New-York tribune., 1905-06-29

1ExfN
co1or,a who was summoned the
am & - oa-,inister the last rites of the Ca'ho-
a. C,l7r,rch 70 ex-PreTnier Siivela- tne g e.
- ,nd universally respected ieauei "a - -
s-ystive party in Spain. is one ol ' -,,r.51y
SCI ,a,1. ae,res of Madriene life. and assof ofeS @
ia - Most distinguished members Oh 'he
-. =. Ias,,its Rich and well born ne
s,csted for naval career pul I"''''u ,o5;
- a,-,for-, himself 10 the discipline anu '-'e -,
y .+e5 af him and SO left the naFa1 oo,
Fnoe 80 49, .s,,a+i7r and threw himself with
- - zos+ of youth into the life OF man u
Iajs,,-A Measure and OF means al 1ha'i-o' -
70 an immense favorite in the great WI -.
shining deeply into the political ll04 So
- so rife in the Spanish capital curing '1'
years Immediately precToils '
feourbcn dynasty, in 1915. r,,or,o
one -norning-it was in lsf4-Doh - -
- 4o,,,a with a revolver bullet in MS heau. 9NO
ozo;ors For several weeks he noVefeo Ue
-p-aen life and death. and when at iehEl" az
"a he vanished and ere long 1t became known
nat rA had Joined the Order OF Jesults' Inc my
- ~ that bullet wound has never beeh feFe<i
No one knows this day whether II was nm. 81
- man or a woman. whether Il was feceiHe ~ "
-, n, 5ueI without seconds. or if. indeed II "t'e
inflicted in his house. That il was an apeiip' .
,lcide nobody believe. as the weapon w."
obich il had been inflicted could never De Lo-au
T,,rfnr ten years Coloma went through ina
,o,,-se of marvellous training by means OF whlch
n. Jesuits reduce the members OF their ofdeF 70
that absolute and unquestioning obedlence, ana ~
that uerfection discipline which are al the iio
wonderful as they are never allowed 10 crush lie
-l +.1en- and gifts of the novice and then
o,orna returned to Madrid with the fame OF great
pIIpit eloouence He made his debut as pTeaeh-
r in the capital during Lent All the great "oiiu
locked N hear the man whom they had known
as the widest, the gayest and the most o'ii"'i'
cF the Young bloods of Madrilene life.
His first sermon set all Madrid by the ears IL
was a most bitter vrIlent attack upon the World
Illness the frivolity and the disregard OF the prlh
ring a h
with uTti!rned faces No one better than himself
knew their shortcomings. Every word that he ut
tered struck home. And so intense was Jhe mlnsleo
alarm ard indignation that an appeal was mace
20 he late King Alfonso 10 intervene ana lhToUsh
bis t7Auence The series Of sermons was interrupt
81 end Don Luis was away from the capital
n The house of his order in the provinces
Debarred from saying what he had 10 say from
-be nuIpit Father Coioma set 10 WORK 10 pursue
fy means Of his pen the mission which he had i'm
saa ,,ron himself and ere long Madrid society was
made aware through succession OF articles IN
suanish reviews that he was quite as forcefuI q
writer as an orator. The climax came wnen ne
published his novel entitled, ''PoQueneces, which
nav be translated as Mere Trihes.' the title be
ing derived from the manner in which the great
world az Madrid accustomed 10 regard moral
shortcomings mere bagatelies- In TINS oooK ne
gave The most caustic and cruel picture OF the
Spanish grande monde that has ever been printed
nder the most transparent Of pseudonymes nearly
every. prom 5nent figure N society vas portrayed
No one escaped. All weaknesses and intrigues and
ambitions were laid hare. and for months nothing
else was spoken of but this book. which was uni
versally denounced as the most abominable hoeI
that had ever found its way into print.
BY degrees however. Madrilene society Gained
down. came TO reflect that the picture which the
rriest had drawn OF their life truthful. be-
cause based personal experience and that IL
ne had printed It, with the object of ap-
pealing TO their consciences To-day ne is the most
popular and trusted spiritual adviser Of the great
world Madrid jist because its members realize
that there IS divine o. their acquaintance who
knows them SO through and through Father
Doa Luis Coloma
zJARDI-TSE DFc FONTENoY