Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XVII.

that DONeE-oL plating PNA"O0 ~
damned to death in chapel, requires ex-
-ronotiop. in order that it may be thor
FobIr understood and appreciated, as
II deserves to be.
- TTnoochreD, over whom the great revo-
,-t;., If '93 PASSED like hurricane, and
aorriod off most of their belief IN its san
-.,;norv cloak. may smile with pity and
sd as = fanatic remainder of another
,a, this custom of placing the condemned
- cbonal Among us, it is true, matters
ara managed much more simply; man,
,rbpn condemned by the law, eats, drinks
oDd remains alone in his cell. II he de-
Giro If he is visited by the chaplain, whom
bo i at liberty to converse with, II he
ILos if not, he remains perfectly quiet,
ond nobody pays any attention to him,
during period more or less long, and de-
tarmigpd by the rejection of his appeal.
TI,on one fine morning when he is least
thinking of it. the governor of the prison
announces to him, when he wakes, as the
mast simple thing in the world, that he
l. tn be executed that same day, and
only an hour is granted him to recon-
mend his soul to the divine clemency. The
fatal toilet is made by the executioner
end his assistant, the condemned man is
nIarad in a close carriage, conveyed to
the place of execution, and in a twinkling
launched into eternity, before he has had
y moment to look round him.
When man is condemned to death
from that moment he is, de facto, cut off
from that society to which he no longer
belongs through the sentence passed on
him; he is consequently separated from
his fellow men.
He is shut up in a room, at one end OF
which is an altar; the walls are hung
in black drapery, studded with silver
tears, and here and there mourning in
scriptions. drawn from Holy Writ. Near
his bed is placed the coffin in which his
body is to be deposited after execution,
while two priests. who relieve each 9th
er, but of whom one constantly remains in
the room, say mass in turn, and exhort
the criminal to repent of his crimes, and
imDlore Divine cemency. This custom,
which, if carried to an extreme, would
appear in our country before all, bar
barous and cruel perfectly agrees with
Spanish manners, and the thoroughly be-
lipying spirit of this impressionable ma
ton; it is intended to draw the culprit
back to pious thought, and rarely fails to
produce the desired effect upon him.
The general was, therefore, placed in
caDia and two monks belonging to the
order Of st. Francis, the most respected,
and in fact. respectable In Mexico, en-
tered it with him.
The first hours he passed there were
terrible; this proud mind, this powerful
organization, revolted against adversely,
and would not accept defeat Gloomy and
silent, with frowning brows, and fists
clenched on his BOSOM the general sought
shelter like a wild beast in a corner Of
the room, recalling his whole life, and
seeing with starts Of terror the bloody
victims scattered along his patti, and sac
rifcod in turn to his devouring ambition,
sadly defle before him.
Then he reverted to his early years.
When residing at the Palmar, his mag
nticent family hacienda, his life passed
away calm, pure, gentle and tranquil,
without regrets, and without desires,
among his faithful servants. Then he
was 50 glad to be nothing, and to wish
to be nothing
BY degrees his thoughts followed the
bias Of his recollections the present was
e1aced; his contracted features grew soft
or, and two burning tears, the first per-
maps this man of iron had ever shed,
courSed slowly down his cheeks, which
grief had followed. He fell into the
n rocoiUo HIM own1o
with an expression of desperate grief,
impossible to render:
Have mercy, heaven have mercy ~
The struggle had been short but terri
Bile; faith had conquered doubt, and hui
manity had regained its rights.
The general then had with the monks
4 conversation, protracted far into the
night, IN which he confessed all his
crimes and sins, and humbly asked par
aon OF God whom he had outraged, and
before whom he was about to appear
The next day, a little after sunrise,
one OF the monks, who had been absent
aOout an hour returned, bringing with
MN the generals capataz. 1t had only
oeen with extreme reluctance that Car
nero had consented to come, for he justly
dreaded his old masters reproaches. His
surprise was therefore extreme at being
received with a smile, and kindly, and
On nndlng that the general did not make
'ae slightest allusion to his treachery,
when the evidence before the court-mar-
uai had fully revealed.
Narnero looked inquiringly at the two
MONKS for he did not dare put faith in
Ills masters words, and each moment ex-
PvI,eu to hear him burst out into re-
p.'"faeS. But to his amazement nothing
W. 'Is sort took place; the general con-
..''"'u The conversation as he had begun
!" speaking to him gently and kindly.
Al the moment when the capataz was
scout to withdraw, the general stopped
ooe moment" he said to him you
r~'" lion Valentine. the French hunter,
~, whom | so long cherished an insen-
safe hatred."
- 1arnero stammered.
Ne Nad enough to ask him to grant
~, Tue favor of a short visit; he is
,L,. hearted man, and l am convinced
ne VIII not refuse to come l should
n sag II he consented to bring with him
WI, WI" Martial, the Tigrero, who has so
cause to complain of me, as well
'> my nlppn Don, xJr;II