Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-12-18
A SPANISH STORY CONDENSED.

(Desde ~ IiHfia ~ CflC)
the author endeayors Il show that
the surest happiness Is 10 Lee found IN
ones native village, lle begins with
an irooIeal desciiption Of tie villages
Qfs-EIn the EncmtaeIones. 10 which
he depicts tho simplicity al Tho lnl'ab'
tapts and their baekwardness IN ~.
gard 10 the spirit Of The age, IN this
village lived, among Others, Teresa,
q poor widow aud her only child fedre,
One day while passing The place OF n
wealthy "Indian," he called her aud
said he was obliged 10 return ~
America, aud wished her 10 take care
Of his house daring his absence, The
poor woman saw herself relieved from
want aud able to educate her son, The
latter found IN the rich library Of the
"lndian" food tor many years OF study
and soon became dissatisfied with his
quiet life In the village, aud eager to
travel aud see The countries about
which he had read such charming
tales lie soon grew TO dlSpise every
thing aruunl him. aud treated with
scorO his neighbo9 Rose who loved
him lenderly
One day news arrived from Mexico
that the "lndlan" had lied, leaving TO
Teresa his palace nj S-and large
sum of money besides Pedro was
now able to fulfil his dreams OF tavel,
and started on his journey, He first
visits the Pass OF Roncesvalles, aud is
nearly killed by the indignant French
men who he asked about the defeat
of G harlemagne and the Twelve Peers
Pedro then proceeds to Bayonne,
where his is so shocked by the sight
of young girls selling their hair to the
highest bidder that he determines to
leave France, and We next find hun
in a Swiss chalet, where he Is disgust
eddy their lack of cleanliness His
feelings can he imagined when he
finds that the peasants have no popular
traditions and are not acquainted even
with the name of William Tell In
despair Pedro directs his course to
Germany, but finds no sylphs Or sirens
on the banks ofs the Rhine, while
maidens with blue eyes and golden
hair are no more abundant their than
elsewhere.
Greece next receives the wandercr,
who hears in Athens of railroads and |
funds ; On Olympus he
finds a guano mandatory, and on
Pindus a poet writing fourteen syl-
tables endecasyllabics. lie visits with
o similar disenchantment CONSTANT.
nople, and then makes his way to
England. There poor Pedro is dis
gnsted by the sordid selfish spirit OF
the people. An absurd scene at a
village church fills him with horror
The bare walls of the temple chills
his heart, and after service domestic
quarrel between the curate and his
Jealous wife caps the climax and Pedro
fees to America. On landing in New
York he is robbed OF his watch the
thief is arrested but gives the watch
to the magistrate. keeping the chain
for himself, and Pedro IS condemned
to pay the cost and damages suffered
by the thief's character On return
lug that evening from the theatre he
was garroted and robbed OF all he has
with him The landlord tells him
that no one thinks OF going out at
night without u pair of six-shooters.
aud adds what happens in New York
is nothing to what is going on in
Boston, Baltimore and New Orleans.
The next day he reads an editorial in
the New York Herald advising Ameri'
can merchants to repudiate their for
eign debts. He then determines to
visit the different States, and OH pass
ing through the South thanks God
that slavery is unknown in Europe.
Railroads accidents, murders and polit-
ical and social corruption caused him
to regard with horror the young repub
lie, which seemed to him old in vice,
and he started for South America, the
Spanish part which reminded him Of
q virgin overwhelmed with misfortune
but still full of youth and faith. A
letter from his mother is awaiting him
there, be bursts into tears, and sails
at once for his beloved home, which
he reaches one beautiful Sunday morn.
ing in May. His meeting with bis
mother takes place in church, and
there also he sees Rose, whose con-
,toncy.. ia nov rewarded The story