The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-09-05
THE~CALDARIA.

Johanna, the wife Of King Philip, ths
Fair Of Spain, was psssionately fond Of
painting. II she saw no matter what
face, once, she could from memory 90
sketch ii that everyone would be struck
by the likeness.
One day It pleased King Philip to in
spect the Queens sketch book. At that
time Johanna was styled "Royal High
ness" while Philip. belonging to royal
family Of foreign blood, was only STYLED
"Highness," aud in all the state docu-
ments her SIGNATURE was appended first
and his afterward.
CHANGING through the pages OF the
sketch book, King Philip particularly
noticed the face Of a man, which had
been drawn in q variety Of positions.
Now he appeared as famous hero, now
90 praying monk, now on Bonded knee
before the lady he adored. This man
must indeed have taken possession Of the
Queens imagination, seeing in how
many different characters she had por-
trayed him; and the tenderness Of touch
and delicacy OF art which characterized
these sketches seemed to show that, un-
finished though they were, the heart had
In this case assisted the hand and head.
He went to the chief torturer of the
Inquisition and commanded him to dis
cover which Spaniard in the kingdom
most resembled in countenance the
sketches of the Queen.
One mere hint was thereupon given to
the hundred thousand spies of st. Her
mandad and in weeks time the reply
arrived-namely that the slender, bronz-
ed face was none other than that OF Don
Jayne d'Avila Mariana.
In the glorious period OF the Inquisi-
ton Mariana was the name OF those
Moorish knights who became converts to
Christianity. Yet they were the bloom
and flower of Andalusian nobility.
Otherwise the word Mariana" also sig
mites, in the Spanish language, ''pig."
At the period Of which We write there
was certain celestial painter at Castle
named Luis de Lucero. His particular
distinction lay, not in exquisitive refine
ment, but in marvellous rapidity. Al
though his name was Lucero, he was
nicknamed at Rome Fa Presto ("make
haste'').
Philip the Fair, directly he heard that
the face of the mysterious figure had
been discovered in bis dominions, sent
for Lucero. Master" he said. 81 re-
quire you to make several sketches Of a
living person. He will remain before
your eyes for two hours. How many
sketches in that space OF time can you
make Of him?n
GAS many as your Royal Highness re-
quires."
Silence! Now 60 to the apartments
OF the Algvazil. You will be conducted
to the scene of operations in about an
hours time. Meanwhile your artistic
commission will be duly signed and
brought TO you"
AT the end of an hour sketch book and
pencil were handed to the artist and he
was placed in closed vehicle resembling
q sedan chair. In this he was carried
through long winding passages, upstairs
and downstairs, hither and thither, and
finally be arrived in q dark chamber
where the footsteps OF the carriers could
scarcely be heard, perhaps owing to the
apartment being very deep and under
ground, perhaps because there were al
ready SO many persons present. Here
the door Of the vehicle was opened and
its occupant told to get out. At one
glance the painter discovered where he
was.
At the further end OF the room sat q
number OF men in black garments, with
pointed caps on their heads. Their faces
were covered with thick wells, and the
whole chamber was lit only by a glin-
mering oil lamp which hung from the
middle of the ceiling. This was the tor
ture chamber Of the Inquisition.
The Grand Inquisitor, and he alone,
wore no mask. He sat ON the raised
platform amid the judges. and was sttir-
ed in long black velvet cloak. Close to
one Of the walls stood table, at which
sat two persons, one was thoroughly veil
ed, while the other wore a black velvet
mask.
Not sound was heard. Suddenly the
Grand Inquisitor made sign. In an in.
slant two disciples Of st. Hernandez
stepped forward. They removed black
coverlet from of the floor and thus dis
closed, beneath it, the subject which
Lucero was to treat. 1t was head, not
severed from the body, but living, with q
fierce looking, brave countenance, wear
ing an expression OF lofty disdain.
As to the worthy Torquemanda. we
can only speak Of him in terms OF praise,
because he had invented, among other
instruments of torture, the famous Cal
daria. This was q copper vessel, shaped
like an inverted bell and filled with oil
The prisoner was put inside of it, and
his head alone pro.ruded from the top
His body remained immersed In oil
which would be heated, now more, now
less, according as his confessions were
reluctant or outspoken. He had 10 con
fess everything or die That was justic,
that was the Caldaris. The Twins