New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-12
JOSE ZORRILLA.
THE LATE POET LAUREATE OF SPAIN


the former day the much-loved poets body lay
in state in the great Sessions Hall Of the Spanish
Academy IL reposed upon catafaique com
nle,ely covered with flowers, among them being
q beautiful wreath personally laid at the 1901
of the bier by the Queen Regent. More .han
5000 persons, including all the Capihct Mihis
trrs and the foremost statesmen, Scholars geu-
erals and prelates of Spain. and thousands aiso'
~ the humblest poor, revcrenty filed past, LOOK
inc hpon the features Of the poet for the last
time, ana nearly all of them utterlns some IN
coherent word of regret, praise or farewcii.
The funeral occurred on the 2oth wheh an
enormous multitude followed the honored dcad
=, the grave in the Cemetery OF ST. Justus'
besides the members of the Cabinet. many ex-
Ministers. the municipal authorities, commissions
and representatives from the universities tho
Snonisn Academy the Academy OF History 'nc
Atbonaeum Club, the Society OF Authors anu
Artists and many others attended Inc pa'ioo"
ora were the Director-Gencral OF rupic '"'"
tion representing the government TIE Nay "
va.:, lolid the poets native town, ana siH repre-
aor.otive members Of the literary ana artis'i"
Soc;oties and Of the press. All the pubic iu"o-
tionarics were in uniform The mourhe's ou 80
wore followed by many carriages ainons ~"
wore one from the Royal Palace anu 'ne 80.
c,rriaocs Of the Ministers and other authoii''es
brought up the rear OF the iihposi"S
formed tlie only military display. ,.,
Zo,riI,a was tho poet laureate Of Spain. oec"ni'
I,, "a we'll as by virtue OF genius. Inc oe'0
r,onv of His coronation took place IN inc 'dnoao
ala CITY Of Granada something less Via" 'o"
Years ago and it festival wmcn c'n'""
the attention of all Spain. Inc queen
pcrsonal representatives great hoS' y, S~,r;.h
i.as, ,hcre cvery man Of Importance In spanish
,;...,,rre and art was there, and the'Ana'i"'"
wos thc scene of banquets and otner '""o w..
~ the most splendid character lniS va, :.
,,rdv recognition Of the greatness OF ""e an
earlier years had been sorely ncs@c'e" anu
treated. r. nicturesnue
~" o,,,cr than he Born in 1871 anu
', n'.l for the bar at ValladOlid and Ioieuo' 10
-, houod , bent for pOetical compo>iio"' ~
a., ,co If twenty sprang into puohc "oo,'"
=. ,nost extraordinary manner. ~ Was' %
.or;hcd hv NJ de Tannenberg, at the graz.
voupr and promising author WHO ha' n,,.od
;c;do The whole of literary Na"'i
a., hoorsa. speeches were made by a'io ,-
and ~ ,bc moment when evcrynooy was -
a,r.v from the grave young. "iN"o ,,..
with an inspired face and long, ho"i"~ a ,ood
rpshcd 70 the front by some if''h''' W." orS
,,us;col voice which was every ho" or
n1r
-, hours later. with the usual rapi,nN w..
which news is Spreau ~ -"
,omo was in every mouth
60, vears of hard work, OF incesSan' pr
,.a.;nn followed. and in s45 Iorrllla ha' oe.o.o
a.. mos. nopuar Of the writer's OIL '''e -
La;ro written ten volumes OF verse an" 80
,h;rtv nlays. with all Of which nc nau "a. go
% his publishers for trifng snms-a 'a1' A..
\. only regretted when his father, ruined nv w
.,;s, oonsniracy. died in ls49, leaving lns,eau
| If his former fortune. nothing put oe"''
moot went TO Paris, and thence 10 MeAioo' w."
bo was enthusiastically received, ana "hei1 'o'
| twelve years he lived without wrH's any
| dovotiro his time to shooting expeditions anu
bodily exercise, till private business caiiea ''i'n
| hail, 70 Spain, after he had for some tiule o*e"
| d;roc,or Of rho Court Theatre in Mexico under
| .To snocial patronage of Emperor MaNlmiiiah'
! 1hor for the third time, he began lie again
undcr what were by no means favorape conui'ion''
Ito returned 10 this country an old man, WHOLE
| cycrybody believed to have been dead LOT "iahS
| wears Romanticism was no longer tine literary
| fashion, and there was no taste lot poe"' "
| os ,bo ora of q great revolution. There was
| Zorrilla about whom people talked great ueai'
| hut it was Ruiz Zorra, the politician; the poe'
| had been forgotten. But Don jose TOOK up MS
| zen with courage, and did not think himself
| con0cnia work 4 Barcelona publisher had
bought in England Dorc's illustrations TO lenny-
sons Idylls of the King" and Zorrilla UNDER
took TO write volume Of original Legends 70
| sorye AZ text 70 the illustrations. Meanwhile his
| pncuniarv position became and more pre-
| carious, till King Amadeus charged him with q
mission TO Italy in compensation Tor the laco
that the poets play, Don Juan Icnorlo, was
played in every theatre of Spain and South
| America year after year. without any compensa-
| ton being paid TO the author Presently sud-
| den of sympathy with the old man went
over the country: the whole press took up his
cause, and the best journal in Spain, the " In
parcia,' published his memoirs. lie went on
| lecturirg tour. which became a tour OF triumpns,
| through the length and breadth OF the lanI
Castears cloquence was employed at court TO
| secure him II pension from the civil lvt, and
| while the proposal was considered with charac-
teristc official deliberation the Duchess OF Medina
| COeli made collection among her friends 10
| secure his immediate delivcrance from many
| difficulties. - =,
| shortly before the coronation Of Gorilla. VI.
de Tanncnbcrg visited him in his home at Nallac
| dolid Il entered" he says, "a Very small
| drawing-rOom, very dark, hermetlcaiy closed 70
prevent the sun from coming in, dainty with
| profusion Of white curtains. and furniture kept
| under white On small table sew
eral photographs in framcs-that of the Emperor
cation TO the great poet Zorra, in recognition
| Of his personal dsinterestedreSSs The SOUND or
an approaching footstcp outside made me put
down the frame and in came the poet, with
smiling face and outstretched hand.'
| How short he is!' was my first impression.
And he was indeed, a very little old man. but
| thin and agile ard his seventy years sat very
lightly on him. His head was very fine, with
white hair brushed back from the forehead,
dreamy eyes and wcll-cut mouth his mustache
and beard Il rImperiale gave him at first sight
a military look-the air of a retired general I
was expecting you,' he said. Castel lar had told
! mo that you were coming; you are charmed with
our literature, and you have made this pilgrimage
| 10 Fec an old poet? | thank you for coming;
| how long can you stay with me
| NJ dc Tannenberg had only day TO spare. but
| he made the best of his time, and was presently
| introduced into Don Jose's sanctum, where break