Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-11-16
DON JUAN MANUEL.

There Is in Mexico street lined by
the tallest and most sumptuous build
ngs. where for years have lived wealthy
end prominent merchants. Situated In
The most populous, the most central part
a the city, il is what we may call an
axistocratic street.
Nevertheless, iss aspect is dreary by
day, and by night lugubrious. The great
Raguans street doors) Of ancient carved
wood seem the entrances to castles; on
the high walls of the buildings are pro-
jected, in a most singular manner. the
lights and the alternate shades Of the
street-lamps, and from the Churriguer-
esque cornices Of the balconies phantoms
appear to detach themselves, which now
blend and hide in the zaguans, now
ascend to the roof cornice, and there
peep and laugh, showing deformed and
fantastic shapes to the people who pass.
Thus to my imagination appeared one
dark night, cold and windy, the street
of Don Juan Manuel. A dear friend Of
mine was dying that night. and had to
70 in search Of good priest to bestow
the last benediction which the Christian
Graves on the day he departs this life
forever.
That night, at intervals, gusts Of icy
wind blew from off the volcanoes, and
now and then great rain-drops fell,
which the wind beat and dashed against
the dark panes within the balconies; in
the whole street there was no living
creature but lean black dog, gnawing
q bone thrown out by some servant.
The oil-lamps cast shadows rather than
light, and the small reddish flame trem-
bled sinisterly in the black tin holder.
The watchman slept at the corner,
wrapped in his dark blue mantle, and
the echo of footsteps on the flags Of the
walk resounded along the whole extent
of the street, at once dismal and
majestic, and broke the silence, now
and then disturbed also by the croak OF
some nightbird.
This is the historic legend of the street
of Don Juan Manuel:
In the year 1886 the street was not in
the condition that wayfarers now be-
hold it. Hxico was already, as it
were, planned and arranged, but the
streets with few exceptions, were not
finished. There. were large, fine houses
close beside others of poor and defective
construction; some had high, wellmade
fences protecting their gardens, while in
others, in the Celada (now the street OF
San Bernardo) and in that of which we
speak, there were scattered among
houses many vacant ground plots, fenced
In only with wood, or adobes, or dry
dry thorn brush.
The owner of the houses and grounds
in that road was a cavalier called Don
Juan Manuel. He was parsonage sur
rounded in all directions by shadows
and mysteries which never let him be
seen in all the true reality. At night he
would enter the palace of the viceroy,
muffied to the eyes in long black
cloak, and there he would remain for
hours, conversing. None would see him
come forth. and some who, from curl
osity, watched him go in, declared that
before knocking at the private door of
the palace, Don Juan Manuel would un-
muffle himself, cross himself thrice,
and, drawing silver-handled rapier, he
would test it, examine its point. and
then return it to the sheath. And they
who saw this feared that the viceroy
some morning would be found murdered
In his bed.
Don Juan Manuel was very charita-
BILE man. 1t was told of him that he
was once visited by a widow who had
two charming daughters. young and
fair. Don Juan Manuel bestowed $1,000
upon each of the girls, and refused even
to see them.
Don Juan Manuel was of jealous
nature. 1t was said that his wife was
an illustrious lady Of rare beauty, but
none had ever seen her, for she remained
shut within the house, and only left it
to go to mass at o'clock of morning,
wrapped in great black wooden cloak.
No one visited the house. and none en-
tered there save the confessor, who now
and then went to drink chocolate there
after mass.
Don Juan Manuel was brave. One
night six robbers set upon him, armed
with daggers. He drew his sword Of
the fashion Cid Ruy Diaz, and setting
his back against a zaguan door, he let
none of them approach him until a
patrol came to the rescue, who after
ward found the trails of blood made by
the assailants, all wounded by the one
man.
Don Juan Manuel was not a good
man, but pious; he confessed and took
the sacrament every week: he disciplined
himself every night at the nearest
church; he relieved many of the poor,
assisted at the feasts of the Virgin, and
paid for tapers and lamps which burned
day and night in the churches.
All this was told of Don Juan Manuel,
but in reality he was a most mysterious
man, Of whom ii might be assumed that
all knew him, and none knew him truly.
II asked TO describe him, one said he was
tall of stature, very straight and stately,
with face pale and almost jaundiced, a
thick, black beard, and black, sparkling,
deep-set eyes. Others, on the
contrary, averred that he was
but of ordinary height, with
mild and charitable countenance,
with eyes expressive and full Of sweet
ness, and only short mustache.
Neither could all agree as to his garb,
the best informed concurring in that he
Wore always black. while others had