The National tribune., 1908-05-21

tenderly, but having so decided she
burned all her bridges behind her as
far as any reconciliation with her hus-
band was concerned 1t is said Mr..
Vanderbilt, now that the first plunge
has been made in acquainting the pub
lie with this bit of private and personal
information, is anxious that the matter
shall be brought to legal termination
as soon as possible. 1t is rumored that
he will remarry shortly after the decree
is granted.
that there exists in Spain to-day a
strange society called 1.-The Fraternity of
Peace and Charity" which is said to
have been founded, oddly enough, by
that questionable parsonage, Don Juan
Manara Mendoza, whom Lord Byron
selected as the hero for his famous
poem, Don JUAN This society con-
sists entirely of the grandees or mobiles
of Spain, and has for its sole object the
comforting, sustaining and helping in
all ways possible of those unfortunates
about to face the terrors of the garrote.
Twenty-four hours before the execution
of condemned man the members of
this fraternity, clothed in their long
black robes, reaching nearly to the floor,
surmounted by peaked hood, their
faces masked by black cloth in which
two holes have been cut for their eyes.
visit him in the little cell which has
been converted into a chapel. What a
picture for an artist! The walls of the
small room are covered with sombre
black, and in one end is a black-draped
altar upon which are placed lighted
candles and the holy crucifix.. Standing
around are the awesome, fear-inspiring,
silent figures Of the fraternity, and be-
for the little altar the solemn priests in
their vestments recite their masses and
prayers for the dying. Could life hold
any sharper contrast than that expert
enced by these proud Spanish mobiles in
going from a brilliant court function,
for instance, to this little black-draped
cell? What lesson on the utter vanity
of life it must carry to the hearts of
these worldly scions of Spain's most
blue-blooded aristocracy! But worldly
tho their hearts may be, and fear-in-
spring their appearance, their actions
are worthy of the Master himself. They
endeavor by kind words to comfort and
sooth the poor, frightened soul of the
unfortunate one about to be plunged
into the unknown. They read consoling
passages from the Scriptures to him,
write letters to his family and friends,
and take his last messages. About a
dozen of them, dressed as above de-
scribed, go from house to house, begging
money for the doomed man, which is
turned over to him in full. A part OF
this money, which is usually quite a
large sum, he devotes to the paying of
masses for the repose of his soul after
death, and The remainder is handed
over 60 his family, or frequently, at his
reGuest,sto- the family of his victim.
Almost as soon as the prisoner enters
the chapel cell the executioner comes to
perform his grewsome task of measur-
ing his neck and length of spine, in or
der to properly adjust the garrote. This
is the instrument used for capital pun
ishment in Spain, Portugal and parts of
the West Indies. 1t consists of an iron
collar. fastened around the neck Of the
condemned, which contains point or
blade, which. by the turning of crank,
is forced into the spine at the base of
the brain, causing instant death. All
thru this last night on earth the black
robed mobiles remain with the prisoner,
their words of human sympathy miti
eating greatly the depressing influence
of the unceasing intoning Of the prayers
and masses by the priests before the
altar. They go with him to the scaf-
fold, and remain with him as friend
and counselor till the fatal turning of
the crank brings the sad drama to a
close. With the fulfillment of his last
wishes the duties of the members Of this
strange society come to an end. As
there are fully so executions yearly in
Spain, these black-robed MOBILES are
called upon frequently to perform their
solemn services. fart frequently, it
would be supposed, to conduce to cheer
fulness of mind. But the traditions of
the past are most sacred to the Spanish
nobleEcn, and personal feeling Is nev-
er considered in relation to them. There
are branches of this society in several
of the italian cities, founded by Span
iards, but as capital punishment is not
employed in Italy the duties Of its men,
bers are purely honorary. Spain has IL
official executioners, the one at Madrid
receiving a somewhat higher salary than
the others, which average about 1890
pesetas yearly, or $50 in our money.
Not long ago. the post at Madrid being
vacant, some 235 persons applied for it.
among whom were physicians, a lawyer,
chemist, engineers and a number of re-
tired non-commissioned officers.
Cruelty to animals shows a strain of
brutality in the makeup, and those
people evincing it are always open to
suspicion. Kindness to all dumb crea-
lures is to be desired, of course.
He prayeth best who loveth best,
All things, both great and SMALL"
sings the poet, and TO this beautiful SEN
timent everyone assents; but it is a
question IL too much consideration,
time money and affection are not spent
on animals which could better be given
to the poor and unhappy whom we have
always with us. The money which
some fashionable women, for instance,
expend upon their French poodles and
other pets could easily clothe and feed
some poor, starving child; but, then
such a woman could not probably be
made to see the matter in this light, sc
It is a waste of time to bring her into
a discussion of the subject. The two
some doubts as to the saneness Of their
t"Blackie" does. ''Blackie" was one OF
two cats belonging to Benjamin Dilley
of Wilkesbarre, Pa. who, when he died
in 1905, left a fortune Of $4,000 tC
his pets, appointing a young woman al
/ SIS a month to take care of them
I.Blackie," at the ripe age of 16, has
just given up the ghost, and 1t is cup.
posed that "Binkie," the other cat, viii
now have the benefit Of the entire ior.
Itune. One wonders how the money will
be spent. The other story is that of the
funeral of cat Emma" Emma was /;
large black cat owned by a prominent
merchant and Postmaster, d. j. McLel
Ian, and was official mouser at his store
and post Office. On one occasion Emma
saved the life of clerk in the emplo.
of Mcclellan, who was trying to save th'