The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

III
j.. cellent trsnslstions Galdos' sara
gossa," translated by Minna Caro-
line Smith. In the history OF Spain.
50 brilliant. 80 tragic and 80 heroic no
page is more glorious and more sad tlan
that which records the memorable sec
end defense % Sarsgossa In the war with
Napoleon. Spain had been left By lmbe-
Gle and corrupt leaders without incLey
and without a government. The country
had no organized means % defense Ee.
the spirit OF patriotism seemed 10 use
from the clods OF sthe earth 70 meet The
invaders. u was IN this conflict with the
SEGA 81 natioral independence which Gre
ated an army out of tatterec peasants
and quiet students OF theology that Ma
poleon's strength was wasted 50 that the
later shocks overthrow his empire And
81 this fierce. irregular struggle Sara
gossa wss foremost. After suffering wf.h
forutuce The usual aPonies of a besieged
city-Qlague, pestilence and samine-!t
was entered by the French. but only
when its 6cfensss had been reduced -
c-7lmhling heaps. Sven then the bes.og-
ers hsd 20 iPht their way from house %
house and from foor 20 floor. When at
last tie city was within the power ~ the
French nifty thousand dead spoke from
the city q Arason 20 arouse the courage
OF Spain. Well may the story Of such
vaior be prefaced by the words OF Ma
pier: When the other events OF the
Spanish war shah De lost IN the obscur-
;ty OF time. or only traced by disconnect-
"a fragments. the story of Zaragoza. IKE
some ancient tr.umnhal pillar standing
amidst ruins. viii tell q tale OF past
glory. and already men point 10 ;he he
roic city and cali hey Spain"
Tie translator apparently adds 10 this
quotation passage from Ike novel it-
self. Men of little sensc-Wlthout any.
on occasi9n-the Spanish to-day as ever.
make a thousand biuuders. stumbling
and rising in thc struggle Of their in
born vices with The eminent qualities
which they stiu preserve. Providence
holds IN store Tor this people great ad-
Nantages and ahasemonts. great terrors
snc SURPRISES. apparent deaths and
mighty -eSurrecti0.s
''SaraFossa" IS % tale ~ -ha siege 50 m
af1ectodly real fh1t it m cht seem 70 be a
diary oy q soldier Pa uu'.ke many. z
not most. examples of realism IL .s not
monotnrols or i-c1mQiete or lacking in
distinction. FaudIH.3. che ugiy little old
fnliFe- who betrayed tha underground mas
sage to tle Frrrrh. h.s beautiful daugh-
ter. Narlgul.o, So noble and loving whose
face was lighted uitn heavenly calm.
whose character was made Of tho finest
me ai. WELDING only go grea- fire. hi.
Whf1 molten bDrl.-c where q touched:
valiant ard .mletaous Don Jose de Mon
ROT a. cAe' -ful and busting in hospitality
hand i1 Tr1r. tIa frarh. rough. terder. con-
.eisifnt. Losing. unhappy old man whom no
one can nclI lnyirc and resnecting-th
izhroe characters ave three liyiuv people 10
wh"-l no c-c au- Ca'3os en- introduce
you. and whom you v.u remember long
ate v0g have closed hie book.
'Saraco--.' AS tro engaging Ingenious
nes. ~ manner which is 20 hirfhright %
-1he Spanish nDr.. st Thi, Gell-hfrul qual-
;tf. found Ed tra tales ~ the sixteenth
century. whore the begrar bog cheats the
blnc ma. of his wine. in Don QuiNoie.
~ err"fr rnuf ans r1sefe and talks
over siur-harner cas-ns or the laws
% stf-e-pers.-.s .u the Spanish novels of
this ee-tlry. Indeed. the novels Of to-day
hear Witness f1 ihe close resemblance in
a. essential matters between Spain three
hundred years aro AID Spain in The pres
e1f 49, An things are the same-ihe
walled houses. the grated balcony. the
gate .uto lhe garden. The Government is
a.. personal ard corrupt. The soc.et, is
a-.stporatc. 1at strangely frank The
sDauiard himself !s the same. naughty
ant hasplta5ie. cruel and QuiNotic. blum
de- Bog and fuil - noble devotion. OF the
nler side ~ this mixed character sara
goss1' gives a brilliant picture. G.ittle
Brown a. Co. Boston; 81 5o)
2he Rev. James Fei was from 1872 10
IS n charge of the Scamen's Institute
81 san frauc.scD-an establishment sup
por,o- in lIait by "a British society. where
acl-1cn are provided with a comfortable
ciGl. free from the aluvcmenfs TO vice cr
the dalsers ~ mis;rcaimtnt which attend
mos. places ot amusement opea 10 sailors
1tel4sl.r services are also maintained
thcrc lor tle boae4t u s.amen. and such
irlena.t attention and help given sailors
81 por, here AS The WORKERS al The inst.-
tuie Ll- q in thc:r power 10 render.
Et41citis iain-talllEE and devoted
ana ~ tle same f.lnc a very clear-headed
nnpre. uoicec naa. free from Puritanisfn
ana artificial -tan-ards ~ morality. Mr.
1'cll has collected in "a book entitled Brit
Isl Atrchan: Scamcn in .-an Francisco A
" lailc -oil"cton of facts with regard
70 thc treatment ~ marines in this port.
Ie makes rprN clear the .nfustice OF 4
system Wlica exposes The sailor unD-o-
tecied 20 The rauacify ~ tho ships :ailor
and tn- Dparains-housc keeper. explains
The mystery 90 'cr.mping" and OF run
ninr men out ~ ships" and suggests a
number ~ simple notifications in detail
of the ordinary contract between seanen
nilo their employers which notifications
he believes Agiil assure greater justice to
~ sAtiArf-A Aitnn hl men. 0ttfN very lEnO-
rant and easily imposed upon. but gen
orally faithful and patient. IN deed II not
81 nNnrA The sz444=+4--ts f4-ii simplicity Of
Mr. Fclrs book make Il ;hc more con-
v!ncing. lsis work has value FAR out
side o. its particular field as a record OF
q widely extended system
IN Mr Fcl's book some OF the hard
ships of a British sailor are made clear.
What must be the condition OF the Amerf-
can deeD-sea mariner when so many men
who know both English and American
ships have been heard 10 declare tha,
they would never ship in an American
vessel? Edward Arnold. 81 Bedford
street. Strand, London. W. c; 3s Cd
To lay down Mr.. FelIs book and TO
take up Bolton Halls Things as They
Are" is like passing from the fields where
the air Is sweet and heaifhful into a fur
nace-hested room. crowded and close and
loud with contention. Mr.. Fell is salts
ned TO make things little better in some
respects for a few poor men in the corner
OF the world whore he happens 10 be.
Mr. Halls book Is a defamation agaIns;
the idea that anything can be made bet
ter until everything is made better HIS
little everything is the destruction OF prl-
Vate ownership OF land. once that is ac-
-. -