The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1874-08-15
SPANIARDS.
l.-CARLISTS.

was indebted to my Spanish teacher,
once Spanish nobleman, for my first
clear knowledge of the Carlist struggle.
The old S-lique law, which prevented
any woman from ascending the Spanish
throne, having been abrogated by Fer
dinand, the last king, who left the
crown to his daughter Isabella, under
the regency of her mother, Maria Chris
tina, whose partisans were called Chris
tinos, Don, Carlos, the kings brother,
and the direct male heir, resisted the
change.
The constitutional government es-
tablished by the Chrlstinos, bringing
all under one general law, does away
with the ancient fuerOs, or privileges of
the provinces.
This was especially resented by the
Biscay provinces, whose inhabitants had
been left to enjoy great freedom nong,
and most probably on account OF their
mountains.
They therefore presented the singular
spectacle of free people, ready at any
time to take up arms for absolute kings,
because this absolutism had never both
cred them,
The career OF my informant was a
good illustration of the recent history
of Spain.
He had begun life as an Andalusian
noble, and naturally espoused the cause
of Don Carlos. Becoming one of "the
kings" staff officers, his position was
excellent for observing everything, an
his account of Csslist camp az 80
time was exceedingly interesting. 4,
The old men and women with the
smaller boys and girls, remained at
home to work the farms, and procure
provisions for them all. The larger
boys conveyed supplies to the camp,
which contained all the able-bodied
men.
The young women were there also to
cook and keep things tidy until fight
came, when they also brought in the
wounded from the battle field, and
tended them until they recovered, or
until they passed away.
The usual loose license of camp had
no exis ence there. Every Young w0m-
an was just as safe from harm or in-
suit among her relatives and fri nds in
camp as she would have be, n in her own
home.
One day as my informant, with the
rest of the staff, was riding with "the
king" along narrow road among the
mountains, they met an old woman,
bowed down with age and grief, walk
ing in front of rough hand barrow,
borne by four young women, on which
lay tine.iooking young man who
seemed badly wounded.
The clatter of the horses hoofs
reused the aged mourner, who raised
her head az the horsemen reined aside
to make room 10 the narrow road.
"The king" raising his hat, said:
=" Mother, is this your son?"
The old woman TUNED toward him
her fine, though wrinkled face, and,
seeing who it was, saluted him and
answered:
"Yes, your majesty"
"He seems badly wounded"
eyes; he is dying, and he is the
second son that have thus lost, my
emily consolation being that L have one
more still left for the service of your
majesty"
Bending down her head again, she
moved on as before with her sad train,
while all the horsemen remained uncov-
cred till they passed.
OF course, with such devotion as this,
Don Carlos had them and theirs always
at his command When he chose to
raise his standard, he mt yer backed for
hardy soldiers. Their mountains Of
fered a secure base for operations, in.
suring them q safe retreat, while their
extended seaboard put them in commu-
nication with all the world, and gave
them an amount of supplies limited
only by their power to purchase.
Ny informant, while in command
cf body OF troops, was obliged, in
order to avoid capture, to cross the
Portuguese frontier. He and his men
were disarmed and imprisoned.
For two years he tried in vain to free
his men. Then, feeling he had done
his whole duty toward them, he secured
his own escape aud went to Eogland.
Thence he gained the continent, and
finally settled in Paris.
n.--oUcHLLos.
The national weapon of tho Span.
iards is tho knife, ard certainly they
know how to use it. Talking one day
with Young man VINO seemed likely to
Know, / asked him what there was Pc
culiar in the management of the knife,
"Why," said he. with a smile, 81
could kill you, and you couldn't kill
"WGl," said ], "please point ont
the difference between us. What would
you do tirst2"
"Why, I'd make you wink, and stab
you while you winked."
Glow would you make me wink ?"
"Why, SC" said he, throwing up his
left hand near nay eyes.
"Well, ] could do the same"
"T'ry it, said he.
Itned, and feudd j impossible to