The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19

Last week I presented a bit of verse rom Ouida, with such comment as seemed appropriate. This week take pleasure in drawing upon another font or poesy, but every reader must sup ply the comment for himself or her self. If space permitted I would give the whole thing, for there runs through It beauteous continuity of thought. The poem appeared in a recent num- Der of the EsRual Herria, a publica- tfon to the title of which is added the following qualification: "Berriketari Eskualduna argitaratzen dena Califor- nia-n aste guziez." Realizing this, there can be no misunderstanding. Here is the verse:
 Pilotari handiak zon diren ikhusgarri Trinket eder batean direnean har
 Munduko hoberenak ikhusiko sarri
 Al, al. ai muthila, ikhusilo sarri.
 Anybody may obtain the rest of the verses by sending for them. For such as may be of a musical turn and in clined to warble information is append ed that they can be sung with pleasing effect to the air, "Ai, Ali, Ali Muthila, Chapela Gorria.''
 
 It had been in mind as a duty un- mixed with pain to this week penetrate the hide of the only writer in America who has had the effrontery to assail and insult the women of the Red Cross. The task has been taken from me. One or the women neatly stripped the hide from the wearer to whom it had so long been an armor, and hung it over the fence as warning to the impertinent and pachydermatous Pity often checks an impulse to correct the thin skinned, and the heart is robbed of all hostile intent by the spectacle of a palpitant carcass devoid of any skin at all.
 
 Now that Frank Belew has been hanged it may be said of him that for a poisoner he possessed some surpris- ing elements of character. He told me at the time of the arrest that the man who had committed the deed deserved to be executed for it. He said also that he believed in hell and wanted the assassin to go there with all reasona- ble speed. Then he confessed that he was the assassin, kicked aside every obstacle between himself and the gal lows, and for what may be beyond the fall of the trap took his chances with out any maudlin moan. But while the man merited the extreme punish ment I fail to summon up any sense of admiration for friends of the victims who stood about and gloated. They should have had the decency to stay away and do their toying in private. I fancy the man who, as the rope be- came taut, exclaimed, This is too good to be true,' lacks much which goes to make up model disposition.
 Several weeks ago remark was made in this column that an American citi- zen, Spanish by birth, had by reason of his nativity lost his engagement to tour with a distinguished fiddler, the fid- dler being foreign both by birth and desire. In the place of the Spaniard a Frenchman was secured, and the same public that had scorned his predecessor extended to him glad hands with coins in them Now the Frenchman an- nounees that he Is going home to join the army, this being the French method of working out the polltax. He has right to do this, of course, but I like better the Spaniard who comes to this country by choice and elects to re- main, than the Belgian fiddler or the French pianist whose only object while here is to get all the American money possible and go abroad to stay until necessity arises for making new haul.
 
 It is gratifying to note that Life is mending it's ways. It now has the grace to try to hide the disapproval it entertains toward the Government for making war on Spain while there was possibility of backing down, with no worse result than lasting dishonor.
 Friends of the late Thirteenth Regi- ment of New York assert that the or ganization was disbanded for having misunderstood an order. Out here an opinion had existed that the Governor dismissed it in disgrace because it de liberately set itself up as above both the State and Federal powers, and de- clined to go to war unless it could go in it's own way. The Thirteenth had good clothes, but even a circumstance so fortuitous did not seem to the au- thorities to raise it to a level superior to the volunteers. Of course the Thir- teenth could not understand this.
 
 The editor of the Western Watchman is candidate for sympathy. It would seem from his extended and pathetic lament that a constituencies pair of de- signing villains had beaten him out of $6. To the consequent burden of woe weight is added by the disinclination of journalistic neighbors to weep with him. Some of them, I regret to say, far from being impressed by the loss, are inclined to jest unfeelingly. Six dollars, all in one lump, seems to me serious matter. Out upon the heart lessness of the ribald, decrying the sor- row of the stricken. I weep with him and shall not charge him a cent.
 Judge Wallace has sent some more robbers to the penitentiary for life. Possibly there will be some to find fault with this, but 1t must be displeas- ing to the robbers, a circumstance suf- ficient to commend it to all who are engaged in other lines of industry. A few years ago the footpad business was