachers for educating youth in classes, graded with relation to -ages; there were then twelve men for millions of children and adults, -who begged, in concert, for light, and light which it was impossible to -deny them, because it was not merely a matter of human culture, which -most important as it is, did not then occupy the first place; but of -opening the eyes to blind heathen and of making them take the straight -road for attaining the salvation of their souls. The matter then seemed -serious; it was really still more so, because the new teachers had never -heard the language of their pupils. But what may not devotion -accomplish? Those venerable men quickly mastered the unknown language -and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_31" id="page_31"></a>{31}</span> others and others as they met them; they understood, or rather -they divined, the peculiar character of the population, and at once -converted, instructed, and protected it. The first missionaries and -those who followed after them, were certainly no common men; almost all -were educated; many like Fathers Tecto, Gaona, Focher, Vera Cruz, and -others had shone in professorships and prelacies; they were of noble -birth, and three of them, Fathers Gante, Witte, and Daciano, felt royal -blood coursing through their veins. All renounced the advantages -promised by a brilliant career; all forgot their hard gained learning to -devote themselves to the primary instruction of the poor and unprotected -Indians. What inflated doctor, what betitled professor today would -accept a primary school in an obscure village?</p> - -<p>The Franciscans went everywhere rearing temples to the true God, and -with them schools for children. They gave to their principal convents a -special plan; the church set from east to west and the school, with its -dormitories and chapel at right angles to it, stretching to the north. -The square of buildings was completed by the ample court, which served -for teaching the Christian doctrine to adults, in the morning before -work, and also for the sons of the <i>macehuales</i> or plebeians who came to -receive religious instruction; the school building was reserved for the -sons of nobles and lords; although this distinction was not rigidly -observed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_32" id="page_32"></a>{32}</span></p> - -<p>At first the friars found great difficulty in gathering together boys to -fill these schools, because the Indians were not yet capable of -understanding the importance of the new discipline and refused to give -their boys to the monasteries. They had to appeal to the government that -it should compel the lords and principal men to send their sons to the -schools; first experiment in compulsory education. Many of the lords, -not caring to give up their children, but not daring to disobey, adopted -the expedient of sending, in place of their own sons, and as if they -were these, other boys, sons of their servants or vassals. But in time, -perceiving the advantage these plebeian boys, by education, were gaining -over their masters, they sent their sons to the monasteries, and even -insisted on their being admitted. The boys dwelt in the lodgings built -for the purpose in connection with the schools, some so spacious as to -suffice for eight hundred or a thousand. The friars devoted themselves -by preference to the children, as being—from their youth—more docile -and apt to learn, and found in them most useful helpers. Soon they -employed them as teachers. The adults brought from their wards by their -leaders, came to the patios and remained there during the hours set for -instruction, after which they were free for their ordinary occupations. -Divided into groups, one of the best instructed boys taught to each -group the lesson learned from the missionary.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_33" id="page_33"></a>{33}</span></p> - -<h3>PEDRO DE GANTE’S WORK.</h3> - -<p>Although you know the fact well, gentlemen, you would not forgive me -should I omit mentioning the work which the noted lay brother, Pedro de -Gante, blood relative of the Emperor Charles V., did in the direction of -instructing the Indians. He was not the founder of the College of San -Juan de Letran, as is generally stated, but of the great school of San -Francisco, in Mexico, which he directed during a half century. This was -constructed, as was customary, behind the convent church, extending -toward the north, and contiguous to the famous chapel of San José de -Belem de Naturales—the first church of Mexico, the old cathedral -included. There our lay brother brought together fully a thousand boys, -to whom he imparted religious and civil instruction. Later he added the -study of Latin, of music, and of singing, by which means he did a great -service to the clergy, because from there went forth musicians and -singers for all the churches. Not satisfied with this achievement, he -brought together also adults, with whom he established an industrial -school. He provided the churches with painted or sculptured figures; -with embroidered ornaments, sometimes with designs interspersed of the -feather work, in which the Indians were so distinguished; with crosses, -with candlestick standards, and many other objects necessary for church -service, no less than<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_34" id="page_34"></a>{34}</span> with workmen for the construction of the churches -themselves, for he had in that school painters, sculptors, engravers, -stonecutters, carpenters, embroiderers, tailors, shoemakers, and other -trades workers. He attended to all and was master of all. The gigantic -efforts of that immortal lay brother cause genuine admiration—who -without other resources than his indomitable energy, born of his warm -charity, reared from the foundations and sustained for so many years a -magnificent church, a hospital and a great establishment, which was at -once a primary school, a college of higher instruction and religious -teaching, an academy of the fine arts, and a trades school, in fine a -center of civilization.</p> - -<h3>INSTRUCTION BY HIEROGLYPHS.</h3> - -<p>Industrial schools, compulsory education, these seem to us usually -modern ideas; but these old teachers knew something of object teaching, -of adapting methods to varying conditions. Thus:</p> - -<p>They completed the instruction by the use of signs, and it may be -imagined that the result was little or nothing. Desirous of hastening -the instruction and realizing that what enters by the eye engraves -itself more easily upon the mind, they devised the idea of painting the -mysteries of religion upon a canvas. Friar Jacob de Tastera, a -Frenchman, was the first, it seems, who tested this method. He did not -know the language, but he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_35" id="page_35"></a>{35}</span> showed the Indians the chart and caused one -of the brighter among them, who knew something of Spanish, to explain -the meaning of the figures to the others. The other friars followed his -example and the system continued in use much time. They were also -accustomed to hang the necessary charts upon the wall, and the -missionary, as he made the doctrinal explanations, indicated with a -pointer the corresponding chart. The Indians accustomed to painting -hieroglyphs adopted them for writing catechisms and prayerbooks for -their own use, but varying the old form and interspersing here and there -words written with European letters, from which there resulted a new -species of mixed writing, of which curious examples are preserved, some -of which are in my possession. They made use of the same method of -jotting down a record of their sins that they might not forget them at -the time of going to the confessional. The use of the pictures was so -pleasing to the Indians that it lasted all that century and a part of -the following. In 1575 Archbishop Moya de Contreras substituted with -announcements in pictures, papal bulls which failed to come from Spain; -and the well known French writer, Friar Juan Bautista, caused figures to -be engraved—after the seventeenth century had begun—for use in -teaching the Indians of that time the doctrine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_36" id="page_36"></a>{36}</span></p> - -<h3>THE UNIVERSITY OF MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>The famous University of Mexico was opened in 1553, almost seventy years -before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Literary contests of a -public character were not infrequent:</p> - -<p>The doors of the university opened, there entered by them a great number -of youth, who waited with impatience the moment of commencing or -prosecuting their studies. So Cervantes Salazar testifies in the -description which he wrote of the institution, the year following its -establishment. Soon the literary exercises began and notable was the -ardor with which the students engaged in scholastic disputations, to -which, as Cervantes says, night alone put an end. The learned men who -were already in Mexico hastened to connect themselves with the -university, among them Archbishop Montufar. Nothing was omitted to add -to the luster of the new school, since there were given to it the -privileges of the University of Salamanca and the title Royal and -Pontifical. From it sallied many alumni as teachers, or to occupy high -positions in church and state. It was really, as its founders had -planned, a source of supply (nursery) of educated men, which in large -measure obviated the necessity of bringing such from Europe, and there -were even some who <i>there</i> brilliantly displayed the education which -they had received in the schools of Mexico.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_37" id="page_37"></a>{37}</span></p> - -<h3>A LITERARY FESTIVAL.</h3> - -<p>In the year 1578, on the occasion of the arrival at Mexico of a great -quantity of sacred relics, presented by Pope Gregory XIII. to the -Jesuits, it was decided to celebrate a brilliant festival. Upon the -announcement of this, many distinguished persons and a multitude of -others betook themselves to Mexico. An official proclamation, given -forth beforehand with much ceremony, announced a program of seven -literary controversies. The procession with the sacred relics sallied -from the cathedral, and on the way to the Church of the Jesuits, where -they were to be deposited, there were reared five magnificent triumphal -arches ‘at least fifty feet high.’ Besides these more important ones, -the Indians constructed more than fifty, made of boughs and flowers -according to their custom. All the doors and windows of the houses were -adorned with rich tapestries, Flemish stuffs embroidered with gold and -silk. In the arches, as at the corners, and in the little ornamental -shrines which decorated the line of march, there were displayed placards -and shields with inscriptions, sentences, and poetical verses in Latin, -Spanish, and even in Greek and Hebrew. At each arch the procession -paused to see and hear dances, sports, music, and poems. During the -space of eight days, in the afternoons, upon platforms erected for the -purpose, the students of the different schools in turn<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_38" id="page_38"></a>{38}</span> represented -religious plays. One of these was the tragedy of the persecution of the -church under Diocletian and the prosperity which followed, with the -reign of Constantine. This drama, which still exists in printed form, -was undoubtedly a work of the Jesuit professors. Delighted with its -rendition the populace demanded its repetition, which took place the -following Sunday.</p> - -<h3>INDIAN LANGUAGES.</h3> - -<p>An immense field is opened before my view, in the linguistic and -historic works, which we owe to the sixteenth century. On their arrival -the missionaries found themselves face to face with a language entirely -unknown to the inhabitants of the Old World; and as they progressed with -their apostolic labors they discovered with pain that this land, where -the curse of Babel seems to have fallen with especial weight, was full -of different languages, of all forms and structures, some polished, -others barbarous, for which they had neither interpreters, nor teachers, -nor books, and for the most part not even a people of culture who spoke -them. That difficulty in itself would suffice to discourage the most -intrepid mind; but there did not in the world exist anything which could -quench the fire of charity with which the missionaries were aglow. They -undertook the contest with the hundred-headed monster and vanquished -him. Today the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_39" id="page_39"></a>{39}</span> study of a group of languages, or even of one tongue, -raises the fame of the philologist to the clouds, although he usually -finds the way pathed out for him by previous labors; but the -missionaries learned, or rather divined all, from the first beginnings; -a single man at times attacked five or six of these languages without -analogy, without a common filiation, without known alphabet, with -nothing that might facilitate the task. Today such investigations are -made, for the most part, in the tranquillity and shelter of the study; -then, in the fields, the groves, upon the roads, under the open sky, in -the midst of fatigues of the mission journey, of hunger, of lack of -clothing, of sleeplessness.</p> - -<p>The missionaries did not undertake such heavy tasks to attain fame; they -did not compare the languages, nor treat them in a scientific way; they -tried to reduce them all to the plan of Latin; but they went straight to -the practical end of making themselves comprehensible to the natives, -and laid firm foundations, upon which might be reared a magnificent -structure. The linguistic section of our literature is one of those -which most highly honor it, and this, although we know but a portion of -it. Countless are the writings which have remained unpublished, either -for lack of patronage to supply the cost of printing or because they -were translations of sacred texts which it was not permitted to place in -vulgar hands. Father Olmos is a notable example of the sad fate which -befell<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_40" id="page_40"></a>{40}</span> many of these writers. It is believed that he knew various -Chichimecan dialects, because he was a long time among them, and it is -certain that he wrote without counting other books, grammars, and -vocabularies of the Aztec, Huastec, and Totonac languages. Of such great -works only his Aztec grammar has survived, which, after circulating -during more than three centuries through public and private libraries, -has finally been saved, thanks to the beautiful edition of it which was -published, not in Mexico, but in Paris in 1875. In a history of Mexican -literature, notices and analysis of the books on the native -languages—today so much esteemed and studied in foreign lands—claim a -place of honor.</p> - -<h3>FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ.</h3> - -<p>That same year, about the month of September, the famous Dr. Francisco -Hernandez, court physician of Philip II., arrived in Mexico. He was a -native of Toledo and was born about 1517 or 1518. Nothing is known of -his life previous to his journey to New Spain, whither he came by royal -commission, to write the natural history of the country, with reference -to medicine. He consumed seven years in the discharge of his commission, -making continual journeys, meeting obstacles and suffering diseases -which brought him to the edge of the grave. It has been generally said -that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_41" id="page_41"></a>{41}</span> Philip II. supplied the expenses of this expedition with regal -munificence and that it cost him 20,000 ducats; but documents published -in our days, clearly show that Hernandez was given but a modest salary, -although we do not know exactly the amount, with no assistance whatever -for his extraordinary expenses, not even for those occasioned by his -frequent journeys. Nor was he supplied the assistance usual in such -cases, and he had no other helper than his own son. In spite of all this -he was never discouraged in that great enterprise. In order to devote -himself entirely to it, he refused to practice medicine in Mexico, -‘throwing away the opportunity of gaining more than 20,000 pesos by the -practice of the healing art, and much more by occupations pursued in -this country, on account of employing myself in the service of your -majesty and in the consummation of the work’—as he himself says in a -letter to the king. Not content with describing and making drawings of -the plants and animals of New Spain he caused the efficacy of the -medicines to be practically tested in the hospitals, and availing -himself of his title of <i>protomedico</i>, convoked the practitioners then -in the city and urged them to make similar tests and to communicate the -results to him. Finally he carried to Spain, 1577, seventeen volumes of -text and illustrations, in which was the natural history; and an -additional volume containing various writings upon the customs and -antiquities of the Indians. Copies<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_42" id="page_42"></a>{42}</span> of all were left in Mexico, which -have disappeared. He wrote the work in Latin; he translated a part of it -into Spanish, and the Indians, under his direction, commenced a -translation into Aztec.</p> - -<p>Arrived in Spain, Hernandez suffered the severest blow possible for an -author—instead of his great work being put promptly to press, as he had -expected, it was buried in the shelves of the library of the Escorial; -to be sure with all honor, for the volumes were ‘beautifully bound in -blue leather and gilded and supplied with silver clasps and corners, -heavy and excellently worked.’ However, this magnificent dress did not -serve to protect the work, which finally perished, almost a century -later, in the great conflagration of the Escorial, which took place the -7th and 8th of June, 1671, nothing being saved except a few drawings, -just enough to augment our appreciation of the loss. Dr. Hernandez -survived his return little more than nine years, since he died February -28, 1587.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_43" id="page_43"></a>{43}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="AGUSTIN_RIVERA" id="AGUSTIN_RIVERA"></a>AGUSTIN RIVERA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_043_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_043_sml.jpg" width="219" height="278" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Agustin Rivera was born at Lagos (Jalisco) on February 28, 1824. For a -time he studied at the famous <i>Colegio de San Nicolas</i>, at Morelia, and, -later, at the <i>Seminario</i> in Guadalajara. In 1848 he was licensed to -practice law and in the same year took holy orders. He taught for some -time at Guadalajara, and was, for nine years, the attorney of the -Ecclesiastical Curia. He finally removed to Lagos, the city of his -birth, where he still lives, and where his writings have been -published<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_44" id="page_44"></a>{44}</span>. In 1867, he made a journey to Europe, visiting England, -France, Italy, and Russia. His writings have been many, varied, and -extensive; the complete list of his books and pamphlets, includes -ninety-four titles. Among the best known and most widely mentioned are -his <i>Compendio de la Historia antigua de Mexico</i> (Compend of the Ancient -History of Mexico), <i>Principios criticos sobre el vireinato de la Nueva -España</i> (Critical Observations upon the Vice-Royalty of New Spain), and -<i>La Filosofía en Nueva España</i> (Philosophy in New Spain). Two pamphlets, -<i>Viaje á las Ruinas de Chicomoztoc</i> (Journey to the Ruins of -Chicomoztoc) and <i>Viaje á las Ruinas del Fuerte del Sombrero</i> (Journey -to the Ruins of the Fort of Sombrero), have been widely read and are -often mentioned.</p> - -<p>Our author is vigorous and clear in thought and expression. Extremely -liberal in his views, much of his writing has been polemic. In argument -he is shrewd and incisive; in criticism, candid but unsparing. His -<i>Principios criticos</i> is a scathing arraignment of the government of New -Spain under the viceroys. His <i>Filosofía</i> is a part of the same -discussion. It forms a large octavo volume. It begins with presenting -two Latin documents of the eighteenth century, programs of public -<i>actos</i>, given at the <i>Seminario</i> and the <i>Colegio de Santo Tomás</i> in -Guadalajara. These serve as the basis for a severe criticism of the -philosophical thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_45" id="page_45"></a>{45}</span> and teaching in Spain and New Spain during the -vice-regal period. Testimonies are cited from many authors and Rivera’s -comments upon and inferences from these are strong and original. In the -course of the book he summarizes the scientific work really done—and -there was some—in Mexico during the seventeenth and eighteenth -centuries. He sums up his argument in eleven corollaries. Our selections -are taken from the <i>Filosofía en Nueva España</i> and from a curious -dialogue regarding the teaching of Indian languages.</p> - -<p>On February 28, 1902, after many years of absence, Agustin Rivera was in -Guadalajara; his completion of seventy-eight years of life was there -celebrated by a large circle of his friends, old students, admirers, and -readers, most brilliantly. In October, 1901, a proposition, that the -national government should pension the faithful and fearless old man, -was unanimously carried by the one hundred and twenty-five votes in the -House of Deputies in the City of Mexico. It is pleasant to see these -acts of public recognition of the value of a long life usefully spent.</p> - -<h3>BACKWARDNESS OF MEXICO IN VICEROYAL TIMES.</h3> - -<p>My lack of pecuniary resources does not allow me to give greater bulk to -this book by translating Document I. from Latin into Spanish; but those -who know the Latin language and philosophy<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_46" id="page_46"></a>{46}</span> will observe that in the -Department of Physics in the College of Santo Tomás in Guadalajara were -taught <i>the first cause</i>, <i>the properties of secondary causes</i>, -supernatural operations, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, -eternity—everything, in fact, save physics. Neither the word <i>heat</i>, -nor the word <i>light</i>, is met with once in the program. The program -cited, further accentuates ignorance of modern logic and modern -metaphysics. Such was the teaching of philosophy by the Jesuits in the -schools of New Spain, until the end of their instruction and existence -in this country, since the public <i>acto</i>, in the College of Santo Tomás, -took place in 1764, and three years later they were expelled (June 25, -1767). History proves that the Jesuits were at the front in teaching in -the colleges of New Spain, and if <i>they</i> taught such things, what could -those teach who were in the rear?</p> - -<p>Lucas Alaman, Adolfo Llanos, Niceto de Zamacois, Ignacio Aguilar y -Marocho, and other writers, open partisans of the colonial government -(few indeed in this nineteenth century) to such documents as form the -matter of this Dissertation reply: “It was the logic, the metaphysics -and the physics of that epoch.” The statement is false and one might say -that the writers mentioned were ignorant of history, or that, knowing -it, they made sport of the credulity and good faith of their readers, -were it not that the intelligence and honesty of the four writers—and -of others—is well established, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_47" id="page_47"></a>{47}</span> did not logic teach us that there -are other sources of error in judgment besides ignorance and bad faith; -that a great source of errors is <i>preoccupation</i>, as that of Alaman and -Aguilar Marocho—for all that concerns the monarchy and viceroyalty; and -a great source of errors is <i>passion</i>, vehement and uncontrolled, as the -love of country which sways Zamacois, Llanos, and other Spanish -writers.... The statement is false, I repeat, and, in consequence, the -conclusion is nul: <i>nulla solutio</i>. I shall prove it.</p> - -<p>The discovery of the New World, the origin of the Americans and their -magnificent ruins and antiquities, scattered over the whole country; the -Aztec civilization, grand in a material way; their human sacrifices, -which in fundamental meaning involved a great genesiac thought and in -application were a horrible fanaticism; the Conquest of Mexico, in which -present themselves:—Hernan Cortes, the first warrior of modern times, -though with indelible stains; Pedro de Alvarado, Gonzalo de Sandoval, -Cristobal de Olid, and Diego de Ordaz, with their feats of heroism and -their crimes; Cuauhtemotzin, Xicotencatl, Cacamotzin, and the other -Indian warriors with their immortal patriotism; the interesting figure -of Marina; Bartolomé de Olmedo, Pedro de Gante, Bartolomé de las Casas, -Juan de Zumárraga, Toribio de Motolinia, Bernardino de Sahagun, and the -other missionaries surrounded by an aureole of light which<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_48" id="page_48"></a>{48}</span> brings -posterity to its knees; all the conjunct of the Conquest, as the finest -subject for an epic poem; “the Laws of the Indies,” the <i>encomiendas</i>, -the Inquisition; Antonio Mendoza, the venerable Palafox, Fray Payo -Enriquez de Rivera, the Duke of Linares, Revilla Gigedo the second, and -other excellent viceroys; the fecund events of 1808; the Revolution of -the Independence, the first and second empires, and many other events in -the history of Mexico during its five epochs, have already been treated -and ventilated in many books, pamphlets and journals—some sufficiently, -others overmuch. Poetry in New Spain has been magnificently treated by -my respected friend, the learned Francisco Pimentel, in Volume I. of his -<i>Historia de la Literatura y de las Ciencias en Mexico</i>. But <i>Philosophy -in New Spain</i> is a subject that has not been specifically treated by -only one. This work has, perhaps, no other merit than novelty, which -would be worth nothing without truth, supported by good testimonies. As -regards Spain I shall take my testimonies from no foreign authors—lest -the bourbonist writers might reject them as disaffected and prejudiced, -and so shield themselves—but from Spanish writers; with the exception -of one and another Mexican, accepted by all Spaniards as trustworthy, -such as Alzate and Beristain.... And among Spaniards I will refrain from -citing Emilio Castelar and others of the extreme left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_49" id="page_49"></a>{49}</span></p> - -<h3>DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICES IN NEW SPAIN.</h3> - -<p>With regard to the public offices in New Spain, of consequence for the -honor connected with them, or because of the fat salary, Señor Zamacois -says:</p> - -<p>“It has been said, in regard to official positions, that the Mexicans -filled only the less important; in this, another error has been -committed. The monarchs of Castille considered those born in the -American colonies as Spaniards, and made <i>no distinction</i> between them -and Peninsulars; all had equal rights and, therefore, in making an -appointment, there was no question whether the person named came from -the provinces of America or those of the Peninsula.... The offices and -appointments were conferred in equal numbers on the sons of America and -Peninsulars.”</p> - -<p>By way of digression, I may present a few penstrokes, but they will be -sufficient for any intelligent man. Padre Mariana, high authority in -history, states this maxim: <i>History takes no sides until shown a clean -record</i>. Señor Zamacois shows no clean record for his assertions. I will -present mine. There were sixty-two Viceroys of Mexico, and of these -fifty-nine were Spaniards of the Peninsula and three were creoles—Luiz -de Velasco, native of the City of Mexico, Juan de Acuña, native of Lima, -and Revilla Gigedo the second, native of Havana; in consequence, only -one was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_50" id="page_50"></a>{50}</span> Mexican. There were thirty-three Bishops of Guadalajara and of -these twenty-six were Spanish Peninsulars and seven were creoles; these -were ...; that is to say, only five were Mexicans. I confess my -ignorance; I do not understand Señor Zamacois’s arithmetic—the equality -between 26 and 7. There were thirty-four Bishops of Michoacan, and of -these there were thirty Spanish Peninsulars and four creoles; these were -...; that is to say, only two were Mexicans. Thirty equals four? Please, -Señor Zamacois. There were thirty-one Archbishops of Mexico, of whom -twenty-nine were Spanish Peninsulars and two creoles; these were ...; -that is to say, only one was Mexican. Twenty-nine Spaniards and two -creoles are equal.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Adolfo Llanos, in treating this matter, goes (as is his custom farther -than Zamacois, saying that the ecclesiastical offices of importance were -obtained by the creoles, not equally with the Spaniards, but -preponderantly over them.) He says:</p> - -<p>“Americans were preferred by the Spanish Kings over Europeans, in the -assignment of high ecclesiastical dignities.”</p> - -<p>Let us leave Llanos and the other blind defenders of the vice-regal -government.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_51" id="page_51"></a>{51}</span></p> - -<h3>SCIENCE VERSUS SCHOLASTICISM.</h3> - -<p>Modern philosophers, notable in European lands (outside of Spain) were -numbered by hundreds, and the young Gamarra did nought but glean in so -abundant a field. Galileo and Harvey! What brilliant and suitable -examples men of great talent furnish! Harvey, in his study, with a frog -in his hand. As parallels and comparisons are most useful in -understanding a subject, as a recognized rule of law says that placing -two opposing views face to face both are more clearly known, I venture -to add—after Gamarra’s fashion—a parallel between Harvey and Domingo -Soto. <i>A frog!</i> here I have a thing apparently vile and despicable; the -Epistles of Saint Paul, here I have a thing infinitely sublime. A film -to which the intestines of a frog are attached; what thing meaner? The -science of theology; what thing so grand? To soil one’s hands with the -blood and secretions of an animal; occupation, to all appearance, vile; -to take the pen for explaining the Holy Scriptures; occupation, sacred -and sublime. And yet, Domingo Soto with his scholastic commentaries on -the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans was of no use to humanity; and -Harvey, presenting himself in the great theater of the scientific world, -with a frog in his hand, discovering the circulation of the blood, -rendered an immense service to mankind. Domingo Soto was a Catholic, and -one of the Fathers of the Council<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_52" id="page_52"></a>{52}</span> of Trent, and Harvey was a -Protestant—and yet, without doubt, the Catholic Church does not esteem -the commentaries of its son Soto, and, in the Vatican’s council, has -sounded the praises of the discovery of the Protestant Harvey.</p> - -<h3>PHILOSOPHY IN NEW SPAIN.<br /> -COROLLARIES.</h3> - -<p>1. Studies never flourished under the Colonial regime.</p> - -<p>2. Spain in the seventeenth century and in the first and second thirds -of the eighteenth century was poor and backward in philosophy, and New -Spain during the same period was in the same predicament.</p> - -<p>3. That New Spain was backward in philosophy at that time because such -was the philosophy of the epoch, is false.</p> - -<p>4. The ideas and impulse in the modern philosophical sciences, which New -Spain received during the last years of the eighteenth and the early -years of the nineteenth century, did not come mainly from Spain, but -from the other principal nations of Europe.</p> - -<p>5. It follows, from Spain and New Spain having been backward in -philosophy, that they were also backward in theology, jurisprudence, -medicine, and in all the sciences, because philosophy is the basis of -all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_53" id="page_53"></a>{53}</span></p> - -<p>6. The expression, “Spain taught us what she herself knew,” is not a -good excuse or exoneration.</p> - -<p>7. The scholastic philosophy is useful; the pseudo-scholastic is -prejudicial.</p> - -<p>8. The history of the viceroyal government is most useful.</p> - -<p>9. This dissertation is a new book.</p> - -<p>10. “Not as a spider, nor as an ant, but as a bee.”</p> - -<p>11. The union between Spaniards and Mexicans is very useful; but history -cannot be silenced by the claim that it is a social union.</p> - -<h3>DIALOGUE BETWEEN AGUSTIN RIVERA AND FLORENCITO LEVILON.</h3> - -<p>“How are you, sir?”</p> - -<p>“How are you, Florencito? When did you arrive?”</p> - -<p>“Yesterday.”</p> - -<p>“I am greatly pleased that you have called to see me. What have you -studied this year?”</p> - -<p>“The Aztec language; here is the invitation to my public examination. -The program was as fine as usual, since my teacher, Señor Don Agustin de -la Rosa, spoke splendidly, as every year, of the philosophy and richness -of the Aztec tongue.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you. And how many students were there in the subject?”</p> - -<p>“This year we were so many, last year there<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_54" id="page_54"></a>{54}</span> were so many, the year -before so many, and the same, more or less, so I have heard, in years -gone by.”</p> - -<p>“What a pity! They are few, almost nothing in comparison with the -necessity that exists in our Republic for men who study the native -tongues. But these few, at least, attend the exercises every school -day?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir; far from it! Some attend, and others not, just as they -please.”</p> - -<p>“And, the days they do attend, they study the Aztec grammar and hear it -explained?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir; by no means. Many days the teacher and we occupy ourselves in -the <i>Levilon</i>.”</p> - -<p>“And what is that?”</p> - -<p>“<i>Levilon, levilon, ton, ton.</i>”</p> - -<p>“I understand you, even less.”</p> - -<p>“It is a sort of a marsellaise against cleanness and neatness of person -and dress; that is to say, against politeness.”<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p>“But, man, in a college for the instruction of youth—however, let us -return to our subject. In the three years you have studied Aztec, have -you learned to speak it?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir; by no means.”</p> - -<p>“Then, what have you learned?”</p> - -<p>“The philosophy and richness of the Aztec tongue.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_55" id="page_55"></a>{55}</span></p> - -<p>“But you must have studied the four divisions of Aztec grammar—analogy, -syntax, prosody, and orthography—and by this complete study arrived at -an understanding of the philosophy and richness of the language.”</p> - -<p>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p>“But have you not had a public examination?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir; but those who were publicly examined in past years, have as -little, made a complete study of the grammar, but have also learned the -philosophy and richness of the Mexican tongue.”</p> - -<p>“Come! let us see. How many years has the chair of the Aztec language -been established in the Seminario at Guadalajara?”</p> - -<p>“About thirty.”</p> - -<p>“And during about thirty years has some priest gone forth from the -institution to preach to the Indians in their native language?”</p> - -<p>“Why, no sir! During the thirty years what has been, and is, learned is -the philosophy and richness of the Aztec language. You must have seen -the precious little work, by my professor, upon the beauty and richness -of the Aztec language, elegantly bound, which was sent to the Paris -Exposition.”</p> - -<p>“But man—Florencito,” (rising, pacing, and puffing at my cigar) -“really, all this and nothing are much the same. These programs, in -which one speaks eloquently of the beauty and richness of the Aztec -language are no more than pretty theories<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_56" id="page_56"></a>{56}</span>. This book upon the richness -and beauty of the Aztec language, with all its elegant binding, is but a -pretty theory. <i>The practical! The practical!</i> Let me give you my -opinion in the matter briefly, and in four propositions: <i>First</i>, the -ecclesiastical government and the civil government have the obligation -and the mission of civilizing the Indians; <i>second</i>, for this, in each -bishopric and in each State there ought to be chairs of the Indian -languages spoken in the territory—for example, in the Seminary and in -one of the State Colleges of Mexico, there ought to be a chair of the -Aztec language; in the Seminary and State College of Queretaro, there -ought to be a chair of Otomi; in the Seminary and in the State College -of Morelia, there ought to be chairs of Tarascan and Matlazinca; in the -Seminary and in the State College of Guadalajara, there ought to be a -chair of the Cora language; in the Seminary and State College of San -Luis Potosi, there ought to be a chair of the Huastec; in the Seminary -and the State College of Puebla, there ought to be a chair of Aztec; in -the Seminary and the State College of Jalapa there ought to be a chair -of Totonaco; in the Seminary and in the State College of Oaxaca there -ought to be chairs of the different indigenous languages spoken in the -territory—chiefly the Mixtec and Zapotec, etc.; <i>third</i>, it ought to -be, that from the seminaries there shall go forth priests to be <i>curas</i> -in the Indian towns of the bishopric, who shall<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_57" id="page_57"></a>{57}</span> preach to the Indians -and catechize them in their own language; <i>fourth</i>, it ought to be, that -from the State Colleges, primary teachers shall go forth to teach the -elementary branches to the Indians of the State, in their own idiom—and -shall go forth <i>jefes politicos</i>, who shall be able to treat with the -Indians, talking to them in their own languages.”</p> - -<p>“Sir, these things appear to me impossible.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know that there can be given but two answers to my proposition -and my arguments. The first is the ‘<i>non possumus</i>,’ ‘we cannot.’<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> One -can preach in cathedrals and other magnificent temples, to an elegant -gathering, afterward print the sermon and distribute copies liberally to -select society; but to subject one’s self to the task of learning an -indigenous tongue, and to go to preach to the Indians—<i>that</i>, one -cannot do. One can be a <i>jefe politico</i> in a city, where comforts -abound, and draw a fat salary; but the abnegation and patriotism of -exercising the administrative power in an Indian town—a despicable -thing! Sad reply. Unhappy Mexican nation during the colonial epoch! and, -unhappy Mexican nation, still, in 1891, because you yet preserve -many—even very many—remnants of the colonial education, and this is -the <i>principal</i> hindrance to your progress and well-being. We Mexicans, -because of the education which we received from the Spanish, are much<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_58" id="page_58"></a>{58}</span> -given to scholastic disputes, to beautiful discourses, pretty poems, -enthusiastic toasts, quixotic proclamations, projects, laws, decrees, -programs of scientific education, plans of public amelioration, in -Andalusian style and well-rounded periods; but, as for the -practical—the Spanish sloth, the Spanish fanaticism for the <i>statu -quo</i>, the Indian idleness and cowardice, do but little. In theories we -have the boldness of Don Quixote, and in practice we have the -pusillanimity, the inability to conquer obstacles, and the phlegm of -Sancho Panza.”</p> - -<p>“My teacher, Don Agustin,” said Florencito, “has told us that Padre -Sahagun and many other missionaries of the sixteenth century dedicated -themselves to the study of the native tongues because they found them -highly philosophical and adapted to express even metaphysical ideas.”</p> - -<p>“That is true,” I replied, “but the Padre Sahagun and the other -missionary philologists of the sixteenth century dedicated themselves to -the study of the Indian languages of the country, not to detain -themselves ... (in) the philosophy and richness of the Aztec language, -without moving a peg to go and teach some Indian; but in order that they -might use them as means for the <i>practical</i>—to wit, to preach, to -catechize, and to teach the Indians the civilizing truths of -Christianity.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_59" id="page_59"></a>{59}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="ALFREDO_CHAVERO" id="ALFREDO_CHAVERO"></a>ALFREDO CHAVERO.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_059_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_059_sml.jpg" width="218" height="258" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Few men are better known throughout Mexico today than Alfredo Chavero. -As a lawyer, a politician, a man of affairs and a writer, he has been -eminently successful. He was born in the City of Mexico, February 1, -1841. He studied law, and began the practice of the profession at the -age of twenty years. In 1862 he was elected Deputy to Congress. A -Liberal in politics, he was associated with Juarez throughout the period -of the French intervention. After the downfall of the Empire in 1867, he -entered journalism and began his career<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_60" id="page_60"></a>{60}</span> in letters. During the -administration of Lerdo de Tejada he was in Europe, but when that -government fell, he returned to Mexico and was appointed to the second -position in the department of foreign affairs. He has occupied other -important government positions, among them that of City Treasurer and -Governor of the Federal District and has for many years been a member of -the House of Deputies, of which he has at times been the presiding -officer.</p> - -<p>Señor Chavero is, probably, the foremost living Mexican authority upon -the antiquities of that country. He is also an eminent historian. In -both archæology and history he has written important works. At the -quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of America, he was the -chief member of a commission, which among other things published a great -work—<i>Antigüedades Mexicanas</i>—which was largely devoted to facsimile -reproduction of ancient Mexican picture manuscripts, before unpublished; -the accompanying explanatory text was written by Chavero himself. Among -other archæological works he has written <i>Los dioses astronomicos de los -antiguos Mexicanos</i> (the Astronomical Gods of the Ancient Mexicans)—and -studies upon the <i>stone of the sun</i>, and the <i>stone of hunger</i>. He has -lately published the <i>Wheel of Years</i>, and <i>Hieroglyphic Paintings</i>. He -was the author of the first volume of the great work <i>México á traves de -los Siglos</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_61" id="page_61"></a>{61}</span> (Mexico, Through the Centuries), a history of Mexico in -five large quarto volumes. Each of these volumes dealt with a distinct -epoch of Mexican history and was written by a specialist. Chavero’s -volume treated Prehistoric Mexico in a masterly fashion. In biography -Chavero’s lives of <i>Sahagun</i>, <i>Siguenza</i>, and <i>Boturini</i> deal with -Spanish-Mexicans, his <i>Itzcoatl</i> and <i>Montezuma</i> with natives. He has -edited, with scholarly annotation, the works of <i>Ixtlilxochitl</i> and -Muñoz Camargo’s <i>Historia de Tlaxcala</i>.</p> - -<p>But Alfredo Chavero has also written in the field of dramatic -literature, some of his plays having been well received. <i>Xochitl</i>, -<i>Quetzalcoatl</i> and <i>Los Amores de Alarcon</i> (The Loves of Alarcon) are -among the best known. In <i>Xochitl</i> and <i>Quetzalcoatl</i>, the romantic -events of the days of the Conquest and the life of the Indians, furnish -his material. In all his writing, Chavero is simple, direct, and strong; -his style is graceful and his treatment interesting.</p> - -<p>Our quotations are drawn from <i>México á traves de los Siglos</i> and -<i>Xochitl</i>.</p> - -<h3>THE CHRONICLERS.</h3> - -<p>Still, among the first writers of the colonial epoch we shall encounter -some authentic material regarding the ancient Indians. Some chroniclers -based their narratives upon hieroglyphs, which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_62" id="page_62"></a>{62}</span> did not limit -themselves to interpreting, but which also served them as a foundation -for more extended records; contemporaries of the Conquest, they had -heard from the conquered themselves, their traditional history. Others, -without availing themselves of the assistance of the paintings, simply -recorded the traditions in their works—and we must remember that, on -account of the inadequacy of their hieroglyphic writing, the Mexicans -were ever accustomed to carry the glorious deeds of their race in -memory, which they taught their children, in song and story, that they -might not be forgotten. Without doubt, the first works of the -chroniclers suffered from the natural vagueness which is felt in -expressing new ideas. They are not, and could not be, complete treatises -because each wrote merely what he himself could gather. The most -important personages of the vanquished people dead, in fighting for -their country, few remained who knew the secrets of their history, and -the greater number of these did not lend themselves to their revelation. -The chroniclers, themselves, concealed something of what they learned, -especially if it related to the gods and the religious calendar, for -fear of reawakening the barely dormant idolatry. Also from the very -first, the desire to harmonize the beliefs of the Indians, and their -traditions, with the Biblical narrative, was, in part, responsible for -the confusion in their writings; a desire very natural in that epoch, -and which must<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_63" id="page_63"></a>{63}</span> be taken into account in reading the chronicles, in -order to get rid of false judgments born from it. But whatever may be -their defects, it cannot be denied that they constitute a most precious -material, in which, seeking discreetly and logically, abundant historic -treasures are encountered. We present, therefore, some discussion of the -principal chroniclers and their relative importance and examine -impartially the works of our historians.</p> - -<h3>THE SURRENDER OF CUAUHTEMOC.</h3> - -<p>At dawn Sandoval proceeded, with the brigantines to take possession of -the lakelet; Alavardo was to advance from the market, and Cortes sallied -from his camp, with the three iron cannon, certain that their balls -would compel the besieged to surrender and would do them less damage -than the fury of the allies. In his march he met many men almost dead, -weakened women, and emaciated children, on their way to the Spanish -camp. Some miserable beings, in order to escape from their last hold, -had thrown themselves into the canals, or had fallen into them, pushed -from behind by others, and were drowned. Cortes issued orders that no -harm should be done them, but the allies robbed them and killed more -than fifteen thousand persons. The priests and warriors, thin with -hunger and worn with labor, armed with their weapons and bearing their -standards, passively<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_64" id="page_64"></a>{64}</span> awaited the attack, on top of the temple, on house -roofs, or standing in their canoes. Cortes ascended also to the roof of -a house near the lake, that he might oversee the operations. He again -offered peace to those who were in the canoes, and insisted that some -one should go to speak with Cuauhtemoc. Two <i>principales</i> agreed to go -and, after a long time the <i>Cihuacoatl</i> returned with them to say that -his king did not care to speak of peace. Some five hours having passed -in these transactions, Cortes commanded to open fire with the cannons. -It was three in the afternoon, when Cuauhtemoc’s shell-horn was heard -for the last time; the Mexicans on the east and south precipitated -themselves upon their opponents and the canoes attacked the brigantines.</p> - -<p>Cuauhtemoc, when it was no longer in human power to resist, preferred -flight to surrender, and in order to succeed, distracted the attention -of his opponents. While these, battling and routing the Mexicans, -penetrated into their last refuge from the south and east, and while -Sandoval was destroying the fleet of canoes, Cuauhtemoc, with -Tecuichpoch and the chief dignitaries, sallied in canoes from -Tlacochcalco—gained the western canal, whence, by great labor, he -reached the lake. He directed himself toward the opposite shore, to seek -refuge in Cuauhtlalpan.</p> - -<p>But Garcia Holguin saw the canoes of the fugitives and setting the sails -of his brigantine,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_65" id="page_65"></a>{65}</span> gave chase; already he had them within range and the -gunners were in the prow, ready to shoot, when Cuauhtemoc rose and -said—‘Do not shoot; I am the king of Mexico; take me and lead me to -Malintzin, but let no one harm the queen.’ With Cuauhtemoc were ..., the -only dignitaries, high-priests, and <i>principales</i>, who had survived. All -were transferred to the brigantine.... Cortes, as we have said, was upon -the roof of a house in the quarter of Amaxac, a house belonging to a -<i>principal</i>, named Aztacoatzin. He caused it to be decorated with rich -mantles and brightly colored mattings, for the reception of the imperial -captive. By his side were Marina and Aguilar, Pedro de Alavardo and -Cristobal de Olid. The prisoners arrived led by Sandoval and Holguin. -Cortes rose and, with the noble respect of a conqueror for the -unfortunate hero, embraced Cuauhtemoc tenderly. Tears came to the eyes -of the captive and, placing his hand upon the hilt of the conqueror’s -poignard, said to him the following words with which at once succumbed a -king, his race, his native land, and his gods—‘Malintzin, after having -done what I could in defense of my city and my nation, I come, perforce -and a prisoner, before thy person and thy power; take, now, this dagger -and kill me.’</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p><i>Xochitl</i> is a fair example of Chavero’s dramas. It comprises three acts -and is in verse. There are<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_66" id="page_66"></a>{66}</span> but five actors—Cortes, Marina (his Indian -interpreter and mistress), Xochitl (a beautiful Indian girl, supposed to -be Marina’s sister), Bernal Diaz del Castillo (faithful soldier of -Cortes and best chronicler of the Conquest), and Gonzalo Alaminos -(brought, though a mere youth, from Spain, by Cortes, as a page). -Xochitl is, really, an Aztec maiden who, when the Spaniards first -appeared, was serving in the temple; Gonzalo, wounded, was brought a -prisoner to the temple, where he is nursed by Xochitl, between whom and -himself ardent love arises. After the capture of the city, they are -separated and Xochitl is sent, as a slave to Tabasco, a present to -Marina’s unknown sister. Marina summons her sister to Mexico; she starts -but dies upon the journey and Xochitl, substituted for her, reaches the -city and is taken at once into Cortes’ house, by her supposed sister. -Cortes, having tired of Marina, falls in love with Xochitl; his -affection is not reciprocated. Marina, knowing that the love of Cortes -has cooled, though she does not know the new object of his love, -remorseful for her treachery to her own people and smarting under the -contempt of Indian and Spaniard both, is ever complaining and querulous. -Xochitl, terrified at Cortes’ love, consults Bernal and makes known the -facts to Gonzalo. They plan to flee and set an hour for meeting. Cortes, -anxious to rid himself of Marina, determines to send her to Orizaba, to -wed Jaramillo; sending for Gonzalo<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_67" id="page_67"></a>{67}</span> he orders him to accompany her and -arranges the departure at the very time set for elopement, by the -lovers. The moment is one of public tumult. Gonzalo keeps his -appointment but, at the critical moment, Xochitl’s courage fails. Marina -appears and Gonzalo abruptly leaves; he is shot in the tumult. Meantime -the two women converse; Xochitl narrates the story of her life, her -substitution for Marina’s sister, her love for Gonzalo and Cortes’ love -for her. They separate in anger. Cortes entering, announces Gonzalo’s -death, and mourns him, confessing him to be his natural son. Xochitl, in -her agony, tells Cortes of the love there had been between Gonzalo and -herself; Marina, appearing at this moment, hands the unhappy girl the -weapon with which she kills herself. As she dies, she reveals her -complete identity, she is the last survivor of the royal house, the -sister of Cuauhtemoc. Cortes overwhelmed by grief for Gonzalo, loss of -Xochitl, and weariness of Marina, sends the latter at once to Orizaba, -in Bernal’s care.</p> - -<h3>PASSAGES FROM XOCHITL.</h3> - -<p>Bernal and Gonzalo, meeting, discuss the recent conquest of Nueva -Galicia by the infamous Nuño de Guzman.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Gonzalo. “If to lay waste fields and towns,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">If to assassinate war captives,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">If to violate pledged faith,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_68" id="page_68"></a>{68}</span><br /></span> -<span class="i2">Is to be Christian, I admit<br /></span> -<span class="i0">That Don Nuño de Guzman<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Is of Christians, the very type.<br /></span> -<span class="i0">The Tlaxcallans complain,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Who have been our faithful allies,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">That, like beasts of burden,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">He has led them over<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Hard roads, not fighting—<br /></span> -<span class="i2">As they were led to expect—<br /></span> -<span class="i0">But, bearing on their shoulders<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Great, heavy burdens;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And that those, who, from fatigue,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Bernal, could go no further,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Were instanter thrown to the dogs,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Or left, without assistance,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">In the forests. Their shoulders<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Covered with wounds, I have seen;<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Upon frightful chafed spots,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">The memory of which appals me,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">They carried our provisions;<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Meantime, Don Nuño, tranquil,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Sought renown in war,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Or enriched himself,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">By plundering defenseless villages.<br /></span> -<span class="i2">Imagine, friend Bernal,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">If he mistreats our allies,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">What he would do to enemies.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Xochitl confers with Bernal as to what she ought to do:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_69" id="page_69"></a>{69}</span></p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="2">Bernal.</td><td align="left">“But, tell me. Before today</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Has Cortes told you of his love?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="6">Xochitl.</td><td align="left">Until today, I have not seen him at my feet.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>His consuming passion,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Through his betraying glance</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>I have, for some time, realized.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>For this reason, Bernal, I avoid</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Finding myself alone with him.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Bernal.</td><td align="left">You ought to flee.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="2">Xochitl.</td><td align="left">I fear to find myself</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Alone in the great world.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="10">Bernal.</td><td align="left">But, when the hawk</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Sees a lonely dove,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>He seizes it, within his talons;</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>When the volcano bursts forth</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>It destroys in its terrific energy</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>The palm, which grows at its base.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>When the wave is lashed to fury,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>The bark sinks in the sea;</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And, at the blast of adversity,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Happiness vanishes.</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="c">(Pause.)</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr valign="top"><td>Xochitl.</td><td> Do you think Cortes ever——?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Bernal.</td><td> If he loves thee, good God——!</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Xochitl.</td><td> Then, both of us must leave.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="7">Bernal.</td><td> You will leave, with Gonzalo?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Do you know to what you expose yourself?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Do you know that, Hernando Cortes,70</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>If he sees himself mocked, is</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Than the panther fiercer,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And that his rage would</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Dash you to pieces at his feet?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Xochitl.</td><td> And what signifies life to <i>me</i>?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Bernal.</td><td> But Gonzalo, also, he——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="8">Xochitl.</td><td> Hold! for God’s sake, do not speak</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>That murderous word.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Departure makes me tremble,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And I tremble if I remain;</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Bernal! everything causes me terror;</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>My uncertainty is frightful——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>To remain is impossible——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Without Gonzalo, go, I cannot.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="c">(She departs.)</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p class="c">Cortes communicates his plans for Marina—first to Gonzalo, then to -Marina, herself.<br /> - -(Pause.)</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="8">Cortes.</td><td align="left">“We are likely to have an uprising,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And I do not wish you to be</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Involved in it; how good it is to die</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>In actual battle</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And not fighting the vile rabble.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>For this reason you are, with Marina,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>To leave for Orizaba</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>At dawn.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Gonzalo.</td><td align="left">(Aside). And <i>she</i> will remain here, without me!</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="4">Cortes.</td><td align="left">I expect you at dawn, Gonzalo,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_71" id="page_71"></a>{71}</span></td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>A passport, for leaving the city,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>With a veiled lady,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>I shall give you.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Gonzalo.</td><td align="left">Veiled?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="5">Cortes.</td><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">So</span></td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Will the passport read: I do not wish</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Them to know who it is. You ought</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>To leave at dawn. Go</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>To rest yourself.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">Gonzalo.</td><td align="left">May happy</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Dreams be yours. (Aside.) At dawn!</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Xochitl ... soon I’ll return for thee.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">Cortes.</td><td align="left">“To counteract the plotting</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Of so many enemies, I go to Spain.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>In thinking of your happiness——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Marina.</td><td align="left">You think of <i>my</i> happiness, Don Hernando?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">Cortes.</td><td align="left">—Considering that your nobility</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Deserves a name, a grandeur,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Worthy of you, Marina,——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Marina.</td><td align="left">I know not what vile treason my soul divines.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="2">Cortes.</td><td align="left">—Wealth, and state,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And a husband—Don Juan de Jaramillo——</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Marina.</td><td align="left">Cease! Hernando, cease!</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Cortes.</td><td align="left">You leave, tomorrow, for Orizaba.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="8">Marina.</td><td align="left">And, thus, you abandon me?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And thus you crown my loyalty and love?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_72" id="page_72"></a>{72}</span></td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Oh monster! Impious father!</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And thy son, Cortes? My son?</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>No, the very panther</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Does not abandon its little ones: that beast,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>More human heart</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Has, than the grand Christian conqueror.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td rowspan="3">Cortes.</td><td align="left">We must needs separate.</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>And no power, you know it well,</td></tr> -<tr valign="top"><td>Can bend my fixed purpose.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<hr style="width: 15%;" /> - -<p>In 1882, General Riva Palacio, author and statesman, published a little -book <i>Los Ceros</i> (The Zeros), under the <i>nom-de-plume</i> of Cero. It was a -good natured criticism of contemporary authors, written in a satirical -vein. We will close with some quotations from it regarding Chavero.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, let us study Chavero upon his two weak sides, that is to -say upon his strong sides, because, it is a curious thing, that we -always say—‘this is my forte,’ when we are speaking of some <i>penchant</i>, -while common opinion at once translates, ‘this is his weakness’; -strength is the impregnable side, but we call the more vulnerable, the -strong side.</p> - -<p>“Archæology and the drama! Does it seem to you the title of a comedy? -But no, dear sir, these are the passions of our friend, Alfredo -Chavero.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_73" id="page_73"></a>{73}</span></p> - -<p>“True, archæologists and dramatists are lacking in this land so full of -antiques and comicalities; but theatrical management is difficult and -the way is sown—worse than with thorns—almost with bayonets.</p> - -<p>“Alfredo has produced good dramas, but nobly dominated by the patriotic -spirit, he has wished to place upon the boards, such personages as the -Queen Xochitl, and Meconetzin, and with these personages no one gains a -reputation here in Mexico.... Our society, our nation, has no love for -its traditions. Perhaps those writers are to blame for this, who ever -seek for the actors in their story, personages of the middle ages, who -love and fight in fantastic castles on the banks of the Rhine, or ladies -and knights of the times of Orgaz and Villamediana; those novelists, who -disdain the slightest reference in their works, to the banquets, dress, -and customs of our own society; who long to give aristocratic flavor to -their novels, by picturing Parisian scenes in Mexico and sketching -social classes, which they have seen through the pages of Arrsenne -Houssaye, Emile Zola, Henri Bourger, or Paison de Terrail; and our -poets, who ever speak of nightingales and larks, gazelles and jacinths, -without ever venturing to give place, in their doleful ditties, to the -<i>cuitlacoche</i>, nor the <i>zentzontl</i>, nor the <i>cocomitl</i>, nor the -<i>yoloxochitl</i>.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_74" id="page_74"></a>{74}</span></p> - -<p>“As the Arabs have their Hegira, the Christians their era, and the -Russians their calendar without the Gregorian correction, so -Chaverito<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> has his personal era and chronology. The eolithic or -neolithic ages signify nought to him, nor the jurassic nor the -cretaceous periods; he counts and divides his periods in a manner -peculiar to himself and comprehensible to us, the ignoramuses in -geology, archæology, and palæontology.</p> - -<p>“Thus, for example, treating of archæology he says: ‘in Manuel Payno’s -boyhood’—when he refers to preadamite man; of men like Guillermo -Prieto, he says ‘they are of the geological horizon of Guillermo Valle’; -soldiers, like Corona, he calls ‘volcanic formations’; the customs’ -house receipts he names ‘marine sediments’; ‘the stone age,’ in his -nomenclature, signifies the time before he was elected Deputy;—when he -says ‘before the creation,’ it is understood that he refers to days when -he had not yet been Governor of the Federal District; and if he says -‘after Christ,’ he must be supposed to speak of an epoch posterior to -his connection with the State Department; and it is claimed, that he is -so skilled in understanding hieroglyphs, that he has deciphered the -whole history of Xochimilco, in the pittings left by small-pox, on the -face of a son of that pueblo.”</p> - -<hr style="width: 15%;" /> - -<p>“Suppose, dear reader, you encounter one of those stones, so often found -in excavating in Mexico<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_75" id="page_75"></a>{75}</span>, a fragment on which are to be seen, coarsely -cut, some engravings, or horrible reliefs, or shapeless figures—have it -washed, and present it to Chavero.</p> - -<p>“Alfredo will wrinkle his forehead, take a pinch of snuff, join his -hands behind him, and displaying so much of his paunch as possible, will -spit out for your benefit, a veritable discourse:</p> - -<p>“<span class="lftspc">‘</span>The passage which this stone represents is well known; it figures in -an episode in the great war between the Atepocates,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> warlike -population of southern Anahuac, and the Escuimiles, their rivals, in -which the latter were finally conquered. The person standing is -Chilpocle XI, of the dynasty of the Chacualoles, who, by the death of -his father Chichicuilote III, inherited the throne, being in his -infancy, and his mother, the famous Queen Apipisca II, the Semiramis of -Tepachichilco, was regent during his youth. The person kneeling is -Chayote V, unfortunate monarch of the vanquished, who owed the loss of -his kingdom to the treachery of his councillor, Chincual, who is behind -him. The two persons near the victor are his son, who was afterward the -celebrated conqueror Cacahuatl II, and his councillor, the illustrious -historian and philosopher Guajalote, nicknamed Chicuase, for the reason -that he had six fingers on his left hand, and who was the chronicler of -the revolt and destruction of the tribes of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_76" id="page_76"></a>{76}</span> the Mestlapiques. The -two-pointed star-symbols, which are seen above, are the arms of the -founder of the dynasty, Chahiustl the Great, and this stone was -sculptured during the golden age of the arts of the Atepotecas, when, -among their sculptors figured the noted Ajoloth, among their painters -the most famous Tlacuil, and among their architects the celebrated -Huasontl.’<span class="lftspc">”</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_77" id="page_77"></a>{77}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JULIO_ZARATE" id="JULIO_ZARATE"></a>JULIO ZÁRATE.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_077_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_077_sml.jpg" width="224" height="282" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Julio Zárate was born April 12, 1844, at Jalapa, in the State of Vera -Cruz, where he received his education. Since he was twenty-three years -of age he has been continuously in public life. In 1867 he was elected -to the Chamber of Deputies, of which he remained a member for -twenty-five years, being, at times, president, vice-president, or -secretary of the body. In 1879 and 1880 he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_78" id="page_78"></a>{78}</span> the Assistant Secretary -of Foreign Affairs for the Republic, in 1884 to 1886 Secretary of State -of the State of Vera Cruz, and from 1896 to the present time he has been -a Justice of the Supreme Court of Mexico.</p> - -<p>Through all this long period of active public service, he has found time -for literary work. From 1870 to 1875 was an editor of <i>El Siglo XIX</i> -(The Nineteenth Century), in its time one of the most important journals -of the Mexican capital. He wrote the third volume of the great work on -national history—<i>México á traves de los Siglos</i> (Mexico Through the -Centuries), treating of the War of Independence. For twenty years past, -from 1883, he has been Professor of General History in the National -Normal School. He has written two text-books, one a compend of general -history, the other of the history of Mexico. He has also been a -contributor to various literary journals. While in the Chamber of -Deputies he was known for his oratorical ability and his speeches were -often notable for form and thought. He is a member of many learned -societies at home and abroad—a <i>miembro de numero</i> of the <i>Sociedad -Mexicana de Geografía y Estadistica</i> (Mexican Society of Geography and -Statistics).</p> - -<p>Our selections are from <i>México á traves de los Siglos</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_79" id="page_79"></a>{79}</span></p> - -<h3>THE DEATH OF HIDALGO</h3> - -<p>Supporting himself on the opinion of the Assessor Bracho, the Commandant -General, Don Nicolás Salcedo had already, since the 26th, ordered the -execution. After the degradation (from the priestly office) had been -concluded, the sentence of death and confiscation of his goods was made -known to Hidalgo on the same day—the 29th—and he was told to select a -confessor to impart to him the last religious consolations. The -illustrious promulgator of independence selected Friar José Mariá Rojas, -who had been notary of the ecclesiastical process instituted by the -Bishop of Durango. In his prison, which was the room under the tower of -the chapel of the Royal Hospital, he received kind and compassionate -treatment from his two guards, Ortega and Guaspe (a Spaniard), alcaldes -of that prison, to whom he showed his gratitude in two ten-line poems -written by himself with a piece of coal upon the wall, the evening of -his death.</p> - -<p>The 30th of July, the last day of his life, dawned and in his last hours -he showed the greatest calmness. “He noticed,” says Bustamente, “that at -breakfast they had given him less milk than usual, and asked for more, -saying that it ought not to be <i>less</i>, just because it was <i>last</i>.... At -the moment of marching to the place of execution, he remembered that he -had left some sweets under his pillow; he returned for them and divided<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_80" id="page_80"></a>{80}</span> -them among the soldiers, who were to shoot him.” At seven in the morning -he was taken to a place behind the hospital, where the sentence was -executed; he did not die at the first discharge, but after falling to -the ground received numerous bullets. His body found sepulchre in the -Chapel of San Antonio of the Convent of San Francisco, and his head and -those of Allende, Aldama and Jiménez were carried to Guanajuato and -placed in cages of iron at each one of the corners of the Alhondiga<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> -of Granaditas, where they remained until 1821, when they were taken to -the Ermita de San Sebastian. On the door of the Alhondiga, by order of -the Intendant, Fernando Pérez Marañón, the following inscription was -placed:</p> - -<p>“The heads of Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, and Mariano -Jiménez, notorious deceivers and leaders of the revolution; they sacked -and stole the treasures of God’s worship and of the royal treasury; they -shed, with the greatest atrocity, the blood of faithful priests and just -magistrates; and, they were the cause of all the disasters, misfortunes, -and calamities which we here experience and which afflict, and are -deplored by, all the inhabitants of this, so integral, part of the -Spanish nation.</p> - -<p>“Placed here by order of the Señor Brigadier, Felix María Calleja del -Rey, illustrious conqueror of Aculco, Guanajuato and Calderon, and -Restorer<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_81" id="page_81"></a>{81}</span> of the Peace in this America. Guanajuato, 14 of October, -1811.”</p> - -<p>But, the hour of reparation, though tardy, arrived; one of the first -acts of the independent and liberated nation was to consecrate the -memory of its martyrs and to reward the efforts of its loyal sons, and -on the thirteenth anniversary of the glorious <i>Grito de Dolores</i> (The -Cry of Dolores, i. e., the motto of independence) the heads of Hidalgo, -Allende, Aldama, and Jiménez, slowly become fleshless in the cages of -Granaditas, and their other remains buried in the humble cemetery of -Chihuahua, were received with solemn pomp at the Capital city and a -grateful people bore them to rest forever in the magnificent sepulchre, -before destined for the Spanish viceroys; the names of those heroes and -of other eminent leaders, were inscribed in letters of gold in the Hall -of Congress, and those of all will remain in indestructible characters -in Mexican hearts.</p> - -<h3>GENERAL NICOLÁS BRAVO.</h3> - -<p>Still fresh the laurels just gained in San Agustin, the valiant youth -proceeded to the province which had been assigned to him as the seat of -his campaign, and early in September advanced with three thousand men to -Medellin, after attacking a Royalist convoy at the Puente del Rey and -taking ninety prisoners of the troops that guarded it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_82" id="page_82"></a>{82}</span> There Bravo was -to cover himself with an immortal glory, without counterpart in history.</p> - -<p>His father, General Leonardo Bravo, since the month of May prisoner of -the Royalists, had been condemned to death in Mexico—and to the same -fate were destined José María Piedras and Luciano Pérez, apprehended at -the same time, after the sally from Cuautla. The viceroy had suspended -the execution of the sentence, in the hope that the prisoner might -influence his sons, Nicolás and his brothers, to desert the files of the -Independents and to ask for pardon, under which condition he offered him -his life. But the youthful leader, although authorized by Morelos to -save his father by accepting the pardon offered by the viceroyal -government, believed he ought not to trust in the pledges given, since -he remembered that some time before, the brothers Orduñas were victims -of the Royalist Colonel José Antonio Andrade, who had promised them -pardon but, when he had them in his power, commanded their execution.</p> - -<p>Morelos then wrote to the viceroy, Vanegas, offering the surrender of -eight hundred prisoners, mostly Spanish, as the price of Leonardo -Bravo’s life. The viceroyal government, in turn, refused this -proposition and on September 13, 1812, General Bravo and his fellow -prisoners, Piedras and Pérez, suffered, in Mexico, the penalty of the -garrote, the former displaying, in his last moments, that calm and -valor, of which he had given so<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_83" id="page_83"></a>{83}</span> many proofs in battle. In communicating -this sad news to Nicolás Bravo, Morelos ordered him to put all the -Spanish prisoners he held—some three hundred in number—to the knife. -Let us hear the hero himself narrate his noble action, with the -simplicity of one of Plutarch’s characters:</p> - -<p>“In effect, he said to me in the proposition made to me in Cuernavaca, -that the Viceroy Vanegas offered me amnesty and the life of my father, -if I would yield myself.... When Morelos was in Tehuacan he appointed me -General-in-chief of the forces, which were operating in the province of -Vera Cruz.... I commenced to fight him (Labaqui) and, after an action -lasting forty-eight hours, gained a complete victory, making two hundred -prisoners, whom I sent under escort to the province of Vera Cruz, and -returned with all my wounded to Tehuacan to give account of the action -of arms confided to me. In the interview which I had with Morelos, he -told me that he was about to send a communication to the viceroy, -Vanegas, offering him, for my father’s life, eight hundred Spanish -prisoners, and that he would inform me of the result. I immediately -returned to the Province of Vera Cruz, where, five days after leaving -Tehuacan, I had another favorable action near Puente Nacional, attacking -a convoy, which was proceeding to Jalapa with supplies; I took ninety -prisoners and betook myself to Medellin, where I established my -headquarters and from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_84" id="page_84"></a>{84}</span> where I threatened the city of Vera Cruz, with -the three thousand men who were under my command. After a few days -Morelos notified me that the proposition which he had made to the -viceroy had not been accepted and that he (the viceroy) had, on the -contrary, commanded that my father be put to the garrote and that he was -already dead; he commanded me at the same time to order that all the -Spanish prisoners in my power be put to the knife, and informed me that -he had ordered the same to be done with the four hundred, who were in -Zacatula and other points; I received this notice at four in the -afternoon and it moved me so much that I commanded the nearly three -hundred that I had at Medellin to prepare for death and ordered the -chaplain (a monk named Sotomayor) to aid them; but during the night, not -being able to sleep, I reflected, that the reprisals I was about to -practice would greatly diminish the credit of the cause which I -defended, and that by adopting a conduct contrary to the viceroy’s I -would secure better results, an idea which pleased me far more than my -first resolution; then there presented itself the difficulty of -palliating my disobedience to the order I had received, if I carried my -resolve into effect; with these thoughts, I occupied myself the whole -night until four o’clock in the morning, when I resolved to pardon them -in a public manner, which should produce the desired effects in favor of -the cause of independence; with this end in view, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_85" id="page_85"></a>{85}</span> withheld my -decision until eight in the morning, when I ordered my troops to draw up -in the form usual in cases of execution; the prisoners were brought out -and placed in the centre, where I informed them that the viceroy, -Vanegas, had exposed them to death that day, in not having accepted the -proposition made in their favor for the life of my father, whom he had -given to the garrote in the Capital; that I, not caring to parallel such -conduct, had determined, not only to spare their lives for the moment, -but to give them entire freedom to go where they pleased. To this, -filled with joy they replied, that no one desired to leave, that all -remained at the service of my division, which they did, with the -exception of five merchants of Vera Cruz, who on account of business -interests were given passports for that city; among these was a Senor -Madariaga who, afterward, in union with his companions, sent me, in -appreciation, the gift of sufficient cloth to make clothing for a full -battalion.”</p> - -<p>Never, in past times nor in modern ages, could history record in its -pages so noble an action; and never has human magnanimity expressed its -lofty deeds with more sublime simplicity than that of the Mexican hero -in the document, which we have just copied. In the midst of that war of -extermination, Bravo displays the noble sentiment of forgiveness as a -supreme protest of humanity whose laws were being disregarded and -trampled under foot; he condemns the barbarous system of reprisals; he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_86" id="page_86"></a>{86}</span> -teaches the conquerors, who immolated without exception so many -prisoners as fell into their hands, to respect the life of the -conquered; in contrast to Venegas, Calleja, Cruz (Alaman’s hero), -Trujillo, Llano, Porlier, Castillo Bustamente, and so many others, -stained with Mexican blood and thirsting for vengeance, he presents the -spotless figure of the patriot giving life and liberty to the prisoners -in his power; and, he does this when he knows that his noble father, -after a prolonged captivity, has succumbed under a punishment reserved -for thieves and assassins; and he forgives, when his feared and -respected leader orders him to punish. He restrains his great grief and -in the reflections to which he yields himself, on the receipt of that -order, he does not think of the blood of his father, yet warm; he thinks -only of his country’s interests, <i>he believes that the reprisals which -he is ordered to practice will greatly diminish the credit of the cause -of independence and that, by observing a conduct contrary to that of the -viceroy, he would secure better results</i>; he encounters but the one -difficulty <i>that he cannot palliate his responsibility in disobeying the -order which he has received</i>; and, after meditating all night, he -resolves to pardon the prisoners <i>in a public manner, in order that the -pardon may secure all the good results desirable in favor of the cause -of independence</i>. Bravo, on that day, conquered, for his country, titles -of universal respect and rehabilitated human dignity in that period of -unbridled cruelty.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_87" id="page_87"></a>{87}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JOSE_MARIA_VIGIL" id="JOSE_MARIA_VIGIL"></a>JOSÉ MARÍA VIGIL.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_087_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_087_sml.jpg" width="224" height="286" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>José María Vigil was born October 11, 1829, at Guadalajara. Early left -an orphan, during the period of his education he was in straitened -circumstances. He attended the seminario in Guadalajara and studied law -in the university of that city, but failed to secure his degree, on -account of his Liberal views. He began literary work in 1849, and in -1851 his drama, <i>Dolores ó una pasion</i> (Dolores, or a passion), was well -received<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_88" id="page_88"></a>{88}</span> at the <i>Teatro Principal</i>, at Guadalajara. In 1857 he -published a collection of his poems, under the title <i>Realidades y -Quimeras</i> (Realities and Chimeras). In 1866 he published two volumes of -verse and drama—<i>Flores de Anahuac</i> (Flowers of Anahuac). These -writings were varied in style, and included original compositions and -translations from Latin, French, English, Portuguese, Italian, and -German. Through this period, Vigil also edited literary periodicals—<i>La -Aurora Poetica</i> (The Poetic Dawn), and <i>La Mariposa</i> (The Butterfly).</p> - -<p>Señor Vigil’s political career began in 1855, when Comonfort occupied -the Plaza of Guadalajara. With other youths, Vigil then began the -publication of <i>La Revolucion</i> (The Revolution), in which were expounded -the ideas of the later Constitution of the Reform. From then, on through -the period of the Intervention, he led an active public life, writing -and editing, and in other ways of fearlessly working for democratic -principles. On December 31, 1863, he retired as the French entered -Guadalajara, and sought a refuge in San Francisco, California, where he -edited <i>El Nuevo Mundo</i> (The New World), devoted to the cause he loved. -In 1865 poverty compelled him to return to Guadalajara. There he might -have received desirable public appointments, had he been willing to -receive aught from the Imperial government. He conducted an opposition -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_89" id="page_89"></a>{89}</span> patriotic publication, which was more than once suppressed.</p> - -<p>Since the Restoration, Vigil has filled many and important public posts. -Passing to the City of Mexico, about 1870, he has been, repeatedly, a -member of the House of Deputies, always standing for radical democratic -ideas. He has done much journalistic work; has pronounced discourses, -served in judicial capacities, has edited important works, and has -served many years as an educator. He founded <i>La Biblioteca Mexicana</i> -(The Mexican Library) in which appear the important works of Las Casas, -and Tezozomoc, and the Codice Ramirez. He has been Professor of Logic in -the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i>. For many years past, and at -present, he is the Librarian of the National Library of Mexico. He is a -member of all the important literary and scientific societies, among -them the <i>Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica</i> and the <i>Liceo -Hidalgo</i>. When, in 1881, the Mexican Academy increased its membership to -fifteen, by the addition of one new chair, Señor Vigil was the unanimous -choice of the academicians. He is now the secretary of that -organization.</p> - -<p>Señor Vigil is the author of volume five of the great historical work, -<i>México á traves de los Siglos</i> (Mexico through the Centuries), treating -of the period of <i>La Reforma</i> (The Reform). Our selection is taken from -this work.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_90" id="page_90"></a>{90}</span></p> - -<h3>THE DEATH OF MAXIMILIAN.</h3> - -<p>Meantime the trial of the prisoners followed its course in Queretaro -and, on the 13th, at eight in the morning, the council of war met in the -theatre of Iturbide, under the presidency of Lieutenant-Colonel Platón -Sánchez, the judges being Commandant-Captain José Vicente Ramirez, -Commandant-Captain Emilio Lojero, Captain Ignacio Jurado, Captain Juan -Rueda y Auza, Captain José Verástegui and Captain Lucas Villagrán. -Maximilian excused himself from attendance on account of illness; the -whole of the defense was read and, at eight o’clock at night, the -council adjourned to meet again the next day. On the 14th, at -half-past-twelve the trial ended after the prosecutor had presented the -rebuttal, in which death was demanded, and the defenders had replied. It -was easy to guess what the sentence would be and the associate -defenders, who were in San Luis Potosí, hastened to direct to the -President a second statement begging the pardon, a petition which was -repeated on the 16th, on learning that the sentence had been confirmed -by the General-in-Chief. The following reply of the President, -communicated through the Minister of War, took the last hope from the -defenders: “Having examined this appeal for pardon and the others of a -similar kind which have been presented to him with all the care which -the gravity of the case demands, the President<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_91" id="page_91"></a>{91}</span> of the Republic has -decided that he cannot accede to them, since the gravest considerations -of justice and the necessity of safeguarding the peace of the nation -oppose themselves to this act of clemency.” At the same time the -Minister sent a telegram to General Escobedo, in which he told him that -it had been decided that the execution should not take place until the -morning of the 19th, in order that the sentenced might have time for the -arrangement of their affairs. General Miramon’s wife arrived at San -Luis, in these moments, to see if she could save the life of her -husband; but Juarez refused to see her, saying to the lawyers of the -defense: “Spare me this painful interview, which, considering the -irrevocable nature of the decision, would but cause the lady much -suffering.” Finally, when Señores Riva Palacios and Martinez de la Torre -were parting from the President of the Republic, he said to them: “In -fulfilling your duty as defenders, you have suffered much by the -inflexibility of the government. Today you cannot understand the -necessity of this nor the justice which supports it. The appreciation of -this is reserved to the future. The law and the sentence are, at this -time, inexorable, because the public welfare demands it. It also may -counsel us to the least bloodshed, and this will be the greatest -pleasure of my life.”</p> - -<p>The legal resources exhausted, the plan of escape, devised by the -Princess Salm-Salm, in collusion<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_92" id="page_92"></a>{92}</span> with the Ministers of Austria, -Belgium, and Italy and the French Consul, frustrated; the prisoners -waited, with resignation, until the terrible moment should arrive in -which the sentence was to be executed. The last letters and dispositions -written by Maximilian and Miramon show that their natural valor did not -abandon them in those supreme moments. Mejia wrote nothing; but in the -mental depression in which the disease from which he was suffering -submerged him, he maintained that tranquil stoicism, which marked his -temperament.</p> - -<p>On the 19th, at six in the morning, a division of four thousand men -under command of General Jesús Diaz de León formed at the foot of the -Cerro de las Campanas, on the northeast slope. Maximilian, Miramon, and -Mejia arrived at about a quarter past seven, brought in carriages, and -each one accompanied by a priest. Maximilian descended first and said -courteously to his companions in misfortune: “Let us go, gentlemen,” and -the three directed themselves with firm step to the place of execution, -where they gave each other a farewell embrace. Maximilian then advanced -and distributed twenty-peso gold pieces among the soldiers, who were to -shoot him, and then, raising his voice, said: “I am about to die for a -just cause, the liberty and independence of Mexico. May my blood seal -the unhappiness of my new country. Viva Mexico!” Miramon read the -following in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_93" id="page_93"></a>{93}</span> a loud voice: “Mexicans! in the council of war, my -defenders attempted to save my life; here, soon to lose it, and about to -appear before God, I protest against the stigma of traitor which they -have tried to put upon me to palliate my sacrifice. I die innocent of -that crime, and I forgive its authors, hoping that God may pardon me and -that my compatriots will remove so foul a stigma from my sons, doing me -justice. Viva Mexico!” Placing himself on the spot indicated, -Maximilian, who had asked that his face might not be disfigured, -separated his beard with his hands, to one side and the other, exposing -his chest; Miramon said, “here,” indicating his heart and raising his -head; and Mejia, who had given the soldiers charged with his execution -an ounce of gold to divide between them, said never a word but merely -laid by the crucifix, which he held in his hand, on seeing that they -were aiming at him. The signal to fire was given and a discharge put an -end to the bloody drama of the Empire in Mexico, which was so fatal for -its authors and for its partisans.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_94" id="page_94"></a>{94}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="PRIMO_FELICIANO_VELASQUEZ" id="PRIMO_FELICIANO_VELASQUEZ"></a>PRIMO FELICIANO VELÁSQUEZ.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_094_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_094_sml.jpg" width="207" height="267" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Primo Feliciano Velásquez was born at Santa María del Rio in the state -of San Luis Potosí, June 6, 1860. Before he was nine years of age, on -account of promise shown in the school-room, he was taken in hand by the -village priest, who taught him Latin and later secured for him -admittance to the <i>Seminario Conciliar</i> at the capital city of San Luis -Potosí. He was a diligent student and completed his study of law on -October 23, 1880. Although his legal career opened auspiciously, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_95" id="page_95"></a>{95}</span> -preferred to devote himself to journalism. In 1883 he founded, at San -Luis Potosí, a publication intended to promote the celebration of the -Iturbide centennial, through which he established a standing among the -eminent literary men of Mexico. In 1885, in company with several others, -he established <i>El Estandarte</i> (The Standard), a periodical bitterly -opposed to the State Government, which caused him many vexations and -penalties. Velásquez has made a special study of local history and -archæology. His <i>Descubrimiento y Conquista de San Luis Potosí</i> -(Discovery and Conquest of San Luis Potosí), received recognition from -the Royal Spanish Academy. His <i>Instruccion pública en San Luis Potosí -durante la Dominación española</i> (Public Instruction in San Luis Potosí -during the Spanish Domination) was published in the memoirs of the -Mexican Academy, of which he has been a correspondent since 1886. His -<i>Coleccion de Documentos para la historia de San Luis Potosí</i> -(Collection of documents for the History of San Luis Potosí) in four -volumes, was published between 1897 and 1899. Senor Velásquez has during -recent years returned to the practice of law.</p> - -<h3>THE TLAXCALAN SETTLEMENTS.</h3> - -<p>In this year of 1589, in which peace was arranged, Santa María del Rio -was founded by<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_96" id="page_96"></a>{96}</span> Guachichiles and Otomis on lands of the Hacienda of -Villela and at a place called San Diego de Atotonilco. Of the villages -of our State, this one and Tierra Nueva count among their founders -individuals of Otomi stock. The other colonies established were formed -with Indians brought from Tlaxcala, either because that city was -populous, or because of its relative culture, or—what is more -probable—because of its unshakeable loyalty to the Spaniards. It is -asserted that four hundred families set out from the ancient republic -for these parts, by order of the Viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco II (1591), -and with the aid of Friar Jerónimo Mendieta. Friars Ignacio de Cardenas -and Jeronimo de Zárate brought them and distributed them in -Tlaxcalilla—on the outskirts of this city of San Luis, close by the -congregation of Santiago, which was of Guachichiles—in San Miguel, -Mexquitic, Venado, San Andrés, Colotlan, and Saltillo. It can easily be -believed that these colonists would not readily consent to abandon their -soil and come to such a distance to serve as a protection against -barbarians and as a guarantee of their obedience. Far from it; they -stipulated that they should enjoy the same privileges as if they were -noble-born Castillians; that they should go on horse and bear arms; and -that their towns, in which no Spaniards were to live, should measure -three leagues on each side.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_97" id="page_97"></a>{97}</span></p> - -<h3>ANDRES DE OLMOS.</h3> - -<p>God, who holds aloft with his right hand a torch to light the way of his -creatures and to fructify, in the very field of death, the germs of -life; behind the bearded divinities with dress of steel and armed with -thunderbolts; from the region of light, the east, that they might anoint -with the oil of charity, the victims of greed, and resuscitate for -Heaven those dead for the world, sent the friars, shorn and shaven, -unshod, clad in sackcloth, with no shield but their faith, with no -weapon but the Gospel. Among these was that notable man, who wandered -through the whole Huasteca, while the Guachichiles still obstinately -fought their fierce battles; so wise was he that, besides his -miracle-play of <i>The Last Judgment</i> and Conversations, Sermons, and -Tractates, all written in Aztec, he left grammars and vocabularies of -that language and of the Totonaco and Huastec, as well as many other -books for the instruction and admiration of missionaries, philologists -and historians; so poor, that, when he died, there was nought but a -rosary, some beads, a <i>disciplina</i><a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and a <i>cilicio</i>,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> left to his -hosts in token of gratitude; so temperate, that he did not in the least -seek those things which the appetite naturally desires, nor took -pleasure in them, but ate whatever was placed before him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_98" id="page_98"></a>{98}</span> although bad -in savor and smell; so strong that, after bearing a heavy weight of -years, going on foot through wastes and wilds, in a trying climate, -without any kind of comfort,—not only did he not choose to accept the -rest and shelter which his brethren urged upon him, when they saw him -old, asthmatic, insect-bitten to the degree that he looked like a leper, -but, glorying in his natural strong constitution, again betook himself -to the mountains where the warlike Chichimecs had their strongholds, to -preach to them for the last time, in the name of the Crucified, a gospel -of obedience and peace.</p> - -<p>Already you know, gentlemen, that I speak of the friar, Andres de Olmos, -companion of the venerable Zumárraga.</p> - -<h3>MARTYRS TO THE FAITH.</h3> - -<p>In the New, as in the Old World, in the deserts as in the cities, in the -mountains as in the plains, the Gospel,—light and truth, refreshment, -hope and delight at once,—has to subjugate all peoples, to soften the -fierce and uncultured and to reduce to peace, order, and progress, -whatever may be the language in which it be announced. By divine -arrangement the doorposts must be marked with blood, with blood of -innocent victims, gentle and pure, that the avenging angel may pass by -and not wet his sword with the blood of the first-born.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_99" id="page_99"></a>{99}</span> Thus, in the -northeast, four leagues from Zacatecas, a little after the year 1556, -kneeling and with the crucifix in his hand, Friar Juan de Tapia yielded -his blood to the sharp arrows of the Guachichiles; thus, Friar Juan -Cerrato shed his blood at the hands of the pagans, to whom he came from -Jalisco, that he might raise them from their rude condition and bring -them to a knowledge of their Creator and to the bosom of the Holy -Catholic Church; thus, the friars, Francisco Doncel and Pedro de Burgos -inundated with their red life-fluid the deep gorge of Chamacuero, where, -fierce as tigers, the Chichimecs hurled themselves upon them.</p> - -<p>Father Doncel was returning from Patzcuaro with Friar Pedro, carrying a -crucifix which he had ordered made for the Villa of San Felipe, of the -convent of which he was guardian. Looking to the security of the image, -they came accompanied by soldiers; but, as these fled at the moment of -attack by the Indians, they left the holy monks abandoned and helpless. -As was his duty in such a crisis, Father Doncel knelt and, raising the -crucifix aloft, lifted up his voice in prayer. Devoted to their sublime -mission, both the friars suffered death from the furious rage of the -savages, which, not content with blood and with stripping off the -garments to deck itself in them, and to run races thus garbed, uttering -beast cries, sawed off the heads, tore off the skull caps, and wore -them, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a>{100}</span> make display of its triumph. That image of Jesus is still -venerated in San Felipe, under the name of the <i>Señor de la Conquista</i>; -and that gorge in which these monks perished is still called the <i>Arroyo -de los Martires</i> (Gorge of the Martyrs).</p> - -<p>Near by, at four leagues distance from Colotlan, is the spot where Friar -Luis de Villalobos sealed by a glorious death, in 1582, the doctrine -which he taught the heathen; not far distant is where Friar Andrés de la -Puebla was cruelly beaten, in 1586, and the skin was torn off his head, -from the eyebrows upward, while he was denouncing idolatry and intoning -the divine praises. Ours, is that land of Charcas, where also suffered -martyrdom, the friar, Juan del Rio, brother of the general of that name, -who made the final campaign against the Chichimecs. One day in 1586, -when the Spaniards had sallied from the town, a body of Indians attacked -it and stole the cattle. The only two soldiers, whom they had left on -guard, started in pursuit; shortly after, the friar followed them on -horse, believing the robbers would respect his presence. When he arrived -where they were he saw that one soldier was dead and that the other was -in imminent peril. He besought his enemies to calm themselves and hear -him, and did not cease to speak even when a rain of arrows fell upon -him, striking him in every part of the body. Reason enough was there for -the astonishment of the assassins, for the arrows,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a>{101}</span> though many and well -directed, made no impression—he held himself well on his horse and -continued speaking. The Indians then aimed at his head and, with three -or four shots, brought him to the ground. What think you was the cause -of his apparent invulnerability? To find out, the barbarians, running up -to examine the body, despoiled it of clothing and found an immense -<i>cilicio</i>, an iron network supplied with iron points inside, which -constantly tore the flesh of the penitent friar.</p> - -<h3>DIEGO ORDOÑEZ.</h3> - -<p>What do you admire in the great navigator, whose fortunate discovery two -hemispheres are now preparing to celebrate? His wisdom? his valor? his -boldness? While he possessed all these in heroic grade, it is surely not -these which, in him, captivate us, but his faith, his marvelous faith, -which sustained him erect and firm in the midst of innumerable -obstacles, betrayed by treachery, mocked and harassed by adverse -fortune, and he held it against machinations and dangers, until he -planted it securely in the land of his dreams. Well, of this same faith, -which caused the inspired mariner to triumph over enemies and obstacles -and the mysterious dangers of the sea, there are also found examples in -these, our regions, which ought not to be held unworthy of esteem -because they are buried in the humble chronicles of a Province;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a>{102}</span> for -even thus, in solitude, a diamond gleams more brightly. When the -immortal Genoese entered the service of Spain, there had just (1483) -taken the Franciscan habit in Salamanca, a youth of such precocity that, -at thirteen years, he had already graduated in philosophy. At sixteen, -dedicated to the study of theology, he made such progress in this -science and in Greek and Hebrew, that, with no little credit to his -order, he occupied—through many years—the professorship in his -convent, where, as is well known, Columbus found a more friendly -reception than among the proud professors of the famous university. From -Guatemala, whither the learned teacher went in 1539 to occupy himself -with the instruction of the wild Indians, he passed to Mexico, called to -serve as <i>Consultor</i> to the Holy Office. The snows of a hundred winters -already whitened his head, but as the volcanoes which display a snowy -crown to conceal the forge where are smithed their glowing thunderbolts, -so the venerable centennarian priest. He scarcely tarried at the -vice-regal court; like a flaming arrow he went to Michoacan, Zacatecas, -and Durango, whose inhabitants enjoyed the last ministrations of the -philosopher, theologian, humanist, and eminent preacher, whose name was -Diego Ordoñez, and who, at one hundred and seventeen years of age, -seated in a chair because he could not stand, died in Sombrerete, -preaching to the Indians—he who had been the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a>{103}</span> pride of the convent at -Salamanca and the venerated oracle of theologians and inquisitors.</p> - -<h3>ANTONIO DE ROA.</h3> - -<p>Two methods were employed by him, or rather one only, in converting so -untamed and rude a people. No one is ignorant, that in New Spain the -worship of the Holy Cross has ever been general. Be the mountain -beautiful or barren, lofty or low, the natives were accustomed to rear a -cross upon it. Where roads forked they set it up, and also in the -streets and plazas, that they might venerate it at every step and bow -before it. With greater reason, therefore, believed Father Roa, ought -the sacred emblem to be multiplied upon the rugged mountain trails, -which, at first glance, had so much discouraged him.</p> - -<p>But, not consenting to erect it in spots, where, before, the Indians had -adored their idols, he taught them to honor it with great love and -unheard-of penances. When he went forth from his convent, he had them -throw about his neck a halter, dragged by two Indians; thus, with quick -step, downcast eyes, in tears, with ardent groaning, he went, meditating -on the passion of the Redeemer, until he reached the spot where stood a -cross. Scarcely knelt before it, the Indians, who accompanied him and -knew his orders, buffeted him, spat upon him, and cruelly beat him. This -was repeated<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a>{104}</span> as many times as there were crosses on the way—and there -were many.</p> - -<p>When it is stated that this practice was constant and but the beginning -of each day, one begins to have an idea of the examples, which he set to -the new followers of Christ. One is stupefied to read that, arrived at -the village he preached and administered the sacraments, then waited -until night to make a general flagellation, which, finished, he sallied -from the church, naked from the waist up and barefoot, with a halter -around his neck, in order to walk around the churchyard, which was -strewn with glowing brands. One can hardly believe that his strength -allowed him to preach, on returning into the church, a sermon upon the -torments of hell and, further, that after all this he endured the -torture of boiling water, which his rough followers threw over his -lacerated body.</p> - -<p>Still the idea of the sufferings, which he added to those, today, as -then, inseparable from a region so wild and remote, is not complete -until we know that, in Lent, he was accustomed, thrice weekly, to bathe -the Hermita of Molango with his blood. In his oratory he had painted the -Prayer in the Garden; and there, after his long prayers, the Indians -came to beat him, while they overwhelmed him with insults. They stripped -him from the waist up and violently tore away the coarse and rasping -cloth which was bound closely to his flesh; they threw a halter about -his neck and, in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a>{105}</span> guise, dragged him to a second oratory where was -painted a Magdalene anointing the Lord’s feet. Placing him there before -an Indian who, seated in his tribunal, represented Divine Justice, they -accused him of being a wicked man, an ingrate, proud, perverter, and -false. He replied nothing on the matter to the questions of the judge, -but, after a little time, confessed his sins, ingratitude, and faults, -in a loud voice. He replied as little to a new accusation, made against -him with false witnesses, of the truth of which the judge declared -himself convinced, and ordered that they should beat him naked, which -they did, thoroughly, until the blood ran down upon the ground from his -raw and quivering body. Afterward they kindled splinters of fat pine, -with the sizzling resin of which they scorched him from the shoulders to -the soles of his feet, and lastly they laid upon him a heavy cross, -which he bore in a procession around the enclosure over a bed of glowing -coals.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a>{106}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JUAN_F_MOLINA_SOLIS" id="JUAN_F_MOLINA_SOLIS"></a>JUAN F. MOLINA SOLIS.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_106_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_106_sml.jpg" width="211" height="282" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Juan F. Molina Solis, representative of one of the oldest and most -respected families of Yucatan, was born June 11, 1850, in the village of -Hecelchacan. His father was Juan F. Molina Esquivel, his mother Cecilia -Solis de Molina. In 1857, the family removed to Merida, where the boy’s -education was carried on. He received the degree of Master of Arts from -the <i>Seminario conciliar de San Ildefonso</i>, after which he studied law, -graduating in 1874. He has ever occupied a prominent<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a>{107}</span> position in Merida -as a successful lawyer, as teacher in the Seminario, as professor in the -Law School, as journalist, and as author. In literature he has largely -confined himself to history—especially the history of Yucatan. His -<i>Historia del Descubrimiento y Conquista de Yucatan con una reseña de la -Historia antiqua de esta Peninsula</i> (History of the Discovery and -Conquest of Yucatan with a Summary of the Ancient History of this -Peninsula) is a standard authority. It is admirably written and is -marked by a sober criticism and constant reference to original sources. -Besides this, the largest and most important work that he has written, -we may mention a collection of polemical historical articles and of -miscellaneous editorials presented under the general title <i>El Primer -Obispado de la Nacion Mejicana</i> (The First Bishopric of the Mexican -Nation) and an interesting historical sketch, <i>El Conde de Peñalva</i> (The -Count of Peñalva). In his editorials Señor Molina often discusses -matters of transcendant importance to the nation. While extremely -conservative, and hence often in the opposition, his writings on such -themes are thoughtful, candid, just, and patriotic. Among such articles -are some treating of Representative Government, The Election of Deputies -and Senators to the Federal Congress, The Commercial Treaty Between -Mexico and the United States, etc. The passage presented here, in -translation, is a chapter from <i>El Conde de Peñalva</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a>{108}</span></p> - -<h3>THE HORRORS OF 1648 IN YUCATAN.</h3> - -<p>The Count could not arrive at a more unfortunate moment nor amid -conditions sadder than those among which fate decreed his coming to -these shores. The situation of the Peninsula could not be more sorrowful -or calamitous. An epidemic disease, whether cholera, or yellow fever, or -the black plague, is uncertain, was just ceasing to devastate the -community, and the misfortunes and ruin which it caused had not yet -ended. That pest began in the year 1648, year unlucky for Yucatan. After -the season of northers in February of that year, a drought set in, so -rigorous as to sterilize the soil and to produce intense heat, which was -increased by burning over the fields in preparation for the year’s -sowing. This drought, these heats, the Peninsula suffers ordinarily, but -for a short time only, from the month of March until the rains fall in -May—and, it even happens often that, before the rains, showers refresh -the air and moisten and fertilize the earth. The year 1648 was not, -however, such; the heats, initiated in the month of February, augmented, -more and more, until they reached the extreme degree which human nature -can endure; the inhabitants of the country anxiously begged for rain to -diminish the heat, in which they were burning; but heaven, deaf to their -clamors, refused to open its stores, and time passed without a single -drop of rain coming to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a>{109}</span> refresh the thirsty earth. Sometimes, the rains -delay until the end of June, but what was seen in 1648 has never been -since repeated; June passed, July passed, August began, and the land was -as dry as a fleshless skeleton, exposed to the quivering rays of a -dog-days’ sun. The dust, fine and penetrating, was constantly raised in -clouds, from March on, at the blast of the southeast wind, and shut out -from view the barren fields which, when visible offered to the eye -nothing but leafless trees and ground overgrown with briars and brambles -without greenness. Nor was the afternoon breeze any relief from the -extraordinary heat and drought, because that little current of air, -blowing so softly and agreeably on summer afternoons, at that time came -impregnated with an odor strong and pestiferous as if the whole -Peninsula had been encircled by filthy and stinking cesspools. And this -was because that period of drought coincided with an extraordinary -infection of the fishes of the sea, which died in infinite numbers, and -their bodies, tossed up by the sea onto the shores, formed gigantic -heaps of putrefaction, which poisoned the air. How great must have been -the number of those dead fish, since it is stated that the vessels that -were navigating near our coasts were checked in their courses and -journeyed slowly, as if they were running in the belt of calms or -through spaces filled with drifting ice! In vain our police force, then -in embryo, sent out daily,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a>{110}</span> from all the towns near the coast, files of -Indians led by a Spaniard, for the purpose of burning the dead fish. The -very stench of the burning came to be unbearable, so that finally the -expedient was abandoned, as harmful.</p> - -<p>Suffering under these tribulations, the people intensified their -affliction, by dire forebodings, which existed more in their imagination -than in reality. As always happens, in time of social calamity, aged -persons spoke of similar times, in remote epochs, which had preceded -horrible disasters. The air appearing thick and heavy, they imagined -that the sun did not shine as it was accustomed to do, but was as if -eclipsed; and, in fine, the inner sadness of minds was reflected in -external things, conspiring to exalt the fancy with dread of vague -misfortunes, of coming and fatal ills.</p> - -<p>And the fear became reality, since in the month of June a terrible and -contagious disease made its frightful appearance in Campeche. Whether it -was the Levantine plague, which a little before had ravaged Europe and -was brought by some vessel to the port, whether it was occasioned by the -putrefaction of the dead fishes, whether it was the cholera which -visited us for the first time, or whether it was the yellow fever -scourging with an iron hand, we cannot say. It is enough to know that it -was a terrible disease, which converted Yucatan into an immense -cemetery. Sometimes, without any warning, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a>{111}</span> showed itself in intense -pains in the bones, accompanied by excessive fever and delirium; at -other times with the fever was united vomiting of putrid blood; now it -presented the diarrhœa of the cholera patient; now the putrid -dysentery of pernicious fever. Some died in eight or ten hours; others -lasted through three, four, or even seven days. Men more than women, and -the youth, lively and vigorous, more than the feeble and infirm, were -the field preferred by the epidemic. No one escaped its deleterious -influence, and the Spaniard and Indian, the negro, the mulatto, and the -mestizo all paid their tribute to the contagion, which showed no respect -in its depredations. In its course, it sometimes skipped populations; -and while it swooped pitilessly down upon some obscure and distant -village, it neglected some town close by and exposed to its attack. -Sometimes it seemed to spare the Indians, only to return later and make -a clean sweep of them.</p> - -<p>There were great sadness and horror in Merida when notice was brought of -the rapid, frequent, and painful deaths, which were taking place in -Campeche, and which suggested the existence of the plague; the more so -as an effort was made to minimize the reports of conditions. The pest, -the sombre and frightful pest, which brings death as a daily thought to -the minds of all; and not sweet and peaceful death, but the most -distressing of all, death in solitude and abandonment! The stupor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a>{112}</span> -caused by the news, did not prevent some measures of sanitation to -prevent the invasion of the contagion, the principal of which was -isolation. The city completely separated itself, closed the highways, -set numerous guards in the roads, and all the inhabitants turned their -eyes to God, imploring pity; the temples were thronged and deeds of -mercy were more frequent and general.</p> - -<p>Nothing, however, sufficed to stay the advance of the disease; in turn, -it attacked Merida, leaping over all the populations in the line of -progress, and appearing in the city at the end of July. At first it -attacked but few, here and there a person; although the number stricken -did not cause a panic, the promptness with which they died struck -terror. This, however, was but the beginning of the affliction; because, -afterward, in the first days of August the disease increased above -measure, and by the middle of the month almost all the inhabitants of -the city were stretched upon the bed of pain by the contagion. Whole -families were stricken and died in isolation, with no one to care for -them or even to call a nurse, a physician, or a priest to give some aid. -In the sad and deserted streets were only to be seen, passing like -fugitive spectres, the secular clergy, the Jesuits, and the Franciscans -in their long gowns, rapidly crossing from house to house to administer -consolation to those dying who had the happiness to receive them; -because, not infrequently, when the priests crossed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a>{113}</span> the threshold of -the house of death, they only encountered sepulchral stillness and -corpses; at other times it happened that the priest, who bore the -<i>viaticum</i>, was himself suddenly stricken with the disease and was -obliged to lay himself down to die in the first doorway, while another -priest came to take the holy elements from his hands, to continue the -sacred task of abnegation and sacrifice. In the cathedral, in Santa -Lucia, in San Cristobal, in Santiago, in San Sebastian, in Santa -Catalina, the corpses were buried in the burying grounds near the -churches; but so great was the crowd of the dead that the town -government commanded new cemeteries to be opened and blessed in the -fields; and, in order not to increase the panic, it ordered that the -bodies should be carried to all these cemeteries at dawn, where a priest -received them and repeated a prayer over them, and they were thrown into -the common trench. That was a mournful spectacle, which those fields of -death presented at that hour, with long files of corpses, badly clad or -wrapped in serapes or in henequin mattings, laid out on boards, or -stretchers.</p> - -<p>The Governor, Don Esteban de Ascárraga did not escape the pest; he died -August 8 and was buried quietly, not to augment the consternation of the -city. A Franciscan friar, José de Orosco, mounted, hale and hearty, the -pulpit in the church of San Francisco, to preach the sermon, and -descended ill, and died. The regidors, in the town<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a>{114}</span> government, died; of -eight Jesuits, who lived in the Colleges of San Javier and San Pedro, -six sacrificed their lives on the altar of charity, succoring the -sufferers day and night; twenty Franciscans perished in the same labors; -clergy, seculars, canonigos, pensioners, royal employes, in short, the -principal and choicest of the city went down to the tomb in the month of -August, 1648.</p> - -<p>Public consternation had reached its height; the city was completely -overwhelmed. Without physicians, without adequate supplies of medicines, -with no hospital except that of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, later known -by the name San Juan de Dios, from the fact that it was in other times -served by the mendicant friars; sustained with difficulty, without -sanitary police, without hygienic arrangements, with the deaths -increasing, the public spirit crushed. It was then, when deprived of -every human succor, the inhabitants of Merida redoubled their appeals to -heaven, and, recalling the great devotion of the Province to the Most -Holy Virgin Mary, resolved to make a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of -Izamal and to bring the sacred image, there venerated, in public -procession in order to attribute to it special worship during nine -consecutive days. The Licenciate, Don Juan de Aguileta, Vice-Governor, -was appointed by the city to represent it and bring the sacred image to -Merida. In so great faith and mortal terror were all the people that the -Licenciate Aguileta, himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a>{115}</span> ill with the pest, did not hesitate a -moment to receive the commission, and without discussion started for -Izamal. Whether for the faith with which he undertook the journey, the -change of temperature, or some other reason, the fact is that the -licenciate was cured before he reached Izamal. As soon as the Indians -learned the object of his journey, they tenaciously opposed the removal -of the sacred statue, fearing that it would not be returned to its -traditional sanctuary. The persuasions, threats, and exhortations of the -authorities availed nothing, nor did those of the friars themselves; the -Indians distrusted all, and did not willingly lend themselves to permit -the departure of the sacred image until the Provincial of the -Franciscans agreed to remain in Izamal, as a hostage, until the -venerated figure should be restored to its temple. And so seriously did -the Indians take his proposal that they placed guards upon all the roads -out from the town to prevent his escape.</p> - -<p>These measures having been taken by the Indians, the holy image started -from Izamal for Merida. It was not a procession; it was a grand popular -festival; it was a triumphal march, with an enormous accompaniment of -people, who poured forth from their homes, to see pass by on the -highway, the statue of the venerated Patroness of Yucatan, whose aid was -besought. Those who know the faith, the ardor, the effusion of soul with -which<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a>{116}</span> the humble and common people devote themselves to religious -practices, can imagine the enthusiasm, bordering on delirium, with which -the inhabitants of the surrounding towns flocked together, anxious to -render their homage of love to the Virgin Mary. Long and closely packed -files of devotees, with lighted torches, formed the accompaniment, which -stretched, as a broad, blazing strip, through the dry and arid wastes -bordering the road. All on foot, all praying, all filled with remorse, -and penitent, they arrived at the outskirts of Merida, where a numerous -and select concourse awaited the procession. The Regidors, the -Canonigos, the principal ladies, had gone, barefoot in sign of -penitence, and, when the procession passed through the streets of the -city, from the Cruz de la Villa to the Plaza Mayor, the sick had -themselves brought to the doors and windows of their houses, to implore -health. After a brief rest at the Cathedral, the procession went to the -Church of San Francisco, where for nine days constantly the most solemn -worship<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> was attributed to the Most Holy Virgin.</p> - -<p>The nine days having passed, on the 23d of August, 1648, the Alcalde -Governor, Don Juan de Salazar y Montejo, returned the sacred image to -the Sanctuary of Izamal, with the same splendor, pomp, and -accompaniment. The pest mitigated, in fact, in Merida at the end of -August, and had almost disappeared before the middle of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a>{117}</span> September, -although merely changing the scene of its ravages.</p> - -<p>As happens always, the gathering of people, the numerous concourse of -inhabitants from other towns, scattered the seed of the contagion, which -spread its devastation throughout the whole country. The first to be -attacked were the Indians of Izamal, who, faithful and devoted, did not -abandon the sacred image for a moment on its journey from its natal city -to Merida. From Izamal the pest extended slowly to the east and south. -The great procession took place in August, and already in September the -District of Izamal was smitten; in October the epidemic had propagated -itself to Ticul, Chapab, Bolonchen, Mani, Bolonchenticul; in December it -had spread throughout the whole coast, and, thus, spreading from town to -town, it fiercely struck its claws into the whole Peninsula during two -long and weary years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a>{118}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="LUIS_GONZALES_OBREGON" id="LUIS_GONZALES_OBREGON"></a>LUIS GONZALES OBREGÓN.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_118_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_118_sml.jpg" width="219" height="276" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Luis Gonzales Obregón, one of the best known of living Mexican writers, -was born in Guanajuato, August 25, 1865. After studying under private -teachers at his home, he went to Mexico, where he completed his -preparatory studies in the <i>Seminario</i> and in the <i>Colegio de San -Ildefonso</i>. Ill health interfered with his further education, but he had -already developed a strong affection for literary, and particularly for -historical, pursuits, which has motived his whole life work. He is a -devoted<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a>{119}</span> student of the national history of his country and particularly -delights in the investigation of obscure and curious incidents. So far -as a feeble physical constitution has allowed, he has given himself up -to such researches and to writing. In 1889 he published a useful little -volume, entitled <i>Novelistas Mexicanos en el Siglo XIX</i> (Mexican -Novelists in the Nineteenth Century). In an introductory section he -briefly characterizes the Mexican novel; he then presents a complete -list of the novelists of the century, to the time of his writing, with -the names of their novels and a few discriminating words regarding their -place in the national literature. Our author’s best known work is -certainly <i>México Viejo</i> (Old Mexico), of which a “first series” was -printed in 1891 and a “second series” in 1895. These have recently been -republished, in a single volume, in Paris. The work consists of essays, -each dealing with some special event in Mexican history, or sketching -the life of some eminent person, or depicting some old custom or popular -practice. Usually they contain information derived from unpublished -manuscripts or rare and ancient works. Among the many other writings of -our author, two biographical sketches demand particular mention, on -account of the interest and prominence of the men who form the subjects. -These are <i>Don José Joaquín Fernandez de Lizardi</i> famous<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a>{120}</span> as a writer, -early in the last century, under the <i>nom-de-plume</i> of <i>El Pensador -Mexicano</i> (the Mexican thinker), and <i>Vida y Obras de Don José Fernando -Ramirez</i> (Life and Works of José Fernando Ramirez), the eminent literary -man, historian, and statesman. The selections, which we here present, -are from <i>México Viejo</i>. They do not as satisfactorily represent Señor -Obregón’s style as longer passages would, as he is at his best when he -narrates some ancient legend or describes some popular festival.</p> - -<h3>CHANGES IN MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>For some years past Mexico has been undergoing a slow, but evident, -transformation. Everywhere the modern spirit modifies what is old. -Customs, types, dress, monuments, and buildings are completely losing -the long-fixed physiognomy of the colonial days.</p> - -<p>The customs of our ancestors, half Spanish, half indigenous, are -disappearing, replaced by a mixture of European practices, and now, in -the same house, one prays in the old fashion, clothes one’s self after -the French style, and eats after the Italian manner; one mounts his -horse or enters his coach <i>a la</i> English, and conducts his business <i>a -la</i> Yankee, in order to lose no time.</p> - -<p>The fountains, those ancient fountains of the colonial epoch, have been -replaced by hydrants<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a>{121}</span> and troughs at every corner, and the traditional -type of the <i>aguador</i> (water-carrier) is eclipsed and forced to betake -himself to those sections where the deep shadows of the electric lights -fall, and where the precious fluid does not flow of itself, except when -it pleases heaven to inundate the streets and alleys.</p> - -<p>The <i>china</i><a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> has died, to live only in the beautiful romances of the -popular Fidel; the <i>chiera</i><a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> yields her gay and picturesque <i>puesto</i> -of refreshing waters, to the experienced <i>señorita</i>, who in high-heeled -shoes and tightly-laced bodice serves us iced drink in vessels of fine -crystal; the <i>sereno</i>,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> with his shining, varnished hat, his ladder -on his shoulder and his lantern in his right hand, withdraws shame-faced -before the <i>gendarme</i>,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> and thus with other types, whom the curious -investigator now encounters only in the pictures of forgotten books.</p> - -<p>Who now remembers the habits of the humble friars, who once traveled -through the streets amid the respectful salutations of the faithful?</p> - -<p>The coaches slung on straps, the gigs, the omnibuses—are all passing -away, all are forgotten in the noisy whirl of English and American -carriages and the confusion of the <i>tranvias</i>,<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> which rapidly slip -over their steel rails.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a>{122}</span></p> - -<p>Mexico changes, principally, in its material part. The old houses fall -daily, façades change, the ancient wooden roofs give way to iron -sheeting.</p> - -<p>The streets are being lengthened, their names are expressed in -cabalistic signs, and their historic and traditional associations are -relegated to the verses of our poets.</p> - -<p>The city, born amid the rubbish of the heroic Tenochtitlan, the capital -city of the viceroyalty of New Spain, which had on every corner a chapel -or temple—or, at least, a picture of a saint—pious evidences of the -religion of the populace, now rejuvenates itself, appropriating those -old buildings, consecrated to some special purpose, to some use far -different, since the epoch of the Reform.</p> - -<p>What was then a church is now a library; what was a convent, a barrack; -what was a customs house, a departmental office; a corridor becomes a -gallery; a <i>patio</i>, a warehouse; a refectory, a stable.</p> - -<p>Before the special physiognomy of those times completely disappears, -before the crowbar demolishes the last façades, before the scaffolding -is raised against the bulging wall, before—finally—we hear the song or -whistle of the indifferent stonecutter, as he mercilessly chisels the -stone which will completely change the aspect of those things upon which -our forebears gazed, we propose to conjure up the incidents, the times, -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a>{123}</span> customs which have gone that future generations need not vainly -excavate among forgotten ruins.</p> - -<h3>LUISA MARTINEZ.</h3> - -<p>The war of independence in Mexico had, also, its martyr heroines. The -insurgents never executed a woman of the royalists; but that party -stained its arms with the blood of the fair sex.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>There was another heroine of humble origin whom we ought not to omit, -because she, also, was a martyr of the independence. She was named Luisa -Martínez, wife of Steven García Martínez (nicknamed ‘the reveler’), who -kept a little shop in the pueblo of Erongaricuaro, about the years 1815 -and 1816. In that pueblo all were <i>chaquetas</i>, that is to say, partisans -of the royalists. She, however, was devoted to the other flag. She -courageously aided the insurgent warriors, she gave them timely -information, victuals, resources, and communicated to them messages from -their superior officers, with whom she kept in constant touch. One day -her messenger, bearing letters directed to the insurgent leader, Tomás -Pacheco, was surprised by Pedro Celestino Negrete. Luisa Martínez fled; -but, pursued, captured, and tried, she was compelled to pay two thousand -pesos and to promise to communicate no farther with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a>{124}</span> patriots, in -order to regain her liberty. But she was not warned by her experience. -Thrice again was she pursued, imprisoned, and fined, until, at last, she -could not pay the sum, four thousand pesos, which Negrete demanded, and -was shot by his order in the year 1817, in a corner of the cemetery of -the parish church at Erongaricuaro.</p> - -<p>Just before her execution, turning to Negrete, she said to him:</p> - -<p>“Why such persistent persecution of me? I have the right to do what I -can to help my country, because I am a Mexican. I do not believe that I -have committed any crime, but simply have fulfilled my duty.”</p> - -<p>Negrete remained inflexible, and Luisa Martínez <i>fell, pierced by -royalist bullets</i>.</p> - -<h3>SOR JUANA INEZ DE LA CRUZ.</h3> - -<p>If there is one literary glory among us, universally recognized and -applauded, it is Sister Juana Inez de la Cruz, most virtuous nun, -inspired poet, and pre-eminently admirable for her prodigious learning.</p> - -<p>Sister Juana was a privileged being; her beauty captivated all hearts; -her intellect astonished her contemporaries.</p> - -<p>The life of that surprising woman is almost a fairy tale.</p> - -<p>She was born near the slopes of those giants,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a>{125}</span> Popocatepetl and -Iztaccihuatl, in a country place called San Miguel Nepantla, in a humble -inn known by the name of <i>la celda</i>, at eleven o’clock in the night of -Thursday, November 12, 1651. At three years of age she had coaxed the -teacher of her sister to teach her to read; she was not yet seven, when -she had written verses and addresses to the Santisimo Sacramento, in -order to win a book which had been offered as a prize; she came to -Mexico, where she devoured the few books which her grandfather owned; in -twenty lessons with her teacher, Martin de Olivas, she learned the Latin -language; she begged her mother to dress her as a man, that she might -study at the University; later, young and beautiful, as lady-in-waiting -of Doña Leonora María de Carreto, then the vice-reina of New Spain, -Juana de Asbaje charmed the gallants with her witcheries and astounded -the learned with her knowledge.</p> - -<p>One time, the Viceroy Antonio Sebastián de Toledo, Marquis of Mancera, -desired to convince himself whether the learning of that lady was real -or apparent. He collected at his palace all the notable men, reputed -learned, in the city. What with theologians, philosophers, -mathematicians, historians, poets, humanitarians, ‘and not a few of -those whom in sport we call <i>tertulios</i>’<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> (says Padre Calleja), forty -were present. Juana de Asbaje appeared before that severe tribunal for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a>{126}</span> -examination. She astounded all by her responses. The viceroy himself, -years later, admiringly recounted the impressions of that day to Padre -Calleja, and added ‘As a royal galleon would defend itself against a few -fishing-smacks which might assail it, so did Juana Inez easily -disentangle herself from the questions, arguments, and objections which -they all, each in his own way, put to her.’</p> - -<p>But she did not long shine in worldly life; mysterious -reasons—disappointments or impossible affections, or, more likely, the -repeated entreaties of her confessor—decided her to enter a convent. -She first chose that of San José, of the order of the bare-foot -Carmelites, today Santa Teresa de Antigua; but the rigors of that order -so enfeebled her that she abandoned the novitiate at the end of three -months, by order of physicians. Soon, however, she entered another -nunnery, that of San Gerónimo, never again to depart. There she publicly -made her vows, on the 24th of February, 1669. Pedro Velásquez de la -Cadena, a wealthy man of distinguished family, endowed her and her -confessor, Padre Antonio Nuñez de Mirando, bore the expenses of the -occasion, and was so delighted with her profession that he himself -lighted the evening candles and invited the leading representatives of -the civil and ecclesiastical governments, the religious notables, and -the nobility of Mexico to be present.</p> - -<p>Time passed. Sister Juana, in the silence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a>{127}</span> her cell, without a sign -of pride, with spirit ever thirsting for knowledge, studied incessantly, -and with modesty received the praises, which from all parts were -bestowed upon her; but, suddenly, a religious fervor, offspring of her -faith and the counsels of her spiritual director (who urged her to -abandon all dealings with the world) drove her to dispose of her books; -she divided the sum realized among the needy; she left her lyre to -gather dust, flung her pen far from her, and, grasping her <i>disciplina</i>, -scourged herself; she weakened herself by fasts, opened her veins, -signed new vows with her own blood, until, finally, a pestilence, which -had invaded the convent, stretched her upon her couch, after she had -exercised her Christian charity in ministering to her sisters. She never -rose again. Science, in vain, eagerly attempted to help her. Vain were -also the clamors for her health which the convent bells clanged forth. -Tranquil as a saint, she received her last communion on earth and calmly -closed her eyes to open them in heaven.</p> - -<p>Sister Juana died aged forty-three years, five months, five days, and -five hours, at four in the morning of April 17, 1695.</p> - -<p>The funeral was imposing. The Canon Francisco Aguilar conducted the -ceremony. The most notable men, the most distinguished ladies, and the -government officials were in attendance. ‘The populace,’ says one -biographer, ‘crowded about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a>{128}</span> the doors of the church of San Gerónimo. All -mourned that loss for letters. Poets sung her praises and Carlos de -Sigüenza y Gongora pronounced the eulogy.’</p> - -<h3>THE INQUISITION.</h3> - -<p>Thus was installed, November 4, 1571, the tribunal of the Inquisition in -the very loyal and very noble City of Mexico.</p> - -<p>From that day terror began among its good inhabitants! Woe to heretics, -blasphemers, and Jews! Woe to sharpers, witches and sorcerers!</p> - -<p>Fear swept over all, and that frightful secrecy with which the tribunal -surrounded itself contributed greatly to increase the terror; that -mystery with which it proceeded; that impressive pomp which it displayed -in its public sentences—which in time were the favorite diversion of -the mob and even of the middle and comfortable class.</p> - -<p>No one lived at ease; unknown and secret denunciation threatened -everyone; unfortunate was he who gave ground for the least suspicion and -unhappy was he who merely failed to wear a rosary.</p> - -<p>It is necessary to transport one’s self to those times, to read what -history records of that dread tribunal, in order to picture, adequately, -to one’s self the terror which must have overwhelmed those who appeared -before the Holy Office in the old Cathedral of Mexico.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a>{129}</span></p> - -<p>With time respect diminished, and that which before caused terror now -aroused derision.</p> - -<p>Some of the sentences were ridiculous—mere travesties. For instance, -that celebrated in Santo Domingo on December 7, 1664, and in which -conjugal infelicities between the viceroy, Mancera, and his lady -secretly had their influence. Guido says: “There were ten condemned and -among them one who, according to his sentence, was taken to the patio of -the convent and stripped; two Indians smeared him with honey and covered -him with feathers; there he was left exposed four hours.”</p> - -<p>Such spectacles must have caused at first indignation, then contempt.</p> - -<p>No less insulting than such punishments were the penitential garments of -those condemned by the Holy Office, called <i>san-benitos</i>. These were a -kind of scapulary of linen or other cloth, yellow or flesh-red in color. -There were three kinds, known respectively by the names <i>samarra</i>, -<i>fuego revolto</i> and <i>san-benito</i>—the latter being also a name common to -all.</p> - -<p>The <i>samarra</i> was worn by the <i>relajados</i>, or those handed over to the -secular arm to be garroted or burned alive. It bore, painted upon it, -dragons, devils, and flames, amid which the criminal was represented as -burning.</p> - -<p>The garment known as <i>fuego revolto</i> was that of those who had abjured, -and for this reason the flames were painted upside down, as if to -signify<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a>{130}</span> that the wearers had escaped from death in the fiery embrace.</p> - -<p>Finally, the <i>san-benito</i>, which ordinary prisoners wore, was a -flesh-colored sack bearing a Saint Andrew’s cross.</p> - -<p>The kind of mitre which the condemned wore upon the head was called -<i>coroza</i>, and was a cap of paper, more than a <i>vara</i> high, ending in a -point like a fool’s-cap, with flames, snakes or demons painted on it, -according to the category of the criminal.</p> - -<p>The condemned carried also rosaries, and yellow or green candles; those -of the “reconciled” were lighted, those of the impenitent extinguished; -when they were “blasphemers” they were gagged.</p> - -<p>In time these insulting insignia were looked upon with indifference as -any other dress, and gave occasion, in Mexico, to a curious story. It -chanced that once a “reconciled” was walking through the streets wearing -his <i>san-benito</i>; some Indians seeing him noticed that the dress was new -and one thought it was the Spanish devotional dress for Lent; returning -to his house he made some excellent <i>san-benitos</i>, well painted; he -brought them to the city and offered them for sale to Spaniards, saying, -in the Indian language, <i>Sic cohuas nequi a san-benito?</i> which means, Do -you wish to buy a <i>san-benito</i>? The thing so amused everyone that the -story even went to Spain, and in Mexico there is still a saying, “<i>ti -que quis benito</i>.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a>{131}</span></p> - -<p>The common people ended by losing all fear of such scarecrows, and -defied the Inquisition in this way:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Un Santo Cristo<br /></span> -<span class="i0">dos Candeleros<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Y tres majaderos.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a><br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>A merited jest for that which knew not how to respect worthy and valiant -heroes, such as Hidalgo and Morelos.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a>{132}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="FRANCISCO_SOSA" id="FRANCISCO_SOSA"></a>FRANCISCO SOSA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_132_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_132_sml.jpg" width="222" height="275" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Francisco Sosa was born in Campeche, April 2, 1848. When he was still a -child his parents removed to Merida, where the boy received his -education. His first poetical effort appeared in a local paper, when the -writer was but fourteen years of age. At that time, he was editor—in -union with Ovidio and Octavio Zorilla—of the paper, <i>La Esperanza</i> -(Hope), in which it appeared. Four years later his <i>Manual de Biografía -Yucateca</i> (Manual of Yucatecan Biography) was published,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a>{133}</span> showing his -early devotion to the field in which he has chiefly figured, that of -biography. With Ramón Aldana, he founded <i>La Revista de Merida</i> (The -Merida Review), which is still published and is, unquestionably, the -most influential paper in Yucatan. In 1868, when but twenty years old, -he went, for the first time to the City of Mexico, where most of his -life since has been spent. He had, however, already been a prisoner, for -political reasons, in the famous and dreadful fortress of San Juan de -Ulúa, at Vera Cruz. He became promptly associated with the literary men -of Mexico and collaborated with them, upon a number of important -periodical publications, literary and political. In 1873 he was -associated with Gen. Riva Palacios in the editorship of <i>El Radical</i> -(The Radical). Later as editor of the <i>Federalista</i> (Federalist), he -gave to that paper a notable literary reputation and contributed to it, -both prose and verse. He was one of the editors of <i>El Bien Publico</i> -(The Public Good), a paper aimed to combat the administration of -President Lerdo de Tejada; while thus connected, he went to Guanajuato -to join the standard of Iglesias, returning, at the downfall of Lerdo de -Tejada, to the City of Mexico. Since that time, he has edited various -periodicals, including <i>El Siglo XIX</i> (The Nineteenth Century), <i>El -Nacional</i> (The National), and <i>La Libertad</i> (Liberty).</p> - -<p>Señor Sosa’s books have been mainly in the line<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a>{134}</span> of biography. Besides -the volume on Yucatecans already mentioned, he has published <i>Don -Wenceslao Alpuche, Biografías de Mexicanos Distinguidos</i> (Biographies of -Distinguished Mexicans), <i>El Episcopado Mexicano</i> (The Mexican -Episcopacy), <i>Efemérides Historicas y Biograficas</i> (Historical and -Biographical Ephemerids), <i>Los Contemporaneos</i> (The Contemporaries), -<i>Las Estatuas de la Reforma</i> (The Statues of “the Reforma”) and -<i>Conquistadores Antiguos y Modernos</i> (Ancient and Modern Conquerors). He -has also written an appreciative work upon South-American -writers—<i>Escritores y poetas Sud-Americanos</i>. Among his works in other -fields are a volume of stories—<i>Doce Leyendas</i> (Twelve Stories), and a -book of sonnets, <i>Recuerdos</i> (Recollections).</p> - -<p>In his poetry Sosa is vigorous, chaste, and strong. In prose he is -direct and simple, but careful in language.</p> - -<p>Señor Sosa has ever been interested in every cause tending toward the -advancement of Mexico and has actively participated in the organization -and conduct of literary and learned societies. It is to his efforts that -the interesting series of statues, that border the Paseo de la Reforma, -is due.</p> - -<p>Our selections are taken from his <i>Estatuas de la Reforma</i> and -<i>Biografías de Mexicanos Distinguidos</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a>{135}</span></p> - -<h3>THE STATUES OF THE REFORMA.</h3> - -<p>In 1887 Sosa published an article in <i>El Partido Liberal</i> (The Liberal -Party), which has produced a happy result. From it, we quote:</p> - -<p>The inauguration of the magnificent monument with which the Federal -Government has honored the memory of the illustrious Cuauhtemoc and that -of the principal chieftains of the defense of the native land in 1521, -has shown, not only that Mexico does not forget her heroes, but, also, -that among her sons are artists capable of producing works creditable to -any cultured nation.</p> - -<p>This affirmation is not born from our enthusiasm for all that redounds -to the glory of our native land. Foreign writers have not hesitated to -say that the monument of Cuauhtemoc may be considered the finest in -America, in its essentially American architecture and in being a work -exclusively realized by Mexican artists.</p> - -<p>It is well known that, in decreeing, in 1877, the erection of -Guatematzin’s monument, the government also decreed that in the -following glorietas should be erected others to the heroes of the -Independence and of the Reform; and, no one doubts that, the government -persevering in its plan of embellishing the finest <i>paseo</i> in our -metropolis, this <i>paseo</i> will come to be a most beautiful spot, -consequently most visited by both citizens and foreigners. We believe -that, to the laudable efforts of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a>{136}</span> the Federal Government, those of the -Governors of the federative states should be united. We shall state, in -what way.</p> - -<p>In the great Paseo de la Reforma, there already exist pedestals, -destined to support statues and other works of art, appropriate to a -place of resort, where daily gather the most distinguished members of -society; until the present, there has been no announcement regarding the -statues and art works for which these pedestals are intended.</p> - -<p>It is plain that, however great may be the willingness of the Federal -Government, it will need to employ large sums and many years, in -carrying out, unaided, the whole work of adornment, demanded by a -<i>paseo</i> of the magnitude of that of the Reforma, since they must be in -consonance with the artistic value of the monuments already erected and -those in contemplation. What would be of slow and expensive realization -for the Federal treasury, would be easy, prompt, and convenient, if each -of the Mexican States should favor our plan.</p> - -<p>However poor any one of the smallest fractions, into which the Republic -is divided, may be, it is certain that it could, at no sacrifice at all, -pay the cost of two life-size statues—such as these pedestals could -support; and, however meagre may be the annals of some of these -fractions, no one of them can have failed to produce two personages,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a>{137}</span> -worthy of being honored with a monument, which, recalling his deeds, -perpetuates them.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>... the three conditions, which ought to be demanded in accepting the -sculptures:</p> - -<p>1. That the honor should be decreed only to the notable dead.</p> - -<p>2. That all the statues should be of life-size and of marble or bronze.</p> - -<p>3. That the plans or models should be approved by a special jury, named -by a cabinet officer, in order that only true works of art, worthy of -figuring in a <i>paseo</i> in which exist monuments of the importance of -those of Columbus and Cuauhtemoc, may be accepted.</p> - -<p>Sosa’s suggestion was well received and, up to the present, something -like forty statues have been erected, forming a notable gallery in which -the nation and the states may well take pride. The states have taken -their turns and one, each year, presents two statues, on the anniversary -of National Independence—September 16. On the whole the statues have -met the three requirements and not only form a Mexican house of fame, -but an artistic adornment to a beautiful driveway.</p> - -<h3>MALINTZIN.</h3> - -<p>According to the testimony of judicious investigators, this celebrated -Indian woman was born in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a>{138}</span> the pueblo of Painala, in the Mexican province -of Coatzacoalco (Vera Cruz). Her father had been a feudatory of the -crown of Mexico and lord of many pueblos. Her mother, left a widow, -contracted marriage with another noble, by whom she had a son, and “it -seems,” says an esteemed biographer, “that the love felt by the couple, -for this fruit of their union, inspired them with the infamous plan of -feigning the death of the first born, that all the inheritance might -pass to the son, availing themselves of a stratagem to remove -suspicion.” A daughter of one of their slaves had died at that very -time, and they made mourning as if the dead were their own daughter, -secretly disposing of <i>her</i> to some merchants of Xicalanco, a town -located on the border of Tabasco. Those of Xicalanco gave, or sold, her -to their neighbors, the Tabasqueños, among whom Malintzin was, when on -March 12, 1519, the Spanish armada, under orders of Herñan Cortes, -arrived at the river of Tabasco, to which he gave the name Grijalva. It -is well known that the Tabasqueños, at first, attempted to fight against -the Spaniards in defense of their territory, but—before the unusual -valor, before the fire-arms, before the battle horses of the -Conqueror—a violent reaction took place, the combats ceased, and a -peace, which could not last, was pretended.</p> - -<p>Among the gifts with which the Tabasqueños desired to demonstrate their -submission, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a>{139}</span> twenty women, of whom one was notable for her -extraordinary beauty. Malintzin, the girl who had been cruelly thrust -out from the parental home, was this woman. They baptized her under the -name of Marina, which the Aztecs pronounced Malintzin. “When the -Conqueror received her as a gift from the lords of Tabasco, in company -with the other women, he distributed to each captain his woman, giving -Malintzin to the Cavalier Alonso Hernández Portocarrero, who was cousin -of the Count of Medellin.” So says the biographer to whom we have -referred.</p> - -<p>Continuing this imperfect narrative, we may say that Malintzin was -useful to the conquerors from their arrival at Vera Cruz, since she knew -the Aztec language,—although we cannot explain how she could, in a few -days, learn the Spanish to discharge the rôle of interpreter so -perfectly as historians declare. However that may be, this Indian woman -appears as one of the most notable characters in the epic poem of the -Conquest. To detail her doings in this biography, would be to reproduce -the whole history of the Conquest of Mexico, and good books abound for -furnishing the data, which anyone may especially desire. We limit -ourselves to giving a few further notices regarding Malintzin and to -saying some words in her defense.</p> - -<p>As has been said Hernández Portocarrero was the fortunate Spaniard to -whose lot the beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a>{140}</span> Indian maiden of Painala fell. In spite of -this, the chroniclers of the expedition state that Cortes had a son by -Marina and there is no doubt that he maintained love relations with her -until 1523. In that year, he married her definitely to Juan de -Jaramillo, who, in spite of his noble rank, had no embarrassment in -uniting himself to the woman whom Cortes abandoned.</p> - -<p>He, passing to Coatzacoalco, called together the lords of the province, -and among them Marina’s mother and step-father, who immediately -recognized her and plainly showed their fear that the young woman would -avenge herself for the infamous act which had brought her into the -position in which she found herself. Far from it; Marina gave them -splendid gifts and treated her injurers well—not without making some -parade of her bearing a son to Cortes. In this expedition, took place -the infamous execution of Cuauhtemoczin and Marina figures as aiding him -to a pious death.</p> - -<p>The Conquest ended, nothing more is heard of Marina until 1550, when she -still lived and complained to the viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza, that the -Indians of Jilantongo did not pay the tribute nor yield the service, to -which they were obligated.</p> - -<p>The year and place of her death are not known. There is nothing more to -state save that the son of Cortes by Marina was named Martin and that he -figures badly in Mexican history.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a>{141}</span></p> - -<p>The estimable writer, José Olmedo y Lama, in the biography of Marina, -with which he opens the second volume of the interesting work “<i>Hombres -ilustres Mexicanos</i>,” biography which we have had at hand in making -these jottings, says these cruel words: “Malintzin almost always appears -repugnant, and we believe that, only by lending to her fantastic and -imaginary attributes, that is to say, by falsifying history, can she be -made great.” It is strange, indeed, that one, who held such an opinion, -should have cared to introduce the name of the <i>repugnant</i> Indian woman -into a gallery of <i>ilustres</i>, not merely <i>celebres</i>, personages. Señor -Olmedo reproaches Marina for her treason to her country, serving as -interpreter to the Conquerors; he reproaches her, because, married with -Hernández Portocarrero, she had amours, and even a son, with Cortes; he -blames her, because she did not prevent the execution of Cuauhtemoc and -because she boasted to her mother of having been the first Mexican woman -to bear a son to the Conqueror, and because she betrayed the conspiracy, -plotted by her people, for the destruction of the Spaniards. These -faults, which we would not pretend to excuse today in a heroine, have, -if not an excuse, at least some just defense, in transferring ourselves -to the sixteenth century and in consideration of the peculiar -circumstances of the woman.</p> - -<p>What sentiments had her parents aroused in her, by repudiating her and -selling her to merchants?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a>{142}</span> What idea of fidelity, considering the -customs of her country, could she have in finding herself in the arms of -a man, to whom she had fallen by lot, like any object in a raffle, and -what respect could a man inspire, who servilely lent himself to any -arrangement rather than to cross his captain? Had she not seen that the -Tabasqueños, in place of dying, battling in hand-to-hand combat for -their native land, had made rich gifts to the Spaniards, even presenting -them with women, of whom she was one? Ought we to demand from her -greater ardor and patriotism than from the warriors? As for her not -having prevented the execution of Cuauhtomoc, employing, for that end, -her ascendency over Cortes, it must be remembered that Malintzin, as a -shrewd woman, could not conceal from herself, that in her wild lover, -other passions than love dominated, and, therefore, every plea would be -vain.</p> - -<p>But, above all, Señor Olmedo, in hurling the darts of his censure upon -the Indian woman, should remember that all those faults, which we today -count as such, committed by her, are explained by saying, supported by -the testimony of historians, that Malintzin loved Cortes blindly, from -her first meeting him. Señor Olmedo is intelligent enough to know that -love is the most enthralling of human passions. Malintzin loved the -great Conqueror. What wonder, then, that for him she should forget her -other duties? But, however that may be, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a>{143}</span> beautiful interpreter of -the Spaniards holds a most prominent place in the history of Mexico.</p> - -<h3>FRANCISCO EDUARDO TRES GUERRAS.</h3> - -<p>The illustrious architect Tres Guerras has left us, in the Carmen of -Celaya, a work which is the monument of his fame and the proof that he -was the most skilled architect that Mexico has yet produced.</p> - -<p>Francisco Eduardo Tres Guerras was born in Celaya, May 13, 1745, and at -fifteen years united great proficiency in drawing, to his early studies; -soon after, he devoted himself to the fascinating art of painting, -having received lessons, in Mexico, from the most accredited artists; -but, he found no stimulus, since those paintings in which he gave full -play to his natural tendencies and which were most conformed to the -demands of art, were the least admired, while those trifles which he -dashed off in order to secure resources for his daily needs were highly -admired. Disgusted with these bitter disappointments, he desired to take -the habit of a monk and had even made some steps in that direction, but -the love of art rekindled itself in his heart with redoubled force, and -he desisted from his intention. He then began to turn the pages of -Vignola and dedicated himself to the study of architecture under -intelligent masters.</p> - -<p>The Carmelites entrusted to him the work of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a>{144}</span> the church of Celaya and -the good taste and elegance of proportion, united with solidity, caused -its fame to be spread through the Republic and the monks were well -pleased. During the construction of this temple, some ill-disposed -persons tried to instigate the monks to deprive him of the direction of -the work; among these were the architects Zápari, García, Ortiz, and -Paz; but, to the constancy and persistency of these friars, we owe the -conclusion of a work, which does honor to the Republic.</p> - -<p>Tres Guerras has left many notable works in many cities of the interior -of the Republic, such as the Theatre at San Luis Potosí, the Bridge at -Celaya, and others, and in them all are noticed a perfect taste and -observance of the rules of art.</p> - -<p>He was Sindico, Regidor, and Alcalde of Celaya and was nominated a -member of the provincial deputation of Guanajuato, when the Spanish -Constitution was re-established in 1820. He died of cholera the third of -August, 1833. Tres Guerras was not only an artist and a painter, but -also a poet. His aptitude was great for all and he revealed genius in -whatever he undertook. His love of national liberty was such that his -demonstrations of delight on the consummation of independence were -deemed delirious.... In closing, we will narrate an anecdote relative to -the death of Tres Guerras:</p> - -<p>The terrible epidemic of cholera was making<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a>{145}</span> frightful ravages in our -land. In the presence of the peril, the celebrated architect arranged -all his affairs and, on August 2, sallied precipitately from his house -to seek a confessor. A friend met him in the street and said:</p> - -<p>“Where are you going in such haste, my friend?”</p> - -<p>“Well asked”—calmly answered Tres Guerras—“Death pursues poor mortals -with dreadful fury! As for me, but little time remains for me in this -world.”</p> - -<p>“But!” replied the friend, “you are still robust, healthy, and well. -Tell me—where did you get such an idea?”</p> - -<p>“My friend, I have no time to talk with you. Adieu.”</p> - -<p>Tres Guerras departed, leaving the inquirer with the question on his -lips. The following day, the octogenarian artist died. Fortunately his -works survive and they perpetuate his memory.</p> - -<h3>COLONEL GREGORIO MÉNDEZ.</h3> - -<p>Born in Comalcalco and left an orphan at sixteen years of age, he -succeeded, by activity and honorable dealing, in gaining a capital, if -not large, at all events sufficient to render him comfortable. In 1859 -he founded, at his own expense, a night school and, in the following -year, another of music. Thus, doing good and devoted to his business<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a>{146}</span>, -he lived beloved in his village, without dreams of political ambition or -military fame, when General Arévalo took possession of San Juan Bautista -and unfurled the banner of the Intervention. The Governor, Victorio -Dueñas, offered no resistance and on the thirtieth of June, 1863, was -routed. The first step of the Conqueror, Arévalo, was to condemn to -exile those citizens who were reputed liberals, among them Gregorio -Méndez; but he, in place of bowing to the orders of the usurper, -organized a revolutionary movement, which broke out at Comalcalco, on -October 8th. In Jalpa, Méndez seized some muskets; at the same time -another patriot, Andres Sánchez Magallanes, rose in arms in Cárdenas. -The republican revolution thus initiated, the commandant, Vidaña, was -designated to act as Chief of Brigade, and Colonel Pedro Méndez as -Governor; but, as the latter was captured at the capital and Vidaña was -wounded, the military leadership fell upon the subject of our study, -with no arrangement made for the civil government.</p> - -<p>Thus the war of the Restoration began in Tabasco. In a few days the -forces of Méndez joined those of Sánchez Magallanes, and the two leaders -undertook the campaign with ardor, seconded by a population, unsurpassed -in patriotic spirit; most brilliant deeds of war followed one another -from then on until the final triumph of the Republic; examples of valor -and abnegation were multiplied;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a>{147}</span> patriotism inspired the noblest -actions, forever placing the name of the State of Tabasco in the -foremost line.</p> - -<p>To follow Colonel Méndez in each and all of the events which took place -in that memorable epoch; to relate his personal deeds and those of his -brave companions, would be to transfer here the extended and detailed -report rendered by him to the Minister of War, the seventeenth of -October, 1867—report which is a veritable history of the republican -Restoration in Tabasco, which had a happy issue, the twenty-seventh of -February, 1864, with the capture of San Juan Bautista....</p> - -<p>This was not, indeed, the full extent of the fatigues of those patriots, -since they maintained themselves in arms and fortified their towns to -prevent fresh assaults, since in all parts—Vera Cruz, Campeche, -Yucatan, Chiapas—combats were still taking place, and Colonel Méndez -did not limit himself to securing the re-establishment of the republican -regime in Tabasco, but placed the resources under his control at the -service of the neighboring States and, in general, at that of the cause -defended by him with such admirable vigor.</p> - -<p>And, it must not be thought that the work of Colonel Méndez, in those -difficult circumstances, was confined to fulfilling his duties as -military chief. Far from it; all the branches of civil administration -were carefully arranged, thanks to the fact that he was ever warmly -seconded in his noble<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a>{148}</span> efforts by all classes of the community, who -never refused their adhesion or their resources—because he was not only -respected for his patriotism, but admired for the stainless honor, which -characterized him. If he numbered among his soldiery, those capable of -using arms, and among them many who afterward figured in loftier posts -than he himself, he also numbered in his civil helpers the most -intelligent Tabasqueños, among them Manuel Sánchez Mármol, who -contributed (equally with any) to the Restoration, by his intelligence -and wisdom, discharging the secretaryship of the government of Méndez -and other arduous duties, with the ardor natural to youth and with the -heartfelt affection which he felt for the valiant leader, in whom he saw -his democratic ideals embodied. From the lips of Colonel Méndez himself -we have repeatedly heard, that to Señor Sánchez Mármol he owed, in that -trying epoch, services he could never forget and which influenced, in a -decisive way, in the triumph of the Republican cause, and in the public -administration. ‘If, of these services,’ Colonel Méndez has said to us, -‘full mention is not made in my report to the Minister of War in 1867, -it is because this report was edited by Señor Sánchez Mármol, and he did -not care to make his own panegyric, although the document was not to -bear his name.’</p> - -<p>On the sixth of June, 1867, when, as he himself says in the -before-mentioned report, order and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a>{149}</span> public repose were solidly -re-established he had the satisfaction of resigning the government into -the hands of Felipe J. Serra, named as his successor by the General -Headquarters of the Army of the East.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a>{150}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JULIO_GUERRERO" id="JULIO_GUERRERO"></a>JULIO GUERRERO.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_150_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_150_sml.jpg" width="221" height="289" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Julio Guerrero was born on April 18, 1862, a day notable in Mexican -history, in the City of Mexico. His parents were José María Guerrero and -Luisa Groso, both natives of Durango. His father, a lawyer of eminence, -was for fifteen years a Judge of the Supreme Court; a pronounced Liberal -in politics, he was a friend and trusted adviser of Benito Juarez. The -young Julio was sent to Rhodes’s English Boarding School, then to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a>{151}</span> the -<i>Escuela Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School). He, later, studied -in the <i>Escuela de Jurisprudencia</i>, receiving his title of Licenciado by -acclamation, on October 4, 1889. In that same year, he was one of the -founders of the <i>Revista de Jurisprudencia y Legislacion</i> (Review of -Jurisprudence and Legislation), upon which he is still a collaborator -and to which he has contributed many articles. His most important -literary work is <i>El Genesis del Crimen en Mexico</i> (The Genesis of crime -in Mexico). The title of the book scarcely accords with its content. It -is really an analysis of the Mexican society and character. Rarely does -any student see, so clearly as does Guerrero, the actual condition of -his own society; still more rarely does one so clearly state it. In some -of his conclusions and views Guerrero differs profoundly from us, but we -are forced to admire his sincerity and earnestness. His book met a -notable reception. Under the presidency of Porfirio Parra, a group of -the leading members of the scientific societies of Mexico, devoted ten -consecutive meetings to its consideration and discussion, the author -himself being present. During the recent political agitation by the -partisans of Limantour and Reyes, Guerrero established and edited a -monthly journal, <i>La Republica</i>. It was ardently liberal and democratic -in spirit and dealt vigorously with live questions. It was suppressed by -the government, after fourteen issues. Guerrero has not abandoned his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a>{152}</span> -propaganda and will shortly establish another journal for the -propagation of his ideas. He has much matter ready for printing. Of -this, undoubtedly the most important is his <i>Reformas projectadas</i> -(Proposed reforms), in which the question of the Presidential succession -is discussed. Guerrero is a good thinker, intense in his convictions, -vigorous in their expression. Our selections are from the <i>Genesis del -crimen</i>. Guerrero’s style is not always beyond reproach and his -punctuation is absolutely his own. In translation, we have followed both -with care.</p> - -<h3>THE MEXICAN ATMOSPHERE.</h3> - -<p>As a psychical phenomenon, natural to so pure an atmosphere, there have -developed in Mexico those faculties, which require perfect eyesight. -Mexican photographs have attracted notice in New York, and Mora -conducts, in competition with the best photographers of that metropolis, -a profitable business, being quite in vogue with the American -aristocracy. The photographic views of the central plateau are -distinguished by the sharpness of their outlines, shadows and details -and are exported to Europe and the United States, constituting, in those -regions, of less clear vision, an irrefutable proof of the perfection of -our landscapes transferred to their canvases by Velasco and other -painters of scenery; when he desired to exhibit his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a>{153}</span> paintings of the -Valley, in the exposition of 1889, he found opposition on the part of -Meissonier, who believed it impossible that there should be such sharp -and vivid detail and coloring in a real landscape. Proofs of a different -order, and entirely practical, of the sharpness of outline, are given by -our professional hunters, who with a miserable musket, sally from their -pueblos in the morning in search of game and invariably return with two -animals. In the battalions, good shots form seventy-five per cent of the -troop, with certainty of aim at five hundred to a thousand metres -distance. The wild Indians of Coahuila, Chihuahua, and Nuevo Leon, shoot -their arrows at a five-cent piece thrown into the air; and boys on the -streets and in the villages strike the bulls-eye with their sling-stones -at a distance only limited by their strength. In billiards and bowling, -in the suburbs, with badly rounded balls and illy-leveled tables, they -make shots as brilliant as if both balls and tables were all they should -be.</p> - -<p>The arts of drawing have developed as rapidly as the political and -economical conditions permitted; and in all America, Mexico has been the -only country which has produced a school, so numerous, distinguished, -and original have been her painters. Their works have almost been -exhausted, by exportation to Europe as paintings of Spanish artists of -the great Seventeenth Century, but students still<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a>{154}</span> come, from the -republics to the south, sent to here study the masterpieces which we -still retain, since the number of the national painters, of whom some -work of merit remains, rises to one hundred and sixty-one. The art they -practised was catholic and aristocratic, religious subjects and -portraits; consequently it decayed with the colonial regime and fell -with the decline of power of the clergy; but, in the lack of demand for -such art, the national æsthetic spirit took refuge in popular modeling -in clay, rags, or wax, and produced in the figurines of Guadalajara and -Puebla an artistic school, only inferior in product and spontaneity to -that of Tanagra in ancient Greece.</p> - -<p>In the feather-mosaics of Michoacan, in its lacquer rivaling those of -China; in the carving on the walking-sticks of Apizaco, atavic -manifestation of the ancient Mexican wood-carving which found beautiful -expression in the choir-stalls and benches of the churches; in the -floral decorations of the Indians of Mixcoac and Coyoacan; in the -sculptures of the façades of houses—which are at times caryatids -worked, without a single false blow from the chisel, after the blocks -have been set in the wall; in the gold and silver filagree, and even in -the mural paintings of the pulquerias or in the realistic illustrations -of the newspapers, there is revealed the artistic talent, though -frequently without technique, of a nation, living in a medium propitious -to vision; and in which the line, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a>{155}</span> shadow, and the tints, are seen -without blur or dimmed by haze, since there are, on the average, one -hundred and five absolutely clear days in the year and among clouded -days, those with mists are rare; and when these <i>do</i> occur they last but -an hour or two in wintry mornings.</p> - -<h3>GOVERNMENTAL DIFFICULTIES.</h3> - -<p>This social phenomenon was aggravated by the distribution of <i>villas</i> -within the territory of each of the provinces, later converted into -states; since in many cases it happened that the <i>villas</i> were so much -the nearer to their respective capitals, as these were nearer to the -capital of the republic; and <i>vice-versa</i>, the <i>villas</i> were distant -from their capitals in proportion as these were distant from the -national centre; both consequences of the political division established -by Galvez; since, as he based it upon the unequal distribution of -population, the more remote provinces must have a more extended -territory and more widely separated settlements; thus, the density of -population decreased, from the centre outward, in every direction. And -as the social development in a province, converted later into an -autonomous state, depended on the frequency and importance of the -relations between the capitals and their respective districts; it -resulted that the culture influence of the capital, weakened by its -remoteness from a state, was still<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a>{156}</span> further weakened in the <i>villas</i>, by -the great distances which separated them from their governmental -centres. And this phenomenon was repeated in a third degree, in the -interior of each political subdivision, in the operation of social and -political influence of any <i>villa</i> upon the lesser settlements -subordinated to it.</p> - -<p>Ah well, as all the cities of the independent colony were at different -distances from the capital, they were at different stages of national -development; consequently all had different and often conflicting -interests, necessities and aspirations. The political program, -philosophical ideas, literature, ideals and models of art, social -usages, moral principles, interpretations of law, cut of dress, and even -the vocabulary and phrases of polite society, which—as useless, ugly, -harmful, absurd, or disagreeable—had been banished from the capital -were found in the provincial cities; and those, which were there -proscribed, had taken refuge in the <i>villas</i> and secondary towns. In -matter of government the same thing was repeated and those acts by which -it displays itself—military equipment, judicial decision, tax levying, -seizure of contraband, pursuit of bandits and savages, organization of -authority, conspiracies, masonry, political intrigues,—in fact, every -political phenomenon which, depended upon or originated in the capital, -was repeated in the states, with an imperfectness, so much the greater -as the distance separating<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a>{157}</span> them from it was greater; and, as the -conduct of government depended upon this phenomenon, it at last resulted -that the co-ordination and harmony between the states and the centre -depended on the time necessary for the communication of official orders. -Accord between those who constituted the governing classes of all the -cities, villas, and subordinate populations, was, consequently, not only -difficult, but was often impossible, and, sometimes, useless. Thus, the -country was geographically constructed and populated for an inevitable -anarchy; an area within which every union of states, provinces, cities, -religions, races, or political parties, had to be theoretical and -unstable.</p> - -<p>The most important corroboration of this law was the separation of -Texas, political phenomenon, which, thanks to it, has an explanation -actually mathematical. In fact, the settlers, who recognized San Antonio -as their centre, did not amount to forty thousand inhabitants scattered -over an area larger than that of the French Republic, and depended -politically upon the State of Coahuila, of which the capital is -Saltillo. The distance which separated, by the cart-roads of that time, -these two points, was eight hundred and sixty-eight kilometres, which -they traversed in sixteen days in the dry season and in thirty-two days -in the period of rains, and the distance from Mexico to Saltillo was -nine hundred and forty-seven kilometres—or say, twenty days in the dry -and forty<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a>{158}</span> days in the wet season. If instead of considering the local -capitals, we consider the frontiers of the provinces, distances double -and difficulties increase.</p> - -<h3>ATAVISMS.</h3> - -<p>This phenomenon, moreover, is but the anthropological expression of a -more general biological law, in virtue of which human races, in order to -adapt themselves to the medium in which they are developed, assume a -uniform physical type and character, which persists, or repeats itself -anatomically and psychically through the ages, in spite of the external -forms of their civilization; in the same way as do other animals, and -plants. Thus, for example, since the days of Trajan the bullocks of the -Danube have had enormous and diverging horns; in China the cattle are -hump-backed, despite cross-breeding with other strains; and, although -the first offspring from crossing may be like the foreign parent, in the -fifth or sixth generation there appears in the <i>creole</i> calf the hump of -the original and native form. Among the ancient <i>castas</i> of the -vice-reinal society the <i>negro</i> was seen to reappear in families of -white, or even of red parentage, provided there had been blacks in the -ancestry. In the waters of the Nile, the lotus yet floats its blue -corolla, which the architects of Memphis copied in the capitals of their -temples; and the Fellah of Pharaonic days reappears in families<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a>{159}</span> crossed -with the Macedonians of the Ptolemies; and, in the first centuries of -the Arab domination, in spite of the torrents of foreign blood -introduced by polygamy. Even today the type reasserts itself in the -native regiments of the English army at Cairo—bronzed, titanic, -full-chested, a living model, which is copied in the colossi of Isamboul -and which is the ethnic brother type of the Rameses and Amenhotep.</p> - -<p>In the central tableland of Mexico, arid, hot, and luminous, where the -atmosphere keeps the nerves at high tension; where thoughts are clouded -by the abuse of tobacco, of alcohol and of coffee; by the irritation of -an eternal and fruitless battle for life; and, until lately, by the -frightful impossibility, almost age-long, of forming a plexus of social -solidarity; character, in the greater part of society has degenerated -and the ferocious tendencies of the Aztecs have reappeared. After ten -generations, there has returned, to beat within the breasts of some of -our compatriots, the barbaric soul of the worshipers of Huitzilopochtl, -of those of <i>the sacred springtimes</i> who went, to the lugubrious sounds -of the <i>teponastl</i> to make razzias of prisoners in Tlaxcala and -Huejotzinco, to open their breasts with obsidian knives, to tear out the -heart and eat it in the holocaust of their gods. Three centuries of -masses and of barracks have been too little for the complete evolution -of character among the people; and if, on the Silesian<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a>{160}</span> plain, the -Sarmatian of Attila yet appears, so too in our political struggle there -has re-appeared, with the indomitable warrior of Ahuitzotl, the -sanguinary priest of Huitzilopochtl.</p> - -<p>There is, in fact, nothing in our independent history, more lugubrious; -even the most illustrious leaders have stained their glory by the -shedding, needlessly, of blood. The burning of villages and executions -<i>en masse</i> present themselves at the turning of every page like the -funeral refrain of an infernal poem; and, if it be true, that there are -not lacking some superior souls—as Don Nicolás Bravo, who set at -liberty three hundred Spanish prisoners, although he knew the Spanish -leader had just shot his father—many other leaders, of that and later -epochs, systematically executed all who fell into their hands. The -system was converted into a custom and gave such an impress of barbarity -to our political struggles as is not to be found even in negro Africa; -since there war prisoners are held as captives, whose ransom is the -motive of war; slavery redeems them from death.</p> - -<p>In Mexico, on the contrary, frequently no account is made of prisoners -but only of the killed and wounded; and the latter were shot or knifed -in spite of the severity of their wounds. Hidalgo himself not only -ordered that those taken in battle should be killed without fail; but in -Guadalajara and Valladolid commanded the seizure of suspects and caused -them to be stabbed at night, in remote<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a>{161}</span> places, that they might not, by -their cries, cause a disturbance. In this way six hundred innocent -persons perished; and he advised the leader, Hermosillo, to do the same -in El Rosario and Cosalá. Morelos, after the battles of Chilapa, Izucar, -Oaxaca, etc., shot all his prisoners without mercy; and Osorio did the -same in the valley of Mexico, García in Bajio, and all the other -insurgent leaders, though usually in the way of reprisal.</p> - -<p>In the first insurrection, military ferocity developed to a degree only -seen in Asiatic and African wars, without the least regard for humanity -and with systematic neglect of the rights of nations. The prisoners -surrendered with Sarda in Soto la Marina, for example, were taken to San -Juan de Ulúa, on foot, in pairs, shackled together, and in the fortress, -were entombed in humid, dark, pestilential, dungeons, hot from the -tropical sun of the coast lands. This constant corporal subjection, led -to mutual hatreds among the unhappy beings, since the natural -necessities of the two members of a couple were rarely simultaneous; and -in order to satisfy thirst or any other need it was necessary to beg -permission of one’s companion; which led to constant bickerings between -them and occasioned sport for the jailors. Orrantia personally struck -General Mina, when he was taken prisoner, with the flat of his sword. To -hasten the surrender of the Fort of Sombrero, the same leader left one -hundred corpses, of those who had fallen in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a>{162}</span> fruitless assaults, -unburied, with the object of causing pestilence. The infirm and wounded -of Los Remedios were burned in the building which served them as -hospital, and those who attempted to escape were driven back at the -point of the bayonet. Liñan forced two hundred prisoners to demolish the -embankments of the fortress of their own party; and then tied them to -tree trunks in the forest that they might be shot for target practice. -Ordoñez in Jilotepec shot one hundred and twenty-three prisoners, -including wounded and children, by thirties, at the edge of a ditch, in -the Cerro del Calvario; first causing the wounded to be carried thither -on the shoulders of the uninjured.</p> - -<h3>UNCERTAINTY AND GAMING.</h3> - -<p>This atmosphere, pure and luminous, full of slumberous breezes in the -shade and of debilitating heat in the sunshine, capricious and -treacherous, not only has an influence upon the physiology, pathology, -and life of the Mexicans, but it gives to much of their labor an -unstable character. In fact, as permanent rivers are few in those great -plains, and as those which exist are due to rain, the sowings of the -rainy season, which are the more important, and their fruition, where -there are no rivers, demand rains. But since, on the other hand, -deforestation, carried on since the vice-reinal days, has been -destructive, not only are lacking<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a>{163}</span> forests and groups of trees, which, -as thermal centres uniformly distributed over the higher plateau, might -give shelter to the sowings against the chill of night and early -morning, or which, in the guise of fences of foliage, might intercept -the cold blasts of northers; but also, through their lack, rains have -become rare and irregular, there being regions where they have failed -for six, seven, and eight consecutive years; as happened in the -Mezquital of the state of Hidalgo, the Llano district of Chihuahua, and -the north of the state of Nuevo Leon in the years 1887 to 1895. In 1892 -and 1893 the drought was general and desolated a great part of the -Central Plateau.</p> - -<p>When the season of rains arrives, the fields are transformed in a single -week, and where was a barren and arid horizon, there extends itself a -mantle of tender verdure with corn-fields and springing wheat, which -from day to day develop, open their spikes to the sun, and seem to cast -back to it its last rays, as golden oceans, ruffled by the evening -breeze. The laborers busy themselves in guarding them; but an -unseasonable hailstorm destroys them, or a blast, sudden and nocturnal, -from the north freezes them in the very months of August and September; -that is to say, when surrounded by summer haze, or under a cloud -sprinkled with twinkling stars, the laborers believe their crops secure -and slumber, lulled by the most pleasing anticipations. When they wake -the corn is lost;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a>{164}</span> in twenty-four hours they pass from wealth to misery; -the herd perishes; field labor stops; the laborers go forth to rob on -the highways, to swell the ranks of the insurgents, or to beg on the -street, according to the character of the government. Before the days of -the railroads, droughts were the cause of local insurrections, which -today are impossible, because grain may be transported from one district -to another—or even to the whole country from a foreign land, as -happened in 1894, when $30,000,000 worth of American maize was imported. -However, the evil is not easily remediable, and a general drought, or a -series of local dry seasons, might, as Búlnes indicates, mortally wound -our nascent nationality. Agriculture then, thanks to the droughts of the -fields on the one hand, but to the abrupt atmospheric changes on the -other, escapes calculation and prevision; and there are converted into -an enterprise as insecure as mining, labors which have ever constituted -the principal honest means of livelihood for Mexicans.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>In fine, and ever due, wholly or in part, to the atmosphere, the Mexican -of the Central Plateau—and so much the less as the altitude of the -region where he lives is greater—has never been able to count upon the -future, either for his life, or for his health, or for his fields, or -for his mines, or for his daily bread; and the apparent lack of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a>{165}</span> -uniformity in the phenomena of nature, experienced through generations, -has developed in him finally a standard of judgment, composed of simple -coexistences, which, in turn, has forged the fixed belief that all in -nature is uncertain and capricious. As a logical consequence, there has -arisen an unconquerable tendency toward the only manner in his power for -reproducing in the same unpredictable form the contingencies of fortune -and misfortune of life, so far at least as concerns wealth and -misery—that is, to gaming; and thus may be explained the extent of this -vice in Mexico.</p> - -<h3>MEXICO’S LOWEST CLASS.</h3> - -<p>A, (<i>a</i>). Unfortunate men and women who have no normal or certain means -of subsistence; they live in the streets and sleep in public -sleeping-places, crouched in the <i>portales</i>, in the shelters of -doorways, amid the rubbish of buildings in construction, in some <i>meson</i> -if they can pay for the space three or four centavos a night, or stowed -away in the house of some <i>compadre</i> or friend. They are beggars, -gutter-snipes, paper-sellers, grease-buyers, rag-pickers, scrub-women, -etc. With difficulty they earned twenty or thirty centavos daily; now -they may receive more, but the general rise in prices leaves them in the -same condition of misery. They are covered with rags, they scratch -themselves constantly, in their tangled<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a>{166}</span> hair they carry the dust and -mud of every quarter of the city. They never bathe themselves save when -the rain drenches them, and their bare feet are cracked and calloused, -and assume the color of the ground. In general, they do not attain to an -old age, but to a precocious decrepitude, worn out by syphilis, misery, -and drink.</p> - -<p>The men and women of this class have completely lost modesty; their -language is that of the drinking-house; they live in sexual promiscuity, -get drunk daily, frequent the lowest <i>pulquerias</i> of the meanest -quarters; they quarrel and are the chief causes of disorders; they form -the ancient class of Mexican <i>leperos</i>; from their bosom the ranks of -petty thieves and pickpockets are recruited, and they are the -industrious plotters of important crimes. They are insensible to moral -suffering, and physical suffering pains them but little, and pleasures -give them little joy. Venereal disease and abortion render the women of -the group refractory to motherhood; paternity is impossible on account -of the promiscuity in which they live; these two natural springs of -altruism destroyed, they are indifferent to humane sentiments and -egoistic in the animal fashion.</p> - -<p>Everywhere they may be seen, the repulsive feature of our streets. In -speaking they reveal a dwarfed intelligence, as sadly ruined by their -life as is their body. Their ideas are rudimentary notions derived from -the common talk of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a>{167}</span> streets, comments on public events—the escape -of one criminal, the sentence of another, the deportation of their -companions, the capture of some “crook.” They are godless, with feeble -superstition regarding the saints depicted on their scapulars or the -medal of the rosary, which they wear beneath their filthy shirt. Their -number is enormous; they constitute the dregs of the laboring classes, -and their presence betrays the vortices of vice, where the outcasts of -civilization are dragged down.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a>{168}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="ALEJANDRO_VILLASENOR_Y_VILLASENOR" id="ALEJANDRO_VILLASENOR_Y_VILLASENOR"></a>ALEJANDRO VILLASEÑOR Y VILLASEÑOR.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_168_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_168_sml.jpg" width="235" height="285" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>This well-known journalist was born in Mexico, July 15, 1864. His -education was gained in the <i>Colegio de la Sociedad Católica</i> (School of -the Catholic Society), the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> (the National -Preparatory School), and the <i>Escuela Nacional de Jurisprudencia</i> -(National School of Jurisprudence). He received the title of Advocate, -July 7, 1887. While still a student, in 1885 and 1886, he assisted upon -the staff of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a>{169}</span> the <i>Boletin de la Juventud Católica</i> (Catholic Youths -Bulletin). In March, 1889, he became associated with the editorial -management of <i>El Tiempo</i> (The Time), with which he still continues. He -has also written many articles for other leading periodicals. In -October, 1895, he founded <i>La Tribuna</i> (The Tribune), which was not a -financial success. An article in this was the cause of his imprisonment -in the famous city prison of Belem.</p> - -<p>Señor Villaseñor y Villaseñor is a member of various learned and -literary societies and has participated, as a delegate, in several -important congresses. Among the latter is the First Catholic Congress -held in the city of Puebla, in February, 1903.</p> - -<p>Señor Villaseñor y Villaseñor is an industrious writer. His -contributions to <i>El Tiempo</i> alone number more than seven thousand. Of -books, he has written <i>Asunto Poirier</i> (The Poirier Incident), <i>La -cuestion de Belice</i> (The Belize Question), <i>Guillermo; memorias de un -estudiante</i> (William: recollections of a student), <i>Estudios historicos</i> -(Historical Studies), <i>Gobernantes de México</i> (Governors of Mexico), -<i>Los Condes de Santiago</i> (The Counts of Santiago), <i>Reclamaciones á -México por los fondos de California</i> (The California Funds Claims -Against Mexico). This last is of high importance, being an exhaustive -discussion of this international question—the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a>{170}</span> to be submitted to -The Hague tribunal for settlement. It is particularly in questions of -public policy, in history, and in biography, that our author is at his -happiest. Our selections are taken from <i>Estudios historicos</i>.</p> - -<h3>ANTÓN LIZARDO.</h3> - -<p>We have intentionally been brief in expressing our opinion regarding the -attack at Antón Lizardo and have been full in the presentation of -documentary evidence; in this manner remembering that these documents -proceed from unimpeachable sources, a clear and full realization will -result, that what took place at Antón Lizardo was not so simple a matter -as the liberal party desires to make it appear.</p> - -<p>In instigating foreign warships to seize vessels in Mexican waters, the -government of Juarez permitted the national independence, sovereignty, -and dignity to be outraged by the soldiers, officers, and warships of -the United States; it betrayed its country, permitting an assault -against its sovereignty and humiliated the nation by invoking foreign -mercenaries to assist it and to treat Mexicans with profound contempt, -and to shed Mexican blood, since those wounded on board the Miramon were -compatriots; and those same strangers still preserve among their -trophies taken from Mexico, the flags of that vessel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a>{171}</span></p> - -<p>We believe that, after the publication of this study, no one will -venture to deny, as recently was done, that the Juarists took part in -the Antón Lizardo incident; that Turner’s intervention completely -thwarted the plans of Miramon, as a work written by a well-known liberal -confesses, and gave great courage to the Juarists; no one will again -venture to say that Marin was a pirate and that the commander of the -Saratoga did right; this assault was not merely a partisan measure, as -those who are ignorant of historical facts or filled with bad faith -pretend to believe, seeing in it an insignificant event without serious -consequences.</p> - -<p>It was not at Silao or Calpulálpam that the conservative party was -defeated, but at Antón Lizardo; nor was it the soldiers of Gonzales -Ortega and Zaragoza who routed them, but the marines under orders of -Turner.</p> - -<p>The Juarist party, beaten at all points by Miramon, Castillo, Márquez, -Negrete, Robles, Chacon, etc., at the beginning of the year 1860 held no -population of importance, and its directory was confined to the plaza of -Vera Cruz with the immediately adjacent region, and it was recognized by -the United States alone. On account of the MacLane-Ocampo Treaty, which -was then awaiting ratification by the United States Senate and with -which we shall occupy ourselves in the following pages, public opinion -had declared itself, in the most uniform manner throughout the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a>{172}</span> -country, against the liberal doctrines, which only produced as their -bitter fruit the loss of our territory and almost that of our -independence.</p> - -<p>In order to end at once these parricidal tendencies and to bring to a -conclusion the bloody civil war, which was destroying the nation, there -was only necessary the effort, which the conservative government was -making, to conduct the siege of Vera Cruz by land and sea. Under -circumstances so serious for the constitutionalist party, the assault by -Turner and the protection given by President Buchanan, gave new life to -this party, and a series of disasters like that at Silao or of -defections like that of the cavalry at Calpulálpam, opened to it the -gates of the capital; but did not give it the final triumph, since the -strife still continued.</p> - -<p>And, looking a little deeper, it is seen that the events of Antón -Lizardo had graver consequences than might be imagined; they brought on -the European intervention. They emphasized the ideas expressed by -Buchanan in his message to Congress of December 4, 1859, and the -unconcealed tendencies of the democrats in the direction of a North -American intervention were no longer mere theories, but began to -translate themselves into facts. Antón Lizardo and the MacLane Treaty -made Europe and the conservative lovers of their country see that -Mexican independence was threatened and it was then that it was thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a>{173}</span> -that a radical remedy would save the imperilled nation, and certain -combinations, already forgotten, were recalled.</p> - -<p>The triumph of the party of demagoguery and the errors which it -committed precipitated events and brought on the European intervention, -which, when studied with care as to its causes, is clearly demonstrated -to be due to the liberal party.</p> - -<p>The name of Antón Lizardo will remain, indelible on the pages of our -history, a stain of dishonor for that party, which nothing and no one -can ever remove.</p> - -<h3>THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES.</h3> - -<p>The United States have adopted a special policy with reference to -Mexican affairs, a policy which may, in time, produce results unhappy -for us.</p> - -<p>During the time of the Three Years War, the democratic party, which -brought so many misfortunes upon that country and America, was in power -in the North American Union. After restless and ambitious presidents, -like Jackson, Monroe, and Van Buren, who, if they had found their nation -more powerful, would have embroiled it in long and bloody wars of -conquest, came Polk, who brought the war with Mexico to an end and -snatched from us more than one-half our territory; in vain honorable -men, like Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and others, opposed that -iniquitous war<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a>{174}</span> which has been justly condemned by notable men in our -sister nation.</p> - -<p>Already owners of the “Far West” and of a great part of the coast of the -great ocean, rich by the discovery of gold deposits in California, -inflated with pride on account of the great extension already gained by -their country, believing themselves the absolute arbiters of the -destinies of the Americas, and viewing with disdain the old nations of -Europe, to which they owe everything, from their population to their -freedom, they seriously thought of putting into practice the theory of -“manifest destiny” and of making the starry banner float from the -Niagara and the Saint Lawrence to Panama.</p> - -<p>The Mexican enterprise, which had resulted so favorably for them, was -the school in which were educated many of the adventurers, who afterward -gave themselves to filibustering, and the example which many others, who -through more than a decade disturbed Latin-American countries, set -before themselves for imitation. The government in Washington, which -observed this tendency with singular pleasure, while publicly -reprobating, in secret nourished and aided it.</p> - -<p>During Polk’s administration, the government itself had given an -exhibition of the ends which it pursued, proposing to Spain to purchase -the Island of Cuba at the price of one hundred million dollars, a -proposition which that nation did not choose<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a>{175}</span> to entertain. This was but -the prelude to the aggressive policy which the people of the United -States adopted in their relations with other nations, even attempting to -mix themselves in European affairs.</p> - -<p>The revolution of Hungary and the efforts of Louis Kossuth met an echo -in the United States, and matters were carried even to the point of -proposing to aid the Hungarian agitator and his partisans to liberate -that country from Austrian domination; it was necessary for Francis -Joseph’s government to assume a vigorous attitude and for the nations of -Europe to show dissatisfaction before these plans were abandoned, and -Kossuth, instead of aid, received only a refuge in the United States.</p> - -<p>The island of Cuba was, and yet is, too valuable a prize to escape the -eyes of the rapacious Yankees; underhandedly they aided Narciso López to -organize his expedition, and it was only when everything was practically -arranged, that, for the sake of appearances, President Taylor issued a -proclamation, on the 11th of August, 1850, forbidding the fitting out of -expeditions to agitate that island and certain Mexican provinces.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding this proclamation, López kept on and completed his -preparations and openly sailed from New Orleans, by daylight; defeated, -after the attack of Cárdenas, he found a secure refuge for himself, his -partisans, and his rich booty, on American soil, and it was only after -his second<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a>{176}</span> attempt that he fell into the hands of the Spanish -authorities.</p> - -<p>Gen. Quitman, one of the generals of the Mexican War, was accused of -having taken part in an expedition; although the fact was notorious and -the accused was arrested on February 3, 1851, the jury discharged him.</p> - -<p>Fillmore’s administration demanded the Island of Lobos from Peru; the -annexation of the Hawaiian Archipelago was vigorously agitated; with -Mexico the voided Garay Concession was disputed and no concealment was -made of the intention to secure possession of a right of way across the -Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and as little concealment was made relative to -the desire of right of way in Nicaragua and Honduras at points where -inter-oceanic communication was believed to be easy; it was left to the -Governor of Texas, Lane, to gain possession of the Mesilla Valley and to -qualify as aggressive the conduct of General Santa Anna and of the -Governor of Chihuahua, because they protested against such an invasion -and made military preparations; Edward Everett, Secretary of State, -refused to take part in the convention to which France and Great Britain -invited the United States, to guarantee to Spain the control of the -Island of Cuba and to prevent the island from passing to the power of -any other nation; the notes of these nations relative to the convention -were insolently answered; their conquests in the present century<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a>{177}</span> were -enumerated, and the advantages which the acquisition of Cuba had to the -United States, it being asserted without concealment “that it was -essential for her own security.” When, at Ostende, the plenipotentiaries -of the United States, accredited to the governments of Spain, France, -and England, were treating of the purchase of the Antillean island, for -the sum of twenty million dollars, the leaders of these -plenipotentiaries, Mr. Soule, was profoundly irritated because -negotiations in the matter were not actively undertaken.</p> - -<p>So much in regard to the direct participation taken by the American -government in these movements, tending solely to augment the territory -and the power of the Yankees on sea and land; as regards the expeditions -and agitations undertaken by private parties with the indirect support -of that government, the list is as long as it is instructive.</p> - -<p>Apart from the attempts of Narciso López and other filibusters against -Cuba, Rousset Boulbon, although working on his own account, drew all his -supplies for the invasion of Sonora from the United States; Crab came -into that same district with the hope of conquering it and annexing it, -if he had not been opportunely routed by Gabilondo in Caborca; Zerman -had an identical purpose in reaching California; Walker proclaimed the -Republic of Lower California, placing upon the flag of that newest -nation a single star, which, if his adventure had proved successful, -would have come<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a>{178}</span> to be one more star in the North American flag; routed -by General Blanco, he went to Central America, where his presence gave -rise to a bloody war and innumerable disturbances.</p> - -<p>We should never end if we were to enumerate, one by one, all the schemes -which the brains beyond the Rio Grande engender for enlarging their -territory and dismembering that of the American republics.</p> - -<p>Mexico was compelled to spend great sums in combatting the filibusters -who appeared and in shooting or severely punishing them; Spain was -obliged to send numerous troops to Cuba and to constantly invoke the -moral support of European cabinets; an energetic response had to be -given to the proposition to buy Savannah harbor and a round denial to -the claims for the island of St. Thomas and others belonging to Denmark -and Holland; England was forced to establish long-drawn negotiations, -resulting in the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which in part assured the -independence of Central America; necessarily this unchecked appetite for -lands and islands exhibited by the United States caused alarm and -apprehension throughout Europe. Finally, it was necessary that the great -Secessionist War should came, through which this nation expiated a part -of its great crimes, a war which brought it to the verge of ruin, but -which taught it, in time, to check itself upon the perilous descent, -upon which Polk, Taylor<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a>{179}</span>, Fillmore, Pierce, and others had started -it—men who, without having the qualities of great statesmen, -contributed, by their policy and their counsels, to bring about this -great crisis to which their unbounded ambition and the cancer infecting -their institutions bore them.</p> - -<p>It would seem that those men proceeded with the most refined malice, if -they were not blind, when we consider that they said with the greatest -calmness, as James Buchanan, in mounting to the Capitol on March 4, -1857, that the great territorial increase which the United States had -achieved since its independence was due to pacific and legal measures; -now by purchase, now voluntary—as with Texas in 1836—adding: “Our past -history prohibits the acquiring of territory in the future, unless the -acquisition is sanctioned by the laws of justice and of honor.”</p> - -<p>This is equivalent to justifying the conduct of Jackson in Florida, that -of Fremont in California, of Austin in Texas, of Gaines in the Sabine -district, the continued spoliations of the Indian tribes in the valleys -of the Ohio and Mississippi and to the west of the Alleghanies, the -scandalous invasion of California in 1842, the no less scandalous war -against Mexico, and so many, many deeds which, to the shame of the -United States, are recorded in her history.</p> - -<p>Thus, as in the preceding chapter, we briefly made known the situation -of Mexico in 1859, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a>{180}</span> this one we have sketched in bold outlines, the -neighboring nation, in its tendencies and aspirations, in order that our -readers may the better appreciate the bearings of the events which we -are about to narrate in the following chapters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a>{181}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="RAFAEL_ANGEL_DE_LA_PENA" id="RAFAEL_ANGEL_DE_LA_PENA"></a>RAFAEL ÁNGEL DE LA PEÑA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_181_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_181_sml.jpg" width="208" height="269" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Rafael Ángel de la Peña was born in the City of Mexico, December 23, -1837. His early education was conducted by an older brother and his -father. In 1852 he entered the <i>Seminario conciliar</i>, where he pursued -the regular studies, including laws, making a brilliant record. From -1858 on, he devoted great attention to the exact sciences, particularly -to the mathematics. For three years he taught Latin in the <i>Colegio de -San Juan de Letran</i>; in 1862, he was Professor of Logic in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a>{182}</span> <i>Escuela -Nacional Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School), and was later -Professor of Spanish Grammar, and, for many years past, Professor of -Mathematics in the same institution. He is an excellent teacher, leaving -a permanent impression upon students.</p> - -<p>The writings of Rafael Angel de la Peña are didactic, thoughtful, and -chiefly in the fields of language and philosophy. “His diction is chaste -and correct; his style careful, pure, and polished; his form elegant, -terse, and limpid.” Some of his addresses have attracted notable -attention and are in print. Many of his most important studies were -submitted to the Mexican Academy and are contained in its <i>Memorias</i> -(memoirs). Rafael Ángel de la Peña was elected to membership in the -Academy in 1875 and, since 1883, has been its Permanent Secretary. He is -a correspondent of the Royal Spanish Academy and contributed upward of -four hundred articles to the twelfth edition of its famous Dictionary. -He is a member of the <i>Sociedad Humboldt</i>, the <i>Liceo Hidalgo</i>, the -<i>Sociedad de Historia Natural</i>, and other Mexican societies, and an -honorary member of the <i>Sociedad Mexicana de Geografía y Estadistica</i>. -Outside of his important contributions to the Academy and to the -Dictionary, his most valuable work is <i>Gramática teórica y práctica de -la Lengua castellana</i> (Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Spanish -Language), published in 1898, which has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a>{183}</span> called forth high praise from -the most competent judges in Spain and in South America.</p> - -<h3>THE MEXICAN ACADEMY.</h3> - -<p>The Mexican Academy has thought well to begin the third volume of its -memoirs with a brief summary of its literary labors and of the most -notable events which have befallen it since the year 1880.</p> - -<p>Perhaps someone may think such a sketch needless, since—the Academy -living almost completely isolated, without holding public meetings or -participating in those promoted by other literary or scientific -societies, printing its productions very slowly, and avoiding publicity -so far as it may,—it may be assumed that no one remembers it, or, if -knowing that it exists, has an interest in how it discharges the aims -for which it was established.</p> - -<p>But, if such considerations inclined it to preserve silence regarding -its internal life, it has nevertheless felt that it should make a report -to the Royal Spanish Academy, as to how it has endeavored to respond to -the high honor which that body extended to it, in inviting it to -participate in the formation of the last Dictionary. It believed, as -well, that it was under obligation to supply notice of its doings to its -few devoted friends, who, far from relegating it to oblivion, do not -lose sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a>{184}</span> of it, but stimulate and nourish it by the favor with which -they receive its publications.</p> - -<p>Already, in an earlier sketch, it has been stated that the Academy has, -by preference, from the days of its establishment, dedicated itself to -the discussion of the additions and emendations which should be made to -the Dictionary of the language. It persevered in this laborious task -until the month of August, 1884, when it remitted to the Royal Academy -the nineteenth and final list of items for the Dictionary. The -definitions proposed by this Academy were twelve hundred and eighty-five -in number; of these, six hundred and fifty-two were accepted by the -Spanish Academy, some with slight modification, and six hundred and -thirty-three were not admitted, the greater part of these being our -provincialisms.</p> - -<p>It is necessary to admit that the harvest gathered is not large; but, -though so scanty, it gave occasion to mature studies, and long -discussions, of all of which there remains no other vestige than the -brief notice recorded in the proceedings of the meetings.</p> - -<p>It can be readily understood that, as the Dictionary invades the domains -of the sciences and of philosophy, of the arts and industries, we were -forced often to discuss topics so heterogeneous that the only points -they had in common were the initial letters of their names. Thus, from -the word <i>Prostesis</i>, we passed to study the word <i>Positivismo</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a>{185}</span> -considered as the name of a school of philosophy. The mere exposition of -this system and its definition occupied long and serious sessions. -Equally long and exhaustive were the discussions of the definitions of -one and another science, as that of Biology and that of Astronomy, or -those fixing the acceptations of technical scientific and philosophic -terms. Such discussions were often interrupted by dissertations and -discourses upon points of Literature, Philology, and the History of our -Literature. Some of these productions have been printed in two preceding -volumes of the Memoirs.</p> - -<p>The Academy has also undertaken to discover and bring together materials -for forming the history of the national literature and an example of -this activity is the article entitled <i>Francisco Terrazas and other -poets of the Sixteenth Century</i>. Señor Don Francisco Pimentel, member -<i>de numero</i> of this corporation has taken the lead in this and has, -unaided, written that history and has begun to print it.</p> - -<p>With the publication of the last Dictionary of the language, by the -Royal Spanish Academy, the Mexican Academy considered the lexicographic -work, which had been entrusted to it, as completed; not so with that -which it had undertaken for forming a <i>Diccionario de Provincialismos</i> -(Dictionary of Provincialisms), which should contain, in addition to -those current throughout the Republic, those which have been limited to -a certain State or<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a>{186}</span> to a district of whatever extent and importance. In -order not to delay the publication of this Lexicon, it was decided, as -soon as items were secured under each letter of the alphabet, to give -the list at once to the press; then to make as many more, with new -alphabets, as might be necessary.</p> - -<p>The Venezuelan Academy, Correspondent of the Royal Spanish Academy, -notified us promptly of its inauguration on the 26th and 27th of July, -1883, the Director being His Excellency, Señor General Don Antonio -Guzmán Blanco, then President of that Republic. The Mexican Academy was -delighted with such agreeable news and gave a cordial welcome to the -Venezuelan. Later that learned body proposed the establishment between -the two Academies of an exchange of national printed works and -manuscripts of value for literary merit. The Mexican Academy consented -with pleasure and later sent such parts of its <i>Memorias</i> as were not -exhausted to that of Venezuela, and also to those of Ecuador and -Colombia.</p> - -<p>The Spanish Academy has given ours constant tokens of esteem and -kindness, now, by accepting our additions and emendations to the -Dictionary; now, in sending its diplomas of foreign correspondents to -those individuals, whom the Mexican Academy recommended; and, again, by -naming members for newly-established seats or by filling the chairs left -vacant by the death of some Academicians.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a>{187}</span></p> - -<p>Unhappily, there has hardly been a year which has not been mournfully -marked by the loss of one or more members of this body....</p> - -<p>Being desirous of knowing those provincialisms of each State which -combine the conditions necessary for inclusion in the <i>Diccionario</i>, -which it is forming, the Academy has considered it necessary to name as -Academic Correspondents persons resident outside of the Capital, who are -notable for their love of the Castilian tongue and for the knowledge of -it which they possess. In this capacity, the following gentlemen belong -to it: Señor Melesio Vázquez, Archdeacon of the Church of Tulancingo, -Señor José María Oliver y Casares, residing in Campeche, and Señor -Audormaro Molina, who resides in Merida.</p> - -<p>In truth, the Mexican Academy has been able to do but little in behalf -of our language and literature, but it can present in excuse the -complete lack of all those means without which it is impossible to -achieve the ends for which it was established.</p> - -<p>The indispensable funds are lacking to the body and the time necessary -for long and serious studies is lacking to the members. Those who -compose it do not live entirely by literary pursuits; some give their -chief attention to their professional occupations, others to the -direction of affairs—personal or other—others, finally, to the -discharge of high offices in State or Church.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a>{188}</span></p> - -<p>Academies are, usually, liberally subsidized by their governments; they -count upon their own sources of support, and those who compose them are -suitably remunerated. The Mexican Academy lacks everything; there only -remains to it the will to do what its scanty resources permit. Neither -the poverty in which it lives, nor the little time at its disposition of -its members and correspondents for carrying out the labors already -begun, discourages it. Constant in its purposes, it will continue its -labors, slow, it is true, but never interrupted; it will continue, by -preference, to collect materials for the <i>Diccionario de -Provincialismos</i>, and in a day, perhaps not very distant, will thus make -known how the Castilian language is spoken in Mexico.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a>{189}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="IGNACIO_MONTES_DE_OCA_Y_OBREGON" id="IGNACIO_MONTES_DE_OCA_Y_OBREGON"></a>IGNACIO MONTES DE OCA Y OBREGÓN.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_189_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_189_sml.jpg" width="227" height="285" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Ignacio Montes de Oca y Obregón was born at Guanajuato, June 26, 1840, -his father being Demetrio Montes de Oca, a well-known lawyer, and his -mother being Mara de la Luz Obregón. When at the age of twelve years he -was sent to England to study, returning to Mexico and entering the -<i>Seminario conciliar</i> in 1856. He later went to Rome, where he received -the degree of Doctor in Theology, in 1862. In 1863, he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a>{190}</span> Presbitero -at the Basilica of San Juan de Letran in Mexico, and in 1865 became -Doctor in Laws. For a time, he served as parish priest at Ipswich, -England, but was soon appointed to a similar position in his native -city. He was Chaplain of Honor to Maximilian and Pius IX appointed him -his Secret Chancellor. Having raised Tamaulipas from a <i>vicariato -apostólico</i> into a diocese, Pius IX appointed Señor Montes de Oca y -Obregón its first Bishop, in 1871. Without availing himself of the -permitted delay of one hundred days, the new-appointed prelate at once -took charge of his exceptionally hard field. He was indefatigable in the -discharge of his duties, making two pastoral journeys over his whole -diocese, establishing a <i>Seminario</i> and founding a cathedral at the -episcopal city, and restoring and enlarging churches throughout his -domain. After this remarkable career in Tamaulipas, he was made Bishop -of San Luis Potosí, where he has continued to display exceptional energy -and wisdom.</p> - -<p>Bishop Montes de Oca y Obregón writes both poetry and prose. In poetry -he has published <i>Poetas bucolicos Griegos</i> (Greek Bucolic Poets), -<i>Ocios poeticos</i> (Poetic Loiterings) and <i>Odas de Pindaro</i> (Pindar’s -Odes). Of all three, editions have been printed both in Madrid and -Mexico. His translations from the Greek poets are close and beautiful. -In prose, he has published six volumes of <i>Obras pastorales y oraciones</i> -(Pastoral<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a>{191}</span> Works and Orations) and a volume of <i>Oraciones funebres</i> -(Funeral Orations). Señor Montes de Oca y Obregón especially shines in -oratory. Of him Portilla says: “As a sacred orator, he possesses those -endowments of spirit essential to oratory—most brilliant talent, vast -and agreeable erudition, exquisite literary taste,—and to these -spiritual endowments he joins in happy combination the physical -qualities which serve for their realization—a fine presence, a noble -bearing, a musical quality of voice—all that, in fine, which -constitutes the irresistible enchantment of eloquence. All these -qualities shine, in never-witnessed brilliancy, in his famous funeral -oration on the Literary Dead, magnificent novelty which will make an -epoch in the annals of sacred oratory in Mexico.”</p> - -<p>Bishop Montes de Oca y Obregón is a member of the famous Arcadian -Academy of Rome, bearing in it the name Ipandro Acaico. He was a member -of Maximilian’s <i>Academia de Ciencias y Literatura</i> (Academy of Sciences -and Literature). He is a Corresponding Member of the Mexican Academy. In -1899, he was Secretary of the Latin-American Council at Rome. In travels -in Italy, France, and the United States, during the past three years, he -has made several notable addresses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a>{192}</span></p> - -<h3>JOAQUÍN GARCÍA ICAZBALCETA.</h3> - -<p>Great is my satisfaction at presiding over this meeting. It is more than -two years that you have not gathered in general assembly; and on seeing -three-months after three-months pass, without your coming to invite me -to your regular meeting, I had come to ask myself the question: “Do the -Conferences of San Vicente de Paul still exist in my diocese?” The -President General of your pious brotherhood has, on various occasions in -Mexico, directed to me the same question and with that zeal which -distinguished him has asked me, with tears in his eyes: “Is it possible -that charity is dead among the distinguished gentlemen of San Luis -Potosí? Is it possible that there is no one who can arouse the members -and revive the almost extinguished meetings?”</p> - -<p>The sign of life, which you now give, coincides with the death of that -illustrious President, and it is fitting that, in addressing you, I -shall pay a tribute to the eminent <i>savant</i>, the fervent Christian, the -exemplary member of your conferences, Don Joaquín García Icazbalceta.</p> - -<p>Others have already pronounced his eulogy as a man of letters, as a -historian, as the type of a man of wealth and of the flower of Mexican -aristocracy. It falls to me to present him to you as a model member of -the conferences and to briefly praise<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a>{193}</span> before you his charity and his -obedience and attachment to the Church.</p> - -<p>His was a long life and he employed it all in distributing benefits. -Rich from his cradle, he preserved and increased his capital, without -ever extorting from the poor, without unduly taking advantage of their -labors, without ever practicing usury, that plague of our society which -seems to most tempt those who have most wealth, and which the Gospel so -clearly anathematizes. In all his vast territorial possessions, that -dissimulated slavery, so common in some parts of the country, which -chains the peasant for his whole life to one master and to one piece of -ground without hope of bettering his condition, was never known. Most -exact in his payments, he had further a box of savings, as he called it, -for each of his employees, from the humblest to the highest, which -really consisted of systematic gifts which he made them on the more -important occasions of their lives or of the lives of their wives and -children. Were they marrying? He supplied the necessary expenses without -making any charge against them. Were children born; did disease come to -afflict them; did death arrive? He generously opened his chest and -alleviated their pains and necessities.</p> - -<p>The works of mercy which he did among his own, he also practiced with -strangers. Through long years, the conferences of Mexico found him -visiting the houses of the poor and liberally succoring<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a>{194}</span> them; when he -was their President, he exerted his influence inside and outside of the -Capital, maintaining the fervor of the old members, and attracting new -ones by his fine demeanor, his opportune appeals and his prudent -persistency. How important is such tact in those who occupy the high -posts in the conferences! The most ardent zeal, unless accompanied by -prudence and judgment, far from attracting, repels, and instead of -aiding, hinders good service of the poor and the prosperity of the -association.</p> - -<p>Great as were his material works of mercy, they are eclipsed when -compared with the spiritual. It is, indeed, a meritorious work to teach -the ignorant, to correct the erring, to pardon injuries, and all this -Joaquín García Icazbalceta did in a high degree. Not only did the Lord -give him great wealth, but also the inestimable gift of wisdom. The -leisures, which his condition of comfort afforded him, were all employed -in gathering an immense store of solid doctrine and in placing this at -the service not only of the wise, but also of the humble and the -ignorant. The devotional books compiled and <i>printed</i> by him have gained -an enormous circulation among the faithful and have greatly fomented -piety among Mexicans. <i>Printed</i> by him, I have said, and this is true in -the full meaning of the word. Convinced that manual labor dishonors no -one, he, personally, worked<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a>{195}</span> at his printing, and, to his talent and -assiduity, the typographic art owes much.</p> - -<p>All these labors, all these studies, were placed at the service of the -Church and of the public by Señor García Icazbalceta. How, except for -him, would we know how much the early missionaries did for the -civilization and the prosperity of the New World? Thanks to his -researches, books, and manuscripts, long forgotten, were reborn, and, in -circulating, decked in the typographic beauty of Señor García -Icazbalceta’s private press, and adorned with his commentaries and -notes, they dissipated many prejudices and made those holy men, the -apostles of New Spain, who were despised by the few who recalled them, -known to the world.</p> - -<p>Among them he presents Friar Juan de Zumárraga, how beautiful, how -grand! Not without reason did the history of that life, so beautifully -written, fly through the world, and, attracting the attention of the -highest dignitaries of the Seraphic Order, to which the first Bishop of -Mexico belonged, it was translated by one of them into the Tuscan and, -in that idiom, circulated about the Vatican and throughout the whole -Italian peninsula.</p> - -<p>Such pious undertakings could not fail to arouse the envy of the -world—and of hell. The demon, disguised as an angel of light, clothed -in a religious garb, attacked him, as envy ever attacks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a>{196}</span> with -bitterness, with acrimony, with implacable cruelty. What he had -published was malinterpreted and <i>what he had not written</i> was thrown -into his face; his intentions were calumniated and productions foreign -to his genius were attributed to him.</p> - -<p>The fruitful writer replied never a word, nor even attempted to defend -himself. At the suggestion of a prelate he cut out one chapter, an -entire chapter, from his most cherished work; a chapter which cost him -long years of study and diligent labors. Nor did his sacrifices end -here. On seeing that those who were most embittered against him were -ministers of that Church of which he was an obedient and submissive son -and which he desired to defend, he broke, forever, his learned pen. Ah, -beloved members of the conferences of San Vicente, how many injuries a -misguided zeal inflicts! To the unjust and uncharitable attacks of which -he was the victim, we owe it that most important works upon the Mexican -Church remained unfinished, that documents of the highest interest lie -mouldering in dust, that your learned President General dedicated the -last years of his life only to the compilation of dictionaries and to -grammatical studies, which could scare no one.</p> - -<p>The Lord has already rewarded his ardent charity, his obedience to the -prelates of the Church, his readiness to forgive even those injuries -which most deeply wound one who is conscious of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a>{197}</span> a fervent -Catholic and a conscientious historian. Without the sufferings of -illness, without the bitterness of the final agony, sudden death, though -not unforeseen, which is accustomed to be the punishment of sinners and -the recompense of the righteous, lately snatched him away. Although a -layman, he exercised, upon the earth, an apostleship more fruitful than -that of many who are called by God to the highest destinies; and on -receiving him to his bosom, the Lord without doubt has given him that -reward, which he offered to those, who, without occupying a high place -in the Church, duly fulfil their mission, and, being the <i>last</i> in the -hierarchic scale, come to be <i>first</i> in heaven.</p> - -<p>That which he could not gain in this world by his persistent efforts and -courteous appeals to men, he will gain, we trust, in the better land by -his prayer to the Almighty—the regeneration of the conferences of San -Luis Potosí. May heaven rekindle your fervor, reanimate your charity, -and infuse that zeal, as ardent as prudent, and that respect to the -ministers of the Church, which animated Don Joaquín García Icazbalceta -through his mortal life. Pray for him, and try to imitate him.</p> - -<h3>MEXICO’S PROTOMARTYR.</h3> - -<p>Today, it is fifteen months since I terminated the longest pilgrimage of -my life, arriving at the shores of that enchanted Japan, in which our<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a>{198}</span> -Mexican protomartyr was crucified. Terrible are, in all times, the seas -of the Far East. The cyclones, which, in the century of Vasco de Gama -and Francis Xavier, engulfed so many ships, have not lost their force; -and the most that modern science can do is to predict them by a few -hours, to indicate their probable course, and to teach mariners, if -their vessels are capable of such speed, to fly before these messengers -of death.</p> - -<p>Just so, steaming at full speed before one of these tremendous -hurricanes, our vessel was sailing the night before we reached the -desired haven of Nagasaki. Although we were considerably in advance of -it, our velocity was not so great but that the effects of what is called -the anticyclone overtook us. The waves tossed, the wind whistled, and -while, on the one hand, I promised Felipe de Jesús, if he saved me from -peril, to honor him in an especial manner on the next centenary of his -martyrdom, on the other hand, my thoughts transported me to that galleon -of imperishable memory, which, through these same seas, bore the saint, -three hundred years ago, to the very coasts whither we were bound. -Before entering fully upon the brilliant epic, which through good -fortune, it falls to me to narrate to you this happy day, I desire to -carry you also on board of it.</p> - -<p>Do not expect to see in it a rival of the colossal steamers which today -plow the ocean. Although a marvel for that time, it is comparatively -small<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a>{199}</span> and shows not a few defects in construction, which render it -unsafe in tempests. It is scarcely ninety feet in length and its highest -mast is of equal measure. In spite of criticisms already beginning to be -made among naval architects, the enormous castles of the poop and prow -rise high above the rest of the ship; and, that slope, which has begun -to be given to the hull of merchant vessels destined for the Indies, in -order that the waves in striking may lose some of their force, is -impossible here on account of the many heavy pieces of artillery which -garrison it. Its hulk is broad and the means of controlling the rudder -are crude.</p> - -<p>It sailed from the port of Cavite, in the Philippine Islands, July 12, -1596, bound for Acapulco; and, though now it is September 8, far from -being near the Mexican coast, it is at 33 degrees of latitude, and the -hurricane is constantly driving it toward the northwest. Almost from the -start storms have troubled it and contrary winds have driven it from its -course; on this night the tempest has culminated, and the Commander, -Matéas Landecho, though an expert mariner, despairs of its salvation. -The sails have been torn to tatters, the yards float in the sea, it has -been necessary to destroy the masts, and the pumps have been worked -unceasingly, in vain. To cap all these misfortunes, a wave of -irresistible force shattered the rudder, and one of those moments<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a>{200}</span> has -arrived, when even the most impious of sailors, the last hope gone, -looks to God alone.</p> - -<p>Officers, soldiers, crew, and passengers, all threw themselves upon the -deck and cried with one voice, like Peter on the Lake of Tiberias, -<i>Lord, save us, we perish</i>. Among these last were two Augustinian monks, -one Dominican, and two Franciscan. Of these, the youngest remained on -his knees, holding fast to one of the broken masts, his eyes fixed on -heaven, and absorbed in profound prayer. By the gleam of the frequent -lightnings, his manly face could be seen, upon which were visible -traces, not only of recent privations, but also of long penances, and -were observed that fineness of features, that ardent glance, that Roman -nose, that sun-darkened skin, peculiar to the Spanish race as modified -in the New World. His companion, older than himself, and named Friar -Juan de Zamora, has often spoken of the austerity of that youth, during -the five years which he had spent in Manila, in the Franciscan -community. There he took the habit, May 20, 1591; there he made his -vows, and not content with the penances prescribed by the rules, he had -given himself up to greater austerities and was accustomed to make daily -confession of his sins, before the Seraphic Family. Named <i>enfermero</i>, -he had practiced such acts of charity and abnegation with the suffering -and dying as are scarcely recorded of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a>{201}</span> most famous saints, and this -not occasionally, but through entire years.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, during the first days of the voyage, when the sea, -yet tranquil, left opportunity for jests and idle talk, the careless -soldiers pointed at him with their fingers and told the story of the -young Franciscan, to one another, in terms but little flattering. He is -the son of Alonso de las Casas (they say), a rich Spaniard of the City -of Mexico, and he has a very pious mother, who came from Ilescas to New -Spain, where this young fellow was born. This is not the first time he -wears the seraphic habit. Formerly he was a novice in Puebla de los -Angeles; but, after a few months, he threw aside his gown and gave -himself again to the libertinage, which had distinguished him. His -parents sent him to China, for punishment, where not a few of us have -seen him living the gay life of a merchant. They say that he goes, now -to Mexico, to take sacred orders and console his pious mother. We shall -see whether he now gives proof of greater constancy.</p> - -<p>Thus passengers and sailors of the galleon <i>San Felipe</i>, painted the -youth, Friar Felipe de las Casas, at whom, apparently absorbed in -meditation, we look from the bridge. The sea has calmed somewhat and the -thick cloud masses, separating a little, permit us to see the -constellations of the two bears, and, particularly, the polestar, -shining brighter than ever. The Franciscan has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a>{202}</span> his eyes fixed in that -direction and after a half hour of silent prayer, he rises majestically -and pointing southwest of the Great Bear exclaims with prophetic voice, -“Look, look, our ship shall not perish! We shall soon arrive in safety -on the coast of Japan.”</p> - -<p>“A miracle! a miracle!” exclaim the sailors in chorus, seeing for the -first time the prodigy, which Friar Felipe had been watching for a half -hour, and the meaning of which the Lord had made known to him by -inspiration, as in another time, to the Magi, that of the mysterious -star in the East. It is a cross, an immense cross, much larger than that -constellation which we call the Southern Cross; a cross, whose pale and -peaceful glow at first resembled that of Venus; but which afterward -appeared red, the color of blood, (such as we saw the planet Mars in -last December), surrounded by a refulgent aureole and afterward -enwrapped in a black cloud. It is a cross, but not such as that of Jesus -Christ, which we are accustomed to see. Besides the customary arms, it -has another transverse piece near the feet and a little protuberance -near the centre, all perfectly drawn against the blue of the clear sky.</p> - -<p>Passengers and sailors rejoice at the celestial vision. A board is soon -rigged out as rudder; those sails, which the wind has not completely -destroyed are quickly repaired; the countless holes are covered up and -the prow is turned, not toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a>{203}</span> New Spain indeed, but, in the direction -indicated by Providence. Yet there lack thirty-two days of stormy -sailing, but they journey gaily in the midst of dangers, and on arriving -at the port of Tosa, on October 20, they intone hymns of thanks to the -Savior.</p> - -<p>They journey gaily; yes, but beyond all Felipe de Jesús de las Casas, to -whom God has revealed his high destinies. He knows that martyrdom upon a -cross, such as he has seen in the sky, awaits him; martyrdom, the -supreme recompense to which we, who run the race of life, aspire, but -which the Lord grants to few; the martyrdom which Francis Xavier and his -companions in religion and apostolic labors, sought with longing, but -which God in His lofty purposes refused to them, to give it to Felipe de -Jesús and to some companions, who arrived but yesterday, who did not -seek it. <i>Omnes quidem currunt sed unus accipit bravium.</i></p> - -<p>To relate to you the details of that glorious martyrdom, is what I -propose in this discourse, longer than usual. Do not refuse me your kind -attention. The story is so interesting and so brilliant notwithstanding -its dark passages, that the sublimity of the event will compensate for -my deficiencies. Furthermore, as the Holy Virgin has never yet refused -me her aid, she will surely assist me in this memorable centenary. -Invoke her with me, saluting her with the sweet words of the angel—<i>Ave -Maria</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a>{204}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="IGNACIO_M_ALTAMIRANO" id="IGNACIO_M_ALTAMIRANO"></a>IGNACIO M. ALTAMIRANO.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_204_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_204_sml.jpg" width="229" height="293" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Once and again in Mexico there arises, from the mass of the Indian -population, a man who leads, not only his race, but his nation. Such a -man was the great President Juarez, who established Mexico’s present -greatness; such in art were the artist Cabrera and the sculptor -Instolinque; such in letters was Ignacio M. Altamirano.</p> - -<p>No one who knows not the Mexican Indian village can appreciate the -heroism of the man who,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a>{205}</span> born of Indian parents, in such surroundings, -attains to eminence in the nation. It is true that the Aztec mind is -keen, quick, receptive; true that the poorest Indian of that tribe -delights in things of beauty; true that the proverb and pithy saying in -their language show a philosophic perception. But after all this is -admitted the horizon of the Indian village is narrow: there are few -motives to inspiration; life is hard and monotonous. It must indeed be a -divine spark that drives an Aztec village boy to rise above his -surroundings, to gain wide outlook, to achieve notable things.</p> - -<p>And when once started on his career, what an enormous gulf yawns -<i>behind</i> him! How absolutely severed henceforth from his own. And what a -gulf opens <i>before</i> him! He is absolutely alone. Poor, friendless, with -race prejudice against him, obstacles undreamed of by the ordinary man -of talent confront him. Only immense ambition, tenacious purpose, -inflexible persistence, unconquerable will, can succeed.</p> - -<p>Ignacio M. Altamirano, pure Aztec Indian, was born at Tixtla, State of -Guerrero, December 12, 1834. The first fourteen years of his life were -the same as those of every Indian boy in Mexico; he learned the -Christian Doctrine and helped his parents in the field. Entering the -village school he excelled and was sent, at public expense, in 1849, to -Toluca to study at the <i>Instituto Literario</i>. From that time on his life -was mainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a>{206}</span> literary—devoted to learning, to instructing, and to -writing. From Toluca he went to the City of Mexico, where he entered the -<i>Colegio de San Juan Letran</i>. In 1854 he participated in the Revolution. -From that date his political writings were important. Ever a Liberal of -the Liberals, he figured in the stirring events of the War of the -Reform, and in 1861 was in Congress. When aroused he was a speaker of -power; his address against the Law of Amnesty was terrific. Partner with -Juarez in the difficulties under Maximilian, he was also partner in the -glory of the re-established Republic. From then as journalist, teacher, -encourager of public education and man of letters his life passed -usefully until 1889, when he was sent as Consul-General of the Republic -to Spain. His health failing there, he was transferred to the -corresponding appointment at Paris. He died February 13, 1893, at San -Remo. His illness was chiefly <i>nostalgia</i>, longing for that Mexico he -loved so much and served so well.</p> - -<p>Altamirano was honored and loved by men of letters of both political -parties. Although a pronounced Liberal, he numbered friends and admirers -among the Conservatives. His honesty, independence, strength, and -marvelous gentleness bound his friends firmly to him. He loved the young -and ever encouraged those rising authors who form today the literary -body of Mexico.</p> - -<p>We may not even enumerate his writings. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a>{207}</span> produced graceful poems, -strong novels, realistic descriptions, delicate but trenchant criticism, -strong discourses, truthful biographies. He ever urged the development -of a national, a characteristic literature, and pleaded for the -utilization of national material. Unfortunately, his writings are -scattered through periodicals difficult of access. A collection of them -is now being made. Our selections are taken from his <i>Revista Literaria</i> -(Literary Review) of 1861, from a discussion of Poetry dated 1870, and -from his well-known <i>Paisajes y Leyendas</i> (Landscapes and Legends) of -1884.</p> - -<h3>GENIUS AND OBSTACLES.</h3> - -<p>Rigorously speaking, it can not be said that popular neglect can be a -chain which holds <i>genius</i> in the dust of impotence.</p> - -<p>No: the genius, powerful and lofty eagle, knows how to break with his -talons the vulgar bonds with which the pettiness of the world may -attempt to shackle thought.</p> - -<p>Thus Homer, aged beggar, to whose eyes the sun denied its light, but -whose divine soul inspiration illuminated, was able to endow ungrateful -Greece, in return for his miserable bread, with the majesty of Olympus, -with the glory of the heroes and with the immortality of those eternal -songs which survive the decay of the agonies and the ruin of empires.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a>{208}</span></p> - -<p>Thus, Dante, proscribed by his countrymen, has been able to cause to -spring from the depths of his hatred and his grief the omnipotent ray -which was to illuminate the conscience of his time and to be the -admiration of future ages.</p> - -<p>Thus, that other blind man, who, as Byron says, made the name <i>Miltonic</i> -synonym of <i>sublime</i> and who died as he had lived the sworn enemy of -tyrants, in the cell to which ingratitude consigned him, improvised for -himself a throne, and from its dominated creation saw prostrate -themselves at his feet not only his country, but the world.</p> - -<p>Thus Cervantes, the poor cripple, disdained by persons of distinction -and persecuted by fortune created, in the midst of the agony of misery, -the sole treasure which can not be wrested from old Spain, more precious -truly than the ephemeral grandeur of kings and the imbecile pride of -nobles.</p> - -<p>Thus lastly, Camoens, soldier also like Cervantes, and like him -unfortunate, left in his deathbed in a foreign hospital, as a great -legacy to his country, his <i>Lusiadas</i>, the most beautiful monument of -Portuguese glory.</p> - -<p>Thus many others, dead through the hemlock of contemporary disdain, and -compensated with tardy apotheosis, have not found obstacles in poverty, -in envy and in defeat; and abandoning with thought the narrow spheres of -the world, have<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a>{209}</span> gone to grave their names upon the heaven of poetry.</p> - -<p>But such is the privilege of genius and of genius only. The talents -which cannot aspire to such height, nor feel themselves endowed with -force divine, are eclipsed in the test, the same test which causes him, -who is predestined for sublimity, to shine forth more resplendent and -more grand.</p> - -<p>And in Mexico the genius enwraps himself yet in the shades of the -invisible, or does not belong to the new generation.</p> - -<p>Those of us who penetrate, with timidity and difficulty, into the sacred -enclosure of poetry and literature, belong to the crowd of mortals; and -scarcely may we aspire to the character of second rate workers in the -family of those who think.</p> - -<p>Thus for us are heavy those chains which for geniuses would be but -spider webs; discouragement crushes us at times—discouragement, that -poisoned draught, whose vase of vile clay is shattered before the glance -of genius, accustomed to sip the nectar of the immortals in the myrrhine -cup of faith.</p> - -<p>As for us, we need, not the applauses of the world, but the sympathy of -our countrymen, the word of encouragement, the hand which saves us from -the waves which threaten to submerge us in their bosom.</p> - -<p>It is not the necessities of material life which hamper us. We may rise -superior to those or may<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a>{210}</span> supply them with the product of honorable -labor, though outside of literature. As little do we seek, the patronage -of the mighty. The <i>gilded mean</i> of Horace were unbearable for us if we -have to supply in exchange for it a <i>Hymn to Maecenas</i>; the palatial -advantages of Virgil would cause us loathing if we had to purchase them -by placing the sacred lyre of the aged singer of the Gods at the feet of -Augustus.</p> - -<h3>PLEA FOR A MEXICAN SCHOOL OF WRITING.</h3> - -<p>We do not deny the great utility of studying all the literary schools of -the civilized world; we would be incapable of such nonsense, we who -adore the classical memories of Greece and of Rome, we who ponder long -over the books of Dante and Shakespeare, who admire the German school -and who should desire to be worthy to speak the language of Cervantes -and of Fray Luis de Leon. No: on the contrary, we believe these studies -indispensable: but we desire that there be created a literature -absolutely our own, such as all nations possess, nations which also -study the monuments of others, but do not take pride in servilely -imitating them.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Our last war has attracted to us the eyes of the civilized world. It -desires to know this singular nation, which contains so many and such -coveted<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a>{211}</span> riches, which could not be reduced by European forces, which -living in the midst of constant agitations has lost neither its vigor -nor its faith. It desires to know our history, our public customs, our -private lives, our virtues and our vices; and to that end it devours -whatever ignorant and prejudiced foreigners relate in Europe, disguising -their lies under the seductive dress of the legend and impressions of -travel. We run the risk of being believed such as we are painted, unless -we ourselves seize the brush and say to the world—<i>Thus are we in -Mexico</i>.</p> - -<p>Until now those nations have seen nothing more than the very antiquated -pages of Thomas Gage or the studies of Baron Humboldt, very good, -certainly but which could only be made upon a nation still enslaved. -Further, the famous <i>savant</i> gave more attention to his scientific -investigations than to his character portraits.</p> - -<p>Since his day, almost all travelers have calumniated us, from Lovestern -and Madam Calderon, to the writers—male and female—of the court of -Maximilian, trading upon public curiosity, selling it their satires -against us.</p> - -<p>There is occasion, then, to make of fine letters an arm of defense. -There is a field, there are niches, there is time, it is necessary that -there shall be the will. There are talents in our land which can compete -with those which shine in the old world.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a>{212}</span></p> - -<h3>THE PROCESSION OF THE CHRISTS.</h3> - -<p>If there is one thing characteristic in the Holy Week at Tixtla, it is -this procession of the Christs, ancient, venerated, and difficult to -abolish. It responds to a necessity of the organization of the Tixtla -Indians, strongly fetichistic, perhaps because of their priestly origin. -This propensity has caused the maintenance always in the pueblo of a -large family of indigenous sculptors who live by the fabrication of -images—poor things!—without having the least idea of drawing, nor of -color, nor of proportion, nor of sentiment. For them sculpture is still -the same rudimentary and ideographic art that existed before the -conquest. Thus with a trunk of bamboo, with the pith of a <i>calchual</i>, or -of any other soft and spongy tree, they improvise a body which resembles -that of a man, give it a coat of water-glue and plaster and paint it -afterwards in most vivid colors, literally bathing it in blood. <i>Á mal -cristo, mucho sangre</i> (bad Christ, much blood); such is the proverb -which my artistic compatriots realize in an admirable fashion. After -they varnish the image with a coat of oil of fir, they have it blessed -by the priest and then adore it in the domestic <i>teocalli</i>, on whose -altar it is set up among the other penates of similar fabrication.</p> - -<p>The only day on which such Christs sally forth to public view is Holy -Thursday and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a>{213}</span> reality few family festivals assume a more intimate -character than the especial festival with which each native family -celebrates the sallying forth of its Christ. <i>A padrino</i> (godfather) is -selected who shall take it out, that is to say who shall carry it in the -procession, on a platform if it is large, in his hand if it is little. -But every Christ has an attendance which bears candles and incense.</p> - -<p>With such a cortege, the Christs gather in the portico of the church, -awaiting the priest and the Christ who shall lead the procession, the -one which is called the <i>Christ of the Indians</i>. When these issue from -the church the procession is organized; the cross and the great -candlesticks go before and then file by slowly and in good order some -eight hundred or a thousand Christs with their retinues. Tixtla has some -eight thousand inhabitants, hence there is a Christ to about each eight -persons. This might well dismay an iconoclast.</p> - -<p>The procession passes through the more important streets, in the midst -of the crowd gathered at the corners, the doors, windows and public -squares. What a variety of images! It should be stated that not all -represent crucifixes; there are also Christs with the cross on their -shoulders, some simply stand, others of ‘Ecce-homos of the pillar,’ but -these are few; the crucifixes are in majority. The sole respect in which -all are equal is in the rude sculptural execution. There are some in -which the chest muscles rise an inch above the ribs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a>{214}</span> others which have -the neck of the size of the legs; some are the living portrait of -<i>Gwinplaine</i> or of <i>Quasimodo</i>; they smile lugubriously or they wink the -half closed eyes with a grimace calculated to produce epilepsy. All have -natural hair arrangement, the hair arrangement of the Indians, -disordered, blown by the wind, tangled like a mass of serpents around -the bleeding body of the Christ.</p> - -<p>As to size they vary from the colossal <i>Altepecristo</i>,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> which the -Indians hide in caverns, which is almost an idol of the old mythology, -to the microscopic Christ which wee Indians of nine years carry with -their thumb and forefinger, before which are burned tapers as slender as -cigarettes. All the sizes, all the colors, all the meagerness of form, -all the wounds, all the deformities, all the humped-backs, all the -dislocations, all the absurdities which can be perpetrated in sculpture, -are represented in this procession. When by the light of torches (for -this procession ends at night), this immense line of suspended, behaired -and bloody bodies is seen in movement, one might believe himself -oppressed by a frightful nightmare or imagine himself traversing some -forest of the middle ages in which a tribe of naked gypsies had been -hung.</p> - -<p>Callot in his wild imagination never saw a procession more fantastic, -more original.</p> - -<p>Yet this spectacle was the delight of my boyhood days!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a>{215}</span></p> - -<p>Then the Christs withdrew with their <i>padrinos</i> and retinues to the -houses whence they issued and there the family prepared a savory feast. -The <i>atole</i> of cornmeal called <i>champol</i> and the sweet and delicate -<i>totopos</i>.</p> - -<p>Ah, General Riva Palacio, never in thy days of campaign in Michoacan, -have you had a more sumptuous banquet than that which you have enjoyed -in the land of your fathers, an evening of the Christs—and of -<i>champol</i>!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a>{216}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="VICTORIANO_AGUEROS" id="VICTORIANO_AGUEROS"></a>VICTORIANO AGÜEROS.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_216_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_216_sml.jpg" width="215" height="299" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Victoriano Agüeros was born September 4, 1854, in the pueblo of -Tlalchapa, in the State of Guerrero. His father was a Spaniard, his -mother a Mexican. Young Victoriano was given good opportunity for -education, being sent, at twelve years of age, to the Capital city where -he attended the <i>Ateneo Mexicano</i>. In 1870 he was qualified to teach in -primary schools. In 1877 he entered the National School of Jurisprudence -and was admitted to the practice of law December 19, 1881.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a>{217}</span></p> - -<p>He commenced literary work when but sixteen or seventeen years of age, -signing his productions with the name “José.” Using this <i>nom-de-plume</i> -he published his <i>Ensayos de José</i> (Essays of José) in 1877. This was -followed by <i>Cartas Literarias</i> (Literary Letters) and <i>Dos Leyendas por -José</i> (Two Legends by José). Shortly after he published a series of -articles—<i>Escritores Mexicanos Contemporaneos</i> (Contemporary Mexican -Authors)—in the literary journal, <i>La Ilustracion Espanola y -Americana</i>, of Madrid. This was reprinted in book form and gave the -author deserved credit. <i>Confidencias y Recuerdos</i> (Confidences and -Recollections) completes the list of Agüeros’s books.</p> - -<p>Renouncing law for literature Señor Agüeros became editor of <i>El -Imparcial</i> (The Impartial) but shortly after, on July 1, 1883, he -founded and has ever since, conducted, <i>El Tiempo</i> (The Time), the most -conservative of the periodicals published in the Mexican capital. During -the twenty years and more that have passed since then his pen has been -well employed. His editorials are always carefully written and—though -ultra-conservative—are marked by thought and judgment. No modern -Mexican writer uses Spanish in a more accurate and graceful way. As a -literary critic he ranks high, though it is difficult for him to see -aught of good in the radical and liberal movement of the day or in those -who are its exponents.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a>{218}</span></p> - -<p>Deploring the neglect of the national literature by Mexican readers -Señor Agüeros is attempting to arouse new interest by publishing, in -uniform style, the works of the best authors under the general title -<i>Biblioteca de Autores Mexicanos</i> (Library of Mexican Authors). The -series has passed its fiftieth volume, is being well received, and is -serving a most useful purpose.</p> - -<h3>THE DAY OF THE DEAD.</h3> - -<p><i>Las ofrendas</i>; (the offerings) this is the custom which gives a special -character to the Day of the Dead in my village. Those candles of whitest -wax, those human-figure shaped loaves of bread, those crowns, those -exquisite sweets which for six days have been offered for sale in the -booths in the Plaza are to be deposited upon the graves in the -cemetery—in such wise, that the rude bench covered with a cloth of the -finest cotton, assumes the appearance of a carefully prepared table, -fitted with the richest and most delicate dishes. There are placed -earthen jars of syrup, dishes of wild honey in the comb, cakes made of -young and tender corn—sweetened and spiced with cinnamon, preserves, -vessels of holy water, and the best of whatever else the mother of the -family can provide. It is the banquet which the living give to the -dead....</p> - -<p>From three in the afternoon, at which time<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a>{219}</span> the bell of the -parish-church begins to strike the doubles, sadly and slowly, as the -doubles are always struck in the villages, families sally from their -houses and direct their way to the cemetery or to the church porch, -where there are also some graves. There they traverse the pathways -between these and by examining the crosses (not the names nor epitaphs, -for there are none) they recognize the place where relatives or friends -rest.... They then place the objects which they bear as the <i>ofrenda</i>, -light the candles, sprinkle the grave with some drops of holy water, and -soon after there is heard in that enclosure of the dead, the murmur of -the prayers they raise to Heaven.... Thus the afternoon passes: neither -curiosity, nor the desire to see, nor other profane pastime, distract -the attention of these simple villagers, who, absorbed in the sanctuary -of their most intimate recollections, pray and sigh with tender and deep -sadness.</p> - -<p>When the evening shadows drive them thence, they bear the <i>ofrendas</i> to -the interior of the houses. The lights are renewed, a sort of an altar -is improvised upon which are placed the objects which before were on the -graves, and other prayers and other mournings begin. It is not rare to -see, high in some tree in the grove, or in some solitary and retired -spot, a taper which gleams, in spite of the night breeze: it is the -offering for the <i>ánima sola</i> (the lonely soul)—that is to say, of one -who<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a>{220}</span> has in the village neither a relative nor a friend who remembers it -and decorates its grave. A bit of bread and a little taper, and a prayer -repeated for it—this is what each family dedicates to the soul of that -unknown one.</p> - -<p>Thus do the poor people of my village honor the memory of the dead.</p> - -<h3>THE STUDENT AT HOME.</h3> - -<p>The student who returns to his village is generally reputed to be a man -of learning, who knows everything. The most perplexing questions are -submitted to him, though they may be remote from the studies which he -has pursued. If the priest is preparing a Latin inscription, he consults -about it with the student; if the townspeople desire to make a petition -to the town government, the chief of the district, or the governor of -the state, they request the student to compose the document to be -presented; if it is planned to celebrate with a festival the -anniversaries of some prominent personage of the place, they invite, -first of all, the newly-returned collegian, to pronounce a discourse and -enthuse all with his words; if some person is seriously ill, they call -the student to examine the patient and hold his opinion decisive -regarding the disease. That year he has studied civil procedure and -international law in the Law School; but what of that? He has lived in -Mexico, where there<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a>{221}</span> are so many physicians and must know and understand -something of medicine. The judge of the lower court is about to decide a -case; ah, well, before doing so he strolls around to the house of the -collegian, and after asking him a thousand things about Mexico, -regarding politics, theaters, the promenades and driveways, etc., -inquires his opinion concerning the matter with which he is occupied.</p> - -<p>“You can enlighten me,” he says humbly. “Perhaps I have not sufficiently -informed myself regarding the value and force of the evidence; I fear -that I have badly interpreted such and such articles of the Code. Come, -let us walk down to the courtroom and have the good will to show what is -best.”</p> - -<p>“But that will be useless, because I know nothing of this matter,” -replies the collegian. “This year I have been studying mathematics in -the School of Mines.”</p> - -<p>“So much the better; thus you will have a clear head for this kind of -questions; because it is plain, had you been studying law you might now -have difficulty in co-ordinating your ideas. No excuses, no excuses; -come to my house, I have great confidence in your knowledge and sound -judgment.”</p> - -<p>Such is the part which the student fills, in his village, during -vacations. If he yields to all the requests made of him and speaks of -matters which he does not understand, words cannot be found<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a>{222}</span> sufficient -for praising him. How wise! how humble and good he is! he refuses no -one. If, on the contrary, the student is timid and only desires to speak -of matters with which he is acquainted; if he refuses to decide a -law-suit, to cure a sick man, to preach a sermon, then—who so ignorant -as he, he knows nothing, he is good for nothing!</p> - -<h3>CRITICISM OF THE NEW SCHOOL OF MEXICAN WRITERS.</h3> - -<p>Well, then, in my opinion the new literary generation has no importance; -I discover no virtues in it, neither love for study, nor noble -tendencies favoring the advancement of our literature. Who can endure -this crowd of youth who write in the papers and who, in spite of their -ignorance, give themselves the airs of learned men? With what eyes can -we observe their affectations? They think they know all, but because -they have learned jokes in the low plays, history in the novels and -librettos of the opera, and gallantries in the almanacs and reviews of -fashion. They believe themselves men of letters and poets, because they -have published some article in the —— and have, in the —— given forth -some verses in which they speak of their <i>disenchantments</i> and of their -<i>ennui</i>, of their <i>doubts</i> and <i>hours of pain</i>. Although beardless -youths, they are already miserable, very miserable, their complaints and -laments for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a>{223}</span> disillusions they have suffered have no bounds.—They -speak everywhere of politics and literature; in the interludes at the -theater they render judgment on the play in an epigram, and if some -praise it they criticise it, or they celebrate its beauties when all -find it defective. And thus they are in other things; because they -believe that, in following public opinion, even though well founded, -they fall into vulgarity, and to be singular is what they most desire.</p> - -<p>Moreover, these youth, neither by the literary education they receive, -nor by the system of studies pursued today in the schools, nor by their -tastes and inclinations, nor finally by the models which they set before -themselves for imitation in their writings, will ever succeed in giving -days of glory to our literature. Profoundly inflated by the praises of -their friends, without direction or desire to receive it, their -self-esteem nourished by the very persons who ought to reprove and -correct it, tainted with modern skepticism, rebellious, in a word, to -the authority of rules and of good models, what hopes do they offer? -What class of works are to sally from their hands? They do not study nor -accumulate new information; they are not mindful of the literary -movement of the epoch; still less do they attempt to correct their -defects by following the teaching and example of the masters in the art. -And if they do none of these things it is useless for them to write and -publish verses, since the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a>{224}</span> progress of a literature has never yet -consisted in the abundance of authors and of works. Love for study and -for work, close thought, good selection of subjects and care in -expression—these are the things necessary.</p> - -<p>Criticism, further, is completely lacking among us; criticism, so -necessary for correcting and instructing, so useful for preventing our -lapses to bad taste and for forming good taste. Who has thought of it? -Who has ventured to exercise it, here where all desire praises and where -it is customary to lavish them? For my part, I hold, that if our -literature has not progressed so much as it should, if there are -ignorant, insolent writers, inflated with vanity and pride, it has been -due not exactly to the lack of criticism but to the mutual flatteries -which all have exchanged in the papers. Today, as a French writer says, -one utters one compliment, to gain the right of demanding twenty. No one -ventures to frankly express his opinion, since friendship, the hope of -obtaining a favor, considerations of respect and other various -circumstances, deprive the critic of his freedom; and although he ought -to be severe, impartial and just, he becomes a benevolent dispenser of -unmerited eulogies, an encourager of unpardonable defects and veritable -literary heresies.</p> - -<p>Criticism, to give efficacious results, should be severe always, above -all here in Mexico where many believe themselves endowed with the -talent<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a>{225}</span> of Gustave Becquer, of Figaro, of Delgas or of Theophile -Gauthier. It should eulogize with much moderation, and that to the -humble, modest and timid, because these need kindly words for their -encouragement.</p> - -<h3>PEON Y CONTRERAS AND HIS ROMANCES DRAMATICOS.</h3> - -<p>These suggestions and many others which it would be impertinence to -present in this article were suggested to me by the precious little -volume which, with the title <i>Romances dramaticos</i>, our inspired poet -José Peon y Contreras has just published; and in order to render a -tribute to justice and merit, rather than to praise one who is -sufficiently praised by his very work, I am about to say something about -it.</p> - -<p>Fourteen pieces form the collection, and although short they are -choicest gems in which are brilliantly displayed the most exquisite and -delicate beauties. In my opinion the first is a certain originality in -the form, under which the poet encloses a veritable drama, a terrible -and sad catastrophe, a poem in which the great passions of the soul are -stirred and the tender breathing of the purest affections are felt. The -form, I say, but I do not mean precisely the meter—since it is -understood what that must be—but the unfolding of the romance, the -design of the composition, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a>{226}</span> manner employed by the author to present -and develop his thought. In these lovely ballads (for such they appear) -there are no details; the movement of the action, the rapid development -of the plot, the violence and precision with which the figures appear -upon the scene, demand few but energetic pencil strokes and do not -permit digressions nor long and minute descriptions of places and -persons; they are like those pretty miniatures whose merit consists in -the exactness, the clearness, the grace, with which the scene or picture -is reproduced in spite of the small space at the disposition of the -artist. As little are there inopportune references to times preceding -the drama which develops; nothing to distract the reader from the scenes -which the poet places in view: all is <i>actual</i>, if I may so express -myself, and only the final catastrophe is presented in which a passion -or a misfortune culminates, at the conclusion of a series of unhappy -incidents. For the rest, it is easy to divine what elements Peon y -Contreras employs in his dramatic romances; love with all its -tendernesses, jealousies with their terrible ravages, virtue with its -power and its struggles against temptation and vice, the energy of a -manly heart, the storms resulting from defiled honor, from violated -faith, from lost hope ... all that which the soul feels in its hours of -joy or despair. And what pictures he can paint with a single stroke; how -he transports us to those distant times of Castilian<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a>{227}</span> honor, of solitary -and retired castles, of somber and silent cities; what strength of -coloring there is at times in the scenes he paints and at other times -what enchanting ingenuity, what adorable simplicity, what innocence, -what grace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a>{228}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="MANUEL_GUSTAVO_ANTONIO_REVILLA" id="MANUEL_GUSTAVO_ANTONIO_REVILLA"></a>MANUEL GUSTAVO ANTONIO REVILLA<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_228_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_228_sml.jpg" width="213" height="269" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Manuel Gustavo Antonio Revilla was born in the City of Mexico, February -7, 1863. His father, Domingo Revilla, was a distinguished author and -from him the son appears to have inherited his studious inclinations. -Young Revilla studied law, completing his course in 1887, but the -practice of that profession had little attraction for him, and he has -devoted himself to teaching and writing. Having a strong taste for the -fine arts, he developed sound art criticism, and in 1892 was appointed -Professor of the History of Art in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a>{229}</span> the National School of Fine Arts. -During the following year he wrote his <i>Arte en Mexico</i> (Art in Mexico), -of which the Spanish art writer, Menéndez y Pelayo, said:—“I have read -with much pleasure, and I believe with much profit, <i>Arte en Mexico</i>, -learning from it new data regarding architects, sculptors, and painters, -of the times of the Viceroys, who are almost unknown in Spain. As well -from the novelty and interest of its subject, as for the good taste and -sound art criticism with which it is treated, the book deserves every -kind of praise, and will no doubt receive it, from all intelligent -readers.” After ten years of class instruction Professor Revilla was -appointed Secretary of the same school, in February, 1903. At the same -time he was appointed one of a committee of three to prepare a -systematic catalogue of the works of art belonging to the institution.</p> - -<p>Señor Revilla is a public speaker of power and some of his addresses -have attracted notable attention. Among these may be mentioned the -Independence Day oration of September 16, 1889, and that commemorating -the forty-third anniversary of the Death of the Cadets of the Military -School of Chapultepec. He has also been a prolific writer for -periodicals. To <i>El Tiempo</i> (The Time), he has long been an editorial -contributor, especially upon topics of public law, political economy, -and social problems. Traveling in Guatemala, he was connected for a time -with <i>El Bien Publico</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a>{230}</span> (The Public Weal), in which he published an -article upon the Monroe Doctrine, which attracted considerable attention -in Latin America. In his writings of every kind, Revilla shows the -greatest care in the choice of words and use of language. In 1902 he was -named a Correspondent of the Mexican Academy.</p> - -<p>At present Señor Revilla is writing a series of critical biographies of -Mexican artists. This is an absolutely new undertaking in Mexico and the -work demands exceptional information and much research. Volumes have so -far appeared regarding the sculptors Patiño, Ixtolinque, and Guerra, the -architect Hidalga, the painter Rebull, and the musicians Paniagua and -Valle. This series is being published by Agüeros and will be extended. -Revilla has also written a biography of Francisco Gonzales Bocanegro, -author of the Mexican National Hymn.</p> - -<p>Our selections are taken from <i>El Arte en Mexico</i>.</p> - -<h3>THE FINE ARTS IN MEXICO.</h3> - -<p>The three arts do not attain the same grade of development, nor prosper -equally, at all times. At the beginning, that is, during the sixteenth -century, their growth was slow, as was to be expected of all pertaining -to a young community, and they were sustained, thanks to masters from -the art centres of Spain. But, from the very beginning of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a>{231}</span> the -seventeenth century, these are to be seen surrounded by disciples, many -born in the colony, to whom they transmit their knowledge, and, owing to -the increasing demand for works, which they receive, the production -augments and a new artistic manifestation appears, which, although -derived from the Spaniards, may be considered indigenous.</p> - -<p>During the seventeenth century is when painting was practised with -greatest brilliancy and the schools of Mexico and Puebla were formed, -which, although decadent, were maintained in the following century.</p> - -<p>On the contrary, this eighteenth century, is the period of greatest -lustre for architecture; during it, ancient edifices, begun long before, -were carried to completion, many others were rebuilt, and new ones were -erected, and there appears in houses, palaces, and churches, a style in -which symmetry is but laxly observed and ornamentation is profuse or -lavish.</p> - -<p>Sculpture, long confined to imperfect wooden statues and crude -bas-reliefs in stone, acquires an actual existence only near the close -of the past century, with the famous Valencian<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a>, author of one of the -most famous of equestrian statues; with him also architecture assumed -correctness, simplicity and proportions in harmony with the classical -canon.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a>{232}</span></p> - -<p>The fine arts in Mexico, without having arrived, in general, to the -perfection to which the Spaniards carried them, ... cannot, for that -reason, be considered unworthy of esteem and study, since in them are -found undeniable and many excellences. The defects met with in them are -not sufficient to invalidate their merits. The literary works of that -time are also open to criticism, but no one has denied the value of the -literature of the vice-royal period, during which arts and letters -attained equal prosperity. Echave, the elder, yields in nothing to -Balbuena; José Juarez and Arteaga stand forth conspicuously as Sister -Juana Inéz de la Cruz; Perusquía or Tres Guerras are comparable with -Navarette; and, as famous as is Ruíz de Alarcón in his line, is Tolsa in -his.</p> - -<h3>TRES GUERRAS AND TOLSA.</h3> - -<p>Independently, in a modest city, a creole artist, Eduardo Tres Guerras, -followed the same impulse, with result and applause. Student of the -Academy, he had been trained in painting; having attained no great -result in which, he dedicated himself to architecture, which yielded him -merited laurels for constructing—besides various beautiful private -houses—the Church of the Carmen of Celaya and the Bridge of the Laja in -the same city.</p> - -<p>Tolsa and Tres Guerras have many points of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a>{233}</span> likeness; both, professing -another art,—the one statuary, the other painting—dedicated themselves -later to construction; both cultivated the same style, that of the -Renaissance, and succeeded in imparting majesty to their buildings. -Tolsa is more severe, elegant, and grand; Tres Guerras better knows how -to express grace and is more audacious. This one sometimes lacks good -taste, the other—rather frequently becomes heavy. Withal, both are -notable architects; and, if one wins constant applause, the other gains -an enduring fame.</p> - -<p>Although it might be thought that Tres Guerras felt Tolsa’s influence, -nothing is further from the truth, since Tres Guerras had already -constructed the Carmen and the Laja bridge, before Tolsa had reared his -edifices.</p> - -<p>With these two artists, the cycle of vice-royal architecture ended. -Beginning rude and coarse it developed brilliant and overloaded, and -ended simple and correct, ever showing itself strong and robust as the -virile, conquering, race that produced it.</p> - -<h3>WOOD CARVING IN PUEBLA.</h3> - -<p>When these glaring offenses against art were not only condoned, but -authorized by religion, it will be appreciated how great credit is due -to a group of modest and industrious artists, who, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a>{234}</span> City of -Puebla, about the second half of the past, and the beginning of the -present, century, without good masters nor great models for imitation, -cultivated the sculpture of images, forming their own canons. The Coras, -with all their defects, play the rôle of restorers to respect of an art, -which could not fall to a more lamentable extremity. There were three -principal—though other artists of lesser value figure in turn—José -Villegas de Cora, the master of all; Zacarias Cora, and José Villegas, -who also took the surname Cora, as an honorific title.</p> - -<p>José Villegas de Cora, called in his time the <i>Maestro Grande</i>, from -having been the founder of the school, was the first to insist upon the -observation of the natural, from which indeed he himself took but a -general idea, leaving the arrangement of the details of the projected -work to fancy; from this proceeds the arbitrary character, to be -observed in the minutiæ of almost all of his images. At the same time he -sought naturalness in the arrangement of draperies; that for which he -was most esteemed, was the grace and beauty of the faces, particularly -those of his Virgins; which, like most of his other works, were made to -be clothed.</p> - -<p>Zacarias Cora made show of some knowledge of anatomy, accentuating the -muscles and veins, which did not prevent his figures from frequently -lacking proper proportions and appearing to have been supplied with them -from sentiment rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a>{235}</span> than accuracy. In expression, he competed with -his master. His best work was the <i>San Cristóbal</i> with the infant Jesus, -which is in the temple of that name in Puebla.</p> - -<p>Unlike the preceding, most of the works of José Villegas were of full -size; in them he handled the draperies well, though at times falling -into mannerisms, as did Zacarias also, in exaggerating movements and -delicacy in them. His faces are less pleasing. His <i>Santa Teresa</i>, -larger than life, belonging to the church of that name in Puebla, offers -a good example of draperies, and presents the feature,—common to all -the works of the sculptors of this school, of a pursing of the lips, -with the purpose of making the mouth appear smaller.</p> - -<p>Each of the three artists named had some quality in which he was -distinguished from the others; one in the attractiveness of the faces, -another in the greater attention to the natural, the other in the -regular proportions and in having preferred to make figures of life -size. After them the school decayed and died.</p> - -<h3>THE WORKS OF TOLSA.</h3> - -<p>Tolsa did not make many statues, since another art robbed him of a great -part of the time which he might have given to sculpture. The few, which -remain, suffice to show his knowledge, his talent, his brilliancy and -his power.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a>{236}</span></p> - -<p>Besides the superb equestrian statue of Charles IV, legitimate pride of -the City of Mexico, he made the principal statues of the <i>tabernaculo</i> -of the Cathedral of Puebla, those of the clock of the Cathedral of -Mexico and some pieces in wood. Only two of his sculptures were run in -bronze, the <i>Charles IV</i>, and the <i>Conception</i>, of the <i>tabernaculo</i>, -the others which adorn this, and which represent the four great doctors -of the Latin Church, being of white stucco, imitating marble, and those -of the façade of the Cathedral of Mexico, which represent the three -virtues, being of stone. The size selected for all of these is the -colossal, which so well lends itself to the grand. And this is Tolsa, -beyond all, grand in proportions, in type conceptions, in postures, in -gestures, in dress.</p> - -<p>The horse of the statue of the Spanish monarch, treated after the -classic, is of beautiful outline, natural movement, graceful and -animated in the extreme; as for the figure of the king, although a -little heavy, it is majestic, in movement well harmonized with that of -the noble brute, and forms with it a beautiful combination of lines. -There has been abundant reason for counting it one of the best -equestrian statues.</p> - -<p>The remaining sculptures of Tolsa, that is, the <i>Doctors</i>, the -<i>Conception</i>, and the <i>Virtues</i>, are distinguished by the movement, -which gives them an appearance full of grace and life. All reveal -sufficient personality combined with conscientious study<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a>{237}</span> of the -antique. If one sought to find defects he might say that at times he is -heavy, over-emphasizes and gives a berninesque execution to his -draperies.</p> - -<p>In wood, he has left two heads of the <i>Dolorosa</i> and a <i>Conception</i>, -artistically colored.</p> - -<h3>BALTASAR DE ECHAVE.</h3> - -<p>We have the scantiest personal notices of Baltasar de Echave, commonly -called Echave the elder, to distinguish him from the painter of the same -name, his son, who is designated as Echave the younger; but although -these data are scanty, they are abundant in comparison with those which -are preserved of other painters (of the time), of whom we know only the -names. He was a Basque, born in Zumaya, in the Province of Guipúzcoa, -and besides being a painter was a philologist, having published a work -upon the antiquity of the language of Cantabria. He has several sons, of -whom two were painters. Torquemada states that, at the time when he was -writing his <i>Monarquia Indiana</i> (1609), Echave finished his great -retable of the Church of Santiago Tlaltelolco; further, it is known by -the examination of his works, that already in 1601, he was painting, as -the colossal canvas of <i>San Cristóbal</i>, which bears that date, shows, -and that still in 1640, the activity of his brush had not ceased, since -in that year he executed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a>{238}</span> the <i>Martyrdom of Santa Catarina</i> for the -Dominicans of Mexico....</p> - -<p>His fecundity did not prevent his pictures from having that completeness -and detailed study which makes them so agreeable; yet, at times he falls -into carelessness of drawing, which cannot at all be attributed to lack -of skill, but to the fact that his pictures were generally destined to -occupy high places in churches, rendering unnecessary a minute attention -to finishing, unappreciable at a great distance and in the feeble light -of the interior of churches....</p> - -<p>Being of versatile genius Echave displayed varied characteristics; -sometimes we see him most painstaking in outlines; sometimes easy and -firm in handling the brush; now varied in types and attitudes and again -attentive to the arrangement of draperies; now skillful in the nude, of -which but few examples are found in the Mexican school; now notable as a -colorist, worthy of comparison with the Venetians. When it suits him, he -can give beauty of expression, but he does not so persistently seek it, -that it becomes a mannerism.</p> - -<p>He neglected, yes, systematically, the figures of secondary importance, -his draperies are often hard and confused, and his halos and glories -lack luminous intensity. Without being weak, he lacks strength in his -modelling and he does not delight in strong contrasts of light and -shade—both qualities in which the Spaniards surpass. His pictures,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a>{239}</span> in -general, do not profoundly move, although they produce an agreeable -impression largely because he does not highly develop expression, -although undertaking highly emotional incidents, such as the martyrdom -of certain saints, at the moment of their suffering. Thus it is not the -expression which most interests in his <i>San Ponciano</i>, <i>San Aproniano</i>, -and <i>San Lorenzo</i>, but the nude figures of the martyrs, the character in -the participants in the scene, and the fine coloring.</p> - -<p>As an example of feminine beauty and of undeniable and palpable -Raphaelean influence, may be cited the figures of the Saints and the -Virgin, respectively, in the paintings of <i>Santa Cecilia</i>, <i>Santa -Isabel</i>, <i>Queen of Portugal</i>, the <i>Porciuncula</i>, and the <i>Adoration of -the Magi</i>.</p> - -<p>In the latter, one figure is seen, that of the king who adores the -infant Jesus, which is admirably conceived and executed; type, -expression, attitude and drapery, are worthy of a great master. The -coloring and rich draperies of the <i>Santa Isabel</i> and of <i>Santa Cecilia</i> -are also notable. But the best pages of Echave, and at the same time the -most mystical creations, are his <i>Christ praying in the Garden</i>, and -<i>Saint Francis receiving the Stigmata</i>; both compositions as simple as -they are beautiful; the figure of Jesus, in the first, is so peaceful -and resigned, that it has been justly compared to the celestial visions -of Overbeck; that of Saint Francis is equally imposing and majestic for -its great asceticism<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a>{240}</span>, for the sincerity and truth with which the -ecstasy in which the Christ of the Middle Ages is overwhelmed, is -represented.</p> - -<p>To him belong also the <i>Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple</i>, the -<i>Visitation</i>, and a masterly <i>Conception</i>, which is in the State College -of Puebla, of vigorous execution and strong light and shade. Echave gave -life size to most of the figures on his canvases, as did—indeed—most -of the other painters of the school.</p> - -<h3>MIGUEL CABRERA.</h3> - -<p>Miguel Cabrera exaggerated the defects of Ibarra and fell into others, -because he is more incorrect in form, more neglects the study of the -natural, lacks strength in execution, and reduces coloring to the use of -five or six tints, monotonously repeated; he is weak in perspective, and -in composition never maintains himself at any great height; yet, with -all this, his vogue was great during his lifetime and his prestige has -not ceased today. The religious communities outbid each other for his -works, connoisseurs sought his canvases, the University entrusted -important commissions to his hand, Archbishop Rubio y Salinas appointed -him his court painter, and when, in 1753, a group of painters were -organizing the first Academy of Painting, they elected him perpetual -president. How can we explain the high opinion in which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a>{241}</span> was held? -The reason may be found in the bad taste then prevalent, bad taste which -in other times has even elevated a Gongora, or has caused that a Lucas -Jordán shall be compared with, and preferred to, a Claude Coello. But -there is a further reason for the popularity, which Cabrera enjoyed; -that he painted prettily, taking great pains with the faces, even when -he neglected the rest, and employing brilliant coloring, pleasing to the -crowd.</p> - -<p>To his fame, have contributed his activity and extraordinary -productiveness, shown by the quantity he produced, but particularly by -his having painted the thirty-four great canvases of the life of San -Ignacio, and the same number of that of Santo Domingo, in the short -period of fourteen months. The fact is not, really, so surprising if one -considers on the one hand his unfinished style, and on the other that it -is in those very pictures, that his style reached its fullest -expression; these being, for that reason, the worst we have seen of that -artist. It must be added, too, that other artists worked in his studio, -who naturally assisted him in his heavier commissions. Furthermore, it -is not the quantity of the works of an artist, nor the rapidity with -which he turns them out, that gives the measure of his value, but their -quality, no matter how small their number. Otherwise, Luca, of course, -would have long since been proclaimed the greatest painter of the world, -and criticism would have relegated to oblivion such<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a>{242}</span> works as the <i>Santa -Forma</i> of Claude Coello, for having been made, although marvelously -perfect, with patient slowness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a>{243}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JOSE_PEON_Y_CONTRERAS" id="JOSE_PEON_Y_CONTRERAS"></a>JOSÉ PEON Y CONTRERAS.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_242_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_242_sml.jpg" width="232" height="293" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>José Peon y Contreras was born at Merida, Yucatan, January 12, 1843, -being son of Juan Bautista Peon and María del Pilar Contreras. Studying -medicine in his native city, he received the degree of M.D., at the age -of nineteen years. In 1863, he went to the City of Mexico and saying -nothing of his earlier course, again went through the medical -curriculum. By competition, he obtained an appointment in the <i>Hospital -de Jesus</i>; in 1867, he was Director of the <i>San Hipólito<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a>{244}</span></i> Hospital for -the Insane; for several years he was in charge of public vaccination for -the city.</p> - -<p>Giving his leisure to letters, José Peon y Contreras soon gained high -rank as a lyric poet and a dramatist. He had already entered the field -of letters before leaving Merida. His first effort was <i>La Cruz del -Paredon</i>, a fantastic legend, printed when its author was eighteen years -of age. A volume of <i>Poesias</i> (Poems) appeared in 1868. In Mexico, in -1871 he printed, in the paper, <i>El Domingo</i> (Sunday) a collection of -<i>Romances historicos Mexicanos</i> (Mexican Historical Romances), in which -he dealt with Aztec themes and actors. These have merit, but are little -known. The field of José Peon y Contreras’s greatest triumphs is the, in -Mexico, much neglected drama. In 1876 he published his <i>Hasta el cielo</i> -(Unto Heaven), a drama in prose, which was a great success. It was -rapidly followed by others, mostly in verse. On May 7, 1876, <i>La hija -del Rey</i> (The Daughter of the King) being presented, the writers of -Mexico presented the author of the piece a gold pen and a Diploma of -Honor signed by all. Agüeros says of José Peon y Contreras that he is to -be compared with José Echegary. He is of “marvellous dramatic talent; -profound knowledge of the human heart; his descriptions are paintings; -his dialogue is natural, sound, and moral. His faults are claimed to be -similarity of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a>{245}</span> argument and absence of certain dramatic resources, -showing lack of originality.”</p> - -<p>In 1880, he published <i>Romances dramaticos</i> (Dramatic Romances), in -which he presents fourteen brief, rapid sketches, each of them capable -of expansion into a drama. In 1881 he published <i>Trovas Columbinas</i> -(Columbian Metres), lyrical poems dealing with Columbus and his -discovery. In 1883, a volume of poems, <i>Ecos</i> (Echoes) was published in -New York. Two novels by our author <i>Taide</i> and <i>Veleidosa</i>, have been -well received, the latter being, perhaps, the favorite.</p> - -<p>José Peon y Contreras at one time represented Yucatan in the lower house -of Congress; later, in 1875, he was Senator for the same State. He has -recently been a Deputy for the State of Nuevo Léon.</p> - -<h3>HASTA EL CIELO!</h3> - -<p>The scene is laid in the City of Mexico; the time is the seventeenth -century. The play is in three acts and is written in prose. The -selections are from Act III. The action takes place at Sancho’s house. -Sancho is the private secretary of the Viceroy; he is passing under an -assumed name and is seeking vengeance against the Viceroy, who does not -know his identity, for his father’s death and his mother’s dishonor. -Blanca, supposed to be the Viceroy’s ward, is in reality his daughter; -this Sancho knows and gains her love, with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a>{246}</span> intention of making her -dishonor the Viceroy’s disgrace. To escape a hated suitor, Blanca, -trusting to Sancho’s pretended love, has left her father’s house and -taken refuge with Sancho. The Viceroy, distracted seeks her. Ultimately, -the true love, which Sancho would give her, proves impossible.</p> - -<h4>SCENE IV.</h4> - -<p>Blanca: Sancho!</p> - -<p>Sancho: Ah, Blanca—what is the matter?</p> - -<p>B.: Nothing; nothing; how happy I am to find you here.</p> - -<p>S.: Did you not sleep?</p> - -<p>B.: No. I could not. Slumber fled from my eyes.</p> - -<p>S.: Why? Are you not here secure? What do you fear? Have I not told -you——?</p> - -<p>B.: In vain I seek repose. My agitated spirit wakes; my afflicted soul -recalls the past and trembles for the future. There are moments, when I -feel that I shall go mad!</p> - -<p>S.: You tremble, are cold—Blanca, calm yourself.</p> - -<p>B.: The memory of this misfortune haunts me.</p> - -<p>S.: You still insist——!</p> - -<p>B.: You attempt to conceal it from me, in vain.... Last night I -overheard, when Fortun announced to you the death of this—of this -marquis.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_247" id="page_247"></a>{247}</span></p> - -<p>S.: Well! What of that?—Man’s days are numbered. His hour of punishment -arrives.</p> - -<p>B.: Moreover, I can not conceal it from you, Sancho; the passing moments -seem to me eternities.—We cannot continue living thus.—It is necessary -that God should sanctify this union.</p> - -<p>S.: Soon—very soon.</p> - -<p>B.: This is not my house. Much as I love you, much as I have sacrificed -my dignity upon the altar of this love, I cannot be tranquil. I feel -something here, in my breast, of which I had no idea before,—and—you -see, I cannot venture to raise my eyes in your presence.—The blush, -which inflames my cheek, is the shame of guilt——</p> - -<p>S.: You, guilty——?</p> - -<p>B.: Just the same!—What am I, here?—When I am alone no one beholds me, -but I would even hide me from myself.—If, in snatching me from my home, -you have taken advantage of my love, do not sport with my weakness.</p> - -<p>S.: Blanca, God reads our hearts——</p> - -<p>B.: Yes, and because God reads them, I implore you, once for all, to end -this situation. What is past is as the image of a fearful dream.—To -have dreamed it alone had seemed to me impossible. Cruel! this is very -cruel!—Your very presence is enough to humiliate me—and I could not -live without your presence!—I would desire that looking at you my heart -should beat with joy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_248" id="page_248"></a>{248}</span> I wish to feel that which I have always felt at -seeing you! that which I felt before!—Why turn your face away? Why does -your stern and sombre glance uneasily conceal itself beneath your lids, -and why do you not look at me as heretofore?</p> - -<p>S.: Blanca, you suspect——</p> - -<p>B.: No, I do not suspect; I believe. I confess it frankly.... Love is -born and grows slowly, but it may die in a single instant!—Mine is the -guilt.</p> - -<p>S.: Cease.—Do you not see that you are lacerating my soul?</p> - -<p>B.: Listen! At night you slept—I watched! I shuddered, for presently I -heard your voice, as if distant, broken and tremulous—you were speaking -as if an enormous rock weighed down upon your breast——</p> - -<p>S.: You are right—it was so——!</p> - -<p>B.: You uttered crushing words,—words of vengeance—of dishonor—of -love!</p> - -<p>S.: Also of love!</p> - -<p>B.: Among those words, which issued as if drawn from the innermost -places of your heart, and which escaped from your lips like an echo—I -heard my name.—What was this, Sancho?—Tell me.</p> - -<p>S.: A dream!—an awful nightmare! I know not whether I dreamed. I know -not whether I was awake. I saw you, Blanca, humiliated,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_249" id="page_249"></a>{249}</span> degraded, -vile,—— ... and in this fearful struggle between my love and my -vengeance——</p> - -<p>B.: Your vengeance!</p> - -<p>S.: You do not know what that is! Grief wrung my soul; I felt madness in -my brain; despair sprung up in my heart as the tempest in the black -centre of the storm-cloud and a torrent of blasphemies and prayers broke -from my lips.</p> - -<p>B.: Sancho! But you are still delirious!</p> - -<p>S.: No, Blanca; no, my poor Blanca—Now, I am not delirious; no! but I -believe indeed, I shall go mad. There still continues, in my soul, a -frightful combat—here I feel the battle, fierce, desperate,—mortal. -Go—recover yourself.—Leave me alone!</p> - -<p>B.: Sancho!</p> - -<p>S.: I love you.—Go——!</p> - -<p class="c">(Blanca leaves, weeping.)</p> - -<h4>SCENE V.</h4> - -<p>Sancho, who has watched Blanca disappear, when she has gone, says: -Unhappy being! Why does a cursed blood course through your veins? -Aye!—What blame have I, for having loved you ere I knew the stock from -which you came—the blood that gives color and freshness to your cheeks, -smile to your lips, light to your eyes? Why do I love you, when I ought -to hate you? Why ought I to hate you, when I love you with all my -heart?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_250" id="page_250"></a>{250}</span>—What is this?—Aye! Aye! I cannot. I cannot more.</p> - -<p>(The curtain falls darkly on the scene. A short pause.)</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<h4>SCENE VII.</h4> - -<p>Viceroy: Sancho——</p> - -<p>Sancho: Enter sir! So great an honor!—</p> - -<p>V.: I have already told you, Sancho, that I love you as a son. It is not -the Viceroy of Mexico, who comes now to your house. I enter it as a -friend. Receive me as such.</p> - -<p>S.: And—to what, then, do I owe this pleasure? Seat yourself, sir, seat -yourself.</p> - -<p>(The Viceroy seats himself.)</p> - -<p>V.: I come to you, Sancho, because I am most unhappy.</p> - -<p>S.: (With pleasure.) You, most unhappy!</p> - -<p>V.: Yes. If you knew——</p> - -<p>S.: And what has happened to you? Let me know—but allow me to close -this door because a draught enters. (He bolts the door that communicates -with the interior and through which Blanca had passed.) Ah, well! sir! -what makes you unhappy? It seems incredible; a man, powerful, rich, -immensely rich, cradled from infancy in the arms of fortune—Perhaps, -your wife!——</p> - -<p>V.: My wife?—No! My wife has never<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_251" id="page_251"></a>{251}</span> been able to make me unhappy, just -as she has never made me happy. We have never loved. I married her for -family reasons and, in fine——</p> - -<p>S.: I do not understand, then——</p> - -<p>V.: Hear me, Sancho! For many years my only good, my only joy, my sole -delight in this world, has been a lovely girl——</p> - -<p>S.: Yes, yes,—a lovely girl who has grown up, receiving her education, -in the Convent of Seville.</p> - -<p>V.: You know it! (Profoundly surprised.)</p> - -<p>S.: And whom you brought with you to Mexico, two years ago.</p> - -<p>V.: Yes.</p> - -<p>S.: You lodged her with the Sisters of the Conception where you caused -her to be loved and respected as if she were your daughter.</p> - -<p>V.: That is true!</p> - -<p>S.: You visited her daily, secretly, at evening——</p> - -<p>V.: Yes, because——</p> - -<p>S.: You have already said it. Because you loved her with all your -soul——</p> - -<p>V.: With all my soul! but——</p> - -<p>S.: But they have robbed you of her. (Very brief pause.)</p> - -<p>V.: (Approaching Sancho, with great emotion.) And you, you Sancho, know -this also!</p> - -<p>S.: As I tell you——</p> - -<p>V.: And, who, who has been—? Who—?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_252" id="page_252"></a>{252}</span> Do not tell me his name, that -matters nothing! Tell me where he is,—tell me that—because I desire -his life’s blood.</p> - -<p>S.: Calm, Señor Viceroy, more calm!</p> - -<p>V.: Calm! and she is not at my side—Calm! and the hours pass.—Calm! -and the grief increases and the suffering grows stronger, and despair -kills!</p> - -<p>S.: You suffer greatly!</p> - -<p>V.: Tell me who it is, Sancho! You know it. I see it in your eyes.—Tell -me.—You know that here I am the equal of the King! The King, himself, -is not more powerful than I! Ask, from me, riches, honor, -position,—all, all, for your single word! Speak! You know! Is it not -so?</p> - -<p>S.: Yes. It is true.</p> - -<p>V.: Oh, joy! And you will tell me!</p> - -<p>S.: No.</p> - -<p>V.: (Furious.) No?—You will not tell me, <i>you</i>? (He directs himself -toward the door, raising his voice)—Halloa, here!</p> - -<p>S.: (Gently detaining him.) Ah! I will close this door because a draught -enters. (Locks the door with a key. The Viceroy looks at him with -frightened surprise.)</p> - -<p>V.: Sancho!—Are you making sport of me? Are you trifling with my -agony?—But, no, no, you would not be capable of that, impossible.—You -are not an ingrate.</p> - -<p>S.: Seat yourself, Señor Viceroy, and hear me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_253" id="page_253"></a>{253}</span></p> - -<p>V.: Seat myself?—Good, I obey you—Now, you see—I seat myself.—But -you must tell it me.</p> - -<p>S.: Listen. Only last night, Señor Viceroy, I told you that Juan de -Paredes,—the person who has been recommended to you——</p> - -<p>V.: My God! but—and, what has this to do?</p> - -<p>S.: If you are not calm——!</p> - -<p>V.: Sancho!</p> - -<p>S.: If you are not calm, I will say nothing and then you would know -nothing, even if you put me to the torture.</p> - -<p>V.: Well! well!—I am silent—I listen—What anxiety!</p> - -<p>S.: Juan de Paredes, unhappy orphan, entrusted to a friend—very -intimate—in fact a second self—the mission of avenging his wrongs upon -the person who dishonored his mother, Doña Mencia, and assassinated his -father—and this firm friend finally discovered the scoundrel—ah, he -was a man of great power!</p> - -<p>V.: And you know his name?</p> - -<p>S.: If you interrupt——</p> - -<p>V.: I am silent.</p> - -<p>S.: The good friend of Juan de Paredes succeeded in approaching—then in -speaking with—and, later, in introducing himself into the house -of—and, soon in ingratiating himself in the heart of the criminal.—He -spied upon him as the wolf-hunter<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_254" id="page_254"></a>{254}</span> spies upon his prey,—scrutinized his -movements—informed himself of his most insignificant actions. He -studied his character, his most hidden motives; he followed him -everywhere and at all times and at last discovered the place—the place -in which the lair of the beast was hidden! He had but a single love on -earth!—And there he fixed his eyes, because fixing his eyes there he -thrust a dagger into the assassin’s heart.—Not into his heart, -no,—into his very soul!—Because, that love was his daughter—a lovely -maiden!——</p> - -<p>V.: Continue——!</p> - -<p>S.: She gave him evidences of her love.</p> - -<p>V.: Continue——!</p> - -<p>S.: She loved him with all the blindness and strength of a first love.</p> - -<p>V.: And he——?</p> - -<p>S.: He did not love her!</p> - -<p>Blanca: (From within, with a feeble cry.) Aye!</p> - -<p>V.: That cry——</p> - -<p>S.: A cry?—Did you hear a cry?</p> - -<p>V.: I thought—perhaps, no—I deceived myself,—continue.</p> - -<p>S.: And one night—at night!</p> - -<p>V.: I know it, now!—Be still! his name!</p> - -<p>S.: He stole her—to dishonor her——</p> - -<p>V.: Silence.</p> - -<p>S.: To defile her——</p> - -<p>V.: To defile her!—and, she?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_255" id="page_255"></a>{255}</span></p> - -<p>Blanca: (Within.) Open. (Violently shakes the door.)</p> - -<p>S.: Hear her.</p> - -<p>V.: There—she, there! Wretch—! What have you done? You shall die. -(Placing his hand on his swordhilt.)</p> - -<p>S.: Yes, yes! Come on, infamous assassin; because, I abhor you as I do -her.</p> - -<h4>SCENE VIII.</h4> - -<p>The same; also Blanca, who has broken open the door.</p> - -<p>B.: (Addressing Sancho.) You lie! You do not abhor me!</p> - -<p>V.: Blanca!</p> - -<p>S.: (Pointing at Blanca.) Look at her—! look at her—! She was -<i>there</i>—! (Indicating his inner apartments, where she was.) And when, -soon, you die at my hand, Viceroy of Mexico, you will <i>have suffered two -deaths</i>!</p> - -<p>V.: (To Blanca.) And is it true——?</p> - -<p>B.: Sancho! Save me from this dishonor!</p> - -<p>S.: (Paying no attention to her; to the Viceroy.) When finally a father -meets——</p> - -<p>V.: (Trying to stop Sancho’s mouth.) Silence, cursed wretch, -silence——!</p> - -<p>S.: Blanca; this is not your guardian, he is—your father!</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_256" id="page_256"></a>{256}</span>V.: Ah——!</p> - -<p>B.: My father! (The viceroy and Blanca stand as if stupefied.)</p> - -<p>S.: (Contemplating them.) And how much a father’s heart must suffer in -presenting himself with this sacred title for the first time, to a -daughter’s heart. She cannot let him kiss her brow—no, she cannot.</p> - -<p>B.: (Supplicatingly.) Sancho!</p> - -<p>S.: He cannot feel his eyes wet with tears of joy—but only with tears -of vengeance! How much she must suffer and how much he!</p> - -<p>V.: Infamy.</p> - -<p>S.: Infamy, no! because her suffering is multiplied a hundred-fold in -yours.</p> - -<p>V.: (Drawing his sword.) Blanca, you die!</p> - -<p>B.: (Shrinking, horrified.) Ah!</p> - -<p>S.: (Throwing himself upon the viceroy.) Do not touch her; look at -her—she is innocent! Love has robbed me of my prey. I love her so much -that my love conquered my vengeance. (Joy appears on the face of the -viceroy.) But do not rejoice, Viceroy. You who rob women of their honor, -and assassinate old men, do not rejoice. Only God and you and I know -that she is pure. I have not dared to outrage her by a single glance; -but, tomorrow——</p> - -<p>V.: Ah!</p> - -<p>S.: Tomorrow the whole court shall know that she’s your daughter.</p> - -<p>V.: No!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_257" id="page_257"></a>{257}</span></p> - -<p>S.: And that she passed the night here. (Pointing to the inner rooms.)</p> - -<p>V.: Thou shalt die.</p> - -<p>S.: My squire knows it——</p> - -<p>V.: (Drawing his sword.) Enough!—blood!—what thirst so frightful——!</p> - -<p>S.: (Unsheathing.) ’Tis less than mine!</p> - -<p>B.: Señors, hold! Sancho, is this possible?</p> - -<p>S.: Her voice again—again the cry of her love here in my heart! -Withdraw your glance from me Blanca, since at its influence my heart -fails and the coward steel trembles in my hand.</p> - -<p>B.: Sancho! enough!</p> - -<p>S.: Hear it——! Hear it, my father! She asks it——! Have pity on me, -since, now that the hour has come for avenging thee, the pardon -struggles to issue from my lips! My father, pardon!</p> - -<p>V.: Your father, you have said! Who was your father? What is your name?</p> - -<p>S.: My name is Juan de Paredes.</p> - -<p>V.: You—you are the son of Don Diego and Doña Mencia?</p> - -<p>S.: Why do you remind me of it? Why do you summon before me their bloody -spirits? Yes, I am—I am he, whom you have robbed of all.</p> - -<p>V.: You, who dishonored <i>her</i>!</p> - -<p>S.: Yes.</p> - -<p>V.: It seems as if Satan possesses you and hell inspires your words!<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_258" id="page_258"></a>{258}</span></p> - -<p>B.: What does he say?</p> - -<p>S.: What do you say?</p> - -<p>V.: Unhappy being, know that those secret <i>amours</i> with Doña Mencia bore -fruit and that fruit is——</p> - -<p>S.: She! oh cursed love! She is my sister——! Oh, almighty God!</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_259" id="page_259"></a>{259}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JOSE_MARIA_ROA_BARCENA" id="JOSE_MARIA_ROA_BARCENA"></a>JOSÉ MARÍA ROA BÁRCENA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_259_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_259_sml.jpg" width="223" height="282" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>José María Roa Bárcena was born at Jalapa, State of Vera Cruz, on -September 3, 1827. His father, José María Rodriguez Roa, was long and -helpfully engaged in local politics. The son entered upon a business -life, and literary work was, for him, at first, but a relaxation. His -youthful writings, both in prose and poetry, attracted much attention. -In 1853 he removed to the City of Mexico, at that time a center of great -political and literary activity, where he devoted himself to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_260" id="page_260"></a>{260}</span> -politico-literary career. As a contributor or editor he was associated -with important periodicals,—<i>El Universal</i>, <i>La Cruz</i>, <i>El Eco -Nacional</i> and <i>La Sociedad</i>. He favored the French Intervention and the -Imperial establishment. Soon disapproving of Maximilian’s policy, he -came out strongly against that ruler and refused appointments at his -hands. When the Empire fell, he returned to business life, but was -arrested and detained for several months in prison.</p> - -<p>Señor Roa Bárcena has ever been associated with the conservative party, -but has always commanded the respect of political foes by his firm -convictions and regard for the calls of duty. He is eminently patriotic -and in his writings deals with Mexican life and customs, national -history, and the lives and works of distinguished Mexicans. His writings -are varied. His poetry has been largely the product of his early years -and of his old age; his prose has been written in his middle life.</p> - -<p>Of his early poems <i>Ithamar</i> and <i>Diana</i> were general favorites. In 1875 -his <i>Nuevas Poesias</i> (New Poems) appeared, in 1888 and 1895, two volumes -of “last lyric poems”—<i>Ultimas Poesias liricas</i>. In 1860 he published -an elementary work upon Universal Geography; in 1863 an <i>Ensayo de una -Historia anecdotica de Mexico</i> (Attempt at an Anecdotal History of -Mexico). This <i>Ensayo</i> was in prose and was divided into three parts, -covering ancient Mexican history to the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_261" id="page_261"></a>{261}</span> of the Conquest. In 1862, -in <i>Leyendas Mexicanos</i> (Mexican Legends) he presented much the same -matter in verse. These three charmingly written books, while -conscientious literary productions, were intended for youth. Of stronger -and more vigorous prose are his political novel, <i>La Quinta modelo</i> (The -Model Farm) and his famous biographies of <i>Manuel Eduardo Gorostiza</i> and -<i>José Joaquin Pesado</i>. Of the latter, often considered his masterpiece, -one writer asserts, it shows “rich style, vast erudition, admirable -method, severe impartiality in judgment, profound knowledge of the epoch -and of the man.” Famous is the <i>Recuerdos de la invasion Norte-Americana -1846-1847</i> (Recollections of the American Invasion: 1846-1847), which -appeared first in the columns of the periodical <i>El Siglo</i> XIX, and was -reprinted in book form only in 1883. But it is in his short stories that -Roa Bárcena appears most characteristically. His <i>Novelas, originales y -traducidas</i> (Novels, original and translated) appeared in 1870. They are -notable for delicacy of expression, minute detail in description and -action, some mysticism, and a keen but subtle humor. In his translations -from Dickens, Hoffman, Byron, Schiller, our author is wonderfully exact -and faithful both to sense and form.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_262" id="page_262"></a>{262}</span></p> - -<h3>COMBATS IN THE AIR.</h3> - -<p>Some of Roa Bárcena’s characteristics are well illustrated in the little -sketch, <i>Combates en el aire</i> (Combats in the air). An old man recalls -the fancies and experiences of his boyhood. To him, as a child, kites -had character and he associated individual kites with persons whom he -knew; they had emotions and passions; they spoke and filled him with joy -or terror. One great kite, a bully in disposition, was, for him, a surly -neighbor, whom all feared. This dreadful kite had ruined many of the -cherished kite possessions of his young companions. Once his teacher, -the boy himself, and some friends, fabricated a beautiful kite. In its -first flight it is attacked by the bully and the battle is described.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>The preliminaries of the sport began with the manufacture of the kite. -The kinds most used were <i>pandorgas</i>, parallelograms of paper or cloth, -according to size and importance, with the skeleton composed of strong -and flexible cane, called <i>otate</i>, with hummers of gut or parchment or -rag, at the slightly curved top or bottom—or they bore the name of -<i>cubos</i> (squares), made with three small crossed sticks covered with -paper and with a broad fringe of paper or cloth at the sides. Both kinds -usually displayed the national colors or bore<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_263" id="page_263"></a>{263}</span> figures of Moors and -Christians, birds and quadrupeds. The tails were enormously long and -were forms of tufts of cloth, varying in size, tied crosswise of the -cord, which ended in a bunch of rags; in the middle of the cord were the -‘cutters,’ terribly effective in battles between kites; they were two -cockspur-knives of steel, finely sharpened, projecting from the sides of -a central support of wood, with which the bearer cut the string of his -opponent, which, thus abandoned to its fate on the wings of the wind, -went whirling and tumbling through the air, to fall at last to the -ground, at a considerable distance. Night did not end the sport; they -had messengers or paper lanterns, hanging from a great wheel of -cardboard, through the central opening in which the kite-string passed, -and which, impelled by the wind, went as far as the check-string and -whirled there, aloft, with its candles yet lighted.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>A neighbor of gruff voice, harsh aspect, and the reputation of a surly -fellow, was, for me, represented by a great <i>pandorga</i>, with powerfully -bellowing hummer, which on every windy day sunk—if we may use the -term—some eight or ten unfortunate <i>cubos</i>, thus being the terror of -all the small boys of our neighborhood. It was made of white cloth, -turned almost black by the action of sun and rain; its long tail twisted -and writhed like a great serpent, and even doubled upon itself<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_264" id="page_264"></a>{264}</span> midway, -at times, on account of the weight of its large and gleaming cutters. -Its hoarse and continuous humming could be heard from one end of the -town to the other and sounded to me like the language of a bully.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Just then was heard a bellowing, as of a bull, and, black and -threatening, the well known <i>pandorga</i> bully appeared in the air, more -arrogant than ever, glowering with malicious eyes upon its unexpected -rival and preparing to disembowel it, at the least. For a moment the -members of our little company shuddered, because, in the anxiety and -haste to raise the <i>cubo</i>, we had forgotten to attach the cutters. To -lower it then, in order to arm it, would have looked like lowering a -flag, which was not to Martínez’s taste. Trusting, then, to his own -dexterity, he prepared for the defence, intending to entangle the cord -of our <i>cubo</i> in the upper part of the tail of the enemy, which would -cause the kite and its tail to form an acute angle riding upon our -attaching cord, and would hurl it headlong to the earth.... The bully -rose to the north, in order to fall almost perpendicularly, on being -given more string, upon the cord of the <i>cubo</i>, and then, on ascending -again with all possible force, to cut it. Once, twice, three times it -made the attempt, but was foiled by our giving the <i>cubo</i> extra cord, -also, at the decisive moment. Raging and bellowing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_265" id="page_265"></a>{265}</span>, the enemy drew much -nearer, and taking advantage of a favorable gust, risked everything in a -desperate effort to cut us. As its sharp set tail, keen as a Damascus -blade, grazed our cord, the watchful Martínez gave this a sudden, sharp -jerk against the tail itself, causing both it and the kite to double and -plunge. In its headlong dash, it cut loose the <i>cubo</i>, which, alone, and -whirling like a serpent through the air, went to fall a quarter of a -league away. But the aggressor too fell, and fell most ignominiously. -Thrown and whirled by the treacherous cord of its victim, it could not -regain its normal attitude, and like the stick of an exhausted rocket, -fell almost vertically to the earth, landing in the center of our court, -where it was declared a just prisoner.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h3>NEAR THE ABYSS.</h3> - -<p>In <i>Noche al raso</i>, the coach from Orizaba to Puebla breaks down a -little before reaching its destination. The passengers beguile the night -hours with stories. The story told by “the Captain” is entitled <i>Á dos -dedos del Abismo</i> (At two fingers from the abyss). An exquisite, Marquis -del Veneno, is the hero. Of good birth and well connected, with no -special wealth or prospects, frequenting good society, he has never -yielded to feminine charms. A young lady, Loreto, daughter of an aged -professor of chemistry, is beautiful<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_266" id="page_266"></a>{266}</span> and socially attractive, but a -blue-stocking, fond of mouthing Latin, of poetry and of science. The -Marquis has no idea of paying attentions to Loreto, in fact he despises -her pedantry. But gossip connects their names and a series of curious -incidents give color to the report that they are betrothed. The aged -chemist clinches the matter, despite desperate efforts on the part of -the Marquis to explain, and the engagement is announced. In his dilemma -the Marquis seeks advice and aid from his <i>padrino</i>, General Guadalupe -Victoria, and from his friend, the famous Madame Rodriguez. All, -however, seems in vain. Just as he decides to accept the inevitable, an -escape presents itself. The passages selected are those which describe -the interview between the old chemist and the Marquis and the opening of -a way of escape.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>Somewhat disquieted as to the purport of such an appointment, del -Veneno, after many turns, back and forth, in his chamber, was inclined -to believe that reports of his supposed relations having come to the -ears of Don Raimundo, the old man proposed to hear from his own lips the -facts. Basing himself on this supposition, the Marquis, whose conscience -was entirely clear, decided to be frank and loyal with the old -gentleman, explaining fully his own conduct in the matter, and -endeavoring to dissipate any natural vexation which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_267" id="page_267"></a>{267}</span> popular gossip -had caused him;—gossip, for which the Marquis believed he had given no -cause. Having decided upon this procedure, he succeeded in falling -asleep and the following day, with the most tranquil air in the world, -he directed himself, at the hour set, to the place of appointment, -feeling himself, like the Chevalier Bayard, without fear and without -reproach.</p> - -<p>... He installed himself at one of the least conspicuous tables of the -café and soon saw Don Raimundo, who saluted him, and seating himself at -his side, spoke to him in these terms:</p> - -<p>“Dissimulation is useless, my friend, in matters so grave and -transcendental as that which you and my daughter have in hand; I do not -mean that I disapprove the prudence and reserve with which you have both -acted. It is true that you, as Loreto, have carried dissimulation and -secrecy to such an extreme, that——”</p> - -<p>“Permit me to interrupt you, Don Raimundo, to say that I do not -understand to what matter you refer——”</p> - -<p>“My friend, you young people believe that, in placing your fingers over -your eyes you blot out the sun for the rest of us. But, we old folks, we -see it all! We decompose and analyze; further—what will not a father’s -insight and penetration discover? From the beginning of your love for -Loreto——”</p> - -<p>“But, sir, if there has not been—<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_268" id="page_268"></a>{268}</span>—”</p> - -<p>“Nothing indecorous, no scandal will come from the relations between -you—that I know right well; it could not be otherwise in a matter -involving a finished gentleman, to whom propriety and nobility of -character have descended from both lines, and a young lady who, though -it ill becomes me to say it, has been perfectly educated, has read much, -and knows how to conduct herself in society. I tell you, friend -Leodegario, that for months past no one has needed to whisper in my ear, -‘These young people love each other,’ because the thing was evident and -had not escaped me. Accustomed, from my youth, to decomposition and -analysis, I have questioned my wife, ‘Do they love each other?’ and she -has answered, ‘I believe they do.’ I then inquired, ‘Have you spoken -with Loreto about it?’ and she replied, ‘Not a word.’ Days pass and your -mutual passion——”</p> - -<p>“It is my duty, Don Raimundo, to inform you——”</p> - -<p>“It is your duty to hear me without interrupting me. Days pass and your -mutual passion, arrived at its height, enters the crucible of test. You -withdraw from Loreto and she pretends not to notice it. Thoughtless -people say, ‘They have broken with each other’; but I say, ‘Like sheep -they separate for a little, to meet again with the greater joy.’ Others -say, ‘The Marquis is fickle and changeable’; but I say, ‘He gives -evidence of greater chivalry and nobility than I believed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_269" id="page_269"></a>{269}</span> him to -possess.’ Friend Leodegario, what do not the eyes of a father discover? -What, in the moral as in the physical world, can resist decomposition -and analysis? With a little isolation and examination of the elements -composing such an affair, the truth is precipitated and shows itself at -the bottom of the flask! I know it all; I see it, just as if it were a -chemical reaction! You—delicate and honorable to quixotism, knowing -that the grocer Ledesma is attentive to Loreto, and considering yourself -relatively poor, have said to yourself, ‘I will not stand in the way of -the worldly betterment of this young lady,’ and have abruptly left the -field. Loreto, in her turn, offended that you should believe her capable -of sacrificing you upon the altar of her self-interest, has determined -to arouse your jealousy by pretending to accept the attentions which -Ledesma offers in the form of raisins, almonds, codfish and cases of -wine. I repeat that this is all very plain; but it is a sort of trifling -that can not be prolonged without peril, and which I have ended so far -as my daughter is concerned. Your future and hers might both suffer from -the rash actions of irritated love; no, my dear sir: let Ledesma keep -his wealth, or lavish it upon some Galician countrywoman; and let -respectable financial mediocrity, accompanied by the noble character and -the delicacy and chivalry which distinguish you, triumphantly bear away -the prize. A bas Galicia! viva Mexico!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_270" id="page_270"></a>{270}</span></p> - -<p>“The complete mistake under which you labor——”</p> - -<p>“My friend, one who, like myself, decomposes and analyzes everything, -rarely or never makes mistakes! Last night, I brought my wife and -daughter together and, to assure myself of the state of mind of the -latter, made use of this stratagem: ‘Loreto,’ I said, ‘Don Leodegario -has asked me for your hand; what shall I answer him?’ Immediately both -mother and daughter flushed as red as poppies and embraced each other. -Loreto then replied, ‘I am disposed to whatever you may determine.’ ‘But -do you love him?’ I asked. ‘Yes, I love him,’ she answered with downcast -eyes. With this, my friend, the mask fell and these things only remained -to be done, what I have done this morning and what I am doing now; to -wit: to intimate to Señor Ledesma that he desist from his aspirations -regarding a young lady who is to marry another within a few days, and to -tell you that Loreto’s parents, duly appreciative of the noble conduct -of the aspirant for their daughter’s hand, yield her to him, sparing all -explanations and steps unpleasant to one’s self-respect, and desiring -for you both, in your marriage relation, a life longer than Methuselah’s -and an offspring more numerous than Jacob’s.”</p> - -<p>“But, sir, Don Raimundo——”</p> - -<p>“Neither buts nor barrels avail.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> You were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_271" id="page_271"></a>{271}</span> marvelously -self-controlled, in believing yourself unworthy of Loreto, and in -refusing the happiness for which your heart longed; but I am also -master<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> of my daughter’s lot and I desire to unite her to you and -render you happy perforce. Come, friend Leodegario, there is no escape. -Dr. Román has promised to marry you in the church; I have ordered my -wife to announce the approaching marriage to her lady friends and I am -making the announcement to the gentlemen. Everyone cordially -congratulates me upon my selection of a son-in-law.”</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>With this object, he took up his hat and gloves. Just then he heard a -noise and voices in altercation in the corridor; the door opened -violently and Don Raimundo entered the room in his shirt sleeves and a -cap, his face pallid, and a breakfast roll in his hand. He entered, and -saying nothing to the Marquis beyond the words, “They pursue me,” ran to -hide himself under the bed, frightened and trembling.</p> - -<p>Seeing this, the young man seized a sword from the corner of the room -and set forth to meet the pursuers of Don Raimundo.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_272" id="page_272"></a>{272}</span></p> - -<p>He found, in the next room, Fabian, Don Raimundo’s servant, almost as -old as his master himself. With him were two porters, bearing no arms -more serious than their carry-straps. The Marquis having asked Fabian -what this meant, the faithful old servant took him to one side and said, -“The master has left home, against the doctor’s orders, and we have come -to fetch him, as my lady and her daughter do not wish him wandering -alone on the streets.”</p> - -<p>Without yet understanding the enigma, del Veneno further questioned -Fabian and learned that Don Raimundo, after some days of symptoms of -mental disturbance, had become absolutely deranged and, for a week back, -had been locked up in the house.</p> - -<p>Immediately the Marquis understood the conduct of his -father-in-law-to-be toward himself and a gleam of hope appeared. But, -moved by sympathy and without thinking of his own affairs, he tried to -persuade the old man to leave with Fabian, which, with great difficulty, -he at last did.</p> - -<p>He then hastened to the house of Madame Rodriguez, where he was received -almost gaily. “I was about to send for you,” said that lady, “because I -have most important matters to communicate to you. Perhaps you know that -the unfortunate Don Raimundo is hopelessly insane. Ah, well, Loreto and -her mamma, after cudgelling their brains vainly to explain why you never -whispered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_273" id="page_273"></a>{273}</span> a word about the wedding, of which Don Raimundo only spoke, -as soon as they knew the old man was deranged, understood everything -else, and I have confirmed them in their conclusions. It is needless to -dwell upon the mortification the matter has caused them: you can imagine -it; but, fulfilling the commission which they have intrusted to me, I -tell you that they consider you free from all compromise and that they -are greatly pleased at the prudence and chivalry you have displayed in -so unpleasant and disagreeable a matter.”</p> - -<p>“But I am not capable,” impetuously exclaimed the Marquis, “of leaving -such a family in a ridiculous position. No, my dear lady, pray tell -Loreto that, decidedly and against all wind and sea, I <i>will</i> marry her, -and that in the quickest possible time.”</p> - -<p>“Marquis! tempt not God’s patience! Now that a door is opened, escape by -it without looking back and consider yourself lucky. Moreover, although -Loreto babbles in Latin and writes distiches, she is not so stupid as -you think, and knows well how to take care of herself. She has -understood conditions perfectly and knows her advantage; a single glance -has sufficed to draw to her feet the grocer, more attentive and enamored -than ever.”</p> - -<p>“How, madam? Is it possible that Loreto would——”</p> - -<p>“Loreto marries Ledesma within a week.”</p> - -<p>Who can know the chaos of the human heart?<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_274" id="page_274"></a>{274}</span> The Marquis, who a moment -before had been supremely happy at the mere idea of his release, now -felt vexed and humiliated in knowing that Loreto so promptly replaced -him. His pupils grew yellow, his nervous attack returned and this, -without doubt, was all that prevented his hovering about Loreto’s house -as a truly enamored swain and challenging Ledesma to the death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_275" id="page_275"></a>{275}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JUSTO_SIERRA" id="JUSTO_SIERRA"></a>JUSTO SIERRA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_275_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_275_sml.jpg" width="223" height="304" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Justo Sierra was born January 26, 1848, at Campeche, the capital city of -the State of the same name. The son of a man known in the world of -letters, he early showed himself interested in literary pursuits. -Determining to follow the career of law, he was licensed to practice at -the age of twenty-three. Chosen a member of the Chamber of Deputies, he -promptly gained a reputation as an orator. He became one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_276" id="page_276"></a>{276}</span> -justices of the Supreme Court. At present he is Sub-Secretary of Public -Instruction and has been connected with all recent progress in Mexican -education. For some years he was professor of general history in the -<i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School). Among his -works are <i>Cuentos románticos</i> (Romantic Tales), <i>En Tierra Yankee</i> (In -Yankee Land), and <i>México y su evolución social</i> (Mexico and its Social -Evolution). In style Sierra is poetical and highly fantastic, with a -strain of humor rare in Mexicans. Our selection is a complete story from -<i>Cuentos románticos</i>.</p> - -<h3>THE STORY OF STAREI: A LEGEND OF YELLOW FEVER.</h3> - -<p>Examining a volume, pretentiously styled <i>Album de Viaje</i> (Album of -Travel), which lay amid the sympathetic dust, which time accumulates in -a box of long-forgotten papers, I encountered what my kind readers are -about to see.</p> - -<p>We were in the <i>diligencia</i> coming from Vera Cruz, a German youth, -Wilhelm S.—with flaxen hair and great, expressionless, blue eyes,—and -myself. We had not well gained the summit of the Chiquihuite, when the -storm burst upon us. The coach halted, in order not to expose itself to -the dangers of the descent over slopes now converted into rivers. I -neared my face to the window,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_277" id="page_277"></a>{277}</span> raising the heavy leather curtain, which -the wind was beating against the window-frame; it looked like night. -Above us, the tempest, with its thousand black wings, beat against -space; its electric bellowings, rumbled from the hills to the sea, and -the lightning, like a gleaming sword tearing open the bosom of the -clouds, revealed to us, within, the livid entrails of the storm.</p> - -<p>We were literally in the midst of a cataract, which, precipitating -itself from the clouds, rebounded from the mountain summit, and rushed, -with torrential fury, down the slopes.</p> - -<p>“I am drenched in oceans of perspiration,” said my companion to me in -French, “and I have an oven inside of me.”</p> - -<p>“Go to sleep,” I replied, “and all this will pass,” and, joining example -to counsel, I wrapped myself in my cloak and closed my eyes.</p> - -<p>Two hours later the tempest had passed, drifting to the west, over the -wooded heights. It was five in the evening and the declining sun was -nearing the last low-lying patches of cloud. The light, penetrating -through the exuberant vegetation, colored everything with a marvelous -variety of hues, which melted into a glow of gold and emerald. To the -east an infinite sheet of verdure extended itself, following all the -folds and irregularities of the mountain mass, flecked here and there -with the delicate and brilliant green of banana patches, and undulating -over that stairway of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_278" id="page_278"></a>{278}</span> giants, became blue with distance and broke like -a sea against the broad strip of sand of the Vera Cruz coast. The road -which we had followed in our ascent, wound like a serpent among trees, -which scarcely distinguished their foliage masses amid the dense curtain -of vines and creepers, passed over a lofty bridge, descended in broad -curves to a little settlement of wooden buildings, and went, between -dense and tangled patches of briers, to confound itself with the bit of -railroad which led from the foot of the mountain to the port. At the -bottom of the picture, there, where the sea was imagined, were rising -superb cloud masses against whose blue-gray ground were defined the -black and immovable streaks of stratus, seeming a flock of seabirds -opening their enormous wings to the wind, which delayed its blowing.</p> - -<p>The German slept as one much fatigued and from his panting bosom issued -heavy sobs; he seemed afflicted with intense suffering; a suspicion -crossed my mind; if he should——!</p> - -<p>The branches of a neighboring tree projected, through an open window, -into the <i>diligencia</i>, which was standing still, until the torrents -should have spent something of their force. Upon a yellowed leaf -trembled a raindrop, the last tear of the tempest. Preoccupied by the -dismal fear which the condition of my companion caused me, I looked -attentively at that bead of crystal liquid. This is what I saw:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_279" id="page_279"></a>{279}</span></p> - -<p>The drop of water was the Gulf of Mexico, bordered by the immense curve -of hot coast and cut off, on the east, by two low breakwaters, crusted -with flowers and palms,—Florida and Yucatan, between which, in flight, -extended a long string of seabirds, the Antilles, headed by the royal -heron, Cuba, slave served by slaves.</p> - -<p>In the midst of the Gulf, surmounted by a yellow crown, which gilded the -sea around like an enormous sunflower which reflects itself in a flower -of water, arose a barren island of the color of impure gold, where -currents deposited the seaweeds like the wrappings which swathe Egyptian -mummies. Above that rocky mass the sun gleamed like copper, the rapid -moon passed veiled by livid vapors, and on days of tempest the -storm-birds described wide circles around it, uttering direful -croakings. A voice, infinitely sad, like the voice of the sea, sounded -in that lost island; listen, it said to me.</p> - -<p>The very year in which the sons of the sun arrived at the islands, there -lived in Cuba a woman of thirteen years, named Starei (star). She was -very beautiful; black were her eyes and intoxicatingly sweet like those -of the Aztecs; her skin firm and golden as that of those who bathe in -the Meschacebé; celestial her voice as that of the <i>shkok</i>, which sings -its serenades in the zapote groves of Mayapán; and her little feet were -as graceful and fine as those of Antillean princesses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_280" id="page_280"></a>{280}</span> who pass their -lives swinging in hammocks, which seem to be woven by fairies. When -Starei appeared one morning on the strand, seated on the red shell of a -sea-turtle, she seemed a living pearl and all adored her as a daughter -of god, of Dimivan-caracol. The priestess of the tribe prayed all night -near the sacred fire, in which smouldered leaves of the intoxicating -tobacco, and at last heard the divine voice, which resounded within the -heart of the great stone fetish, saying: “Kill her not; guard and -protect her; she is the daughter of the Gulf and the Gulf was her -cradle; God grant that she return there.”</p> - -<p>Starei completed her thirteen years and the old and the young, prophets -and warriors, caciques and slaves, abandoned their villages, temples, -and hearths, to run after her on the seashore. All were crazy with love, -but, if one of them approached her, the Gulf thundered hoarsely and the -storm-bird flew screaming across the sky.</p> - -<p>Starei sang like the Mexican <i>zenzontl</i>, and her song soothed like the -seabreeze which kisses the palms in hot evenings, and in laughing she -opened her red lips like the wings of the <i>ipiri</i> and her bosom rose and -let fall in enticing folds, the fine web of cotton that covered it. Men -on seeing her wept, kneeling, and women wept also, seeing their palm -huts deserted and their beds of rushes chilled and untouched.</p> - -<p>One stormy night, the divine Starei returned to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_281" id="page_281"></a>{281}</span> the village, after one -of her rambles on the shore, in which she passed hours watching the -waves, as if waiting for something; those who followed her determined to -heap high their dead and bury them; the aged who had died from weariness -in the pursuit of the Gulf’s daughter, the youths who had thrown their -hearts at her feet, the mothers who had died of grief and the wives who -had died of despair.</p> - -<p>It was a night of tempest; Hurakan, the god of the Antilles, reigned -with unwitnessed fury. The priests spoke of a new deluge and of the -legendary gourd in which were the ocean and the sea-monsters, which, one -day, broke and inundated the earth, and, terrified, they ascended to the -summit of their temple-pyramid and took refuge in the shadow of their -gods of stone, which trembled on their pedestals. The people of the -island, overwhelmed with terror, forgot Starei. All the night was passed -in prayer and sacrifice; but at daybreak, they ran, infatuated, to where -the song of the maiden called them.</p> - -<p>Starei was on the shore, seated on the trunk of one of the thousands of -palm trees, which the wind had uprooted and thrown upon the sand; upon -her knees rested the head of a white man, who appeared to be a corpse. -The beauty of that face was sweet and manly at once and the just -appearing beard indicated the youthfulness of the man, whom Starei -devoured with eyes bathed in tears.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_282" id="page_282"></a>{282}</span></p> - -<p>“Whoever saves him,” she exclaimed, “shall be my husband, my life -companion.”</p> - -<p>“He is dead,” solemnly replied an aged priest.</p> - -<p>“He lives,” cried a man, opening his way through the crowd.</p> - -<p>The astonished Indians fell away from him; never had they seen so -strange a being among them. He was tall and strong; his hair, the color -of corn-silk, rose rigidly above his broad and bronzed forehead and -dividing into two masses fell thick and straight upon his shoulders; his -eyebrows were two delicate red lines, which joined at the root of his -aquiline nose; his mouth, of the purple hue of Campeche wood, bent -upward at the tips, in a sensual and cruel arch. The oval of his face, -unbroken by even a trace of beard, did not so much attract attention as -his eyes, of the color of two coins of purest gold, set in black -circles. He was naked, but splendidly tattooed with red designs; from -the gold chain that encircled his waist hung a skirt, deftly woven of -the feathers of the huitzitl, the humming-bird of Anahuac.</p> - -<p>That man, who, many believed, came from Hayti, approached that which -seemed to be a corpse, without paying attention to the glance, of -profound anger, of Starei. He laid one hand upon the icy brow of the -white man, and, on placing the other to the heart, instantly withdrew it -as if he had touched a glowing brand; rapidly he tore open the -still-drenched shirt of linen, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_283" id="page_283"></a>{283}</span> covered the youth’s breast and -seized an object that hung at the neck. This object Starei snatched from -him. Was it a Talisman? When that singular man no longer had beneath his -hand that, which had, doubtless, been to him a hindrance, he placed it -upon the stilled heart of the shipwrecked stranger and said to the -maiden, “Kiss him on the lips,” and had scarcely been obeyed when the -supposed dead man recovered and, taking the piece of wood from Starei’s -hand, knelt, placing it against his lips and bathing it in tears. It was -a cross.</p> - -<p>“Adieu, Starei,” said he of the eyes of gold; “yonder is the hut of -Zekom (fever) among the palms; there is our nuptial couch; I await you -because you have promised.”</p> - -<p>The daughter of the Gulf could not restrain a cry of anger at hearing -the words of the son of Heat; she approached the Christian, clasped his -neck in her arms and covered his mouth and eyes with kisses. “No! no! -leave me, thou loved of Satan,” cried the youth, trying to release -himself from the beautiful being. Starei took him by the hand, led him -to her hut, and said to him, in expressive pantomime, “Here we two will -live.”</p> - -<p>Then her companion replied in the language of those of Hayti, which was -perfectly understood in Cuba:</p> - -<p>“I cannot be thy husband; I will be thy brother.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_284" id="page_284"></a>{284}</span></p> - -<p>“Why not? Who are you?”</p> - -<p>“I am from far, far beyond the sea. I come from Castile. With many -others, I arrived, some months ago, at Hayti, and knowing that this, -your isle, had not been visited by Christians, we desired to visit it, -but were shipwrecked in the fearful tempest of last night and I was -about to perish, when thy hand seized me amid the waves and brought me -to the shore.”</p> - -<p>“And why do you not wish to be my husband?”</p> - -<p>“Because I am a priest and my god, who is the only god, orders his -priests not to marry; he orders us to preach love. I come to preach it -here, but not the love of the world,” added the Spaniard, sighing.</p> - -<p>“This cannot be; it is not true,” replied the island woman, with vigor, -“remain here with me in my hut, and we will be the rulers of the island -and our children will be heirs of all.”</p> - -<p>“I will be thy brother,” replied the missionary.</p> - -<p>And the Indian woman left, weeping. In the way she met Zekom, who fixed -his terrible yellow glance upon her.</p> - -<p>“Comest to my hut, Starei?” he asked her.</p> - -<p>“Never,” she answered firm and brave.</p> - -<p>“We will be the rulers of all the islands of the seas and our children -will be gods on earth, because we are children of the gods; the Gulf -begot you in a pearlshell; the glowing Tropic begot me in a reef of gold -and coral.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_285" id="page_285"></a>{285}</span></p> - -<p>Starei paused; she was upon the summit of a rock, from which the whole -coast was visible.</p> - -<p>“Look,” continued Zekom, “this will be our kingdom.” And before the -fascinated eye of the daughter of the Gulf there was spread out a -surprising panorama. In the midst of an emerald prairie, a <i>cu</i> or -<i>teocalli</i> reared its high pyramid of gold, which shed its light around, -even to the distant horizon. Over that gleaming plain were prostrated -innumerable people with fear depicted on their faces. Genii, clad in -marvelous garments, discharged upon these people, innumerable flaming -arrows, the touch of which caused death. And upon the summit of the -<i>cu</i>, she stood erect, as on a pedestal, more beautiful than the sun of -springtime. The daughter of the Gulf remained long in silent ecstasy.</p> - -<p>“Come, Starei,” murmured Zekom in her ear, “tomorrow I await thee in my -hut.”</p> - -<p>Starei departed thinking, dreaming. When the new day dawned, she saw the -Spaniard, hidden in the forest, kneeling, with his eyes turned -heavenward. At seeing him, the Indian maiden felt all her love -rekindled; she threw herself, anew, upon him and clasping him within her -arms, repeated:</p> - -<p>“Love me; love me, man of the cold land. I will adore thy god, who -cannot curse us because we fulfil his law, the law of life. Come to my -nuptial hut; I will be thy slave; we will pray together<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_286" id="page_286"></a>{286}</span> and I will be -as humble and as cowardly as thou; but love me as I love you.”</p> - -<p>“I will be thy brother,” replied the missionary, pale with emotion.</p> - -<p>“Cursed art thou!” said Starei, and fled.</p> - -<p>The priest made a movement, as if to follow her, but restrained himself, -casting one sublime glance of grief toward heaven.</p> - -<p>Again, through all that night, the Gulf thundered frightfully. At break -of day, Zekom and Starei issued from the nuptial hut, but as the maiden -received the first rays of the sun in her languid eyes, they lost their -luminous blackness like that of the night and turned yellow with the -color of gold, like those of her lover. He cast a stone into the sea and -instantly there appeared, in the west, a black pirogue, which neared the -shore impelled by the hurricane, which filled its blood-red sails.</p> - -<p>“Come to be my queen,” said Zekom to the daughter of the Gulf and they -entered into the bark, which instantly gained the horizon.</p> - -<p>Then the missionary appeared upon the shore, crying:</p> - -<p>“Come, Starei, my sister, I love thee.”</p> - -<p>The silhouette of the pirogue, like a black wing, was losing itself in -the indistinct line where the sea joins the sky. Starei had joined -herself in marriage to the devil.</p> - -<p>And the voice which resounded, sad and melancholy<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_287" id="page_287"></a>{287}</span>, from the rock, -continued—this is the centre of the domain of Starei; from here her -eternal vengeance against the whites radiates. The missionary died soon -after, of a strange disease, and his cold body turned horribly yellow, -as if from it were reflected the eyes of gold of Zekom. Since then every -year Starei weeps for him, disconsolate, and her tears evaporated by the -tropic heat poison the atmosphere of the Gulf, and woe for the sons of -the cold land.</p> - -<p>The raindrop fell to the ground; the coach proceeded on its way, and I -turned to glance at my friend; he was insensible; a livid, yellow hue -was invading his skin and his eyes seemed to start from their orbits. “I -die, I die, oh, my mother,” said the poor boy. I did not know what to -do. I clasped him in my arms trying to sooth his sufferings, to give him -courage. We reached Cordoba. The poor fevered patient said: “Look at -her—the yellow woman.” “Who? Is it Starei?” I asked him. “Yes. It is -she,” he answered.</p> - -<p>It was necessary for me to leave him. On arriving at Mexico I read this -paragraph in a Vera Cruz paper: “The young German, Wilhelm S., of the -house of Watermayer & Co., who left this city in apparent health, has -died of yellow fever at Cordoba, R. I. P.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_288" id="page_288"></a>{288}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="VICTORIANO_SALADO_ALBAREZ" id="VICTORIANO_SALADO_ALBAREZ"></a>VICTORIANO SALADO ÁLBAREZ.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_288_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_288_sml.jpg" width="239" height="278" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Victoriano Salado Álbarez was born at Teocaltoche, in the State of -Jalisco, September 30, 1867. He studied law in the <i>Escuela de -Jurisprudencia</i> in the city of Guadalajara, taking his title of -<i>Abogado</i>, on August 30, 1890. He has long been engaged in journalistic -work, serving as editor of various periodicals. For three years past he -has lived in the City of Mexico and has represented the State of Sonora -in the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress. He is also -professor of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_289" id="page_289"></a>{289}</span> the Spanish language in the <i>Escuela Nacional -Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School). He is a member of the -Mexican Academy.</p> - -<p>In literature, Señor Álbarez stands for the careful and discriminating -use of pure Spanish, and for the treatment of truly Mexican themes in a -characteristically Mexican way. He is an uncompromising antagonist of -the present tendency, in Mexico, to copy and imitate the “modern” (and -quite properly called “decadent”) French writings. His <i>De mi cosecha</i> -(From My Harvest) is a little volume of reviews and criticisms, in which -he assails this modern school and pleads for a sane and truly national -literature. <i>De autos</i> (From Judicial Records), is a collection of -tales, original and reworked. His largest work so far in print is <i>De -Santa Anna á la Reforma</i> (From Santa Anna to the Reform), an anecdotal -treatment of that period of the national history. His latest work, <i>La -Intervencion y el Imperio</i> (The Intervention and the Empire) is now -being published in Barcelona, Spain. It is of similar character to the -preceding, but deals with the time of Maximilian. The two first parts of -this, <i>Las ranas pidiendo rey</i> (The Frogs Begging for a King) and -<i>Puebla</i>, are in press as this notice is being written.</p> - -<p>Our selections are from <i>De autos</i> and <i>De mi cosecha</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_290" id="page_290"></a>{290}</span></p> - -<h3>DE AUTOS.</h3> - -<p>In the village of Huizache, on the twentieth day of February, one -thousand nine hundred, having received the accompanying summons, we went -to the place known by the name of <i>Corral de Piedra</i>, situated about one -kilometre distant, and held an inquest upon the body of a man about -twenty-two years of age, tall, dark, with a light down on his upper lip, -with black hair, eyebrows, and eyes; he showed, in the precardial -region, an opening produced by the entrance of a bullet, which had its -hole of exit in the left scapula, and another wound, produced by a -sabre, in the forehead, the wound measuring eleven centimetres in -length, by one centimetre in breadth, the depth not being ascertainable -for lack of suitable instruments for its examination. With the body were -found a red serape sprinkled with blood, a leather pouch containing -cigarettes, twenty-two cents in copper, twenty-five cents in silver, a -copy of the religious print known as the <i>anima sola</i>, and a -recommendation signed by Manuel Tames, of Guadalajara, in which the good -character of a person, whose name cannot be made out, is attested. After -the inquest, it was ordered that the corpse should be buried in the -village cemetery, after first being exposed to public view, clad in the -garments in which it was found—which are white drill pantaloons, calico -shirt, sash,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_291" id="page_291"></a>{291}</span> sandals, a palm hat—for possible recognition. Near the -spot, where it is supposed that the deed was committed, a piece of a -sabre was found, which is believed to be one of the weapons used in the -attack.</p> - -<p>Thus stands the record, signed by the Alcalde, and the other witnesses, -as, also, the citizen, Gregorio López, practising physician, forty years -of age, married, citizen of a neighboring town, there being no licensed -physician in this jurisdiction. No autopsy was ordered, there being no -suitable instruments for making it.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>On this date appears a complainant, who after being duly sworn, says -that she is named Damiana Pérez, married, without vocation, seventy -years of age, native and inhabitant of Guadalajara; that the corpse here -present is that of her son, Ignacio Almeida, twenty years old, -carpenter, son of deponent and her husband Pedro Almeida; that said -mentioned son died by the police force of this place, the matter -occurring as follows: That for some time past the said mentioned son -maintained honorable relations with Marta Ruiz, resident in the same -house with the complainant in Guadalajara, which house is the -<i>alcaiceria</i><a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> called <i>La Calavera</i>, that, as the parents of the Ruiz -girl unreasonably opposed the relation of the lovers, Ignacio<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_292" id="page_292"></a>{292}</span> arranged -to carry the girl away, which he did, coming to this village, where he -proposed to work at his trade; that the deponent, being acquainted with -the whole matter, and having gained consent of the parents of the Ruiz -girl, who is a minor, desired to legalize the marriage and, for that -purpose, had come to Huizache, where she learned that Ignacio had been -put in prison and that he had afterward been killed; that this is all -that she has to declare and that Don Juan Cortes, his employer, Don -Manuel Tames, and many others who knew him can testify to the good -character and conduct of her son.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>This same day, appears a witness, who stated, after the customary oath, -that he was named Antonio Vera, married, fifty-five years of age, native -of Ixtlan, and now chief of police of this place; that the body present -is that of a person, who yesterday morning was sent to him by the -municipal President, to be conducted to the capital of the district, -accused, if he does not remember wrongly, of vagrancy, disorderly -conduct, and abduction of a girl, who accompanied him; that, as is -known, these accusations were made to the Señor President by Señor Don -Pedro Gómez Gálvez, owner of the Hacienda de San Buenaventura, who also -made complaint against the now defunct, that he had lost from one of his -pastures two horses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_293" id="page_293"></a>{293}</span> which were there enclosed, one of them being known -by the name of <i>El Resorte</i>, and the other being called <i>El Jaltomate</i>, -as well as twenty pesos in money, and other objects which had -disappeared from the general store on his place; that, this morning at -dawn, he commanded his subordinates that they should saddle and mount -their horses, which they did, and lead the prisoner, who walked bound -with cords, between them riding in two files; that on reaching the place -known as <i>Corral de piedra</i>, the now defunct, who had succeeded in -loosening his cords, on account of the darkness, tried to escape, crying -“<i>Viva la libertad de los hombres</i>; chase me, if you wish,” for which -reason, those who accompanied the deponent, discharged their arms -against him who was escaping, ceasing their attack when they saw that -the prisoner fell dead; that Almeida, in attempting to escape fired two -shots, of which one pierced the hat worn by one of the police and the -other imbedded itself in deponent’s saddle; that he did not know how the -prisoner could have secured the revolver, nor where he threw it when he -ran; that he was equally ignorant as to how the body received the gash -which it showed, as none of his subordinates used his sabre against the -accused.</p> - -<p>The declaration having been read, he approved it, not knowing how to -sign his name.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>(Similar declarations of the four auxiliaries.)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_294" id="page_294"></a>{294}</span></p> - -<p>Thereupon the coroner was shown a gray hat, with brim and crown pierced -by a shot, apparently of a fire-arm, and a cowboy’s saddle with signs of -a bullet shot in the horn.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>On the twenty-fourth of February appeared a witness, who, being duly -sworn, stated that she was named Marta Ruiz, unmarried, sixteen years of -age, without vocation, native and inhabitant of Guadalajara; that she -knew Ignacio Almeida, with whom she had lived in illicit relations for -six months, having before been in honorable relations with the purpose -of contracting marriage; not succeeding in their desires, on account of -the opposition of deponent’s parents, they agreed to run away together, -intending to marry later; that, arriving at this place, and being -without work, Almeida sought and secured it at the Hacienda de San -Buenaventura, situated a half league’s distance from here; that, at -first they lived there content; but that, soon, the Señor Don Pedro -Gómez Gálvez, owner of that place, began to pay attention to her, urging -her to abandon Almeida, and that she resisted; that Don Pedro was -angered and threatened her to incriminate her lover, which he afterward -did, since, about two weeks later Almeida was taken prisoner, without -deponent’s having succeeded in seeing him meantime; that it is false -that Ignacio had a pistol, and, more so, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_295" id="page_295"></a>{295}</span> he had shot at anyone; -that she knows that the hat and the saddle (given in evidence at the -inquest) are shown in all the cases similar to this, to prove that they -were pierced; but that said marks are ancient, as she had been told -that, in the inquest held two years ago on the death of Perfecto -Sánchez, they were in evidence; that three days since, on the death of -her lover being known in San Buenaventura, the Señor Gómez Gálvez came -to her and said “Now, ingrate, you see what has happened. You may blame -yourself for this.” And, that then he attempted to embrace her and when -deponent resisted him, the Señor Don Pedro ordered that they should put -her off the place, which was done without permitting her to remove her -possessions.</p> - -<p>The declaration having been read, she approved it, not knowing how to -sign her name.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>On the fourteenth of June, when it was known that Señor Don Pedro Gómez -Gálvez was there, the personnel of the court went to the house of said -person, for the purpose of interrogating him. After the affirmation -prescribed by law, he stated that he was married, forty years of age, -native of the Hacienda de San Buenaventura and inhabitant of -Guadalajara; that he knew Ignacio Almeida, carpenter, who worked on his -place for the space of six months; that, finally, having lost various<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_296" id="page_296"></a>{296}</span> -animals from San Buenaventura, as well as money and other things, and -having suspicion that the thief might be Almeida, he had informed the -Municipal President, who ordered the arrest of the criminal; that he -knows the said Almeida was killed by his guards, when attempting escape, -at the place called <i>Corral de piedra</i>, and that he shot a pistol at the -said policemen; that he does not know Marta Ruiz, nor has ever made love -advances to her, nor was this the motive of his denunciation of Almeida, -but the desire to recover the property, which he had lost.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>On this date, the preceding deponent was confronted with the witness -Marta Ruiz (who was brought by force from her house), on account of the -discrepancies found in their statements. The Ruiz woman, greatly -excited, said to Señor Gálvez, “You demanded my love and told me, if I -gave you no encouragement, you would incriminate Ignacio.” The Señor -Gómez Gálvez replied to the Ruiz woman, “It is false: I do not even know -you.”</p> - -<p>It was impossible to proceed further in the matter, as the Ruiz woman -could not reply, having suffered a nervous attack; the investigation was -therefore held as closed; the presiding Judge, the Alcalde, and the -witnesses signed the records.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_297" id="page_297"></a>{297}</span></p> - -<p>Huizache, July 1, 1900. No grounds for proceeding against any specific -person, having resulted from the investigation, these records may be -placed in the archives. It is so ordered. Thus decreed the first -constitutional Judge, acting in accord with the assisting witnesses.</p> - -<h3>FEDERICO GAMBOA.</h3> - -<p>If I must confess the truth, Don Federico Gamboa was not agreeable, as a -writer, to me. His book, <i>Del Natural</i>, seemed to me the effort, not -always well sustained, of a beginner of promise; his <i>Aparencias</i>, I -considered a translated and adapted novel, after the fashion of the -dramas and comedies which formerly were “adapted” for the Mexican stage; -his <i>Impresiones y Recuerdos</i>, in which the author describes and -discusses the time when he smoked his first cigarette, the color of the -eyes of his first sweetheart, the ferrule with which his teacher -punished his boyish pranks, and other equally interesting matters, made -on me the impression of an immense exhibition of personal vanity, in -which the writer announced his <i>res et gesta</i>, with the gravity with -which a Goncourt or a Daudet might make known what he had done in life.</p> - -<p>Thus, then, his new book, <i>Suprema Ley</i>, surprised me agreeably, -constituted a revelation,—of a truthfulness so admirable, so vivid, so -passional,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_298" id="page_298"></a>{298}</span> so full of that well-founded realism, which does not permit -a book to remain on the shelf of the bookseller, but places it upon the -table of the reader and in the memory of the lover of the beautiful.</p> - -<p>If one did not see, at the close of the volume, the dates on which it -was begun and concluded, he might believe that it had sprung forth -complete, a spontaneous improvisation, a work of the instant, in which -neither art, nor trammels of execution, nor imperfections of detail had -had a part.</p> - -<p>In the novel there is not a needless character, nor a useless incident, -nor a single page which does not contribute to the completing of the -action and which has not a direct relation to the plot. Even the -descriptions, in which our novelists are prodigal to the degree of -piling them up indiscriminately, are in <i>Suprema Ley</i>, only different -modes in which the subject is impressed by reality. In Gamboa’s work, -Belen, the Theatre, the Alameda—especially the Alameda—perform the -part of the chorus in Greek tragedy.</p> - -<p>The characters are enchantingly real, to the degree that, after reading -the book, we feel that we have encountered, seen, and spoken with the -actors. Ortegal is a degenerate, whom we all know; Clothilde is a fallen -woman with a mask of sanctity, a profligate, who entered the world for -man’s undoing; Berón, Holas, even the Comendador<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_299" id="page_299"></a>{299}</span> and Don Francisco are -the very breath of life, are full of enchanting and noble realism.</p> - -<p>One given to seek similarity between the old and the new would claim a -likeness between Dr. Pascual, the learned man of the Rongón Macquart and -the poor court writer, between Clothilde of Zola and the Clothilde of -Gamboa, between the first night which the lovers spent united and the -first night of Laurent and Therese Raquin, between the servant whose -type Gamboa barely sketches and the Juliana Conseira de Eça of Quieros. -These similarities may or may not exist, but no charge can be made -against Gamboa on account of them; he painted reality and the other -novelists painted reality, and nothing resembles itself more closely -than truth.</p> - -<p>Gamboa does not possess what I will call the epic faculty, that is, the -faculty of describing external nature, as Delgado for instance; as -little does he have, as Campo, the privilege of retaining, in memory, -phrases and gestures; nor does he possess a vein of humor, as these -writers and as Cuellar; he is, before all and beyond all, an analyst, a -dissector of souls who sees to the bottom of hearts, who seeks the lust -that dishonors, the meanness that kills, the hatred that causes horror. -For this reason, in my opinion, he will never be popular, while his -luckier fellows will gain proselytes and friends as long as they write.</p> - -<p>This is not saying that his book lacks attractive<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_300" id="page_300"></a>{300}</span> characters. Prieto is -a well depicted jester, Chucho an admirably cut figure, Don Eustaquio, -though somewhat melodramatic and somewhat out of place in that -collection of beings of flesh and bone, is the providence which, dressed -in jeans and working in clay, is brought in to give some outlet from the -tangle; but, above all, the family of Ortegal is of the most delicate -and tender which has been here described. Lamartine and Daudet might -well have drawn the picture, if Lamartine and Daudet had dedicated -themselves to painting Mexican types of the humbler class.</p> - -<p>There is no doubt that the world of Gamboa is, as that of Carlyle, a -heap of fetid filth, shadowed by a leaden sky, where only groans and -cries of desperation are heard; but, as in the terrible imagination of -the British thinker, flashes of kindliness bringing counsel and -resignation, cleave the sky of this Gehenna.</p> - -<p>In fine, <i>Suprema Ley</i> is a great success, a success which compensates -for many failures and, by it, Señor Gamboa has placed himself among the -first Mexican novelists—not, indeed, first of all, because for me, -Delgado and <i>Micros</i> hold yet a higher place.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_301" id="page_301"></a>{301}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="IRENEO_PAZ" id="IRENEO_PAZ"></a>IRENEO PAZ.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_301_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_301_sml.jpg" width="230" height="288" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Ireneo Paz was born at Guadalajara, on July 3, 1836. His father died, -when Ireneo was a child, leaving the widow in poverty. When a boy of -thirteen years, he began his studies at the <i>Seminario</i>, laboring for -his support throughout his course. By diligence and earnestness, he made -an excellent record, gaining the respect and esteem of teachers and -fellow-students. Graduating from the <i>Seminario</i> in 1851, he took his -baccalaureate in philosophy at the University in 1854, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_302" id="page_302"></a>{302}</span> licensed -as a lawyer in 1861. In his youth he wrote verse “as a tree sprouts -leaves.” Identifying himself with the liberal party, he soon became -prominent in politics. He was also a Captain in the national guard. -During this period he published <i>El Independiente</i> (The Independent), -<i>El Dia</i> (The Day), and <i>Sancho Panza</i>.</p> - -<p>When the Imperial forces, in 1863, took possession of Guadalajara, -Ireneo Paz withdrew to Colima, where he was editor of the Official -Periodical of that State, and Magistrate of the Court of Justice. A year -later, the approach of the Imperialists forced him to abandon these -offices. He was with the Federal forces of the coast until their rout at -Zapotlan, when he was one of the three to arrange the terms of -capitulation with General Oroñoz. He was kept under surveillance at -Guadalajara, where he, nevertheless, dedicated himself to the Republican -cause, establishing <i>El Payaso</i> (The Clown), which vigorously combatted -monarchical ideas, with audacity and satire—replacing it later by <i>El -Noticioso</i> (The Well-Informed). Maximilian himself was impressed by the -little sheet and ordered that a full set should be secured for him. On -the occasion of an operatic triumph, at Guadalajara, by the prima donna, -Angela Peralta,—Ireneo Paz gave vent to some democratic sentiments, -which led to his arrest and imprisonment on November 12, 1866. His stay -there was brief, as the Republican forces gained<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_303" id="page_303"></a>{303}</span> possession of the -town, one month later. With the full re-establishment of the Republic, -he was appointed in 1867 Secretary of State for Sinaloa. A few months -later, he was again actively interested, against Juarez, in favor of the -ideas of Diaz. The opposition failed and Paz was again in prison, this -time in Santiago Tlaltelolco; he was later transferred to La Députacion. -During his eleven months in prison, he vigorously assailed the Juarez -regime in the popular anti-administration journal, <i>El Padre Cobos</i> -(Father Cobos). After his release, he continued his attacks in newspaper -articles, in popular clubs, and in the secret plottings preceding the -revolution known as La Noria. Notwithstanding all the efforts against -him, Juarez was re-elected in 1871, but shortly died. Ireneo Paz was -active in the revolution of La Noria and in that of Tuxtepec, four years -later—supporting Diaz on both occasions and suffering imprisonment -twice.</p> - -<p>The mere list of the books written by Ireneo Paz is too long for quoting -here. Many of them are historical novels dealing with Mexican themes. He -has written too much for all of it to have great literary merit, but he -is widely read and well known. His style is often tedious and prolix, -but many interesting, and even thrilling, passages occur in his works. -He has a quiet and dry humor and, sometimes, keen satire. His <i>Algunas -Campañas</i> (Some Campaigns), is practically a history<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_304" id="page_304"></a>{304}</span> of events in which -he himself has participated. Our quotations are from it. In poetry Paz -ranges from satire to love, from humor to philosophy.</p> - -<p>Ireneo Paz has long lived in the City of Mexico, where he has been a -member of Congress, in both houses and a Regidor. He has been, and is, -editor of <i>La Patria</i> (The Fatherland). He has been president of the -<i>Prensa Asociada</i> (Associated Press) and of the <i>Liceo Hidalgo</i>. He was -a Commissioner from Mexico to the World’s Columbian Exposition, and as a -result of his visit to our country wrote <i>La Exposicion de Chicago</i> (The -Chicago Exposition).</p> - -<h3>THE AGREEMENT OF EL ZACATE GRULLO.</h3> - -<p>In an hacienda, situated on the Autlan road, with an obscure name, -which, nevertheless became famous in the annals of the period, we, the -troops under command of the Generals Anacleto Herrera y Cairo, Antonio -Neri and Toro Manuel, including a whole regiment of officers and some -few common soldiers, pulled ourselves together, though truly in a -pitiable state.</p> - -<p>The name of this afterward celebrated hacienda deserves special -mention—<i>El Zacate Grullo</i>.</p> - -<p>At the hacienda of El Zacate Grullo we planned to impart some -organization to those forces, the scanty remnants of what had been the -Army of the Centre. It was agreed that, for the time, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_305" id="page_305"></a>{305}</span> should bear -the name of the United Brigades. But, promptly, this other question had -to rise—who was to command them?</p> - -<p>The regular leaders at once fixed their eyes upon the valiant and -sympathetic General Herrera y Cairo; but the chief obstacle to his -taking command was in the great preponderance of irregulars. Would Rojas -and his companions submit to the command of a man of fine manners and -good education? The next thought was of Rojas or of Julio García; it was -certain that two State Governors would not place themselves at the -orders of the former, even though he had the greater forces, -particularly as he had, among the French, the reputation of a bandit, -for which reason they had declared him an outlaw and had proposed -pursuing him and treating him as other bandits. Don Julio had the -friendship of all and possessed qualities, which connected him with both -of these opposite factions. He had been a companion of Rojas, he -understood pillage, and he also knew how, at the proper time, to assert -his dignity as a public man, rising above his antecedents; but no one -gave him credit for military ability. That Don Julio was a sort of bond -of union between the two leaders mentioned, served for nought then, in -that emergency.</p> - -<p>But to continue with the facts.</p> - -<p>The Generals Herrera, García and Rojas, assisted by Aristeo Moreno, who -was the secretary<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_306" id="page_306"></a>{306}</span> of the first and the very intimate friend of the -last, passed the whole day in private conference. I supposed, and my -supposition was later confirmed, that Rojas had refused to permit my -presence in that council.</p> - -<p>A general order was issued, that after the six o’clock roll-call, all -the leaders and officers should present themselves at the lodgings of -General Rojas, in order to be informed of what had been decided in the -council of generals.</p> - -<p>We all hastened to the meeting, hoping that from the discussion had -flashed out the ray of light so much needed in escaping from the -difficulties, in which we were entangled. Rojas occupied the centre of a -table placed at one end of the main saloon of the hacienda. At the sides -were Generals García and Herrera y Cairo, and at the end, near six -candlesticks with lights was Aristeo Moreno, surrounded by papers. I do -not know whether because the candles were of tallow, or because of the -state of agitation in which our spirits were, we observed that the faces -of those at the table appeared extremely pale.</p> - -<p>When the hundred and more officers, of the grade of Lieutenant and -upward, of which the United Brigades boasted, were gathered together in -the hall, we observed that five hundred <i>galeanos</i> surrounded the -hacienda house. We were, then, to deliberate under pressure of five -hundred bandits<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_307" id="page_307"></a>{307}</span>, who could pulverize us at the least signal from their -chief.</p> - -<p>Rojas solemnly said: “Mr. Secretary, read the agreement which we have -made.”</p> - -<p>Aristeo Moreno read the considerations of that abortion, which -terminated with the following articles:</p> - -<p>Article 1. The undersigned solemnly bind themselves, under oath, to -defend the Republic against all intervention, battling, if need be, -until death.</p> - -<p>Art. 2. All those who do not approve the present compact, showing -themselves indifferent to the national defense, will be considered -enemies and shot.</p> - -<p>Art. 3. Those who, in any manner whatever, shall be unfaithful to the -Republic, and shall make alliance with the Empire, shall be shot.</p> - -<p>Art. 4. Populations where the Republican forces are not received with -rejoicing, open hospitality being refused, shall be burned and their -inhabitants shall be compelled to fight as common soldiers or to be -shot, according to the gravity of their offense.</p> - -<p>Art. 5. All prisoners taken from the enemy, of whatever category they -may be, will be immediately shot, without the necessity of personal -identification.</p> - -<p>Art. 6. All individual property becomes the property of the United -Brigades; consequently all<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_308" id="page_308"></a>{308}</span> who refuse to furnish rations, fodder, -money, or whatever else may be demanded, shall be shot.</p> - -<p>Art. 7. All who compose the United Brigades are free to sign this -agreement or not, but once having signed it, he who does not support it, -or who shall commit the crime of desertion, shall be shot.</p> - -<p>Given in the Hacienda del Zacate Grullo, etc.</p> - -<p>When Aristeo Moreno had finished reading, General Rojas with a voice -apparently calm, but with the black rings about his eyes unusually dark -and deep, a certain sign that he was breathing out hatred and that bad -sentiments animated him, said, addressing those of us who were in the -hall:</p> - -<p>“That is what I and my companions have sworn to sustain. Those who are -in accord with the plan may come to sign it. Those, who are not, are -free to ask for their passports.”</p> - -<p>The profoundest silence reigned.</p> - -<p>“Does no one wish his passport?” he asked.</p> - -<p>And as an equal silence reigned, he said in a voice less abrupt: “Very -well, let them come to sign.”</p> - -<p>Some started to the table in order to sign, but as others vacillated or -remained near the door, Rojas spoke again:</p> - -<p>“No one can leave the hacienda, unless accompanied by one of my aides, -after he has signed. That is the order I have given the guard which is -watching the doors.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_309" id="page_309"></a>{309}</span></p> - -<p>In fact, the <i>galeones</i> were watching the door from the hall to the -corridor, that of the street, and all the other exits; there seemed no -possible means of escape without placing one’s signature to the shameful -document. Nudgings with the arms, joggings with the feet, and words said -so low that they seemed rather the buzzing of a fly, were the only -protests which worthy and honorable leaders, there present, dared make.</p> - -<p>Rojas signed, and his secretary who was an insignificant Indian, signed; -Herrera y Cairo followed, his secretary, Aristeo Moreno signing beside -him; General Julio García was called and I felt a shiver run through me -from head to foot, because I ought to follow him as his secretary, and, -no less, the secretary of the republican government of Colima.... In -that moment of supreme anxiety, I felt it the height of folly to -publicly oppose the signing of that infernal abortion, which would be -the same as to provoke an undesirable quarrel in which the probabilities -were that we who were decent men, being few, would perish at the hands -of the bandits, who were many. Fortunately three copies had to be -signed; Don Julio wrote slowly and I had time to climb, unobserved, -through a small window, which opened from the hall into the inner rooms -of the hacienda, which served us as lodgings, where I arrived, greatly -agitated, and, promptly undressing, went to bed. As a precaution, which -served me well, I bound a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_310" id="page_310"></a>{310}</span> white cloth around my head and surrounded -myself with medicines.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had I done all this, when an adjutant entered my room and asked -if I were there.</p> - -<p>“What is wanted?” I asked him.</p> - -<p>“The generals need you.”</p> - -<p>“Tell them to excuse me; my head aches terribly and you see that I am -lying down.”</p> - -<p>“Are you not coming to sign?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“No,” I replied, rolling myself up in the bed.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“Because I do not wish to dishonor myself, even more in the eyes of my -fellow-patriots than in those of the enemy.”</p> - -<p>“Then you believe we have done badly in signing it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir; very badly.”</p> - -<p>“Then you will not sign it?”</p> - -<p>“No, sir.”</p> - -<p>“But, what shall I say to Rojas?”</p> - -<p>“That he may order me shot.”</p> - -<p>“Very well,” he said and withdrew, annoyed.</p> - -<p>Three copies were signed, one for each general, and when the act was -concluded my room was filled with leaders and officers, who desired to -know my opinion about that absurd agreement. I said to them all that it -was unworthy and that I would not sign it.</p> - -<p>Some said that there ought to be an uprising, others desired to fly, -though they saw this pact,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_311" id="page_311"></a>{311}</span> like an anathema, which would follow them -everywhere, a sentence of death. Death and dishonor if they fulfilled -it; death and dishonor if they did not. There were some who wept with -rage. I attempted to console them as well as I could and gradually they -departed until, finally, only Crispin Medina and Juan Valadéz were with -me.</p> - -<p>“Did you sign?” I asked them.</p> - -<p>“Unfortunately yes, but only on one of the copies.”</p> - -<p>“On which?”</p> - -<p>“On that of Don Julio.”</p> - -<p>At that moment, he entered.</p> - -<p>“Are you still talking of that unhappy document?” he asked us.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> - -<p>“And what do you think?”</p> - -<p>“We think, General,” I said to him, “as every worthy man, who respects -himself and who desires an honorable career in politics, must think; -this agreement is absurd because impracticable; it is hateful because it -wars against all the good sentiments of mankind; and it is monstrous, -immoral, iniquitous, because it orders destruction and slaughter.”</p> - -<p>“You are right,” he answered. “I ought not to have agreed so far with -Rojas, and for my part, the compact is broken from this moment.”</p> - -<p>He drew forth his copy and tore it to pieces.</p> - -<p>The next day on taking up our line of march,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_312" id="page_312"></a>{312}</span> Rojas said to me: “You not -only do not sign yourself but breed disaffection among the other -leaders.”</p> - -<p>I frankly told him my opinion, which he heard with interest. When I had -finished he added:</p> - -<p>“I am not shooting you now, because Julio and his people forbid it.... -But, we will see later.... We have a lot of unsettled accounts.”</p> - -<p>He cast a sinister glance at me and then left, urging his horse to a -gallop.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_313" id="page_313"></a>{313}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="JOSE_LOPEZ_PORTILLO_Y_ROJAS" id="JOSE_LOPEZ_PORTILLO_Y_ROJAS"></a>JOSÉ LÓPEZ-PORTILLO Y ROJAS.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_313_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_313_sml.jpg" width="247" height="333" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>José López-Portillo y Rojas was born at Guadalajara May 26, 1850. His -father was an eminent lawyer and teacher in the law school. Son of -wealthy parents, the young man was given every opportunity for study, -first in his home city and later at the capital. His final studies in -law were made at Guadalajara, where, in 1871, he became <i>licenciado</i>. -His parents then gave him an opportunity<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_314" id="page_314"></a>{314}</span> for foreign travel. He visited -the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, France and Italy, Egypt -and the Holy Land. On his return he published his <i>Impresiones de viaje</i> -(Impressions of Travel). Since that time Señor López-Portillo y Rojas, -has practiced law, represented his state in the National Congress, -taught in the law school and done important work in journalism. His -writings are always clear, direct and marked by a literary style of -unusual grace and purity. Besides his scattered articles and the book -already mentioned, he has edited—with notable scholarship—the -interesting <i>Cronica de Jalisco</i> (Chronicle of Jalisco) of Fray Antonio -Tello, and written a novel, <i>La Parcela</i> (The Piece of Land). It is from -this last work that our selections are taken.</p> - -<p>In <i>La Parcela</i> the author presents a sketch of characteristic country -life. The novel has for purpose the illustration of the strong, almost -morbid, affection for land felt by the native proprietor.</p> - -<p>Don Pedro Ruiz is a wealthy and progressive <i>haciendero</i> of pure Indian -blood. He is noble-hearted, thoughtful, shrewd, intelligent and a man of -resources. A widower, he is devotedly attached to his only son, Gonzalo, -a fine young fellow of twenty-three years. The owner of the adjoining -property, Don Miguel Diaz, has been a life-long friend, and between them -exists the artificial relation of <i>compadre</i>. His wife, Doña Paz, is a -cousin of Don Pedro; there is one daughter, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_315" id="page_315"></a>{315}</span> beautiful, gentle but -rather weak lady named Ramona. The two young persons—Gonzalo and -Ramona—have grown up like brother and sister; their childish affection -has ripened into love, and at the beginning of the story they are -engaged to be married. Don Pedro is by far the richest man of all the -district. Don Miguel is also wealthy, but has seen with some jealousy -and dissatisfaction the constantly increasing difference between their -fortunes. This dissatisfaction, encouraged by a scheming lawyer, leads -to his claiming a worthless bit of property on the borders of his and -Don Pedro’s lands. The value of the land is but a trifle to either -party; but Don Pedro, sure that right is on his side, refuses to yield -to the unjust demands of his neighbor.</p> - -<p>Don Miguel at first seizes the property by force, but is dispossessed by -Don Pedro’s tenants. The bitter feeling aroused by this incident leads -to a battle between two tenants of the two masters; both of the fighters -are thrown into jail. Carried into the courts, the boundary line is -infamously determined by a corrupted judge; a higher court reverses the -decision and Don Pedro is supported in his rights. Furious with anger, -Don Miguel seeks to injure his neighbor. Through a wicked scheme plotted -with the local authority, the tenant of Don Pedro, who has been in jail, -is assassinated. A great dam, which holds back a mighty volume of water -for driving mills, irrigating the property,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_316" id="page_316"></a>{316}</span> etc., is damaged by Don -Miguel’s orders, with the idea that the inundation will ruin the -property of Don Pedro.</p> - -<p>Throughout these various exciting incidents—seizure, dispossession, -law-suit, appeal, assassination and diabolical destruction—the love -affairs of the young people are naturally more or less disturbed. Having -carried things to such a climax, the author brings about a sudden -reconciliation and the story ends.</p> - -<h3>EXTRACTS FROM LA PARCELA.</h3> - -<p>“Good morning, <i>compadre</i> Don Miguel,” said Don Pedro as soon as he -recognized the horseman who arrived.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, <i>compadre</i>,” replied the newcomer, checking his horse and -dismounting.</p> - -<p>The servant who accompanied him quickly dismounted from his horse and -went to hold, by the bridle, that of his master. Then he bent to remove -his master’s spurs.</p> - -<p>“No, Marcos,” said Don Miguel to him, “do not remove them. We shall go -on at once.”</p> - -<p>“How! <i>compadre</i>,” said Don Pedro; “then you will not remain to take -breakfast with me?”</p> - -<p>“No, not today, because I must arrive at Derramadero before 6, and it is -yet distant.”</p> - -<p>“That is true, <i>compadre</i>; but there will be another day, will there -not? Pass in, pass in. Do<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_317" id="page_317"></a>{317}</span> you desire that we sit down here on the bench -to enjoy the fresh air, or shall we go into the office?”</p> - -<p>“We are very well here. Do not trouble yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. What are you doing so early?”</p> - -<p>“It does not please me to visit. I come to treat of our business.”</p> - -<p>“What business?”</p> - -<p>“That which we have pending.”</p> - -<p>“But we have nothing pending.”</p> - -<p>“How not? The Monte de los Pericos.”</p> - -<p>“What about it?”</p> - -<p>“I want you to decide whether you will yield it to me.”</p> - -<p>“Why do we speak of this? A thousand times I have told you that the -Monte is mine.”</p> - -<p>“That is what you say, but the truth is that it belongs to me.”</p> - -<p>“<i>Compadre</i>, it is better that we talk of something else; leave this -matter. Are we not friends?”</p> - -<p>“We are so; but that is not to say that you may deprive me of my things. -What sort of friendship is that?”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>In fact, at a very short distance from where the group found itself, -there were seen down below, through the shrubbery, the four men of Don -Miguel. They were stretched out on the ground upon their blankets, and -in the shadow of the trees<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_318" id="page_318"></a>{318}</span> conversed without suspicion, with their eyes -fastened on the house of Palmar, which was visible from there. Their -horses, unbridled and fastened to the trees, were pasturing on the green -herbage.</p> - -<p>“But man! How good was that blow?” said one of the <i>mozos</i>. “It still -gives me delight.”</p> - -<p>“What a surprise for the poor <i>montero</i>!” exclaimed another.</p> - -<p>“What will Don Pedro say?”</p> - -<p>“He will have to calm his rage.”</p> - -<p>And they laughed with their mouths open. Just then they heard the tramp -of horses, and turning their heads saw Don Pedro, followed by his men. -They tried to rise to draw their pistols.</p> - -<p>“Do not stir!” said Don Pedro in a terrible voice, “or we will shoot -you.” And he and all his held their arms ready.</p> - -<p>There was nothing to be done. The servants of Don Miguel comprehended -that all resistance was useless.</p> - -<p>“Master, we are taken,” said one of them.</p> - -<p>“Do you surrender at discretion?”</p> - -<p>“There is no way to avoid it.”</p> - -<p>“Then give up your arms. Look, Roque, dismount and take away from the -gentlemen their rifles, their pistols, their sabres and their cartridge -boxes.”</p> - -<p>They gave up with trembling hands the pistols and the cartridge boxes. -The rifles were hanging from the saddles of their horses.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_319" id="page_319"></a>{319}</span></p> - -<p>“Now,” continued Don Pedro, “tie their hands behind them and help them -to get onto their horses. Distribute their arms so that their weight -shall not be too great, and let each one take the halter of a horse in -order that he may lead it.”</p> - -<p>All was done with the rapidity of lightning. The men of Don Pedro -strongly tied the hands of the conquered behind their backs with the -satisfaction of the tyrant characteristic of all conquerors. One of the -captured, Panfilo Vargas, was vexed and said:</p> - -<p>“They gain advantage because they are more than we. Tie quickly for some -day you will know who I am. We are <i>arrieros</i>, and we go through the -country.”</p> - -<p>“Shut your mouth, braggart!” said Don Pedro angrily. “How many were you -this morning? There were six of you to take the poor <i>montero</i>, who was -alone and not expecting anyone. As for you, you were left here to guard -and had the obligation of not permitting yourselves to be surprised. You -have lost because you are fools. Who told you to be careless? They shall -know that I do not sleep nor neglect mine own. Let him who jokes with me -be careful.” Then he turned to Oceguera, saying to him, “Where is the -<i>montero</i> hidden?”</p> - -<p>“Here am I, master,” replied the <i>montero</i> himself, appearing from the -bushes.</p> - -<p>“I was looking for you to order you to attend<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_320" id="page_320"></a>{320}</span> to your business in your -place. Have no fear. I shall send reinforcements. Do not move from here -until I tell you.”</p> - -<p>“Very well, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Let us go then,” ordered Ruiz. And the party put itself on the road to -the <i>hacienda</i>, just as the sun began to set and the great shadows from -the mountains were extending themselves across the valley.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>Roque passed the <i>arroyo</i> and entered the camp. Some time passed and he -did not return. Panfilo began to believe that he did not come to the -appointment because he was afraid; but soon he heard a whistle at the -foot of the slope and saw Roque on horseback, striking his chest -arrogantly, as if saying:</p> - -<p>“Here you have me at your orders.”</p> - -<p>On seeing him Panfilo hastened to meet him.</p> - -<p>“Now yes,” said Roque, “here I am ready to serve you and give you all -you want.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you know what I want; that we shall have a good tussle.”</p> - -<p>“It seems to me that here we have a good place.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, do me the favor,” exclaimed the impetuous Panfilo, drawing -a revolver.</p> - -<p>“Listen to me,” said Roque, drawing his also; “if really you desire that -we shall kill each other,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_321" id="page_321"></a>{321}</span> don’t let us create an excitement. Put away -your pistol and take your machete.”</p> - -<p>“I will do what I please. Are you afraid of the noise?”</p> - -<p>“It is you who should be afraid of the noise, lest they hear us and come -to part us. If we do not succeed at the first shot nothing will come of -it, for they will come and separate us. Is that perhaps what you want?”</p> - -<p>“You are right,” replied Panfilo. “Well, then, there is no time to lose. -Let us get at it.”</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>Soon they found themselves on foot, lame, covered with dust, pale, -horrible. They seemed not men, but fierce beasts.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>The contest could not prolong itself for the combatants were exhausted. -They could scarcely move; but they did not wish to yield, since although -strength failed, anger more than abounded.</p> - -<p>Chance finally settled the contest. When Roque raised his arm to deal a -blow with his machete upon Panfilo’s head, the latter by a quick -movement tried to parry the blow, to save his head from being cleft -open. But he parried it, not with his blade, but with the haft, and the -heavy weapon of his antagonist severed his smaller fingers. With this -there fell to the ground the sword and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_322" id="page_322"></a>{322}</span> amputated fingers; that -tinged with blood, these livid and convulsed.</p> - -<p>“Now, yes, I have lost,” exclaimed the wounded man with a gesture of -grief.</p> - -<p>“Yes, friend,” replied Roque, filled with consternation. “What need was -there of this?”</p> - -<p>“It is a thing of bad luck; who may gain may lose. You have proved me a -man; you cannot deny that.”</p> - -<p>“How have I to deny it? The truth is that you have much courage. Let me -bind your hand with this cloth to see if the blood can be staunched.”</p> - -<p>Saying this Roque wrapped the hand with his great kerchief.</p> - -<p>“Where do you desire that I take you?” he asked. “You cannot go alone.”</p> - -<p>“Go and leave me; do not let them take you prisoner,” replied Panfilo.</p> - -<p>“Though they take me to jail, I will not leave you.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, help me to get near to Chopo. When we are within sight of -the hacienda save yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Wherever you wish; let us walk along.”</p> - -<p>They started. Panfilo advanced with difficulty; he murmured and suffered -with thirst. He stopped frequently to drink in the <i>arroyos</i> and Roque -gave him water in the hollow of his hand.</p> - -<p>“Friend,” he said, “it gives me sorrow to see you so injured.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_323" id="page_323"></a>{323}</span></p> - -<p>“There is no reason; I am to blame.”</p> - -<p>“It had been better that we had not fought.”</p> - -<p>“Why do we speak of this? There is now no remedy.”</p> - -<p>The wounded man was presently unable to walk. Supported on Roque’s arm -he progressed very slowly. Finally it was necessary to carry him like a -child. Thus they came in sight of Chopo. Panfilo did not wish Roque to -carry him farther.</p> - -<p>“May God reward you,” he said to him. “Leave me upon this stone and -hurry away that they may not come to seize you.”</p> - -<p>“Though they seize me, how can I leave you alone?”</p> - -<p>“Every little while the <i>peons</i> and their women pass; they will carry me -to my house. Go.”</p> - -<p>“Good friend, since you wish it, I will go; but one thing is necessary -first; without it I will not go.”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“That we may henceforth be good friends.”</p> - -<p>“With much pleasure—from now on.”</p> - -<p>“Do not hold hatred toward me and forget the things that have happened.”</p> - -<p>“Why should I hold hatred?”</p> - -<p>“Because of what I did.”</p> - -<p>“You did it like a man; it needs naught said.”</p> - -<p>“Then give me the good hand.”</p> - -<p>“Here it is,” answered the wounded man, extending<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_324" id="page_324"></a>{324}</span> his hot left hand. -Roque grasped it with feeling.</p> - -<p>“God grant that you may soon be well,” he murmured.</p> - -<p>“With a maimed hand,” added the wounded man, his pallid and dry lips -contracted in a sad smile.</p> - -<p>“God’s will be done,” said Roque, sympathetically.</p> - -<p>At this moment a whistle was heard from near by.</p> - -<p>“Indeed it is time that you go,” said Panfilo. “Do you not see that -persons are coming?”</p> - -<p>He could scarcely speak; he was on the point of losing consciousness.</p> - -<p>Roque hesitated.</p> - -<p>“How leave you?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Go, if you desire that we be friends; if not, remain.”</p> - -<p>“Then I leave.”</p> - -<p>“Farewell, and run fast that they may not overtake you.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>So urgent and impassioned was his request that the girl was moved in -spite of herself. To quench the sympathy which rose in her bosom she -recalled to herself that he who thus spoke was the nominal friend of -Gonzalo, and on remembering this she felt that for her budding pity was -substituted vexation<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_325" id="page_325"></a>{325}</span> and indignation. Thus this harsh reproach escaped -her lips:</p> - -<p>“And you call yourself the friend of Gonzalo.”</p> - -<p>Had a thunderbolt fallen at the feet of Luis it would not have produced -a more prostrating effect.</p> - -<p>“Gonzalo is my friend, in fact,” he gasped.</p> - -<p>“Not if he knew himself,” insisted Ramona, ironically. “If it were so -you could not have spoken as you have just done.”</p> - -<p>“Then are you yet in relations with him?”</p> - -<p>“You know it very well.”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied the unfortunate youth, pale as a corpse; “I give you my -word as a gentleman that I did not know it. My father told me some days -past that he knew these relations were broken; only for this reason have -I forced myself to reveal to you my love. I may endure the fact that you -do not love me, since such is my lot, but I cannot be willing that you -should consider me disloyal. I desire that you should esteem me even if -you may not love me.”</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>The youth in the meantime had arrived at his home, mounted his horse and -immediately sallied forth to the house of Luis. He sent a message to his -former friend by a servant, begging him that he would come outside, -which Medina did immediately, well bred and polite as he was.</p> - -<p>“Gonzalo!” said Medina, extending his hand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_326" id="page_326"></a>{326}</span></p> - -<p>“I come to arrange with you a very serious matter,” replied our youth, -without extending his.</p> - -<p>“You have me at your orders,” replied Luis, exchanging the friendly -expression of his face for another more severe.</p> - -<p>“Only we cannot do it here. Mount your horse and take your arms. I await -you.”</p> - -<p>And by the contraction of his features and the pallor of his -countenance, Medina knew that Gonzalo had come on a warlike errand, and -was not slow in divining what was the cause of his annoyance. Without -replying a single word he entered the house and soon reappeared and -mounted his horse, with a pistol at his belt and a sword at the saddle. -“Here you have me,” he said to Gonzalo.</p> - -<p>“Come,” replied Gonzalo, “let us go to the field.”</p> - -<p>Together they took the street which most quickly would bring them to the -end of the village, and went a considerable stretch outside the town. -Leaving the road they went into the meadows and stopped at a little open -space formed by four immense <i>camichines</i>, which, extending over the -space, their broad, flat and immovable boughs projected a dense and -heavy shadow around.</p> - -<p>“I have brought you to this spot,” said Gonzalo, stopping his horse, -“because it is retired and no one may see or hear us. It is unnecessary -to enter into explanations; you know how gravely<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_327" id="page_327"></a>{327}</span> you have offended me, -and in what way. That is sufficient. Now I desire that you shall give me -satisfaction with arms in hand.”</p> - -<p>“Although I am not valiant, I have some dignity and never will I yield -before an enemy who challenges me,” answered Luis, tranquilly; “but I -have one remark to make to you, which is, that my conscience does not -reproach me with having done anything to offend you.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I was expecting that you would deny responsibility for your acts. -Anything else was impossible.”</p> - -<p>“Moderate your words. Do not let us pass to a serious occasion without -some rational cause.”</p> - -<p>“Pretext,” cried Gonzalo; “you do not desire to fight. You are a -coward.” Saying this he placed his hand upon his pistol for a moment. -Luis was livid and acted as if he would follow his example; but he -stopped and left his arm in place, recalling his promise to Ramona at -the ball.</p> - -<p>“One moment,” he said, “only one moment; if you are a man and not a -brute, as you seem to be, you must first hear me. By my mother’s honor, -I assure you that I am disposed to fight; but not before we understand -each other. What is the matter?”</p> - -<p>“You love Ramona. Deny that if you can.”</p> - -<p>“God save me from committing such a vile act! It is true.”</p> - -<p>“You have courted her.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_328" id="page_328"></a>{328}</span></p> - -<p>“That is true.”</p> - -<p>“You danced with her the night of the <i>fiesta</i>.”</p> - -<p>“That also is true.”</p> - -<p>“You made a declaration of love to her.”</p> - -<p>“I cannot deny that.”</p> - -<p>“You are a shameless being, because you knew she was my sweetheart and -that we were engaged to be married.”</p> - -<p>“That is not true.”</p> - -<p>Gonzalo threw upon Luis a glance of infinite contempt on hearing these -words.</p> - -<p>“You are a wretch,” he cried, “and it is necessary that I punish you. -Defend yourself.”</p> - -<p>“Assassinate me if you wish; I will not draw my pistol until you have -heard me. Come, dispatch me; here you have me,” and he exposed his -breast to his challenger.</p> - -<p>“There is nothing to do but hear you in order to quit you of every -excuse for your cowardice. Speak, and hurry, for I am impatient to -punish you.”</p> - -<p>“I call God to witness that I believed your love relations with Ramona -were broken. Don Miguel had told my father that with absolute certainty. -Every one in Citala asserted the same. You did not come to town, and as -your father and Don Miguel were quarreling it seemed to me probable and -I believed it. For this reason I made love to Ramona. Had it not been -for this I would have remained silent, as I have been silent for so -many<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_329" id="page_329"></a>{329}</span> years, for my love to her is nothing new. I have always had it. -Ramona informed me of my error, and accused me of perversity and -treason, as you have just done. She herself can tell you how astonished -I was when I learned that it was not true that all was ended between you -and that you still loved each other. It caused me infinite grief. Now,” -pursued the youth, “that you have heard me, I have done, and am at your -orders.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>The caravan for some leagues journeyed silently, but seeing that the -storm approached, the sergeant neared himself to one of the soldiers and -said to him in a low voice:</p> - -<p>“The storm is coming; here is a good place.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we have already gone six leagues and there has not been one person -on the road.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, let us at once to what we have to do; then let us get back -to the pueblo.”</p> - -<p>“That is what I say,” responded the soldier.</p> - -<p>“Go on then, you already know what you have to do; see if you can do it. -I pretend not to look; I will fall behind.”</p> - -<p>“I go then to see what happens.”</p> - -<p>The soldier drew near to Roque.</p> - -<p>“What cheer, friend? How goes it?”</p> - -<p>“Diabolically, friend. How do you expect it goes with me with these -cords?” replied the prisoner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_330" id="page_330"></a>{330}</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, it must go very unpleasantly. Why don’t you smoke a cigarette?”</p> - -<p>“Friend, impossible. Don’t you see that I go tied?”</p> - -<p>“<span class="lftspc">’</span>Tis true, I see it with pity. Now you will see what we will do. At -last the sergeant has fallen behind and will not see us. I’m going to -untie you to give you a little rest.”</p> - -<p>“But will not the sergeant see it? Thank you much; but will he not see?”</p> - -<p>“Have no concern; anyway it is very dark.”</p> - -<p>And the soldier leaned over and untied the knot which held Roque’s -hands.</p> - -<p>“May God reward you, friend,” said he, stretching his arms in front of -him; “I was very tired. But tell me, why are your hands so cold? Are you -chilled?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing is the matter with me. The air is damp. But, take a cigarette. -Here is the light;”—and he reined up.</p> - -<p>The unsuspecting Roque rolled the cigarette and lighted it by that which -the soldier was smoking. They then went on, talking. After talking for a -little time of indifferent matters the gendarme said:</p> - -<p>“Man, friend, I sympathize with you and it pains me that you are going -to jail.”</p> - -<p>“There is no alternative, friend! Some day I will be out. Anyway the -jail does not eat people.”</p> - -<p>“Good; but it is always atrocious to be a prisoner, and God knows for -how long. Why not<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_331" id="page_331"></a>{331}</span> escape. I will dissemble and you will run. I will -fire into the air and you race along into the country and no one can -find you.”</p> - -<p>“I am afraid they will shoot me.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be afraid; I will help you.”</p> - -<p>The unfortunate man fell into the snare.</p> - -<p>“Do you say it seriously? Are you not fooling?”</p> - -<p>“I advise you in earnest. All you need is courage.”</p> - -<p>“But you tell me when.”</p> - -<p>“Right now—race along before the sergeant comes.”</p> - -<p>Roque gave rein to his horse and urged it with quick strokes of his -heels against its flanks, but he hardly succeeded in making it take a -slow and measured gallop. He had gone but a few steps when a report -sounded just behind him and a bullet passed, grazing the brim of his -<i>sombrero</i>.</p> - -<p>“Zounds,” he murmured, “what a scare this man has aimed to give me.”</p> - -<p>And instinctively he tried to place himself in the field at one side of -the road to hide himself in the brambles. But there was no time for -anything. For all his urging the horse would not do better than his -little gallop. He heard the nearing band of horses and various shots -sounded. Then he understood that he had fallen into a trap and that he -was about to lose his life through it. Impelled by the instinct of -self-preservation, he tried to dismount<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_332" id="page_332"></a>{332}</span> to seek shelter; but it was too -late. The gendarmes were upon him, firing with their rifles.</p> - -<p>“Jesus help me! Mother receive my spirit!” he said in thought, and fell -penetrated by the bullets. Two had entered at the shoulders and emerged -at the chest, and the third entered at the neck and destroyed the skull.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>What was it which the terrified Diaz then saw? Upon a plank, borne by -four peasants, tied down with coarse cords, was a corpse, rigid and -yellow. The miserable clothing which covered it, coarse cotton drawers -and shirt, was soaked with blood, principally upon the breast, where the -abundant and coagulated flow had darkened and become almost black. Above -the forehead, in the black harsh hair, matted and stiffened with blood, -were visible clots of red, mingled with whitish bits of brain. The livid -face, turned toward heaven, bore an expression of anguish which was -heart-rending; the eyes half opened and glazed fascinated by their -glance; and the opened mouth, dark and full of earth, seemed to exhale -inaudible groans and complaints.</p> - -<p>The <i>gendarmes</i> surrounded the body and the curious crowd followed it. -In the midst of the group a woman walked, weeping and uttering cries of -grief. She carried a babe at her breast—bearing it with her left arm, -and as well as she could led<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_333" id="page_333"></a>{333}</span> with her right another boy about four -years old, barefoot and tattered.</p> - -<p>“Roque! my Roque! my husband,” cried the miserable woman. “They have -killed my husband! They have killed him! Children! My little ones! Poor -little ones! They are orphans! What shall I do? What shall I do? What -shall I do? Ay! Ay! Ay!”</p> - -<p>In passing close to Don Miguel she saw him and said to him, sobbing:</p> - -<p>“Señor Don Miguel, do you see? They have killed my husband! That is what -is there on the board! What shall I do Señor Don Miguel? What shall I -do? Ay! Ay! Ay!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_334" id="page_334"></a>{334}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="MANUEL_SANCHES_MARMOL" id="MANUEL_SANCHES_MARMOL"></a>MANUEL SÁNCHES MÁRMOL.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_334_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_334_sml.jpg" width="203" height="278" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Manuel Sánches Mármol was born in the State of Tabasco. He displayed a -literary tendency very early, and, while still a student, collaborated -in such literary reviews as <i>La Guirnalda</i> (The Garland), <i>El Album -Yucateco</i> (The Yucatecan Album), and <i>El Repertorio pintoresco</i> (The -Picturesque Repertoire). His first essays in the field of fiction were -<i>El Misionero de la Cruz</i> (The Missionary of the Cross), and <i>La -Venganza de una injuria</i> (The Revenge of an Injury).<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_335" id="page_335"></a>{335}</span></p> - -<p>At the time of the French Intervention, he joined the Republican forces. -He acted as Secretary of State of Tabasco, and aroused the patriotism of -his fellows by his writings. He founded <i>El Aguila Azteca</i> (The Aztec -Eagle), a paper devoted entirely to the national cause. During this -period of disturbance he was a Deputy to the State Legislature, -Secretary of Colonel Gregorio Méndez, and his Auditor of War. The course -of local events during this stormy period was largely directed by him. -(See <a href="#page_148">p. 148</a>.)</p> - -<p>After the war had passed, Manuel Sánches Mármol continued his activity -both in politics and letters. He has been Magistrate of the Supreme -Court of the State of Tabasco, several times member of the Federal -Congress, Director and Founder of the <i>Instituto Juarez</i> of Tabasco. He -has constantly contributed to those periodicals which represent the most -pronounced liberal ideas—as <i>El Siglo XIX</i> (The Nineteenth Century), -<i>La Sombra de Guerrero</i> (The Shade of Guerrero), <i>El Radical</i> and <i>El -Federalista</i>. He represented Mexico in the second Pan-American Congress, -which met in the City of Mexico in 1902. He is now Professor of History -in the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> (National Preparatory School).</p> - -<p>Besides his early essays in fiction, he has written the following -novels—<i>Pocahontas</i>, <i>Juanita Sousa</i>, and <i>Antón Pérez</i> (titles -untranslatable, as being<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_336" id="page_336"></a>{336}</span> personal names). He has now in press <i>Piedad</i> -(Mercy), and is preparing three others.</p> - -<p>Our selections are taken from <i>Antón Pérez</i>, a novel dealing with the -French Intervention in Tabasco. Antón Pérez was the son of poor but -decent parents, but was <i>pardo</i> (“<i>dark</i>”), a fact certain to be to his -disadvantage, no matter what abilities he might possess. Having gone -through the public school of the village, he attracted the attention of -the priests, who had newly come to his town, the villa of Cunduacán. -Their school was below Antón’s needs but the good priests taught him -privately to the extent of their ability. He was their trusted protege -and they encouraged him to high hope of a brilliant future. In the -parochial school for girls was Rosalba del Riego. She was ugly and -unattractive but of good family and aristocratic connection. She adored -the big boy, handsome as a picture, who studied with the priests and -aided them in all ways, occupying quite a lofty place in their little -world, but her admiration merely irritated him, as it called down upon -him the laughter of the little school boys. When Antón had learned all -that his patrons could teach him they tried to secure for him a -scholarship at the <i>Seminario</i>, at Merida; the effort appeared likely to -be successful, but it failed;—a youth with more powerful influence -behind him securing the appointment. The blow was keenly felt by the -poor and ambitious boy. Soon after, his father<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_337" id="page_337"></a>{337}</span> died, the old priests -left for new fields, and two old aunts who have been to him in place of -mother depended upon him for support. The brilliant dreams of a career -faded; life’s realities fell upon the boy. He was equal, however, to the -demands and earned enough for their modest needs. He was busy, useful, -respected, and content. He was lieutenant of the local guard and had -some notions of military drill and practice. Meantime his little -admirer, Rosalba, completed her education outside the State, and, at -last, returned transformed. Beautiful as a dream, brilliant, educated, -she was immediately the centre of attraction in the town. Antón was -madly in love with her. But her childish admiration had given place -to—at least, apparent—aversion. She insulted him openly on account of -his inferior position. Rosalba had a maiden aunt, Doña Socorro -Castrejón. Just as Antón’s love for Rosalba arose, Doña Socorro saw the -boy, appreciated his handsome face and fine bearing, and was smitten -with an infatuation, which had only a passionate and unworthy basis. She -was a scheming and intriguing woman but not without charms and -brilliancy. When events were in this condition the French Intervention -took place. The foreign forces appeared in Tabasco; the governor, -Dueñas, traitorously yielded the capital; later, pretending to arrange -for local defense, he scattered the forces, so that they could present -no obstacle to the invader. One after another<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_338" id="page_338"></a>{338}</span> these separated bodies of -the national guard suffered defection. The Doña Socorro was an ardent -imperialist. Antón, at Cunduacán, was lieutenant of the yet loyal -forces, under Colonel Méndez. One day, while Colonel Méndez and his -brother, Captain Méndez, were breakfasting with a friend Doña Socorro -influenced Antón to “pronounce,” with his soldiers, in favor of the -Empire. His deed was represented, in brilliant colors to the young -commander of the Imperial forces, Arévalo, and Antón was rewarded. He -was the confidential friend and trusted adviser of Arévalo, and, for a -time, all their plans prospered. But Gregorio Méndez and Sánchez -Magellanes gathered a handful of loyal men and made a stand. A battle -was fought, the invading forces looking for an easy victory; they met -with dire defeat. Antón Pérez was mortally wounded. The death of the -youth, who had sacrificed loyalty, patriotism, and honor, to a foolish -love, is depicted in dreadful detail.</p> - -<h3>EXTRACTS FROM ANTÓN PÉREZ.</h3> - -<p>Doña Socorro was somewhat irritated, that the compliment for which she -sought was not given, and that only her niece was praised. She -controlled herself, however, merely saying inwardly—“what a fool the -boy is! he must be waked up.” Then she said aloud:</p> - -<p>“Well, since you do not care to stay, feel that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_339" id="page_339"></a>{339}</span> I am interested in your -welfare. I should like to see you at my house, tomorrow.”</p> - -<p>“I will be there, madam,” Anton answered respectfully. And slipping, -timidly, through the crowd of guests, directing a furtive glance at -Rosalba, he went to his work at the humble desk in Ajágan’s shop.</p> - -<p>But he could not keep track of the figures; sums and differences came -out badly; everything was topsy-turvy; seven times six was forty-eight -and five would not contain three. His head was in a whirl. That night he -could not sleep.</p> - -<p>In the morning, he performed his usual duties and at midday, his heart -high with vague, happy hopes, he went to his appointment with Doña -Socorro.</p> - -<p>He was expected. The lady received him with expressive signs of -affection, and seating him, said:</p> - -<p>“I have invited you here for your own good. You are poor; I wish to aid -you. Do not be ashamed; speak to me frankly. What are your resources for -living? Go into full particulars.”</p> - -<p>Antón lowered his eyes and turned his hat around and around in his -hands, until the lady again encouraged him:</p> - -<p>“Go on; don’t be brief. Speak! boy.”</p> - -<p>“Well then, lady,” answered the young man, hesitatingly, “I can’t say -that it is so bad; I earn my twenty-five pesos a month.”</p> - -<p>“And from whom?”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_340" id="page_340"></a>{340}</span></p> - -<p>“From what persons, you mean”—continued Antón, with somewhat greater -frankness,—“why then, Don Ascencio Ajágan gives me ten pesos because, -every night, I go there for a little while to make up his accounts and -to write a letter or two. Master Collado pays me five pesos for the -class in arithmetic, which I teach in the public school; another five, -the receiver of taxes, who scarcely knows how to sign his name, pays me -for balancing his accounts at the end of the month; and the other five -the town treasurer gives me for doing the same.”</p> - -<p>“That is not bad; but Collado and the collector pay you a miserable -price.”</p> - -<p>“The latter, perhaps, yes; but the other, no—he receives a salary of -barely twenty-five. As much as I earn.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, well! bid farewell to Master Collado and Ajágan, and the collector -and the town treasurer, and enter my employ. <i>La Ermita</i> is wretchedly -cared for; mayorsdomos succeed one another and all rob me. You shall go -to <i>La Ermita</i> as manager, with house and table, horses for your use, -servants to do your bidding—that is to say, as master, because you will -command there; the twenty-five pesos per month, which you now earn by -your varied labors, will continue to be paid you and in addition fifteen -per cent of the annual income of the place. I am making you not a bad -offer!”<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_341" id="page_341"></a>{341}</span></p> - -<p>“No, indeed, lady! I appreciate that it is more than liberal; but, I -cannot accept it.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?” asked Doña Socorro, thoroughly vexed.</p> - -<p>“Because, I must not abandon my good aunts.”</p> - -<p>“You need not do so. <i>La Ermita</i> is only three leagues from here; a mere -nothing. You can come here in the evenings, Saturdays, to spend Sundays, -and Mondays you are at your duties again. Finally, in case they are not -satisfied, take them out to the place.”</p> - -<p>“They were not made for country life; still, for my good, they would -make the sacrifice. But there is another—an insuperable—difficulty.”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“I do not understand rural affairs and one who controls should know what -he commands. I would not know where to begin; there would be neither -head nor foot, and you would gain nothing, with your unhappy -administrator.”</p> - -<p>“What I gain or do not gain, does not concern you; it is not your -affair. If you do not know rural affairs, I will instruct you, and, as -you are not stupid, you will be, within two months, more dexterous than -San Ysidro<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> himself. When shall we begin, come now?”</p> - -<p>“But, lady, I am sorry; I believe I will not go. Agriculture does not -attract me. The few studies I have made do not tend thither.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_342" id="page_342"></a>{342}</span></p> - -<p>“Ah! You aim at a literary career, to some public office!” replied Doña -Socorro, sneeringly.</p> - -<p>“Do not make sport of me, lady; I know right well, that I shall never -fill the position of a general or a magistrate. You asked me to be -frank, and I frankly admit that I have my aspirations.”</p> - -<p>“Very good—what difficulty is that. Better and better. Go and fill this -position, save money, put yourself in contact with people of -consequence, and from <i>La Ermita</i>, you may go to be Regidor, or -something higher. You know well that Alcaldes, and even Jefes Politicos, -come from the country-places. What hinders?”</p> - -<p>“Really, lady, speaking plainly, the position does not attract me in the -least.”</p> - -<p>“H’m!—You are not telling me the truth; at least, you are concealing -something from me—something—what is the real cause of your refusal?”</p> - -<p>Antón maintained silence: the lady urged him.</p> - -<p>“Why are you not frank with me—who care so much for you?”</p> - -<p>“It is”—he stammered—“the truth is that just now, less than ever, do I -care to leave the town.”</p> - -<p>“Come, come, tell it all”—insisted the lady, piqued with lively -curiosity—“who is your sweetheart?”</p> - -<p>“Sweetheart?—No; indeed I would rather—<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_343" id="page_343"></a>{343}</span>—”</p> - -<p>“Yes, indeed; who?”</p> - -<p>“I say she is not my sweetheart—Perhaps——”</p> - -<p>“Finish, man—perhaps what?”</p> - -<p>“She may come to be——”</p> - -<p>“And, who is the girl? Do I know her?”</p> - -<p>“Very well.”</p> - -<p>While Antón was silent, Doña Socorro thought over the riddle, and, after -some minutes, declared:</p> - -<p>“I’m sure I don’t know, child; give me a clew.”</p> - -<p>“She is your relative.”</p> - -<p>The lady passed over in her thought, to whom Antón could allude, and -could not imagine which one of her relatives, the poor and obscure youth -presumed to win. Suddenly, like a flash, came the remembrance of the -words, which he had pronounced when she invited him to remain at the -party; but it was a thing so unheard of, so unthinkable, that she dared -not mention the name, but desired to assure herself, indirectly, that -she was not on a false trail.</p> - -<p>“Was she at the party last night?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Antón replied by a nod of his head. The lady was confounded; her face -lengthened, her eyes rounded, her mouth opened, and she exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Rosalba!—well, but, you are a fool!”</p> - -<p>Antón was stupefied; it seemed as if the ground sank under him and he -was raised into the air. Why, was he a fool?</p> - -<p>Doña Socorro saw the boy’s emotion and something<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_344" id="page_344"></a>{344}</span> like pity stirred -within her. Certain that, later, this senseless delirium would vanish, -she said to him:</p> - -<p>“Poor child! You will get over it. When you decide to accept my offer, -you know that I am here. Think well over it. I wish only your own good.”</p> - -<p>Antón, overwhelmed, could scarcely murmur a “thank you, madam,” rose -half tremblingly and walked away, with bowed head.</p> - -<p>Doña Socorro remained absorbed in reflection. “To think of it—but the -child aims high—to aspire to Rosalba—he is handsome—who would have -thought it—decidedly, he is a fool.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>Doña Socorro, attentive to what was passing in the Republican ranks, -prompt to aid the triumph of her cause, had displayed all the resources -of her astuteness to complete the demoralization of the remnants of the -brigade and to foment desertion. Her efforts were meeting abundant -success and in seeing the resources of war which had been grouped around -Dueñas, completely disorganized, she was greatly rejoiced. Not content, -however, with such signal successes, when she saw the companies of the -coast guard,—the most loyal to the Republic—evacuate the villa, to the -loyalty of which the Méndez brothers entrusted themselves for some -hours, she had an inspiration, truly worthy<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_345" id="page_345"></a>{345}</span> of her brain. She conceived -the idea of capturing the two officers, to offer to Arévalo, as a prized -trophy. How to realize it? It was not beyond her power—capable as she -was, of all in the domain of evil.</p> - -<p>There was Antón Pérez; Rosalba would be the incentive.</p> - -<p>“Paulina! Paulina!” she called, and a servant appeared.</p> - -<p>“Run, at once, to the barracks; ask for Lieutenant Pérez, and urge him, -from me, to come here immediately.”</p> - -<p>Pauline departed, encountered Antón, and gave the message; the -lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and replied, with evident dislike:</p> - -<p>“I will come presently: I am busy, now.”</p> - -<p>No more than five minutes had elapsed, when the servant returned with -new and more urgent summons to Antón, who displayed no more interest -than before, responding abruptly:</p> - -<p>“I will come.”</p> - -<p>Doña Socorro was dying with impatience; the moments seemed like hours to -her and she paced restlessly to and from the door anxious for Antón’s -coming; but, he came not.</p> - -<p>Tired of waiting, she resolutely entered her room, threw a <i>rebozo</i> over -her shoulders, and went directly to the door of the barracks. Without -her having to announce herself, a soldier ran to give notice to the -lieutenant of the presence of the lady;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_346" id="page_346"></a>{346}</span> this time, unable to escape, he -advanced to the encounter.</p> - -<p>Doña Socorro, plainly desirous of losing no time, threw aside her -natural pride, and without a word of reproach to Antón, said, with -affected surprise:</p> - -<p>“But, what are you doing! child? Now is your time.”</p> - -<p>“I do not understand, madam.”</p> - -<p>“Then you are not in this world. If you let this chance escape, farewell -to your hopes.”</p> - -<p>“But, I do not understand, madam.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! come now! then you no longer think of Rosalba——”</p> - -<p>“As God is my witness, madam; with greater desperation, now, than ever.”</p> - -<p>“Then, today is when you ought not to despair; today your hopes are -realized. Your fate is in your own hands.”</p> - -<p>“In my hands?” exclaimed the astonished youth.</p> - -<p>“In your own hands, boy; Rosalba will be yours.”</p> - -<p>“Where is she?” he asked yet more surprised.</p> - -<p>“Here in your barracks.”</p> - -<p>Antón believed Doña Socorro was trifling with him, but she, without -giving time for further surprises, hastened to explain herself.</p> - -<p>“You know that our party, the Imperialist, is composed of the best -people of the country. If<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_347" id="page_347"></a>{347}</span> you join it, you will come into contact with -the most elevated classes. Rosalba does not respond to your love for -sheer pride, not because she is not interested in you, not because she -does not love you—it is <i>I</i>, who tell this to you,—when she sees that -you are not the insignificant ‘<i>pardo</i>’ of the village but a personage -of consequence, or even of importance, she will herself make the -advances and will surrender herself to you. I tell you true. Come—now -or never! Place yourself in the first line, become the chief authority -in the town, and who knows what more.—Your happiness depends upon -yourself; it is in your own hands. Enter your barracks, ‘pronounce’ -yourself and your soldiers for the Empire, and that the blow may be -decisive, that you may at a single bound reach the greatest height, go -and seize the two Méndez brothers, who are breakfasting at the house of -Sánchez, make them prisoners, and you will gain the full favor and -protection of General Arévolo. Go! do not hesitate.”</p> - -<p>Doña Socorro had launched this speech at one breath, accompanying her -words with gestures and posturings which the most consummate -elocutionist might envy.</p> - -<p>Poor Antón felt his head whirl; he was taken by surprise and only -ventured this one objection:</p> - -<p>“Pronounce myself, yes; but capture my old chief, who has loved me well, -madam, that is too much! I have not the bravado for such a thing.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_348" id="page_348"></a>{348}</span></p> - -<p>“But what harm are you going to do to him, innocent? Do you think he -runs any danger with Arévalo?”</p> - -<p>“Who can say that he does not?”</p> - -<p>“No one; no one. Perhaps he will catch them in arms on the field? No; on -the contrary, they will become great friends, and the two Méndez will -join our party also. Above all, it is to your interest to raise yourself -as nearly to Rosalba’s level as possible, to dazzle her——”</p> - -<p>“Very well, madam,” murmured Antón, with a trembling voice.</p> - -<p>Without further hesitation, he entered the barracks, spoke with the two -sergeants of the dwindled company, bade them form it, rapidly exchanged -words with his men, and, then, drawing his sword and facing the files, -cried out—his voice still trembling:</p> - -<p>“Boys! <i>viva el Imperio!</i>” (May the Empire live).</p> - -<p>“Viva!” (may it live)—one soldier answered.</p> - -<p>“Sergeant Beltran,” said Antón, “fifteen men with you to guard the -barracks; twenty-five, with Sergeant Federico, may follow me.”</p> - -<p>The order was carried out to the letter, and at the head of his -twenty-five men, Antón marched to the house, where the two Méndez -brothers were gaily breakfasting.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the colonel exclaimed, “Impossible,” denying Don -Vencho’s report, there<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_349" id="page_349"></a>{349}</span> was heard, on the walk in front, the sound of -guns, on falling to rest.</p> - -<p>“Sergeant Federico!” ordered Antón, “advance and order Colonel Méndez -and the officers who accompany him to yield themselves prisoners.”</p> - -<p>There was no necessity for the sergeant to enter, since Captain Méndez -rushed out at once, and standing, from the opposite sidewalk, with hair -bristling and eyes flashing, as if he were the personification of -indignation, burst forth in these cries, which issued in a torrent from -his frothing lips:</p> - -<p>“Bravo! Lieutenant Pérez! Thus you fulfil the oath of fealty, which you -swore to your flag! thus do you employ the arms which your country -placed in your hands for her defence! Traitors! traitors to your native -land! What do you seek here? What wish you, of us? Assassinate us! We -shall not defend ourselves. Lieutenant Pérez, complete your crime, -fulfil your part as assassins! Here, am I! let them kill,” and, saying -this, he stepped forward and drawing back the lapel of his coat, bared -his breast. “What delays them? Traitors! Assassins!”</p> - -<p>At that moment a soldier among those who heard the violent and insulting -reproach raised his gun. Antón Pérez saw it and drawing his sword, threw -himself upon the soldier, crying:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_350" id="page_350"></a>{350}</span></p> - -<p>“Lower that gun! The first man who attempts to aim, I will run him -through.”</p> - -<p>Captain Méndez continued:</p> - -<p>“I prefer death to the ignominy of finding myself in your company. -Traitors! Assassins!”</p> - -<p>“Assassins, we are not, my captain, that you have already seen,” replied -Antón.</p> - -<p>“I am not the captain of bandit-traitors, ex-Lieutenant Pérez.”</p> - -<p>“We are not traitors,” returned Pérez, “we desire to save our country, -from Yankee usurpation.”</p> - -<p>“To save it indeed! and give it over to the foreigner! noble patriots! -famous Mexicans!” continued Méndez. “Would that I had no eyes to behold -you! Would that I were a lightning-stroke to destroy you. Cursed race! -race of scorpions, who repay our country, our sacred motherland, by -stinging her to the heart. One last word, Lieutenant Pérez; in the name -of our native land, in the name of that oath of fealty, which you swore -to the flag, in the name of a man’s sacred duty, I implore you to fulfil -your obligations as a soldier, as a Mexican, as a man. Lay down those -arms which you are converting from sacred to infamous. Lieutenant Pérez; -worthy fellows of Cunduacán, <i>Viva la Republica</i>.”</p> - -<p>No one responded.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>The moon, in its second quarter, shed a yellowing light through the -trees and impressed upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_351" id="page_351"></a>{351}</span> night an infinite sadness. When the beams -of dawn came, that funereal light paled, until completely extinguished, -and the sky became tinted with a rosy flush, which kindled in measure as -the new day neared. A trembling of leaves agitated the branches at the -awakening of the birds, which after shaking themselves, took silently to -flight. Suddenly earth and trees appeared enveloped in dense fog, as if -a night of whiteness had substituted itself for that, which had just -ended. The fog, thinned little by little, until it seemed like heaps of -spider webs, piled one on another, through the elastic meshes of which -was seen a sun of polished silver. Suddenly the spider webs broke into a -thousand tatters, falling to the ground, converted into a tenuous rain, -and the day shone forth in full splendor. The trees gleamed in their -beauteous verdure, the flowers of vines and the morningglories opened -their chalices, sprinkled with dew drops, to the glowing and incestuous -kisses of their father and lover, the regal star of day. Meantime Antón -Pérez, in an agony, which seemed endless, lay at the foot of the -oak-tree, which, indifferent, spread forth its broad and abundant leaves -to the solar heat.</p> - -<p>In fact, Antón Pérez, braced between the roots of the tree, in the -immovableness of death, the life concentrated in his eyes, participated -in his own torture, like those guilty immortals, whom Alighieri’s -pitiless fancy created. Bloodless, annihilated, yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_352" id="page_352"></a>{352}</span> he felt himself -living. Who ever had seen the gleam of his eyes, would have known that -his conscience was accusing him. What implacable moral law had he -broken, that his punishment should be so horribly prolonged, by his -marvelous vitality? Was it because he had loved madly? that he had -aspired to raise himself to a sphere higher than that, in which he had -been born? that he had endured, perhaps disgracefully, the scorn and the -disdain of the human being whom he had worshiped? Why had he not -deserved Rosalba? Why had God made her so bewitching? <i>Where</i> was his -sin? Perhaps that he had passed from the flag of the Republic to the -Imperial standards? And was he, perchance, the only one? Were not a -thousand distinguished Mexicans aiding and defending the new cause, -shown to be pleasing to Heaven, by the rapidity with which it had spread -and gained proselytes? Did not God’s ministers suggest it in the -confessional and, even, preach it in the pulpit? Was not that cause, -indeed, to be the savior of Mexico?—Where was his sin? Thus, in his -moments of lucidity, the unhappy condemned being thought, and then fell -into lethargies from which he again, presently, aroused himself. How -slow and tedious the passage of the hours! And the sun continued to -mount at its accustomed speed and, now, gained its greatest height. -Piercing through the leafy branches, its rays designed odd patches of -sunlight on the ground which every<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_353" id="page_353"></a>{353}</span> breeze complicated into fantastic -deformations. The nymph of light amused herself at her fancy, with such -sports.</p> - -<p>At one moment, Antón raised his gaze, and before him, perched upon the -pointed leaf of a <i>cocoyol</i>, found that he, at last, had a companion in -that loneliness; it was a buzzard, which looked at him fixedly, moving -his neck regularly, up and down, as one who meditates. The presence of -that living being caused Antón a vague sensation of comfort; that, even, -was much, at the end of so long and complete abandonment, to see in his -last moments that he was not alone in the world. He then fell into a -syncope,—condition which now came on more frequently and lasted, each -time longer, sign that his agony was nearing its end. On returning to -himself, he mechanically turned his gaze to the palm-tree and saw that -now there was not only one, but three, of the buzzards, which with the -same nodding movement of the neck, and with no less attention, looked at -him. A sinister and dreadful thought shot through his sluggish brain; -those birds were there, in expectation of his death, to devour him. -Then, a horror of death seized him; a shudder of dread passed through -his nerves, and he longed that his miserable existence might be -prolonged, with the hope that some human being might draw near and -discover him. The nervous disturbance, which that idea produced, -provoked a new unconsciousness. On recovery, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_354" id="page_354"></a>{354}</span> could see that not -three, but a considerable number of vultures had settled on the palm and -on the neighboring trees. He believed they might take him for already -dead, and to let them see that he was not, he attempted to raise and -move his left arm, which, with enormous effort, he succeeded in doing. -The scavengers seemed to understand their error since they looked at one -another, exchanging guttural croakings. But night,—last refuge to which -Antón trusted against the danger of being torn to pieces, while yet -alive,—showed no signs of approach. It was now his duty to preserve the -little remaining life. The vultures, on the contrary, ought to be -impatient to gorge themselves with the banquet which they had before -them, since others were constantly arriving, hovering, and settling, on -the neighboring tree-tops, where they formed moving spots of black.</p> - -<p>One, bolder than the rest, descended from the branch, on which he -rested, to the ground and, like an explorer, was cautiously approaching -Antón, who, divining, in his last gleams of lucidity, the purpose of the -bird, renewed the effort, which he had made before, and continued to -raise and, even, shake, his arm and to bend his undamaged leg, at the -moments, when the buzzard stretched out his neck to give the first peck. -The carrion-eater drew back his head and retreated a few steps, but did -not take to flight. Encouraged by this his companions descended, one by -one, from the tree<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_355" id="page_355"></a>{355}</span> and took possession of the space around, forming a -semi-circle at the foot of the oak-tree.</p> - -<p>Perhaps, through an instinctive respect to man’s superiority, felt by -other animals, even though seeing him helpless, the line of vultures -remained at a considerable distance from Antón and limited themselves to -contemplating him, nodding and stretching out their heads, and -repeatedly croaking. A Hoffmanesque fancy would have seen, in them, a -group of zealots in prayer, making reverence.</p> - -<p>But this did not last long. One of the vultures ventured to dash at the -head of Antón, who still had enough energy to guard himself against the -attack, raising his arm and striking the bird with his fist, so that it -returned to stand on the ground again, though without any sign of fear. -The effort Antón had made was so great that he fell into a new stupor. -The same vulture again raised himself, but not to dash directly upon the -dying man; he hovered a moment over his head and, then, hurling himself -upon Antón’s face, tore out, at a single clutch, his right eye. The pain -was so intense that the victim not only returned to consciousness but -gave a cry of agony, which echoed like the last shriek of one who dies -exhausted under torture. Yet, he could, by an instinctive sentiment of -preservation, turn his head, so that the left eye was protected by the -tree trunk. Then he felt that the crowd of vultures fell to tearing his -clothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_356" id="page_356"></a>{356}</span>, doubtless to discover his wounds, to commence there with -devouring him. So it happened. The shattered leg was the first to suffer -tearing by the beaks, which tugged at the already lifeless tendons and -muscles; his arm, though somewhat protected by the astrakan, which, -finally, with no little difficulty, the vultures ripped open, was not -long in suffering the same fate. Suddenly, Antón turned his face, which -bore a frightful expression of pain, for which he had no sounds to -express. A powerful beak had seized the anterior, branchial, muscle and -was pulling furiously at it. The involuntary movement was fatal to -Antón. Other vultures cast themselves upon the exposed face and dragged -out the left eye. The last suffering of the unfortunate was only -indicated by a convulsive trembling of all his members. He felt as if a -black pall, very black, heavy, very heavy, fell upon him and then there -came over him a sentiment of the profoundest joy—perhaps, that his -nerves could no longer carry a sensation to his brain. The mouth opened, -closed, and he lost himself, forever, in the night without end, in the -loving bosom of Mother Nature, who received the remains of that -organism, her creation, to decompose it into its component elements, and -then to distribute these, as the materials of other organisms, in the -endless chain of life.</p> - -<p>Meantime, that other night, which with the sun engenders time and, with -him, divides it, began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_357" id="page_357"></a>{357}</span> envelop the earth, and the carrion-eaters, -not accustomed to eat in darkness, abandoned Antón’s corpse and perched -themselves on the neighboring branches, to await the feast until the -following day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_358" id="page_358"></a>{358}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="PORFIRIO_PARRA" id="PORFIRIO_PARRA"></a>PORFIRIO PARRA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_358_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_358_sml.jpg" width="206" height="285" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Porfirio Parra was born in the State of Chihuahua. In 1869, when he was -scarcely fourteen years of age, he was voted a sum of money by the State -Legislature, to take him to the City of Mexico for purposes of study. -From 1870 to 1872, he attended the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> -(National Preparatory School), where he stood first in his classes and -where his conduct was so exemplary, as to gain him state aid until the -time of his graduation. In 1871, entering the competition<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_359" id="page_359"></a>{359}</span> for the -Professorship of History in the Girls High School, he gained the second -grade, although three eminent historians were among the contestants. -Entering the <i>Escuela Nacional de Medicina</i> (National Medical School), -in 1873, he maintained high rank there and took his degree in February, -1878. In March of that year, he was appointed Professor of Logic in the -<i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i>. In 1879, by competition, he received -the Professorship of Physiology in the National School of Medicine, with -which he has been associated in some capacity ever since. In 1880, by -competition, he became Surgeon and Physician of the Juarez Hospital. In -1886, after a brilliant examination, he became a member of the <i>Academia -de Medicina de México</i> (Academy of Medicine). In the <i>Escuela Nacional -de Agricultura y Veterinaria</i> (National Agricultural and Veterinary -School), he has held chairs of mathematics and zootechnology.</p> - -<p>An alternate Deputy in 1882, he was in 1898 elected Deputy of the -Federal Congress, and has been re-elected until the present time. He was -made chairman of the House Committee on Public Instruction. In 1902 he -was named Secretary of the Upper Council of Education. Dr. Parra has -participated, officially, in several of the most important medical -congresses held in Europe during recent years, sometimes as a delegate -from his native State of Chihuahua, at others as delegate<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_360" id="page_360"></a>{360}</span> from the -Mexican nation. In 1892, he was elected a member of the Mexican Academy.</p> - -<p>Dr. Parra has written both in poetry and prose. Most of what he writes -is in scientific lines. Even in poetry he is a scientist, and in a -volume of his poems, we find odes to the mathematics and to medicine, a -sonnet to a skull, and poems on the Death of Pasteur, Night, Water. Of -very great importance is his <i>Nueva Sistema de Logica, inductiva y -deductiva</i> (New System of Logic, Inductive and Deductive). He has -written one novel, <i>Pacotillas</i>, in which the life of the medical -student is depicted. It is from this work that we have drawn our -selections.</p> - -<p>López (Santa Anna), Robles (El Chango—“the monkey”), Albarez -(Patillitas) and Tellez (Pacotillas), are fellow-students in the School -of Medicine. They are friends but present four quite different types of -character. Santa Anna figures least in the story and attends most -strictly to business; Patillitas is a dandy, anxious to make feminine -conquests; El Chango drops out of school before he has completed his -course, toadies in politics, rapidly rising to importance as the private -secretary of a departmental minister, and marries great wealth. -Pacotillas, the hero, is an astonishing combination of strong and weak -qualities. Of lofty ideals, of great firmness in announcing and -supporting them, and of brilliant intellectual powers, he is cold, -morose, lacking in initiative, easily<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_361" id="page_361"></a>{361}</span> depressed, and procrastinating. -He smokes constantly and excessively and readily yields to drink. He -loves a beautiful and amiable girl and lives with her without marriage; -though he realizes the injustice this is to her, the injustice—excused -at the time by poverty—is never atoned for in his days of comparative -prosperity. Pacotillas and his beautiful Amalia suffer enormous trials -of poverty; Paco finally secures a position on the force of an -opposition paper. He antagonizes the government, is arrested and thrown -in jail, where he dies of typhus. The book is an interesting picture of -Mexican life, but it is a particularly difficult task to make brief -selections from it for translation.</p> - -<h3>EXTRACTS FROM PACOTILLAS.</h3> - -<p>The next day the vigilant argus, accompanied by a faithful friend, was -at his post from nine o’clock in the morning. He was not on beat but he -warned his fellow policeman to pay no attention to what was about to -take place at the house, since it concerned a personage of consequence, -closely connected with the official world, whose plans it were best not -to disturb; that the gentleman did not ask something for nothing and -would not fail to reward him; that everything would go on behind closed -doors, and was really no more than a joke; that it concerned a private -matter, with no political bearings; that the woman living<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_362" id="page_362"></a>{362}</span> in the house -badly repaid him who supported her, and that he merely wished to scare -her and put her to shame.</p> - -<p>The policeman on the beat permitted himself to be convinced by Pablo’s -diplomatic arguments; he demanded, indeed, a guarantee that nothing -serious should take place, that there should be no fight, wounds, shots, -or other scandal.</p> - -<p>No, comrade, answered Pablo, it only concerns giving a thrashing to a -young fellow who is accustomed to enjoy women, whom other men support. -Put yourself in the place of the deceived man; what would you do? What -would any other decent man do, in such a case? Just what he is going to -do. I shall not compromise you. You see that I am also one of the -police-force. Further, this may help you, the gentleman we are helping -is in with the government, and he does not expect service for nothing.</p> - -<p>Completely convinced, the policeman agreed that, at a signal from Pablo, -he would walk slowly toward the Plazuela del Carmen, to see what was -going on there.</p> - -<p>The astute Pablo had arranged for two stout fellows of evil mien to meet -him at the corner <i>pulqueria</i>; they arrived at the place appointed at -half-past-nine carrying heavy cudgels as walking sticks.</p> - -<p>A little before ten the servant of Mercedes left the house; Pablo, who -had already made her acquaintance, overtook her and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_363" id="page_363"></a>{363}</span></p> - -<p>“Where are you going so fast, my dear?”</p> - -<p>“I am going far; I am taking a message to the Arcade of Belem and from -there to Sapo street, to the <i>socursal</i>.”</p> - -<p>“Does not my pretty one want a drop?”</p> - -<p>The pretty one did want a drop, entered the <i>pulqueria</i>, drank, -submitted to various pinches, and left. Pablo at once said to his -friend: “Run and call the General,” and he planted himself where he -could see the house.</p> - -<p>A little later poor Mercedes, who suspected nought of what was plotting -for her undoing, opened the windows and looked out. It was the signal, -arranged between her and Patillitas, indicating that there were no Moors -on the coast and that the happy lover might enter. He was not slow in -appearing, strutting pompously as if enjoying in anticipation the -pleasure he was about to have. He caught sight of his sweetheart, which -was equal to seeing the gates of paradise opening, saluted her with much -elegance and cautiously entered the doors of the court-yard, which were -ajar.</p> - -<p>“The fish falls into the net! how easy! how easy!”<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> murmured the -malicious Pablo, humming the accompanying tune in a low voice.</p> - -<p>A quarter of an hour had passed when, by San Pedro y San Pablo St., the -General was seen approaching, as grave, as correct, and as arrogant as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_364" id="page_364"></a>{364}</span> -ever, smoking his unfailing cigar, without hastening his pace or -displaying the least emotion.</p> - -<p>As soon as Pablo saw him, he spoke to the policeman on the beat, who at -once walked slowly in the direction of the Plazuela, as he had promised. -Then Pablo summoned his assistants from the <i>pulqueria</i> and all three -joined the messenger, who had been sent to call the General and who had -now returned; the whole party stopped on the sidewalk opposite Mercedes’ -house.</p> - -<p>The General, without quickening his pace, without looking at the men, -nor making any signal to them, had already arrived before the house. -When he had almost reached the gateway, the four men crossed the street -and, when he entered, they cautiously followed.</p> - -<p>López, with measured tread, crossed the court, followed by his men; he -turned to the left and knocked at the house-door, which was fastened. No -one responded, but noises of alarm were heard within, a sound as of a -person running and finding some piece of furniture in his way, a stifled -cry, and the murmur of troubled voices.</p> - -<p>The General knocked a second, and a third time with briefer interval and -with greater force. No one replied and now nothing was heard. The -General knocked for the fourth time and said, in his stentorian voice, -though without displaying anger or emotion: “Open, Mercedes, it is I.”</p> - -<p>“I am coming,” shrilly answered a woman’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_365" id="page_365"></a>{365}</span> voice, “I am dressing; I was -ill and had not yet risen.”</p> - -<p>The General waited with the utmost calm. No escape was possible; from -the hall one passed directly into the room, which was the scene of the -guilty love and which received light by a grated window, that opened -onto the <i>patio</i> of the next house. The General, who knew all the hiding -places and the location of the pieces of furniture in the room, was -delighted, imagining the little agreeable plight of the student, who had -already, tremblingly, hidden himself under the bed.</p> - -<p>After ten minutes waiting, Mercedes, visibly pale with <i>chiquedores</i><a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> -on her temples, her head tied up in a handkerchief, and covered with a -loose gown, which she was still hooking, finally opened the door, smiled -at the General, and attempting to overcome her manifest uneasiness, -said: “Ah, sir! what a surprise!”</p> - -<p>“Good morning, madam,” said the General, abruptly entering the hall and -then the inner room, followed by his four men, and paying no attention -to Mercedes, who, following them all, exclaimed, each time more -afflicted:</p> - -<p>“What do you wish, sir? What are you looking for? Why have these men -come here?”</p> - -<p>Once in the room, the General stopped near the door, and, as he -expected, saw under the bed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_366" id="page_366"></a>{366}</span> coiled up body of the student who would -gladly have given his whiskers to be elsewhere.</p> - -<p>“Drag out that shameless fellow,” said the General to his men, “and beat -him for me.”</p> - -<p>“Señor, for God’s sake!” cried Mercedes.</p> - -<p>The four men obeyed the order. The unhappy student did not even try to -escape. One took him by the feet and dragged him out into the middle of -the room; the others began to discharge a hail of blows upon him, -distributing them evenly over the shoulders, back, seat, and legs of -that unfortunate, who squirmed upon the floor like an epileptic, -writhing, screaming, and howling, with a choked voice:</p> - -<p>“Ay! ay! they are killing me! ay! ay! help! Ay! ay! infamous fellows! -assassins!”</p> - -<p>Meantime the General looked on at that calamitous spectacle, without a -word; when the flogging seemed to him sufficient he exclaimed—“Hold!” -and then, addressing the man who had been flogged, added: “Be warned by -this experience and let the women of other men alone.”</p> - -<p>The maltreated Patillitas arose, hurled some insolence at the General, -and threw himself upon him with his fists clenched; the floggers started -to seize him, but the General said, “Leave him to me.” And, with the -greatest calmness, he allowed him to deal his inoffensive blow, and, -then, seizing his wrist, gave it such a wrench that the poor fellow -suffered more than from the beating, and, notwithstanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_367" id="page_367"></a>{367}</span> all his -efforts to the contrary, fell upon his knees before his conqueror, -howling with pain.</p> - -<p>“Listen well, jackanapes,” said the General, without loosening his hold, -“get away from here at once; and, if you prefer the least complaint or -cause the least scandal, I will put you into jail and afterwards send -you into the army as a vagabond and mischief-maker.”</p> - -<p>He loosed his prisoner who rose uttering suffocated groans and muttering -inarticulate insolences. Limping, and with his dress disordered, he -started to walk away; he took his hat, which one of the floggers, at a -signal from the General, handed him. Pablo followed him and at reaching -the hall door gave him a kick behind, saying with a hoarse laugh:</p> - -<p>“There! take your deserts, you!”</p> - -<p>“Now,” said the General, addressing Mercedes, who, huddled on the sofa, -with her kerchief thrown over her head and covering her face, was -sobbing violently, “indicate what you wish to take with you and get out -into the street.”</p> - -<p>“Keep it all, horrible old man, monster without heart or entrails of -pity,” said the unhappy woman, drying her eyes; and, arranging her dress -as best she could and wrapping up her head, she left.</p> - -<p>When she had disappeared, the General, as pleased as if he had -consummated some great act of justice, dismissed the floggers, after -paying<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_368" id="page_368"></a>{368}</span> them; then, he went out onto the street with a lofty air, and, -smoking his ever-present cigar, closed the gate of the court, put the -key into his pocket, and walked away.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>The Chango did not pronounce this long discourse at one breath, but -interrupted himself from time to time to sip coffee or to ask Pacotillas -incident questions, which he answered in his usual laconic style. He -expressed himself somewhat more upon his matrimonial troubles and the -faults of his wife’s parents. Then, changing his tone, he said:</p> - -<p>“Now I have tired you in speaking of myself and my affairs; now you must -reciprocate, as a good friend, and tell me all about yourself.”</p> - -<p>“I can do that in a few words: I am slowly continuing my course of study -and with more or less of difficulty and labor gain my bread.”</p> - -<p>“Spartan! You do wrong not to confide in me. Am I to understand that you -desire nothing? that you do not care to better your condition?”</p> - -<p>“I do not say so; I desire many things; I desire to escape from poverty; -but, I am content with my situation.”</p> - -<p>“What a fool you are! I could do much for you, because I love you well, -and I would willingly offer you more than one chance of improving your -condition.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_369" id="page_369"></a>{369}</span></p> - -<p>“I thank you for your good will but I see no means of taking advantage -of it.”</p> - -<p>“See Paco, let us speak frankly; notwithstanding your assertion that you -are content with your situation, I cannot believe it; the fact is that -you are very proud, that you do not care to ask anything from anyone; -that is all right with strangers, but when I, your school-fellow and -friend, anticipate your desires and offer——”</p> - -<p>“I thank you and beg you to respect my freedom of action.”</p> - -<p>“What a hard-shell you are! Come, consent to this anyway—separate -yourself from the <i>Independiente</i>; I promise to supply resources for you -to found a paper of your own, which will bring you at least double what -Don Marcos can pay you, and also to secure you a grant to aid you in -your studies, and, if you desire more, you shall have more.”</p> - -<p>“But, truly, I desire nothing; I owe consideration to Don Marcos and -cannot treat him cavalierly,” said Paco, at the same time saying to -himself, “Oho, now I see!”</p> - -<p>“You are fearfully stubborn,” said the Chango, “but you are your own -master and I will not insist further; but, now, I come to one favor, -begging you affectionately, in the name of our old friendship, to grant -it; do not continue to discuss, in your bulletins, the objectionable -question upon which you have been writing.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_370" id="page_370"></a>{370}</span></p> - -<p>“In my soul, I regret that I cannot gratify you, since I have resolved -to examine that matter in all its aspects.”</p> - -<p>“You are more tenacious than a Biscayan! Don’t you understand that in -this you do me a personal injury and expose me to public criticism?”</p> - -<p>“I do not see why? I have never mentioned your name, nor shall I mention -it; nor are you responsible for that contract.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t be a ninny; although you do not mention me by name; although, -legally, you do not treat of me; yet the odium of the transaction falls -on me.”</p> - -<p>“Whether the part you play is odious or not, I am not to blame; you have -chosen it freely. You act, and I judge. We are both within our rights.”</p> - -<p>“In fine, Paco, if you continue to write as heretofore, you do me an -injury, you attack me.”</p> - -<p>“That is not my intention, nor do I believe it the necessary result of -my procedure.”</p> - -<p>“Of course, if you attack me, you give me the right to defend myself.”</p> - -<p>“Granted,” answered Paco, coldly.</p> - -<p>“And you know that I have many means of doing it?”</p> - -<p>“I know it and they have no terrors for me.”</p> - -<p>“Paco, you despise me,” said the Chango with annoyance.</p> - -<p>“No, I merely answer you,” replied Paco, coldly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_371" id="page_371"></a>{371}</span></p> - -<p>“For the last time I will sum up the situation. If you consent to -withdraw from the <i>Independiente</i> you shall have whatever advantages you -desire that I can give you; you shall have the same if you consent, at -least, to speak no more of the contract. Do you agree?”</p> - -<p>“I have already said no,” replied Paco with dignity.</p> - -<p>“Very well; it is hard for me to proceed against a fellow-student, whom -I have always esteemed for his talents and his brilliant promise; for -that reason, I desired to speak with you beforehand and give you proofs -of my friendship, but since you are obstinate, I warn you that I shall -prosecute you criminally.”</p> - -<p>“Thanks for the warning.”</p> - -<p>“Do you reflect that you will be proceeded against, that you will be -sent to jail, that you will be sentenced?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I consider all, and I am prepared for all; you will allow me to -say that I appreciate the kindness and politeness, with which you have -treated me; but now, as it seems your wish to induce me to maintain -silence and to separate myself from the <i>Independiente</i>, and as I will -never agree to this, I judge my further presence here to be useless and, -with your permission, will leave.”</p> - -<p>And the young man at once rose and left; the Chango followed him without -a word; they went down the stairway, crossed the corridor, Pacotillas<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_372" id="page_372"></a>{372}</span> -took his hat in the hall, and on saying adieu to Robles, the latter -involuntarily moved by the dignity of Pacotillas, said to him: “Think -yet, Paco.”</p> - -<p>“I need not think; neither threats nor bribes can swerve me from what I -believe to be my duty.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_373" id="page_373"></a>{373}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="EMILIO_RABASA" id="EMILIO_RABASA"></a>EMILIO RABASA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_373_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_373_sml.jpg" width="208" height="286" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Emilio Rabasa was born in the pueblo of Ocozautla, State of Chiapas, on -May 22, 1856. He studied law in the City of Oaxaca, being licensed to -practice on April 4, 1878. He returned to his native State, where he was -a Deputy to Congress and Director of the Institute during the years 1881 -and 1882. He then removed to Oaxaca, where he was Judge of the Civil -Court, Deputy to the State Legislature and Secretary to Governor Mier y -Teran, during 1885 and 1886. Removing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_374" id="page_374"></a>{374}</span> to the City of Mexico in 1886, he -there filled various judicial and other offices. In 1891, he was elected -Governor of Chiapas, which office he filled for two years, particularly -interesting himself in improving the financial condition of the State. -In 1894, he was elected Senator from the State of Sinaloa, an office -which he still fills. He resides in the City of Mexico, where he is -engaged in legal practice.</p> - -<p>The work which has given him literary fame is a four volume novel, -written under the <i>nom-de-plume</i> of Sancho Polo. These volumes bear -special titles—<i>La Bola</i> (The Local Outbreak), <i>La gran Ciencia</i> (The -Grand Science), <i>El cuarto Poder</i> (The Fourth Power), and <i>Moneda falsa</i> -(False Money). These novels have their importance in Mexican literature. -Victoriano Salado Álbarez, speaking of the notable advancement of the -Mexican novel in recent years, says: “The works of Sancho Polo, precious -studies,—initiated this truly fecund and permanent movement.” Luis -Gonzáles Obregón says of these books: “These are notable for the -correctness of their style, for masterly skill in description, most rich -in precious details, for the perfect way in which those who figure in -them are characterized, for the natural and unexpected development, as -well as for many other beauties, which we regret not being able to -enumerate here.” Emilio Rabasa’s active public life has prevented his -following<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_375" id="page_375"></a>{375}</span> up his early success in literature. Since the Sancho Polo -series, he has written but one brief novel, <i>La Guerra de tres años</i> -(The Three Years War). In 1888, in connection with the well-known -publisher, Reyes Spindola, he founded <i>El Universal</i> (The Universal), -which is still published, and which really initiated a new era in -Mexican journalism.</p> - -<p>The hero in the Sancho Polo novels is a youth named Juan Quiñones. Born -and reared in an obscure village, he loves a pretty girl who lives with -her uncle, a man of common origin and mediocre attainments. Don Mateo -is, however, a rising man, and, as he mounts, his ambitions for his -niece mount also. The boy has real ability, but is petulant and -precipitate, throwing himself into positions from which there should be -no escape, and learning nothing by experience. He passes through a -series of remarkable experiences—a local outbreak, a State revolution, -anti-governmental journalism in the capital city, a discreditable love -affair—finally, of course, gaining the girl.</p> - -<h3>THE DAY OF BATTLE.</h3> - -<p>I attempted in vain to restrain and reduce the uneasiness and -disquietude, by which I was possessed and which Minga and her mother but -increased, now dragging me away from the window,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_376" id="page_376"></a>{376}</span> now preventing me from -drawing the bolt to open the door, now bringing me back from the -courtyard whither I had desired to go to escape their oversight.</p> - -<p>“What a Don Abundio!” said Minga, jeeringly. “Trust him! But have no -fear; he will not now let the girl go.”</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, I sent the old woman back to see Felicia, to beg her, if -preparations for the journey were not immediately discontinued, to send -me word by her servant. And the good old woman, who was brave and -fearless, started out again, cautioning her daughter not to allow me to -commit any imprudence.</p> - -<p>What a day was that for me. The sun ran its course with desperate -slowness, but finally stood in mid-heaven. The old woman had not yet -returned, nor had Don Mateo made his attack, nor had I news of any one. -I do not understand how I could remain shut up all those hours, without -breaking out and letting myself be killed.</p> - -<p>While thus chafing, and more often than ever peeping from the window to -catch a distant glimpse of the old woman, a choked and panting voice, at -my shoulder, cried:</p> - -<p>“They are coming.”</p> - -<p>It was ‘Uncle Lucas,’ who seemed in that one day to exhaust all his -remaining life’s force. He seated himself on Minga’s bed, with his -mouth<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_377" id="page_377"></a>{377}</span> open, his chest puffing like a blacksmith’s bellows, his head -nodding in time to his heavy breathing.</p> - -<p>In spite of his breathlessness, I made him speak, although his words -were broken by his gasps for air. Don Mateo and his force were -organizing at half a league’s distance. Uncle Lucas had told the Colonel -all that the Sindico<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> had said and had returned with the order to -unite as many men as possible from our quarter of the town, in order to -impede and disconcert Coderas’s force, when it should return to town, as -probably it would only skirmish in the open field. Just as he arrived at -the creek, Uncle Lucas saw five men on horseback, the advance guard of -Coderas, descend from the terrace.</p> - -<p>In fact, while he was speaking we heard the noise of horses running -through the street and the clank of swords against the stirrups. Almost -at the same moment the door opened and Minga’s mother burst into the -room, her face pale, her eyes flashing fire.</p> - -<p>“A little more and those dogs had had me!” she cried angrily and hurled -forth a tirade which I cannot repeat.</p> - -<p>“What is the matter?” I asked, agitated.</p> - -<p>“What is it! If it were not for my nephew Matias, who was in the -trenches by the church, they would not have let me go. Cursed wolves. -When Pedro comes I will tell him that they would<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_378" id="page_378"></a>{378}</span> not let me go and the -foul words they said to me. As I told you, were it not for Matias, I -would still be there in the Plaza.”</p> - -<p>“And what did Felicia say?” I interrupted, impatiently.</p> - -<p>“The horses are all ready; but Don Abundio told her to tell you to have -no concern; Remedios need not go. But remember, Juanito, this man has no -shame.”</p> - -<p>Keeping her to the point, I made her tell me all that could concern us. -Coderas and Soria had agreed upon a plan of defense, believing that Don -Mateo could not take the Plaza in several days; meantime the auxiliaries -from the next district, whose Jefe politico was in communication with -San Martin, could arrive. At the last moment, it had been decided that -Coderas should sally with two hundred men, for a skirmish just outside -the town, falling back upon the hundred, who remained in the Plaza with -Soria; if fortune should prove averse to them, which the intrepid leader -did not believe, they would withdraw to the best entrenchments, in order -to force Don Mateo to attack them there.</p> - -<p>“Now for the main thing,” said the old woman to me. “Remedios told me to -say that they plan to take the prisoners from the jail and put them in -the trenches, to terrify the other party, who cannot fire without -killing their own friends and relatives.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_379" id="page_379"></a>{379}</span></p> - -<p>My hair stood on end, I felt a giddiness and almost fell, with my face -convulsed with emotion and with shortened breath, I could scarcely turn -to Uncle Lucas. Terrified, he rose and tried to detain me; but I -promptly regained my self-control and assumed the voice of command -which, in such cases, constitutes me a leader of those about me.</p> - -<p>“Run!” I said to him quickly. “Immediately collect all those who last -night promised to follow us and bring them here at once.”</p> - -<p>My voice was so authoritative and commanding that I scarce awaited a -reply. The old man made none and directed his way to the door; on -opening it, he started violently.</p> - -<p>“There they come! they come!” he said in a whisper.</p> - -<p>Minga drew me violently back from the window, and Coderas and his force -galloped down the road from the creek.</p> - -<p>Some villagers followed the force from curiosity, others appeared in -their doorways, and some few shut themselves in, cautiously barring -their doors.</p> - -<p>My wisdom and patience were now completely exhausted, and, my excitement -depriving me of all prudence, I rushed forth with Uncle Lucas, ordering -him to promptly meet me at that spot.</p> - -<p>With no attempt at concealment, without precaution and without fear, I -ran to Bermejo’s house, to the houses of the imprisoned regidors, to -the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_380" id="page_380"></a>{380}</span> houses of all those who were suffering in jail, alarming all with -the terrible notice which I had received. In this house, I secured a -man; in that one, some weapon; from here I led forth a terrified son; -from there, a half-crazed father. Everywhere I carried terror and -awakened the most violent manifestations of hatred and affliction.</p> - -<p>Half an hour later, in Pedro Martin’s <i>patio</i>, I had collected some -thirty men, who, worthy followers of a leader such as I, would fight -like tigers and would not be sated with three hundred victims. One -proposed hanging the wife and children of Coderas; another proposed -dragging Soria through the streets and casting his lifeless body on the -dungheap; another suggested sacking of the house of the Gonzagas, and -another, cutting the throats of all who lived in the ward of Las Lomas, -with a few exceptions. To me, this all appeared excellent and I -energetically approved these savage propositions, while I distributed -arms to those who had none and issued my orders to Uncle Lucas.</p> - -<p>At that moment, the first discharge of the battle was heard; a cold -chill ran through my body, mixture of terror and of impatience for the -combat. I felt myself impelled toward the Plaza, and from my lips issued -a torrent of foul words, which I was astonished at myself for knowing. -Evil predominated in me; under the kindled passions of the <i>bola</i>, I was -unconsciously transformed, my nature becoming that of the mass around -me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_381" id="page_381"></a>{381}</span></p> - -<p>In such moments I had no idea of forming a plan of campaign. I only knew -that I was going in defence of my mother, whose life was gravely -imperilled, and that I ought to hasten to achieve my object. I did not -think how I should attain it, nor did it occur to me to think. Uncle -Lucas ventured to remind me that the Colonel’s plan was for us to hamper -the enemy in his retreat.</p> - -<p>“All follow me!” I cried with authority.</p> - -<p>And all, with resolution equal to my own, followed me.</p> - -<p>Passing behind Minga’s house, to the edge of the village, we took the -road to the right and marched at quickstep up the street parallel to -that which led to the Plaza. On arriving in front of this we halted, to -the terror of the neighbors, and then cautiously advanced until the jail -was in sight.</p> - -<p>Not dreaming of enemies so near, the soldiers in the Plaza were -listening to the fusillade which was taking place, almost on the banks -of the creek. In front of us was a gentle slope, from the gully up to -the Plaza and the prison door; at that place, which could scarcely be -seen, because of the village corral which intervened, a sentinel was -visible.</p> - -<p>“They have not yet taken out the prisoners,” I said to my companions; -“we will wait here until we see some movement showing that they are -about to remove them.”</p> - -<p>Among our arms was a single gun; the rest were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_382" id="page_382"></a>{382}</span> machetes, darts, or -knives tied to the end of staves. I nevertheless believed myself -invincible.</p> - -<p>The distant noise of musketry, which, to tell the truth, was not great -or terrible, consequent on the small number of the combatants and the -still smaller number of the firearms, became less at the end of a few -minutes, and the few shots heard seemed to me to be already discharged -within San Martin. I ordered my party to approach the foot of the slope, -I myself remaining where I was so as not to lose sight of the jail; and -I ran to join them, when the discharges from the entrenchments showed me -that Soria had entered the Plaza and that Don Mateo was in front of it.</p> - -<p>We mounted to the jail, before the sentinel could give the alarm and at -the moment when Coderas and Soria repulsed Don Mateo in his first -assault. Taken by surprise, the sentinel fled to the Plaza, and we, -without thought of the imprudence of our hasty action, hurled ourselves -against the prison door, and, after a few efforts, burst it in, broken -into fragments.</p> - -<h3>LA BOLA.</h3> - -<p>How many then, as I, wept orphaned and cursed the <i>bola</i>! In that -miserable village, which scarcely had enough men to till its soil, and -in which the loftiness of citizenship was unknown, its victims had -floods of tears and despair, instead of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_383" id="page_383"></a>{383}</span> laurels, the reward of right. -Here the father, love and support of the family, was mourned; there, a -son, hope and stay of aged parents; there, again, a husband, torn from -the fireside to be borne to a field of battle, which had not even tragic -grandeur, but only the caricaturing ridiculousness of a low comedy.</p> - -<p>And all that was called in San Martin a revolution! No! Let us not -disgrace the Spanish language nor human progress. It is indeed time for -some one of the learned correspondents of the Royal Academy to send for -its dictionary, this fruit harvested from the rich soil of American -lands. We, the inventors of the thing itself, have given it a name -without having recourse to Greek or Latin roots, and we have called it -<i>bola</i>. We hold the copyright; because, while revolution, as an -inexorable law, is known in all the world, the <i>bola</i> can only be -developed, like the yellow fever, in certain latitudes. Revolution grows -out of an idea, it moves nations, modifies institutions, demands -citizens; the <i>bola</i> requires no principles, and has none, it is born -and dies within short space, and demands ignorant persons. In a word, -the revolution is a daughter of the world’s progress and of an -inexorable law of humanity; the <i>bola</i> is daughter of ignorance and the -inevitable scourge of backward populations.</p> - -<p>We know revolutions well, and there are many who stigmatize and -calumniate them; but, to them<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_384" id="page_384"></a>{384}</span> we owe the rapid transformation of -society and of institutions. They would be veritable baptisms of -regeneration and advancement, if within them did not grow the weed of -the miserable <i>bola</i>. Miserable <i>bola</i>? Yes! There operate in it as many -passions as there are men and leaders engaged; in the one it is avenging -ruin; in the other a mean ambition; in this one the desire to figure; in -that one to gain a victory over an enemy. And there is not a single -common thought, not a principle which gives strength to consciences. Its -theatre is the corner of some outlying district; its heroes, men who -perhaps at first accepting it in good faith, permit that which they had -to be torn to tatters on the briers of the forest. Honorable labor is -suspended, the fields are laid waste, the groves are set on fire, homes -are despoiled, at the mere dictate of some brutal petty leader; tears, -despair, and famine are the final harvest. And yet the population, when -this favorite monster, to which it has given birth, appears, rushes -after it, crying enthusiastically and insanely, <i>bola! bola!</i></p> - -<h3>THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.</h3> - -<p>Albar came down into the editorial room and, approaching me, picked up, -one by one, the yet fresh sheets. He was satisfied, extremely so.</p> - -<p>“Very good,” he said to me, “this will cause a sensation, and will exalt -your name yet more. Attack fearlessly.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_385" id="page_385"></a>{385}</span></p> - -<p>At twelve, he called me up to his writing-room, not without my feeling a -strange fear, presentiment of danger.</p> - -<p>“I want you to take one matter on yourself,” he said, “because this -Escorroza is of no use sometimes. Besides, I know you are from the State -of X—— and I suppose you know its men, its history, its conditions, -better than anyone else on the force.”</p> - -<p>“I think so,” I replied, trembling.</p> - -<p>“It is so,” affirmed Albar. “Put special care on the articles relative -to the matter, to which I refer; because it is of importance to me and I -entrust it to you because you are the best man on the staff.”</p> - -<p>“You are very kind——”</p> - -<p>“Not at all; it is mere justice——”</p> - -<p>“And the matter——”</p> - -<p>“In a moment, in a moment; you shall hear.”</p> - -<p>The interest of the Director must indeed be great, when he was so -friendly and courteous with me. His dark skin wrinkled more violently -and a forced smile incessantly contracted his lips, separating yet more -widely from each other, the two halves of his typically Indian -moustache.</p> - -<p>We heard, sounding in the patio, the footsteps of several persons. My -suspicions had grown with Albar’s words, my fears increased, and that -noise caused me such disturbance that I was forced to rise from the sofa -to conceal it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_386" id="page_386"></a>{386}</span></p> - -<p>In spite of my efforts to control myself, I felt that I turned pale, -when Don Mateo entered the room, accompanied by Bueso and Escorroza. -Instinctively, I stepped back a step or two and appeared to occupy -myself with something lying on the table.</p> - -<p>Don Mateo awkwardly saluted Albar, with scant courtesy, and passed with -him and Bueso into an adjoining room. As he passed near me, I noticed -that the General looked at me and hesitated a moment as if he wished to -stop. Albar, who went last, indicated to Escorroza, by a sign, that he -might retire, and when he, in turn, repeated the signal to me, Albar -said, shortly, “Wait here; I will call you.”</p> - -<p>Escorroza withdrew, casting at me a glance of terrible hatred, which in -some degree compensated me for my anxieties, by the vain satisfaction it -caused me; but, hearing the first phrases exchanged between the three -men, I understood at once that Pepe was right in telling me that I had -lost my cause. I should have fled from the place, on feeling myself so -completely routed, at comprehending the event and its significance to -me; but, I know not what painful desire to know the end, held me, as if -bound, to the chair in which I had seated myself near the door.</p> - -<p>At first Don Mateo himself desired to present the matter; but his rustic -awkwardness, little suited to the presentation of so difficult a matter, -overcame<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_387" id="page_387"></a>{387}</span> him, and it was necessary that Bueso should take up the -conversation for him.</p> - -<p>For some minutes his tranquil, unvarying, and unemotional voice was -heard; for him, no matter was difficult of presentation, no -circumlocutions were necessary to express the most delicate affairs. The -General had seen, with surprise, a paragraph in <i>El Cuarto Poder</i> which -demanded evidence proving what <i>El Labaro</i> had stated concerning him; -that his surprise was the greater from the fact that he had before -considered Albar as his friend, although they had had merely business -relations through correspondence. All that was printed in <i>El Labaro</i>, -and much more, was true, as could be testified by thousands of persons, -who knew the General as their own hands. It could be proved (indeed it -could!) with documents from State and Federal governments; with -periodicals of different epochs which he had preserved; with this and -with that——</p> - -<p>But, why? Albar could not doubt the word of a gentleman. The important -matter now is that the eminent Director should recognize in the General -a good friend, and in place of raising doubts in regard to his glorious -past, should strive, as a good friend, to make it well known, -appreciated, and recompensed by the applause to which a man so -distinguished as the General is entitled. While he understood this -involved considerable expense, that was no obstacle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_388" id="page_388"></a>{388}</span></p> - -<p>At this critical point Albar interrupted Bueso with a grunt, which said -neither yes nor no. It is not necessary to mention that; no, sir. The -unlucky paragraph in question had crept into the paper, without the -Director’s knowledge; but, as soon as he discovered it, he determined to -apply the remedy; which would consist in publishing a complete biography -of the General, stating that it had been written after inspection of -convincing and authentic documents; and, even, that the portrait of the -General should be printed in the paper, if he would have the kindness to -furnish a photograph.</p> - -<p>Clouds of blood, blinding me, passed before my eyes; my whole body -trembled convulsively; with my contracted fingers I clutched the arms of -the chair and dug my nails into the velvet upholstery. In the fury of my -rage and anger, I scarcely heard some words about thirty subscriptions, -which Don Mateo would send the following day, to be mailed to his -friends in the State. Bueso asserted that this was important for the -General, because the General was a man with a great political future, -that he ought, therefore, to act promptly and vigorously, to augment his -prestige and propagate his renown everywhere.</p> - -<p>To me, nailed to my chair, that scene appeared for some minutes the -horrible illusion of a cruel nightmare. I was perspiring and choked.</p> - -<p>The door suddenly opened and the three actors<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_389" id="page_389"></a>{389}</span> in the comedy entered the -writing-room. Trying to compose myself, and rising, I heard Albar, who, -pointing at me, said:</p> - -<p>“Here is the best pen on my staff; this young man will be charged with -writing all relative to your life.”</p> - -<p>Don Mateo and I faced each other, exchanging a glance of profound -hatred; hatred, kneaded with the passion of purest love, as mud is -kneaded with water from the skies.</p> - -<p>I knew not what to say, much as I desired to speak, but Don Mateo, -incapable of controlling himself, said insultingly:</p> - -<p>“This young man going to write? And what does <i>he</i> know?”</p> - -<p>And, filled with rage, he turned his back on me, pretending to despise -me.</p> - -<p>“I know more than will suit you, for writing your biography,” I replied, -“but I warn Señor Albar that my pen shall never be employed in the -service of a man like you.”</p> - -<p>Don Mateo made a motion as if he would throw himself upon me, and I made -one as if seizing a bust of bronze to hurl at him.</p> - -<p>Albar leaped between us.</p> - -<p>“What is this?” he cried, in terror.</p> - -<p>“You are a miserable puppet,” thundered Don Mateo, shaking his fists at -me above Albar’s head. “When I meet you in the street I will pull your -ears.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_390" id="page_390"></a>{390}</span></p> - -<p>“We shall see,” I replied.</p> - -<p>“Wretched, insignificant boy.”</p> - -<p>“Stop! enough of this,” cried Albar, with all the force of his lungs. -“What is the matter?”</p> - -<p>“Señor Albar,” I said, “I heard all that was said. I can write nothing -about this man; not a word.”</p> - -<p>“Nor will I permit that he shall write,” bellowed Don Mateo, choked with -rage; “I will not consent to it.”</p> - -<p>“Then he shall not write; enough said,” replied Albar.</p> - -<p>Bueso stood before me undisturbed; with his hands in his pockets he -looked me over with an air of curiosity.</p> - -<p>“That means that Javier will write it,” he said completing Don Pablo’s -thought.</p> - -<p>Escorroza, at the sound of voices, had come upstairs and, at this -moment, arrived.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said the Director, “let it be so. As Quiñones refuses and -the General does not consent, Escorroza will be charged with writing all -relative to——”</p> - -<p>“To the Señor General? With the greatest pleasure,” broke in Don Javier.</p> - -<p>“And he will do it much better,” said Bueso.</p> - -<p>Don Mateo looked at me with an air of triumph and derision.</p> - -<p>“The Señor Director may order what seems best to him,” I said, -restraining myself with difficulty<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_391" id="page_391"></a>{391}</span>, “but I ought to inform him that I -withdraw from the staff, the moment when the paper publishes the least -eulogy of this man.”</p> - -<p>And without saluting, with clenched fists and gritted teeth, I left the -room. While in the corridor I heard the voices of Cabezudo, Bueso, and -Escorroza, who cried at once:</p> - -<p>“Canasto! this puppet——”</p> - -<p>“Talked to you, in that manner!”</p> - -<p>“How can you permit——”</p> - -<p>The noise of the loud voices reached the editorial room. Pepe and -Carrasco asked me what had happened, but I simply shrugged my shoulders -and the two became discreetly silent.</p> - -<p>The noise continued for half an hour. At the end of that time the -footsteps of the three men were heard in the <i>patio</i>, and their yet -angry voices. As they passed the doorway I heard them saying:</p> - -<p>“Astonishing how much Don Pablo thinks this boy to be!”</p> - -<p>“Canasto! recanasto! this I will never forgive.”</p> - -<p>Elevated pride, satisfied hatred, gratified and exalted vanity, almost -choked me and I had to rise for breath. Pepe and Sabas looked at me -astonished, and I, my face twitching and working with a nervous smile, -threw my pen upon the table.</p> - -<p>“This pen is worth more than most persons imagine.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_392" id="page_392"></a>{392}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="RAFAEL_DELGADO" id="RAFAEL_DELGADO"></a>RAFAEL DELGADO.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_392_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_392_sml.jpg" width="244" height="287" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Rafael Delgado was born in Cordoba, State of Vera Cruz, August 20, 1853, -of a highly honorable and respected family. His father was for many -years the Jefe politico of Cordoba, but at the close of his service -retired to Orizaba. This removal was made when Rafael was but two months -old, and it was in Orizaba that he was reared and has spent most of his -life. After receiving his earlier instruction in the <i>Colegio de Nuestra -Senora de Guadalupe</i>, he was sent, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_393" id="page_393"></a>{393}</span> 1865, to the City of Mexico, -where, however, on account of the turbulence of that time, he spent but -one year. On account of the disturbances due to civil war his father -lost the greater part of his fortune. In May, 1868, Rafael entered the -<i>Colegio Nacional de Orizaba</i>, then just organized, where he completed -his studies. From 1875 on, for a space of eighteen years, he was teacher -of geography and history in that institution. The salary was so small -and irregular that, at times, he was compelled to give elementary -instruction in other schools in order to meet expenses. In his own -personal studies, outside of his professional work, he was especially -interested in the drama, and he carefully read and studied the Greek, -Latin, French and Italian dramatists, as well as the Spanish. In 1878 he -wrote two dramas, <i>La caja de dulces</i> (The Box of Sweets), prose in -three acts, and <i>Una taza de te</i> (A Cup of Tea) in verse in a single -act. These were staged and met a good reception. At a banquet tendered -to the author after the first rendering of <i>La caja de dulces</i>, his -friends presented him a silver crown and a gold pen. In 1879, Rafael -Delgado published a translation of Octave Feuillet’s <i>A Case of -Conscience</i> and later an original monologue—<i>Antes de la boda</i> (Before -the Wedding).</p> - -<p>Between the ages of sixteen and thirty years, Delgado wrote much lyric -poetry. Francisco Sosa compares his work in this field with that of -Pesado,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_394" id="page_394"></a>{394}</span> and adds: “Greater commendation cannot be given.” From the time -when he was a student in the <i>Colegio Nacional</i> at Orizaba, Delgado -always received the helpful encouragement of his old teacher, the head -of that school, Silvestre Moreno Cora. It was due to this truly great -man’s efforts that the <i>Sociedad Sánchez Oropeza</i> was founded in -Orizaba, in the literary section of which Rafael Delgado was active. At -this society he gave a series of brilliant <i>Conversaciones</i> and to its -Bulletin he contributed both prose and verse. He has written <i>Cuentos</i> -(Tales) of excellence, showing the influence of Daudet. More important, -however, than his lyric poems and his stories, are Delgado’s novels, -three in number, <i>La Calandria</i>, <i>Angelina</i>, <i>Los parientes ricos</i> (Rich -Relations). In fiction he is a realist. He prefers to deal with the -common people; he is ever a poet in form and spirit; his satire is never -bitter; beauty in nature ever appeals strongly to him. Without being a -servile imitator, he has been influenced by Daudet and the Goncourts. -His plots are simple—almost nothing. In regard to this, he himself, in -speaking of <i>Los parientes ricos</i>, says: “Plot does not enter much into -my plan. It is true that it gives interest to a novel, but it usually -distracts the mind from the truth. For me the novel is history, and thus -does not always have the machinery and arrangement of the spectacular -drama. In my judgment it ought to be the artistic copy of the truth; -somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_395" id="page_395"></a>{395}</span>, that is, as history, a fine art. I have desired that <i>Los -parientes ricos</i> should be something of that sort; an exact page from -Mexican life.”</p> - -<p>In <i>Calandria</i>, the story opens with the death of Guadalupe, an -abandoned woman, poor and consumptive. The man of wealth, who betrayed -her, has a lovely home and a beautiful daughter. Carmen, “the -Calandria,” as she is nicknamed by those about her on account of her -singing, the illegitimate daughter of Don Eduardo by Guadalupe, is left -in poverty. An appeal, made in her behalf, by a priest to Don Eduardo -fails to secure her full recognition and reception into his home, but -leads to his arranging for her care in the tenement where she lives and -where Guadalupe died. An old woman, Doña Pancha, who had been kind to -her mother, receives the orphan into her home. Her son, Gabriel, an -excellent young man, a cabinet-maker by trade, loves her, and she -reciprocates his love. A neighbor in the tenement, Magdalena, exerts an -unhappy influence upon Carmen, leading to estrangement between her and -Doña Pancha. Magdalena encourages her to receive the attentions of a -worthless and vicious, wealthy youth named Rosas. At a dance given in -Magdalena’s room, Rosas is attentive, and Carmen, flattered and dazzled, -is guilty of some indiscretions. This leads to a rupture between her and -Gabriel. To escape the persecutions of Rosas, Carmen goes with the -friendly priest to a retreat at some little<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_396" id="page_396"></a>{396}</span> distance. The troubles -between the lovers approach adjustment, but at the critical moment Rosas -appears upon the scene, and the girl, though she rejects him, is -compromised. Gabriel stifles his love and actually casts her off. In -despair, the girl yields to the appeals of Rosas, who promises marriage. -He is false, and soon tiring, abandons her. From then her downward -career is rapid and soon ends in suicide.</p> - -<h3>EXTRACTS FROM CALANDRIA.</h3> - -<p>And she sighed and spent long hours in gazing at the landscape; -attentive to the rustling of the trees, to the flitting to and fro of -the butterflies, to the echoes of the valley, which repeated, -sonorously, the regular stroke of the woodman’s axe, to the rushing of -the neighboring stream, to the cooing of the turtle-dove living in the -neighboring cottonwood.</p> - -<p>I need to be loved and Gabriel has despised me. I need to be happy and -cannot because Gabriel, my Gabriel, is offended. He has repulsed me, he -has refused my caresses, he has not cared for my kisses. I desire to be -happy as this sparrow, graceful and coquettish, which nests in this -orange tree. How she chirps and flutters her wings when she sees her -mate coming. I cannot forget what took place that night. Never did I -love him more, never! I was going to confess all to him, repentant<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_397" id="page_397"></a>{397}</span>, -resolved to end completely with Alberto, to say to Gabriel: “I did this; -pardon me! Are you noble, generous, do you love me? Pardon me! I do not -covet riches, nor conveniences, nor elegance. Are you poor? Poor, I love -you. Are you of humble birth? So, I love you! Pardon me, Gabriel! See -how I adore you! I have erred—I have offended you—I forgot that my -heart was yours. Take pity on this poor orphan, who has no one to -counsel her. Pardon me! You are good, very good, are you not? Forget -all, forget it, Gabriel. See, I am worthy of you. I do not love this -man; I do not love him. I told him I loved him because I did not know -what to do. I let him give me a kiss because I could not prevent it. -Forgive me! And he appears to be of iron. He showed himself haughty, -proud, and cruel as a tiger. But, he was right; he loved me, and I had -offended him. One kiss? Yes—and what is a kiss? Air, nothing! I wanted -to calm his annoyance, sweetly, with my caresses, and I could not. -Weeping, I begged him to pardon me, and he refused. I said to -him—resolved to all—what more could I do?—I said to him, here you -have me—I am yours—do with me what you will! And, he remained mute, -reserved, did not look at me. He did not see me; he did not speak to me, -but I read distrust, contempt, restrained rage, in his face. He almost -insulted me. If he had not loved me so much, I believe he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_398" id="page_398"></a>{398}</span> would have -killed me! Again I tried to conquer him with my caresses. I wished to -give him a kiss—and he repulsed me! Ah, Gabriel! How much you deceive -yourself! How self-satisfied you are! You are poor, of humble birth, an -artisan—and you have the pride of a king! Thus I love you, thus I have -loved you. Haughty, proud, indomitable, thus I would wish you for my -love! I would have softened your character; I would have dominated your -pride; I would have conquered you with my kisses. You love me, but my -tears have not moved you! You are strong and boast of your strength, for -which I adore you! You are generous, and yet you do not know how to -pardon a weak woman! And we would have been happy. One word from you and -nothing more! If it were still possible—and—why not?”</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>But, when he heard from the mouth of Angelito that Carmen had responded -to the gallantries of Rosas, when the boy described the scene which he -had witnessed, and in which, yielding to the desires of Alberto, the -orphan had permitted herself to be kissed, the very heavens seemed to -fall; he raged at seeing his love mocked and dragged in the mud, and -promptly told Doña Pancha all he had learned. The old woman strove to -calm him; made just remarks about Carmen’s origin, telling him that she -might have inherited the tendency to evil from her mother and the desire -for luxury,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_399" id="page_399"></a>{399}</span> which had been <i>her</i> perdition; she begged him to cut -completely loose from the orphan, and, fearful that he might, after the -first impression caused by what Angelito described had passed, involve -himself in humiliating love entanglements, appealed to her son’s -generous sentiments, not to again think of the girl. And she succeeded.</p> - -<p>Gabriel armed himself with courage and fulfilled his promise. Hard, most -cruel, was the interview; his heart said: <i>pardon her</i>. Offended dignity -cried: <i>despise her</i>. Love repeated: <i>she loves you; is repentant, have -pity on her; see how you are trifling with your dearest illusions, with -all your hopes</i>; but in his ears resounded his mother’s voice, tender, -trembling with sympathy, supplicating, sad, <i>Gabriel, my boy, if you -love me, if you wish to repay me for all my cares, if you are a good -son, forget her!</i> He loved her and he ought not to love her. He wanted -to despise her, to offend her, to outrage her, but he could not. He -loved her so much! Wounded self-esteem said with stern and imperious -accent: <i>leave her</i>.</p> - -<p>When the cabinetmaker left his home that night, wishing to escape from -his grief, almost repenting what he had done, wandering aimlessly, he -journeyed through street after street, without note of distance. The -main street of the city, broad and endless, lay before him, with its -crooked line of lamps on either side, obscure and dismal in the -distance. So the future looks to us, when we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_400" id="page_400"></a>{400}</span> victims of some -unhappy disappointment, which shakes the soul as a cataclysm,—with not -a light of counsel, not a ray of hope on the horizon.</p> - -<p>He arrived at the end of the city and on seeing the broad cart-road that -began there, passed a bridge, at the foot of a historic hill; he felt -tempted to undertake an endless journey to distant lands, where no one -knew him; to flee from Pluviosilla, that city fatal to his happiness, -forever. But, he thought—my mother?</p> - -<p>The river flowed serene, silent. The cabinet-maker, with his elbow on -the hand-rail of the bridge, contemplated the black current of the -river; the great plain which lost itself in the frightful shadow of the -open country. A sentiment of gentle melancholy, consoling and soothing, -came over his soul. Meantime, the more he dwelt on his misfortune, the -more desolate appeared his life’s horizon, and something akin to that -sad homesickness, which he experienced in his soul, when the maiden -first said to him, <i>I love you</i>, passed like a refreshing wave through -his soul. The abyss at his feet attracted him, called him. What did -Gabriel think in those moments? Who can know? “No!” he murmured, turning -and taking his way to the city.</p> - -<p>The next day, he told Doña Pancha in a few words what had happened and -then said no more of the matter. In vain Tacho, Solis, and López -questioned him, on various occasions. He did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_401" id="page_401"></a>{401}</span> again mention Carmen. -He learned that she had left Pluviosilla, but made no effort to learn -where she had gone; and, not because he had forgotten her, but because -he had resolved never to speak of her again. The journeyman and Doña -Pancha repeated to him the conversation of Alberto and his friends, what -they said of the planned elopement, but he scarcely deigned to listen, -and answered with a scornful and profoundly sad smile.</p> - -<p>When Angelito found him and told him that Carmen was at Xochiapan, -repeating all that she had said, he hung his head as if he sought his -answer on the ground, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Say you have not seen me. No—tell her that I beg she will not think of -me again.”</p> - -<p>And he turned away, disdainful and sad.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>The young man placed himself in a good position, resolved to hear the -mass with the utmost devotion; but he could not do it. There, near by, -was Carmen; there was the woman for whom he would have given all that he -had, even to his life. He did not wish to see her, and yet did nothing -else. He turned his face toward the altar, and without knowing how, when -he least expected it, found his eyes fixed upon the maiden, whose -graceful head, covered with a rebozo, did not remain still an instant, -turning to all sides, in search of him. Gabriel remained concealed -behind the statue of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_402" id="page_402"></a>{402}</span> San Ysidro which, placed on a table, surrounded by -candles and great sprays of paper roses, served him as a screen.</p> - -<p>Why had he come? Was he determined to reunite the interrupted loves? -Would he yield to Carmen’s wishes? He had come to look at her, not -desiring to see her; he had come to Xochiapan dragged by an irresistible -power, but he would not yield. How could he blot out of his memory that -kiss, that thundered kiss, which he had not heard but, which, -nevertheless resounded for him like an injury, like an insulting word -which demands blood? And yet he had seen her; there she was, near him, -never so beautiful.</p> - -<p>At the close of the service, at the <i>ite misa est</i>, Gabriel left -promptly, so that when the faithful flocked out to the market-place, he -was mounting his horse. On crossing the <i>plaza</i>, he met some -<i>rancheros</i>, his friends, who invited him to drink a cup and then to eat -at the ranch, which was not far distant. He accepted; it was necessary -to distract himself. To leave the <i>plaza</i>, on the way to the house of -his friends, it was necessary to pass along one side of the church; -almost between the lines of vendors.</p> - -<p>The Cura, Doña Mercedes, Angelito and Carmen were in the graveyard. -Gabriel did not wish nor dare to greet his love; he turned his face -away, but could see and feel the gaze of those dark<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_403" id="page_403"></a>{403}</span> eyes fixed upon -him, a gaze profoundly sad which pierced his heart.</p> - -<p>After dinner he returned to the town to take the road to Pluviosilla. -His friends proposed to accompany him, but he refused their offer. He -wished to be alone, alone, to meditate upon the thought which for hours -had pursued him.</p> - -<p>She loves me—he was thinking as he entered the town.—She loves me! -Poor child! I have been cruel to her.—I ought to forgive her.—Why not? -I will be generous. I will forgive all.</p> - -<p>The energetic resolutions of the young man became a sentiment of tender -compassion. His dignity and pride, of which he gave such grand examples -a month before, yielded now to the impulses of his heart. He could -resist no longer. Carmen triumphed; love triumphed.</p> - -<p>I will speak with her; yes, I will speak with her; I will tell her that -I love her with all my soul; that I cannot forget her; that I cannot -live without her! I will tell her that I pardon; that we shall again be -happy. Poor child! She is pale, ill——. I do not wish to increase her -unhappiness.</p> - -<p>At the end of the street, through which at the moment he was passing, -the cabinet-maker saw two men on horseback, one on an English, the other -on a Mexican saddle. Apparently, people of Pluviosilla.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_404" id="page_404"></a>{404}</span></p> - -<p>The riders stopped a square away from the Curacy. The one dressed in -<i>charro</i>, dismounted and cautiously advanced along the hedge. A terrible -suspicion flashed through the young man’s mind. He quickly recognized -the cautious individual. While this person was going along on tiptoe, as -if awaiting a signal to approach, Gabriel took the lane to the right, -then turned to the left and passed slowly in front of the window of the -Curacy, at the moment when Rosas was speaking with Carmen at the -grating.</p> - -<p>His first idea was to kill his rival like a dog and then the infamous -woman who was thus deceiving him—but—he was unarmed. He cursed his bad -luck, hesitated a moment, between remaining and going, and, at last, -whipping up his horse, went almost at a gallop, by the Pluviosilla -road.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_405" id="page_405"></a>{405}</span></p> - -<h2><a name="FEDERICO_GAMBOA" id="FEDERICO_GAMBOA"></a>FEDERICO GAMBOA.<br /> -<br /> -<a href="images/i_405_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_405_sml.jpg" width="198" height="280" alt="[Image unavailable.]" /> -</a></h2> - -<p>Federico Gamboa was born in the City of Mexico, December 22, 1864. After -his elementary studies he attended the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i> -(National Preparatory School), for five years, and the <i>Escuela de -Jurisprudencia</i> (Law School) for three more. After an examination, he -entered the Mexican Diplomatic Corps, October 9, 1888, and was sent to -Guatemala in the capacity of Second Secretary of the Mexican Legation in -Central America. In 1890, he was appointed First Secretary of the -Mexican Legation to Argentina<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_406" id="page_406"></a>{406}</span> and Brazil. In 1896, he returned to -Mexico, where he remained until the end of 1898, as Chief of the -Division of Chancery of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He was then -sent again to Guatemala, as <i>Charge-d’affaires</i>. In December, 1902, he -was appointed Secretary of the Mexican Embassy at Washington, which -position he now holds.</p> - -<p>Through the year 1898, Señor Gamboa was Lecturer on the History of -Geographical Discovery in the <i>Escuela Nacional Preparatoria</i>. From 1886 -to 1888, inclusive, he was engaged in newspaper work in the City of -Mexico. In June, 1888, he presented on the Mexican stage a Spanish -translation of the Parisian operetta, <i>Mam’selle Nitouche</i>, under the -title, <i>La Señorita Inocencia</i> (Miss Innocence). In 1889, he presented a -translation <i>La Moral Electrica</i> (Electric morality) of a French -vaudeville. Besides these translations, Señor Gamboa has produced -original dramatic compositions—<i>La Ultima Campaña</i> (The Last Campaign), -a three act drama, and <i>Divertirse</i> (To amuse oneself), a monologue; -these appeared in 1894. Señor Gamboa has written several books. <i>Del -Natural—Esbozos Contemporáneos</i> (Contemporary Sketches: from nature) -was published when he was first in Guatemala and has gone through three -editions. <i>Apariencias</i> (Appearances), a novel, was published while he -was at Buenos Ayres, in 1892. <i>Impresiones y Recuerdos</i> (Impressions -and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_407" id="page_407"></a>{407}</span> Recollections) appeared in 1894. Three novels, which have been well -received are <i>Suprema Ley</i> (The Supreme Law), 1895, <i>Metamorfosis</i> -(Metamorphosis), 1899, and <i>Santa</i>, 1900. At present Señor Gamboa is -writing a new novel <i>Reconquista</i> (Reconquest), and his biographical <i>Mi -Diario</i> (My Journal), the latter in three volumes.</p> - -<p>As may be seen from this brief sketch Señor Gamboa has been a -considerable traveler. He has made two European journeys, has twice -visited Africa, and has traveled over America from Canada to Argentina. -He lived in New York in 1880 and 1881 and holds a city schools -certificate for elementary teaching. He was elected a Corresponding -Member of the Royal Spanish Academy in 1889, an officer of the French -Academy in 1900, and a Knight Commander of Carlos III in 1901.</p> - -<p>In <i>Suprema Ley</i> we have a tale of common life. Julio Ortegal is a poor -court clerk, of good ideals, decent, married, and the father of six -children. His wife Carmen is hard-working, a good wife and a devoted -mother. Clothilde, well-born and well-bred is a native of Mazatlan, -where she becomes infatuated with a young man named Alberto; they live -together and, on the discovery of dishonest dealings on his part, flee -to the interior and to the City of Mexico, where he suicides. Clothilde, -suspected of his murder, is thrown into jail; there she meets Julio, in -the discharge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_408" id="page_408"></a>{408}</span> his duties, whose kindness awakens her gratitude. -After her acquittal, her father, who does not wish her return to -Mazatlan, arranges, through Julio, for her support in Mexico. She goes -first to Julio’s home and, later, to a hired house. Julio’s love for her -is kindled; it grows during the time she lives in his house and is the -real cause of her removal. He finally abandons wife and children -although he still turns over his regular earnings at court to their -support, working nights at a theatre for his own necessities. Meantime, -consumption, from which he has long suffered, continues its ravages. -Clothilde’s parents, who can no longer endure her absence, finally send -her aunt to bear their pardon and implore her return. Clothilde, -repentant, casts off Julio and returns to Mazatlan. He is furious, -crushed; but repentant he determines to rejoin his abandoned wife and -family; his old and normal love revives, but in that moment, he dies.</p> - -<h3>EXTRACTS FROM SUPREMA LEY.</h3> - -<p>Julito no longer resisted and he also lay down to sleep; he would make -his aunt’s acquaintance in the morning. Carmen, sitting by the spread -table, solitary and silent, after the fatiguing day, could not sleep.</p> - -<p>She was thinking——.</p> - -<p>Through her thoughts passed vague fears of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_409" id="page_409"></a>{409}</span> coming misfortunes and -dangers; of a radical change in her existence. Her poor brain, of a -vulgar and unintellectual woman, performed prodigies in analyzing the -unfounded presentiments; what did she fear? On what did she base these -fears? While she attempted to define them they weakened, though they -still persisted. She reviewed her whole life of hard struggle and scanty -rewards; she examined her conduct as an honorable wife and a decent -mother of a family, and neither the one nor the other, justified her -fear. This stranger woman, this stranger who was about to come; would -she rob her of something? Of what? Her children? Surely, no. Of her -husband, perhaps? Her presentiment was founded in this doubt; yes, it -was only of her husband that she could rob her. And her humble idyl of -love, which she had cherished among the ancient things of her memory, as -she cherished in her clothes-press some few artificial flowers, -shriveled and yellowed, from her bridal crown, her idyl revived, -shriveled and yellowed also, but demanding an absolute fidelity in -Julio; not equal to her own; no, Julio’s fidelity had to be different, -but it must be; but, however much Carmen assured herself, with the mute -assurances of her will, that Julio was faithful, she continued to be -possessed by the idea that he would sometime prove unfaithful, just -because of the long period of their marriage, that cruel irony of the -years which respect nothing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_410" id="page_410"></a>{410}</span> neither a loving marriage nor the hearth -which belonged to us in infancy; the marital affection is choked by the -ivy of disgust and the bind-weed of custom; the home disappears covered -by the weeds, which grow and grow until they overtop the very pinnacle -of the façade. Carmen then appreciated some things before not -understood; all the little repugnances and the shrinking apart of two -bodies, which had long lived in contact and no longer have surprises to -exchange, no new sensations to offer, no curves that are not known, no -kisses that are unlike those other kisses, those of sweethearts and the -newly-wed, then novel and celestial, afterward repeated without -enthusiasm as a faint memory of those gone never to return. Believing -that Julio was yet in word and deed her own, she resolved to carry on a -slow reconquest, displaying the charms of a chaste coquetry; her -instincts of a woman, assuring her that this was the infallible mode of -salvation.</p> - -<p>But on considering her attractions marred by child-bearing; her features -sharpened by vicissitude; her hands, the innocent pride of her girlhood, -deformed by cooking and washing; she felt two tears burn her eyeballs -and, unable to gain in a contest of graces and attractions, her face -fell upon the table, supported by her arms, in silent grief for her lost -youth and her perished beauty.</p> - -<p class="ast">* * * *</p> - -<p>At two o’clock in the morning there was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_411" id="page_411"></a>{411}</span> knocking at the gate and then -at her door. It was they, Clothilde and Julio.</p> - -<p>“Carmen, the Señora Granada.”</p> - -<p>They embraced, without speaking; Clothilde, because gratitude sealed her -lips; Carmen, because she could not.</p> - -<p>The supper was disagreeable; the dishes were cold, the servant sleepy, -those at the table watching one another.</p> - -<p>When, in the silence of the night and of the sleeping house, Julio -realized the magnitude of what he had done, he read, yes, he read in the -darkness of the room, the fatal and human biblical sentence, and began -to understand its meaning:</p> - -<p>“The woman shall draw thee, where she will, with only a hair of her -head.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>Clothilde’s first impulse was to conceal herself; to tell her servant -that she was not accustomed to receive evening visits; but, besides the -fact that Julio had certainly already seen her, the truth is that she -felt pleasure, a sort of consolation and discreet satisfaction. Thank -God the test was about to commence; she was about to prove to herself -the strength of her resolution.</p> - -<p>Julio, now nearer, saluted, lifting his hat; Clothilde answered with a -wave of the hand, in all confidence, as two friends ought to salute. She -waited for him smilingly, without changing her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_412" id="page_412"></a>{412}</span> place or posture, -determined not only to show a lack of love but even of undue -friendliness. Julio, paler than usual, crossed the threshold.</p> - -<p>“Bravo, Señor Ortegal, this is friendly; come in and I will give you a -cup of coffee.”</p> - -<p>Julio gave her his hand with extraordinary emotion and looked -searchingly into her eyes as if to read her thoughts. Clothilde, -scenting danger, led the way to the dining-room. How were they all at -home? Carmen and the children? Do they miss her a little?</p> - -<p>Julio promptly answered that all were well, all well but himself, and -that is her fault, Clothilde’s.</p> - -<p>“My fault?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, your fault. And I ought to have spoken with you alone, long ago.” -And, saying this he covered his face with his hands.</p> - -<p>The coffee-pot boiled noisily; the servant placed two cups upon the -table and Clothilde, not entirely prepared, because she had not counted -upon so abrupt an attack, betook herself to her armory of prayers. She -served the coffee with a trembling hand, putting in two lumps of sugar, -which she remembered Ortegal always took.</p> - -<p>“Will you tell me the truth?” he burst out.</p> - -<p>“Certainly.”</p> - -<p>Ortegal collected all his nervous energy and without taking his hands -from his face, as if he did not desire to look at Clothilde, and poured -out his words in a torrent:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_413" id="page_413"></a>{413}</span></p> - -<p>“Clothilde, I am a wretch to offend you; to dare to speak to you as I -do, but I can endure it no longer; I adore you, Clothilde, I adore you -and you know it! You have known it—— Pardon me, I beg you; and love me -just a little—nothing more,” he added, sobbing, “have pity on my life -and soul. Do you love me sometimes?”</p> - -<p>“No,” replied Clothilde, closing her eyes, with a transport of cruelty -and the consciousness that she caused immense suffering, and terrified -at having caused such a passion. “I can never love you because I idolize -and will ever idolize the memory of Alberto.”</p> - -<p>When he heard the sentence, Julio bowed his head upon his arm as it -rested on the table; pushed back the coffee without tasting it and rose.</p> - -<p>“You forgive me?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said Clothilde, “and I pray God to cure you.”</p> - -<p>“Will you not come to my house? Will I not see you again?” exclaimed -Julio with a sweeping gesture of his arm that indicated that his -suffering was incurable.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, but the least possible.”</p> - -<p>The two felt that the interview was ended; and Julio believed himself -finally cast off. As in all critical situations, there was a tragic -silence; Clothilde looked at the floor; Julio gazed at her with the -yearning love, with which the dying look for the last time upon the -familiar objects and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_414" id="page_414"></a>{414}</span> dear faces, never so beautiful as in that -awful moment. Thus he gazed, long, long, taking her hand and kissing it -with the respect of a priest for a holy thing. Then he passed the wicket -of the little garden, and departed without once turning his head, -staggering like a drunken man; he was lost on the broad pavement, his -worn garments of the poor office hack, hanging in the sunlight in such -folds as to throw into relief the narrow shoulders of the consumptive.</p> - -<p>I am dismissed, he thought, and I am glad that it was with a “no.” What -folly to think that a woman like Clothilde could ever care for a man -like me! What can I offer her?—A worthless trifle, an illegal love, a -legitimate wife, children, poverties! How could I pay her house rent, -the most necessary expenses, the most trifling luxuries? Better, much -better, that they despise me, the more I will occupy myself with my wife -and my children, what is earned they will have; I will return to the -path of rectitude, to my old companion; I will cure myself of this -attack of love. And walking, walking, he reached the Alameda, seated -himself in the Glorieta of San Diego, on a deserted bench, in front of -two students, who were reading aloud.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>“But what has happened to you, Señorita?” and the lie presenting itself -for sole response; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_415" id="page_415"></a>{415}</span> lie which augments the crime and the risks of -what is foreseen. Her situation was not new; the eternal sufferings, one -day a little worse than another. Then, in the little alcove, where she -had thought herself strong enough to resist, the encounter with -Alberto’s portrait, a life-size bust photograph, in a plain frame, with -an oil lamp and two bunches of violets on the bureau, upon which it -stood. It was there waiting for her, as it waited for her every night, -to watch her undressing as he had in life, seated on the edge of the bed -or on a low chair, mute with idolatrous admiration, until she had -completed her preparations, and, coquettish and submissive, came to him, -who, with open arms and waiting lips embraced her closely, closely, -saying, between kisses, “How much I love you.”</p> - -<p>Clothilde remained leaning against the bureau, unable to withdraw her -gaze from the portrait or her thought from what had just happened. Why -had she yielded? Why had she not screamed, or drawn the cord of the -coach, or called the passersby or the police? Scarcely a year a widow, -because she <i>was</i> a widow although the marriage ceremony had not been -performed, and she had already forgotten her vows and promises, and had -already enshrined within her heart another man, who was not the dead, -her dead, her poor dear dead, lying yonder in his grave between two -strangers, without protest or opposition to infidelity and perjury; -enclosed in the narrow confines of the grave, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_416" id="page_416"></a>{416}</span> light, nor air, -nor love, nor life; lost among so many tombs, among so many faded -flowers, among so many lies written in marbles and bronzes. She could -redeem her fault with nothing, not only was she not content to dwell at -the graveside, but she had given herself to another and still dared to -present herself before his portrait, defying its wrath. Trembling with -terror she recalled a mutual oath sworn in those happy times, when in -their flight across half the Republic, they enjoyed a relative calm in -hotels and wayside inns. The sight of a country graveyard, peculiarly -situated, had saddened them; with hands clasped, they were walking after -supper before the inn, when Alberto, affected by one of those -presentiments which so often appear in the midst of joy, as if to remind -us that no happiness is lasting, clasped her to his bosom, and stroking -her hair, had asked her: “What would you do, if I should die?”</p> - -<p>She had answered him with tears, shuddering; had stopped his mouth with -her hand; had promised him, sincerely, with all her loving heart and her -voice broken with sobs, that she would die also, but Alberto had -insisted, who can say whether already possessed with his coming suicide, -had begged her to make him an answer.</p> - -<p>“Come tell me what you will do, since that will not cause it to happen, -and I will tell you what I would do if you should prove false.”</p> - -<p>“Why do you say such things? Why do you<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_417" id="page_417"></a>{417}</span> invoke death?” And Alberto, -with solemn face had replied, what she had never since forgotten. -“Because disillusionment and death are the two irreconcilable enemies of -life and one ought ever to reckon with them.”</p> - -<p>As Clothilde remained silent, Alberto, after drying her eyes, which were -immediately again filled with tears, demanded a solemn oath from her, -not of the many with which sweethearts constantly regale each other, but -of those which fix themselves forever, which impress us by their very -solemnity; would she swear it by her mother? Would she fulfil it -whatever happens? Truly—? If—?</p> - -<p>“Then swear to me, that only in honest wedlock will you ever belong to -another man!”</p> - -<p>And Clothilde swore; and now, before that portrait and that scene as it -rose in her memory, she felt herself criminal, very criminal, lost, and -unhappy. She did not leave the bureau; she could see the road, obscure -in the night; she could see the little inn; some muleteers, the -tavernkeeper, who spoke of robbers, ghosts, crops, and horses; she could -see Alberto and now she dared not raise her eyes to look at his face in -the plain frame. Turning her back to it, she lay down in the bed, buried -her head among the pillows, and closed her eyes; but instead of -conciliating sleep, there presented themselves before her, pictures of -her brief domestic life with Alberto; and, worst of all, amid these -pictures, the figure of Julio, of Julio supplicating<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_418" id="page_418"></a>{418}</span> and ill, of Julio -wearied and weighed down with cares, was not hateful to her.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p>“Here is the fortnight’s pay, do me the favor of handling it.”</p> - -<p>In the handling the cashier came out bankrupt, but could never make up -her mind to tell Julio that to meet necessities she was forced to take -in sewing, at night, while others slept and her loneliness was -emphasized. The little Julio kept her company, studying his lessons or -reading aloud one of those continued stories, which delight women and -children by the complexity of their plot and by the happy exit, which -ever favors virtue. Sometimes, the romantic history contrasted with her -own, so mean and prosaic, and a tear or two, unnoticed by the reader -absorbed in the story, fell upon the white stuff of the sewing and -expanded in it as in a proper handkerchief. But if Julito learned of the -tears, he stopped his reading and kneeling before his mother dried them, -more by the loving words with which he overwhelmed her, than with his -coarse schoolboy’s kerchief.</p> - -<p>“Come, foolish mama; why are you crying? Don’t you know it isn’t true? -The whole book is made up.”</p> - -<p>He never added that he knew well that she was not weeping for the -characters of the story, but for the neglect of her husband; but, as her -husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_419" id="page_419"></a>{419}</span> was also his father, he employed this pretext in order not to -condemn Julio, openly and aloud, to Carmen. Thus, there happened, what -was to be expected, that between Carmen and Julito there grew up love in -one of its sublimest forms, the love of mother and son, with open -caresses, but caresses the most pure, with no touch of sin; and ideal -love which illumines our spirit and assures us that we would have loved -our mother so, had we not lost her too early.</p> - -<p>Julito’s fifteen years spent in tenements and public schools, had -acquired for him an undesirable stock of had habits, of which perhaps -the least was smoking, inveterate, demanding his withdrawal at the end -of each chapter, to the corridor to smoke a cigarette in the open air. -One night Carmen, who knew not how to show him the extreme affection, -which by his treatment of her he had gained, said, unexpectedly: “If you -wish to smoke, you may do it before me.” And the boy, who, on the -streets, at school, and in the neighborhood, was a positive terror, -could not smoke near Carmen, look you! He could not; he loved her too -much to be willing to puff smoke from mouth and nostrils in her -presence. He did not smoke secretly, but as before, in the corridor, -after each chapter.</p> - -<p>How sadly beautiful was the sight of these two in the dismantled dining -room of their miserable tenement! The immense house, the squalid -quarter<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_420" id="page_420"></a>{420}</span>, so noisy and turbulent during the day, presented the silence -of the tomb in the late hours of the night. Carmen and Julito, separated -by a corner of the table with its tattered cover of oil-cloth, and a -tallow dip, which needed snuffing every little while; Julito greatly -interested in his reading and Carmen, sewing at her fastest, -contemplating, with infinite love the black and curly head of her son, -when she stopped a moment to thread her needle. Now and again, the -coughing of the other children came to them from the adjoining room, and -Julito exclaimed: “Listen to my brothers.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I hear them; poor little things.”</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><p class="cb">FOOTNOTES:</p> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The word used is <i>espejismo</i>, literally, mirroring.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> There is a hard drive here upon the old teacher, which will -be understood only by those who have seen him.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The second is, it will be costly.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Little Chavero: half-affectionate, half-jocular diminutive -of Chavero.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> This and the following Aztec terms are either actually -fictitious or have meanings which are ridiculous in the connections -given.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Public granary.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> A scourge.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> A band or strip of wire netting with sharp points, to be -bound upon the body for self-torture.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Mas solemne culto.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> A pretty mestizo girl, of the common people.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Seller of fruit waters, including one made with <i>chia</i>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Night watchman.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Soldier police.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Street cars.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Regular frequenters of <i>tertulias</i>—i. e., social, -literary gatherings.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> A holy Christ, two candle bearers, and three gawks.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Village Christ.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Tolsa.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> There is here a play on words not easy to render well. -<i>Pero</i>—but: <i>pera</i>—pear; <i>aguacate</i> is a sort of fruit. The text runs: -</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“Pero—señor Don Raimundo”<br /></span> -<span class="i0">“No hay peros, ni aguacates que valgan.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p> -The exact translation is: -</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“But—señor Don Raimundo——“<br /></span> -<span class="i1">There are no pears, nor aguacates, which avail.<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Here again is a <i>double-entendre</i>. The same word <i>dueno</i>, -owner, is here translated as self-controlled, and master. The young man -is master (of himself), the old man is master of his daughter’s lot.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Market for raw stuffs or materials.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <i>Moco de pavo</i>; literally, a turkey’s crest.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> The patron of agricultural labor.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> -</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">Cayo el pez en la remanga:<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Qué ganga! qué ganga!<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Small round plasters stuck upon the temples for the relief -of headache.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Town treasurer.</p></div> - -</div> - -<p class="c"> -<img src="images/back.jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="" title="" /> -</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Readings from Modern Mexican Authors, by -Frederick Starr - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MODERN MEXICAN AUTHORS *** - -***** This file should be named 52968-h.htm or 52968-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/9/6/52968/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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