Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-11-20
A TALE or A SPANISH SOLDIER.
BY p. K.

When the war OF le3-in Spain
commenced, I was boy at school,
but heard 80 much said OF Don
Carlos, and the number of men
enlisting in his army. that l -e-
solved 10 be a soldier. I began
to prepare for secretly clipping
from home and joining his army.
apprehending decided opposition
from my parents. 1t required
much deliberation and many ar
rangements and efforts, to lay
plans and execute them. to OBJ
tain 9 supply OF arms, and to
make all the other preparations
necessary to secure the success OF
my object. There were few places
In the house where / thought l
could place anything that would
not be liable to observation; but
there was the subterranean cham
Der in the gardenl Would not
that be q good place for my arse
nal2 As none Of the other mem
bers OF the family had visited it
for long time, at the period OF
the war, it occurred to me that |
might there safely deposit my
arms and ammunition. But /
was soon relieved from all anx-
Aiety and care on that subject by
my fathers inquiry whether /
would like to be soldier OF Don
Carlos.
Joyfully I expressed my read
iness; and at daylight, few
mornings after, / was on my way,
equipped in full and new suit
of uniform and we'll armed with
shining weapons, which glistened,
when the sun rose, like polished
steel. The hilarity with which |
walked across the fields and
among the trees I can never forget.
/ was full OF hope and expecta-
ton, and fancisd myself already
q conquerer on battle-fslds which
my Imagination painted before
me.
A few months found me SO
changed in my condition and ap-
pearance, and especially in my
feelings and character, that
scarcely my father could have re
cognizsd me. Iudeed, now,
since other changes have been
passed through, 1t is difficult for
me to realize that my own aspect
could have ever been so savage,
my habits so wild, my feelings SO
ungoverned and my principles OF
action so inhuman. A civil war
produces the most horrible state
Of things that can exist in society.
The circumstances differ material
ly from those arising from a con
test between the people Of differ
erent countries. Enemies can
then distinguish each other by
soma external and obvious mark ;
but in civil war suspicion takes
the place Of knowledge; sons,
brothers and bosom friends are
often ranged on opposite sides,
sometimes meet in the field and
, often seek and spill each others
blood. 1t was quite sufficient to
brutalize and infuriate me to be
constantly engaged, day after day
and night after night, in unceas-
ing and deadly warfare with my
own countrymsn, for weeks and
months together.
We were at FIRST prosperous and
we'll received by the people, both
in the country and in the towns
but our enemies afterward gained
50 much strength that We were
compelled to retreat to the mosI
solitary and inaccessible parts o.
the Pyrenees, and there we un
dsrwent tolls and privations al
most too severe for human nature
to endure. A few incident.
which occurred to US may afford
some idea OF our condition.
We one day entered village
where we had formerly beer
treated with great kindness and
hospitality, and assured, over an
over again, that we had the whole
population for our friends. Ii
the midst of a repast which hai
been prepared for US, while con.
fding too much in our host ever
to keep q sentry, the house wa
besst by party OF our enemies
who fred upon US through tn,
windows, and then rushed in a
the doors, sword in hand. l wa
unhurt, and, springing for tn,
first passage / could find, leapet
from height to the ground, ant
escaped. by what appeared to m
pure miracle. My companion
never saw afterward. and onl,
learned by an indirect channe
that scarcely any one ESCAPED
except myself. How I got bacl
to the mountains 1 cannot exacil
tell; but, when l found mysel