The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-01
A MAsKER'S FRoLIc.


locality being absolutely devoid OF the
least characteristic which might recon-
mend it as suitable for a great city. 1t
is situated near the center of the coun-
try, TO be sure, and on the left bank OF
the Mauzlnares, q small stream whose
waters join those of the Jamara, an al
fluent OF the Tagus. The city Is built
on a hily, barren and poorly-watereq
plain, little more than two. thousand
ieet above the level OF the sea, exposed
to the bitter winter winds from the Gua-
durrama Mountains on the north, anu
to the simOOn-like winds from the SOUTH
east.
No other city except: Rome gives itself
up SO completely TO the Intoxicating
pleasures and eXCesses of the carnIVai
season as does Madrid. During this
annual period the people leresign ali labor
and devote themselves systematically
to the greatest freedom, often overstep-
Ding the bounds of propriety and be-
coming forgetLul Of self-respect. But
the carnival period is accepted as being
sutfi cient excuse for any impru Ience
short of murder. TAe same remark ap-
plies to Venice. Renle and Naples.
IL is to give the realer a picture OF an
occurrence at Madrid during the carni-
val lhaG we have taken up our pen. The
circumstances which we shall relate
transpired but u few, years ago, ana yet
it has probably been forgotten by nearly
all those who ever heard OF 1T. IL never
became very public, but was whispered.
about among the courts of Europe, and,
we believe, finally got into the news
papers OF Londen and Paris.
AS we have SAID, it was during the
carnival season, and one OF tue most dis.
tjnruisued ladies' OF. the court gave a
| masked ball, to which all the privileged
class of cItiZens and people OF rank, in-
GLIDING the several embassies, were ln-
yited, The Spanlards are proVerblally
| Iuospitable,- and on such occasions eacn
IN member of the embassies is permitted to
Invite any of his fellow countrymen who
may chance.U 10 be in The city.
| Our fellow countryman, Bayard
| Iaylor, one OF the most extensive travel
ers OF the day, CHANGED at Ihe time to be
in Madrid, and, as was customary, re-
ceiyed an invitation. 10 the masked Dali
to which we refer. 1t has been more
than limited, also, that 1t was throusn II
| Mr. Taylor that the facts OF the follow
ling romantic story got first whispered
| about. But certain 1T ls tnat Mr.. Taylor,
nr any member Of the American En-
bassy, can verify the facts.
| General Arleta Was.as we'll known III
Madrid a few years since as the Duke
LOT w ellington was in London. He was
The Spanish Won MoEtke OF twenty years
agO-a lavorite of the Queen, and, thougL
we'll advanced in years, still q mat
noted tor his gallAntrIes. He had won
his SPURS during the days of Wellington
upOn the Peninsula, and, though he was
a severe disciplinarlan, still he was
always SO just and reasonable that he
was immensely popular with the army
| The General was a little pfoad, Dut sll!-
very genial when he chose to be SO.
The occasion of the masked ball re-
rerred to was OF marked display. Ever
ROYALTY was present i'll di,guIse, thOugE
that was nothing remarkable, the Queen
having long before sacrificed the res peel
of her subjects by laisons so public and
so uraZen as to be disgusting. We SPEAK
ut the mother of tlre pIesent youth Il
King, Tue ball was long alter leme M
pered as the most splendid social atfall
which had occurred. IN the eastman
caDltal tor many long year. 1t wa
: more like one OF the gay masquerades .
the ParIsian opera than augnt else.
General AriBLa had partaken rathe
freely OF champagne, but not enough tt
more than stimulate Dlm TO cOncer
niIch. he was too old q campalgner tt
| 81
eHy other stimulus. Still he had swal
InWed quite enougn to mellow his dlspU
sitjou and to unIoosen his tongue. Ill
was all politeness and courtesy tO every
one. and more particularly to those o
lie Onposite sex who salu ed Aln.
A pretty orange girl-pretty at leas
i'm tTure, for, as to her face, IKE the res
of the ladies, she was masKed-Was Oh
served TO pay special attention to th'
nId soldier. The general could not bu
~bsrrye with amOrous eyes the eXquls
= itA little feet and beautifully fotmet
. limbs which q somewhat snort sklr
/ served to display; nor did ne iall to OBJ
= srrye the deliculely rounded outlines .
his young girPs figure, her dainty Wais
ana beautiful throat ana neck. IudGe0
= he was qulte~takeh. by stolil, ana wa
prepareu TO strlke MS nag @' the Als
Summons to surrender.
ON ner part, the orange girl dance
} with General Arieta, hung upon hi
arm. chatted yolubly with him, and, j
! snOrt. QUITE Appropriated aud cAarme
i Iha old soldier. Everybody values i
e Snain-itls the national danCe-and th
y1un. gtrl twirled the general about tn
u ynArious Darkroom until, together Wit
u no Iumes of the chAmpagne which b
D nod drank. he Was rendered almost, to
l 1lyzy to stand. upon his teet. But u
= cnaHiard was ever known to get to
e mInn of the waltz; so General Ariet
xpnt on in dizzy delight, with his ar
. encircling this little orange glrPs walls
"Alas!5 sighed the general, as the wv
sought me retirement OF cohsefVatol
leading out of the dancing Nail, ~ al
absolutely miserable"
: "Aud wny, pray!
"Bpcause l shall be Obliged 70 leaN
Il you so soon"
a leave ME"
q Yes, / nave to take my carriage b
q midnight"
"Wny so early p
- "ro attend u Cabinet meeting"
n "WhereW
n cat the palace Of Aranquez."
a "That is some distance"
a "Tlue."
q "And you are not afraid Of brigant
= uDun the road!" asked the orange gin
II "Oh, no, my little queen, | nave l
: lear."
81 suppose you are so we'll armedp
n son the contrary, take no weapon
Z with me-"
"AhIyou are SO brave, you soldiers
u "YUu Will meet me a another time
= "PGFDaps," was ner arch reply.
II "But promise me-"
g "WlereW
a And then the two drew very near t
W gether upon the seat, and there was son
10 low and confidential conversations, /