The record-union., 1897-01-03
EXTRACTS FROM THE
LIFE OF CERVANTES.

| CTranslated from the French for the Rec
| rd-union by Henriette NJ Montfort
| Many years after Cervantes died
poor and neglected, his compatriots re-
| allied, only too late his great genius
| and sought for a few details of his
short career. Four cities. Madrid, Lu-
| cena, Seville and Esquivias, disputed
the honor of his birth, and this ques-
tlon stiH remains undecided, unless a
| baptismal register, accidentally found
and contested by many savants, be
considered authentic.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, ac-
cordlng to this register was born at
Alcala de HenareS, a town of New
Castillo, October s, 1917 His parents,
Rodrigo CervanteS and Donna Leonore
dc Cortlnas, of poor nobility, destined
tEelr son ait an early age for the pulpit
or bar. and provided him with college
education at Madrid, where he devel-
oped his taste or rather passion for the
art of poetry.
Having composed some verses on the
death of Isabella de Valois. his reputa-
tlon as a poet among his collegiates
was established, but the Indifference of
the public deferred him from further
efforts.
Discouraged in his first attempt to be-
come a writer, and without means of
continuing his studies, he journeyed to
Italy in 1863 being recommended to
the Cardinal Jules Aquaviva, who ap-
pointed him page, with the promise of
comforting upon him the office of able.
TO one of Cervantes' adventurous char
acter this prospect was not pleasing,
and learning the Pope was raising
troops against the Turks he enlisted
under Marc Antony Colonna and con-
Quoted the unfortunate campaign of
Chypre. The following year he en-
parked on the fleet of crusaders COM
manded by Don Juan of Austria, and
assisted at the glorious but fruitless
battle of Lepante. During the COM
bat he was severely wounded and lost
the use of his left hand. If the ball
had injured his right hand Don
Quixote' would never have seen the
light
IN 1919 CerYanteS returned from Ma
pies to Spain, when the galley which
he commanded was captured almost in
s'ght of Majorca and conducted to AL
gers by corSair, Arnante Mani.
FROM the moment he had fallen into
the hands of the pirate Cervantes CEN
tered his thoughts on one object-the
means of regaining his liberty. After
several Intellectual attempts, which
only served to redouble the vigilance
Of his guardians Cervantes decided up
on the following scheme: One of Ar
mantle Mamfs slaves having discovered
IT garden near the sea shore an
abandoned cistern, unknown to the
Moors, in which several persons could
be concealed, CervanteS and a number
of convicts agreed to secrete themselves
until vessel could be obtained to
carry them to Spain
Zach one pledged himself, in case of
being ransomed, to engage a vessel up
on his return to his native country and
rescue his comrades. A Majorcan named
Viana was the first one ransomed, and
after his departure the other members
sc ught refuge in the cistern, being pro-
tected by a slaye gardener who worked
in the vicinity and Ell Dorado who by
pilfering added to their supplies
Cervantes was appointed leader of
the troupe, and in distributing the ra-
himself. In this manner a week passed
when a vessel resembling those belong
ing to the fishermen appeared, and
after passing the garden several times
gave the signal. The captives not
doubling that Viana had returned for
their deliverance wished to embark i'm
mediately, but Cervantes refused to
leave until the return of FL Dorado. and
reproached his comrades for their in
gratitude towards one who exposed his
life every day for them.
The Majorcan not receiving any re-
spOnse to his signal hesitated to land and
seeing several Moors at a distance and
fearing pursuit, set sail for the open
sea. One can imagine the despair of the
poor captive upon seeing the vessel dis
appear, but it is easy, however. to re-
vive the hopes of respondents and Ger
vantes renewed their courage by con-
vincing them Viana sailed to avoid the
Moors, but would return during the
night when they would effect a safe es-
cape.
Night came, the sea was tempestuous
and no vessel was in sight Their pro-
visions were exhausted and for several
days they had subsisted on locusts and
roots.
The following day, Ell Dorado having
wearied of captivity, appeared accom-
panied by Mani and armed soldiers; he
guided them to the cistern and delivered
his comrades to the angry corsair. Re-
sistance was useless. Cervantes did not
hesitate to sacrifice himself for his
companions, confessed to being the lea
der Of the enterprise and implored Mani
to vent his anger ON him. He gave
reason worthy of the pirate whom he
addressed-it would be better for his
own interests his crippled slave should
perish than those of more avail
The courage of the convict soldier Of
fering his own life to save others ex-
cited Mami's admiration and dismissing
the eXecutioners offered his hand to
Cervantes and agreed to station him
one of his galleys on condition he
proverb common among the Moors, "Of
a wicked Christian one cannot make
good Mussulman."
After this occurrence, Cervantes was
treated with consideration and work be-
yond his strength was not required of
him.
In spite of the unfortunate termination
of his first attempt at escape Cervantes
did not abandon his favorite project, a
vast conspiracy to extend throughout
the convict prisons of Algiers. He de-
signed, during a festival celebration,
exciting the prisoners to rebellion and
seize the galleys, arsenal and town. The
few details known of the plot reveal the
audacity of the originator, but his plans
failed, owing to the treason of one of