The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-03-11
Revolting Scene Pictured by q
Spanish Novelist.
NERVE OF THE NAUGHTY DON
Striking Description OF the Daring ana
Courage Displayed by the Old GEN
eral Who Would Not Permit an Eng
lishman to Outdo Him.


era Who Would Not Permit an Eng
lishman to Outdo Him.
The realistic Spanish novelist
Valdcs. in one of his most popular
stories C'Sister san Sup!ice trans
lated by Nathan Haskell Dole gives
q description Of 4 retired Spanish gen
erals afternoon out which will lliu-
inmate many chivalric incidents IN
Spanish life and aDtly illustrates the
reckless daring and courage Of which
the average naughty don is literally
possessed. The scene is 4 sort OF pc
mic grounds In the outskirts OF Seville:
meantime the animation had been
on the increase among the ruttians.
The period Of unmannerly action had
come. One Of them climbed upon
table to make q speech, and then the
others. by way Of applause. threw
sherry and manzanilla in his face.
Another was trying to lift with MS
teeth companion whom drunkenness
had stretched out on the floor He did
not succeed He merely tore his sack
coat. Still others We're committing
absurd and eN1ravagant actions. max
ing great noise and Gproar.
The count remained grave and
silent. drinking one glass Of sherry
after another. But his eyes We're no
longer. as usual. incomprehensible and
unfathomablc. like those Of = man tired
Of life Though he did not speak or
move about he seemed different
man
The Enslishman had taken OIL his
Jacket and waistcoat and, rolling up
his shirt sleeves, was exhibiting his
biceps. which were really powerful,
and trying to break empty bottles on
his arm. Once blood had come, but he
went on breaking the bottles without
paving any attention TO it Then he
asked the waiter to bring bottle OF
rum and !, large glass. He filled this
to the brim with the liquor. and then
slowly, without moving q muscle or
even winking. he drained it to the bot
tom. Then he sat down at the table
opposite the count and said solemniy:
".You can't do that
"a flash of fury cleaned through
the harebrained nobleman's eyes, but
he succeeded in restraining himself,
and, turning the rest Of the bottle into
the glass, he calmly ordered the wait
er to bring him some pepper. BE
threw in a pinch of it. then threw into
It his cigar ashes heaped up before
him and. without saying a word, with
the same scornful contemptuous smile,
drained the glass and, not content WITH
that, bit it in pieces. We saw his lips
SPOTTED with blood. The company re-
ceived with oles and shouts OF tri-
umph this proof Of an unconqueraole
stomach, in which it seemed as though
the national honor We're concerned.
Our neighbors in the other booths
must have reached the same happy
grade Of temperature, for nothing was
heard but extravagant shouts, the
crashing of glasses, coarse laughter
and swearing.
eThe count was not yet satisfied
with his victory over the EnSlishman-
While he was swallowing with appar-
ent calmness the glasses of liquor
which were offered to him he did not
cease to devour him with his eyes,
carried away by q dull madness. which
soon broke out. His eyes, which were
the only part Of his impassive face
that moved, cleaned more and more
ferociously, like those Of madman
when a straitjacket has been put on
him. The Englishman continued to
boast of his strength. He was now
thoroughly intoxicated and talking I'M
pudentlv enough to the others. who
were not so drunk.
$50 you are very valiant, are YOU?
asked the count, still smiling dlsdaln-
fully.
".More than YOU retorted the Eng
lishmau.
Don Jenaro started to spring at him,
but the others restrained him. Soon
calming himself, he said:
IF you are so brave, why not put
your hand on the table:'
"'W'hat for?
".To pin it down with mine
The Englishman without an IN
stants hesitation stretched out hls
huge. brawny hand The count took
out Of his pocket damaskeened dag
ger and laid his delicate, gentlemanly
hand on the Englishman'S, and With
out hesitation and with feroc!ous
grip he raised the point with the other
and drove it through both into the ia
ble
The women uttered cry Of terror.
al Of us men ran to their assistance.
a few left the place in search of help.
In an instant our booth was filed with
blood. From the wounds great drops
of blood streamed, staining the hand
kerchiefs which we applied to them.
"a doctor who happened to be among
y1Nn md