Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-10-30
A CASTELAR, BRAVADO
Revolving Scene Pictured by a
Spanish Novelist.
NERVE OF THE NAUGHTY DON


Striking Description Of the Daring ana
Courage Displayed by the Old GEN.
eraI Who Would Not Permit an Eng
lishnan to Guido Him.
The realistic Spanish novelist
Valdes, In one Of his most popular
stories ("Sister San Suplice," trans
lated by Nathan Haskell Dole gives
a description of a retired Spanish gen.
erals afternoon out which Will niu-
inmate many chivalric incidents In
Spanish life and aptly illustrates the
reckless daring and courage OF when
the average naughty don is hberaiiy
possessed The scene Is sort OF PIC
mic grounds In the outskirts OF SeViile'
"Meantime the animation had been
on the increase among the humans.
The period of unmannerly action nau
come. One of them climbed upon
table to make a speech, and then the
others, by way of applause, threw
sherry and manzanilla In his race
Another was trying to lift with MS
teeth O companion whom drunkenness
had stretched out on the floor. He ala
not succeed. He merely tore his sack
coat. Still others were committing
absurd and extravagant actions, max
ing a great noise and uproar.
"The count remained grave ana
silent, drinking one glass OF sherry
after another. But his eyes were no
longer. as usual, incomprehensiblea and
unfathomable, like those Of man tired
of life. Though he did not speak OF
move about he seemed O dinerent
| man.
"The Englishman had taken off his
Jacket and waistcoat and, rolling up
bh shirt sleeves, was exhibiting MS
biceps. which were really powerful
and irving to break empty bottles on
his arm. Once blood had come, but De
went ON breaking the bottles without
having any attention to It, Then lie
asked the waiter to bring bottle OF
rum and large glass. He filled thls
70 the brim with the liquor, anu then
SLOWLY. without moving muscle Oh
oven winking. he drained 1t to the Dol
tom Then he sat down at the taDie
oDboslte the count and said solemhiy'
"'You can't do that
"a flash Of fury cleaned through
the harebrained nobleman's eyes, bu
he succeeded In restraining himself
! md turning the rest Of the bottle int
the glass, he calmly ordered tue wall
or to bring him some pepper. ID
threw In a pinch of 1t, then threw int
# his cigar ashes heaped up befor
him and. without saying word, wiz
! tho same scornful, contemptuous smile
r drained the glass and, not content VIII
: thot bit it in pieces. We saw MS lip
spotted with blood. The company Il
! caived with oles and shouts OF tr
9 umnh this proof Of an unconquerapi
!, stomach. in which 1t seemed as thong
= the national honor were concerned
i "Our neighbors in the other booth
q must have reached the same napp
o grade Of temperature, for nothing wa
:. heard but extravagant shouts ID
s crashing Of glasses, coarse iaughte
J. and swearing.
j, "The count was not yet satishe
8 with his victory over the EnglishmaI
!. while he was swallowing with appa
e ont calmness the glasses or llqu'
II which we're offered to him he dld m
e cease to devour him with his eye
8, carried away by dull madness, WINK
Is soon broke out. His eyes, when we
e the only part Of his impasslVe la
o. that moved, cleaned more and mo
,e ferociously, like those of a maomi
" whom n straitjacket has been put
II him. The Englishman continued
lie boast of his strength He was nc
er tboroupbly intoxicated and talking II
,e nudentIv enough to the others, vi
In were not so drunk
st $50 you are very valiant, are you
Id asked the count, still smiling disdai
ur fully.
in "SN|ore than YOU retorted the Ell
Ill lishman. 5000,
g. "Don Jenaro started to spring at III
re hut the others restrained him. 80
calming himself, he said;
Is "Tf YOU are so brave, why not =
ty your hand on the tableF
nd "'What for|
IS. "'To pin it down with mine.
he "The Englishman without an
ma .+ort,e hesitation stretched out
vi. huge brawny hand. The count &c
We out Of his pocket a damaskeened d
"a. qer and laid his delicate, gentleman
is hand on the Englishmans, ana WI
ont hesitation and with a feroci'
we grin he raised the point with the OF
nj and drove 1t through both into the
lis BILE.
,se "Tbe women uttered cry OF teri
J. All Of us men ran to their assistaI
,ig- A few left the place in search OF III
He In an instant our booth was hlled "
len blood. From the wounds great DIR
ain NJ blood streamed, staining the ha
Tho kerchiefs which we applied to them.
fel. "a doctor who happened to be am
our the bystanders dressed the wou
provislonally with the few means
or his disposal. The count smiled W
ellis they were dressing his hand.
of Engllshman was as sick as 10
ose and soon the count was the same,
are both were taken to such rooms as
!. II, establishment had to offer and "
to bed. Every one left common
ven ON the barbarism of the deed"
Igbt Writing as a Fine Art
tied In a letter written by the late La
due do Hearn to his friend, the mus
and critic II f. Krehblel, the author s.