The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
MR.. DE coRDorA, pHInosopnER.
II Was His Duty to Refuse the spanish Crown,
and lie Did IT,.

They were talking about the peculiar ways of
the Spanish. apropos of what seems to be the
Spanish custom of breaking out into fireworks
and all kinds of gayeties whenever an Ameri-
can fleet smnshes any of their Government
property. and one OF the group remarked that it
was hopeless for Americans to think of keep
ing up with the quaint medieval turns Of Span.
ish character and custom.
NO." said one. in reply to u question; have
never lived among them in their own country.
What l know about Spaniards | picked up by
association with a few of them at college In
England. That was twenty years ago or
longer. but ! have never forgotten the impress.
sion some Of their queer ways made upon US
Americans. There must have been at least half
a dozen OF us at Stonyhurst about that time.
One or two OF us were New Workers, but most
were Californians.
About the strangest side light ! got upon
spanish national customs was when II was re-
ported among us that Mr.. dc Cordova was going
to be made King OF Spain. The sensation lasted
us for more than n week. We were all pretty
well used 10 maruuises and such likc-for in
stance, even young Oliver of California was said
to be secretly a mnrquis-but we never expected
to see one Of the stonyhprst philosophers car
ried of to be crowned a king.
y" You must understand they had some quaint
old notions, OF their own at Stonyhurst. There
of US Americans were philosophers. The boys
were studying latin and Greek and other ele.
IlcnlhTN Innings. ] nty Ulc IN lIt inR mall ana
slept in the big dormltorics. The philosophers
were supposed to have got past mere Latin and
Greek, and to be studying philosophy. They ate
in their own dining room. and each had his own
bedroom and study. They didn't mix with tho
boys: and they were called Mr. The mere
boys were just plain smith or Tompkins, unless
they happened to be lords or barOncts, in which
case they got their proper titles. fnt among
Once. | remember. n Mir. Miranda. a Sp rniard,
FSIl I litIs' !M iMIT very ~ o Vilf Gao MiT by TSl9E on so mis-
Invitations he sent out for some sort OF party
We'll. we all knew Mr.. de Cordova ny sight,
though he hadn't been there long and was not
at all what you would call "A good mixer Ho
chembrc which was decidedly unusual there
and didn't appear to 20 through even the mo-
lions S Of studying phiIo'Gphyi, ia, Eoo9M4 d! would
dova wRP a great swell in his own country. hut
It did ,astoUnd us to hear that his country
cans felt. a little sore about 1t. We thought
that i they were going 10 get a king from
Stonyhrrst, they would have done better TO try
Alter the first day OF tho sensation. it was
given out that MIR. dc Cordova had refused to
be King OF Spain. This second report seemed
more probable. for Mr.. dc CordovR showed no
signs OF being preoCcupied with cares of state.
ing with his accustomed graceful languOr dur
Ing the twenty'fonr hours since tho sensation
began. He didn't in the least mind being stared
at, but he had his own way of quenching con.
versation with an aninble smile, and none OF
US teIt Al all IKE gong ana asking nm about
this King business.
Next we heard that Mr.. de Cordova was 60
ing to Madrid, after all. Andiat last, after he
had unintentionally kept us all talking about
him for u week or so. his traps were packed by
his valet. and Mr.. dc COrdova disappeared. 1t
was like him to take his time about starting.
but we were u little surprised that his ambition
should finally carry him of from his repose at
Stonyhurst 10 face the risks of a Madrid mob.
However, in course OF time the authorized
version OF the affair came out. Mr.. de Cordova
had not gone TO accept the Spanish throne; he
had gone 10 refuse II. IL Was his duty 10 go.
Outside of Stonyhurst, 1t turned out, Mr.. de
Cordova was the Duke of Medina Cell. We were
mistaken In supposinG that his vocation in life
was to do nothing, and that he had come to
StonyhuTst TO study the art. As Duke of Me.
dina Cell II WAS his duty to refuse the Spanish
throne every time the Spanish throne was un.
occupied. They were going to put a new King
on the throne just then-AmHdco. ! think II
was-and by an ancient custom of Spain
neither Amadeo nor, any one else cOuld mount
the throne until Mr., dc Lordova, alias the Duke
Of Medina Cell, had refused ii. so, after all,
MT. do C0rdOYR had a very important function
To discharge, He could have kept all spain
waiting on him for a mucklOnger time II he had
wanted 10.
That was when | first began TO observe that
the ways OF spain are past finding out.
"Mr. de CordoYa never came back 10 us. | am
not sure, but i think / heard that no was killed
In a duel some years later, and that no was the
] last Duke Of Medina Cell"