The sun., 1904-12-10

ewfully in a broad armchair hat on head,
knees wide apart, arms akimbo, masterful,
imposing. irresistible. naughty, sublime,
terrible" We remember thinking, as we
read Of him, OF certain Of r. l.. Stevensons
characters who also had adjeotives ap-
piled to them adjeotives Of a studiously
ironica ! and caustic quality. 1t is to he
recorded, as perhaps curious, that the
author Is a. severe, adjectively, with the
innocent and martyred Mr.. Hirsch. as he
is with the abominable Sotillo.
Or. Monygham IL another character In
the story who suffered torture. They got.
In his case, the confessions that they were
after. His subjugation had been very
crushing and very complete. That In why
the limp in his walk, the twist Of his should
ers, the scars on His cheeks were DO pro-
nounced His confessions when they came
at last, were very complete. too. Some
times, on the nights when he walked the
floor, he wondered, grinding his teeth with
shame and rage, at the fertility OF his
imagination when stimulated by a sort OF
pain which makes truth. honor, self-re-
spect and life itself matters Of little mo-
ment.' This experience had on DR.. Mony-
CHAM the effect. perhaps singular, Of keep
ing him in South America. He was ashamed
to 60 back to Europe. He remained a
good man. eccentric, misunderstood, per-
sistently and perhaps unnecessarily cau-
tious in the revelation OF his benevolent
instincts, but good. and noticeably good
for the purposes OF this story.
Among the revolutionists who descended
upon Sulaco there was a dominant faction
and a faction which was not dominant.
The latter included a stout Major who
extolled sotillo, the rascal who tortured
and slew the unhappy Hirsch. He ex-
other faction. Incidentally, the Major
eXtolled himself and all the faction which
was not dominant, This faction was made
up Of the 0coidentals, or people Of the coast
provinces. including those Of the town Of
Esmeralda. We read:
'The intelligent old warrior, after enun.
ciating In a dogmatio tone the general
proposition that the world was full OF
traitors went on pronounclng deliber-
atelv panegyric upon Sotillo. He ascribed
to him with leisurely emphasis every virtue
under heaven, summing it all up In an absurd
colloquialism current among the lower
class Of ocoidsntals Especially about Esmer-
alda). And no concluded, with sudden
rise in the voice, a man Of many teeth
hombre de muchos dientes. 81, sefor.
As to u.s. he pursued, portentous and i'm
pressive, your worship is beholding the
finest body Of officers in the republic, men
uneoualled for valor and sagaoity, ye
hombres dc muchos dientes.'
What? All Of them,' inquired the
dlsreputable envoy Of Senior Fuentes. with
faint, derisive smile.
s'Todos. 81, sehor,' the Major affirmed
gravely, with conviction. Men Of many
teeth
THE other wheeled his horse to face
the portal resembling the high gate Of q
dismal barn. He raised himself in his
stirrups, extended one arm He was
facetious scoundre, entertaining forthese
stupid Occidentals a feeling Of great scorn
natural In a native from the central
provinces. The folly OF Esmeraldans espe-
cially aroused his amused contempt. He
began an oration upon Pedro Montero
head revolutionlistl, keeping solemn
countenance. He fourished his hand as
II introducing him to their notice. And
when he saw every face set, all the eyes
fixed upon his lips, he began to shout a
sort Of catalogue OF perfections: Generous
valorous, affable. profound Che snatched OF
his hat enthusiastically}-a statesman, an
invineible chief of partisans'-he dropped
his voice startlingly to deep, hollow note
and a dentist
He was of instantly at a smart walk;
the rigid straddle Of his legs, the turned
out feet. the stiff back, the rakish slant OF
the sombrero above the square, motionless
SGT OF the shoulders expressing an Infinite,
swe-inspiring impudence.'
A dentist for the men Of many teeth.
The envoy had fun in him. and II we had
come across him in page Of Don Quixote'
we should hardly have thought him out OF
place. or the career and fate OF Don Martin
Decoud. the portly and placid philosopher
who went out with Nostromo in charge OF
the silver, and Of the magnificent Nostromos
last lovemaking we cannot speak here,
except to say to the reader that he will not
be likely to find In present day fiction 30
very many things that will interest him
more. A story Of manifold distinction, that
should not be overlooked.
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