The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-28

through the valley or the SHADOWS.
Europe has listened TO her story and
judged her character wisely. The af-
terInath is her own, to be reaDed by
her affections.
We say that by her own act in the
cathedral Of ST. Ignatius she saved her
husbands life, and this claim the years
have justified. Though she knew it
not. straw had turned the peoples
temper upon the day of his miraculous
deliverance. Francisco Xavier's tragic
end found a ministry unready and a
senate bewildered. While the timid
would have abandoned all, shielding
themselves behind the status quo, the
more resolute planned a tour de force
which knew no law but that Of might.
Thus it befen that while one party
would annul the judgment and open
the prison gates, the other stood resO-
lutely to its purpose and demanded
that the law should take its course. 1t
is true the French Government had al
ready determined to depart from it's
accepted practice, and to interfere for
the first time in twenty years in the
affairs of this little kingdom. But di-
plomacy is slow and riot speedy. At
the best mandate of France would have
saved Prince Arthur from the scaffOld
if It had saved him at all. His life
hung upon a thread. The French sec
rotary, Alfonso Manin, has admitted in
letter to the Minister in Paris that
the thread had snapped but for wO-
mans courage and the faithful friend
ship which served in that hour of need.
Colonel Varez has saved the day."
the secretary wrote. The allies he
found could exist nowhere but in this
city of legends. 1t is early yet to esti-
mate precisely the extent to which the
people have acted upon their supersti-
tons and the part which common sense
has played in their decision. Esther
Venn, whose marriage must now be
recognized by Europe, appealed sue
cessfully to a people long taught to ad-
mire her race and to initiate it, She is
clever, quick, undoubtedly courageous.
and her beauty will become a tradition.
l count it not a little remarkable that
pupil Of the dead man, Xavier de
Montalvan, should be the agent of his
undoing. 1t will be known to your Ex-
cellency that this mans story is largely
one Of those intrigues which blackened
an extraordinary character and pros
fanny. That he was the pOssessor of a
vast intellect, do not deny; that he
was the enemy of woman is equally
true. For years his leisure appears to
have been devoted to effeminate studies
which, by their very nature. untitled
him for the healthier tasks. 1t is clear
that when first he met the English girl
he had no other objects than those
which must have been apparent to all
the world: but the arrival of Prince
Arthur at his house, and the interest
which was awakened by a very beauti-
full prOtegee, diverted his aims and
fathered this conspiracy. I have no
doubt that he believed the Princes ruin
would be cOnsummated by marriage.
1t was his object TO keep his Hfghness
permanently away from Cadf When
he found that prudence guided his mas
ter less than inclination, and that he
would return here in spite Of all, then.
and not until then, he resolved upon
his trial, and, it may be, his death.
have already informed your ExceHency
of the circumstances which have con-
spired to defeat him. That he should
fall by a wOman's hand is a just Ne
mesis with which none will quarrel I
believe him to have been the enemy of
French interests and the paid servant
Of Spain. Now that he is dead none
regrets him. The city has been drugged
for many months past by smooth
tongued agitators, who applauded bon
dage and cried heaven to witness that
a dictator would save the republic
Their influence being removed.
the spontaneous loyalty Of a servile
race is very ready to assert itself.
Writing tonight in my room overlook
ing the church Of st. Ignatius, I must
turn to a dead age to recall a scene OF
national rejoicing so abandoned and so
picturesque. MOdernity has lost it's en-
thusiasms. We can wave a flag and
ring a bell, perhaps dine overweu at
the Cafe Anglais, or sup with a becom-
ing air Of dissipation at any restaurant
which robbery has made famous. But
this abandonment of joy. this surrender
to the primitive instincts, is found only
among half-civilized people. Here in
the streets before my eyes are hiIlmen
dressed as their forefathers were in
the days of the crusaders. Women
dance about the beacon-fires, and their
jet-black hair streams out like BAN
nerets upon the wind. The fountains
are running wine-sO at least the reel
ing figures lead me to believe. L count
a hundred torches in a space Of as
many yards. The sky above CLOVIS
crimson with the flaming lights. Every
cafe is open, every table crowded; men
embrace for joy; young girls rave hys-
terically; soldiers, priests, rich and
poor, noble and peasant, swarm to-
gether in this frenzy of the night. The
palace is a blaze of light from end to
end; throngs press to it's doors to hail
the Prince, and when their torches fail
them are replaced by others no less
delirious. Bands blare in every public
place. The confines of the city are too
narrow for this pageant of a nations
madness. [ see the beacOns on the dis
tant hills like crimson stars upon far
horizon, and they link up a mighty
grdle embracing height and chasm,
licrl1t mo h. ell Il