Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-02-01

G1aOeAOAo& NA0OAC1AO &u8By Ol0
Spain-The People OF Gallacia and
Their Habits "A Dumb Sort OF
Wretched Content.
SANTIAGO, Spain, Jan. 13.
To the Editor Of tho JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The comforts for the inner man, which We
carried to the empty storehouse of the al.
calde of beggarly Finisterre, served to give
that extraordinary functionary of the Span.
ish government q more benign temper. He
even consented to permit Pierre Floquet and
myself to put some necessary clothing upon
his attenuated form. he never forgot for
QUE moment, however, his oiacial relations
to me. He was alcalde. was the alcalde's
prisoner. Every glance from his eyes of au.
thority seemed an urgent order that should
redouble my vigilance as guard upon my
self. The situation was both interesting and
ludicrous, but 1t soon became irksome, and
towards night myself as Spanish sentinela
in charge Of the American prisoner myself,
began giving the latter few unofficial liber-
ties. One was to permit myself to penetrate
my slight baggage and produce an old pass
port of Mr.. Bayard's making, worn to the
consistency of chsese-cloth, and signed,
countersigned and vised by SO many officials
in go many different countries, that of late
no creature of the effete monarchies had
been brave enough to decipher or gainsay its
authority. Bringing my prisoner to the al
calde, boldly faunted this before him and
demanded my own release. He gave it one
glance. then, psusing in the act of taking
snuff from Pierre Floquet's box, uttered the
simple, profound and significant word,
"Bah!"
He made what he meant 30 clear to me for
Spaniard that at once withdrew with my
sentinela and began limo of diplomatic ac-
ton. The psor souls of Finisterre were
really and truly i'll and utterly helpless.
Several had died and lay in the rags of their
hunks without burial. The living ones had
no knowledge of their own ailment. Word
had been sent to Santiago de Campostela of
their distress, but the physicians of that city
were busy with their own sick. The igno-
rant beings had lost all heart, and had laid
rained sheep. truly pitied them and be-
gan in an humble way endeavoring to effect
their relief. In q little time I had CHEEKY
fires In most Of the huts around which the
shivering wretches hovered pitifully. Then
after cleaning huge cauldron kettle used
by tho pescadores in extracting the oil Of
fish, boiled such mess of potatoes from
Pierre Floquet's store as they had mover be-
fore set eyes upon. This with two or three
huge Breton loaves of bread, plenty of salt
and foods of black coffee, enabled me to
serve them all with food. Ill as they were
the helpless wretches ate like half famished
beasts; and found easily enough that had
won their gratitude and friendship. Even
the old aloalde partook of the repast, and
being then, as with all men not afflicted with
the dyspepsia, much more approachable and
for my release. I believed knew what
troubled his people, and that had the means
to give them relief. Therefore asked:
"Exoellantissimo, II shall be able to re-
lieve the people of Finisterre of their suffer-
ing will You allow me to depart unhin-
deredg'
"Not only will grant you release If you
I will do that and guarantee your safe pas
sage to Santiago If you will pat but half,
or a fourth, part upon their miserable feet.
Ay, more; If you will but cure myself alone
will serve you as mozo (man-servant) to the
Montanas de Leonl"
As this was farther than any soul of Fin
isterre had ever ventured within his own
~ S.N4S$e @A0 DOuAASASco UOA4- 4-WAouAAA
and friendship in case of my success; and I
at once began the unlisenced practice of
medicine, which is more than Q crime, and
all of witchcraft, in musty old Spain. I
took from my knapsack two papers Of smok-
ing tobacco and huge piece of gum cam
phor-two excellent belongings when wan>
dering among the psasantry~ Of Europe, as
the first proves priceless warmer of lowly
hearts, while the second is wonderful de.
terrent Of disease and an equally marvellous
repellant OF various and vagarous insects in
imical to sweet and perfect sleep. I then
had recourse to my linen correspondence pa-
per. Shaving the camphor into delicate
fakes, powdered 1t nicely, mixed II thor
oughly with the tobacco, and, with the aid
of bit Of stick glue, before I ended my
task had rolled nearly one hundred long,
fine cigarettes, having gained some dexterity
| in this accomplishment among the Spanish
| senoritos of Cuba. AL this time what few
could gather about me looked on in supersti-
tious wonder, and piled me with all manner
of serious questions, to which answered no
word. When had finished went to every
man, woman and child In all the novels of
Finisterre, gave each lighted cigarette, and
enforced its smoking with the injunction,
| eff you do not smoke this, oil Of it, you
will die like your brethren. Smoke il and
you will be seining the sardlnhas to NOR.
rowlD
The effect was marvellous. These poor,