The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-10
N N(TuR HUGO

sRuy Bias" deals with the Spanish rourt under Charles IT. The picture pf the political and court life is cor rect history. The plot is purely in- ventive. There was no real person who served even distantly as an original Figure for Ruy Bias.
 It is-one of the great dramas Of the world. In conception and execution fl Is a beautiful and thrilling poetic masterpiece. It ranks with Her naut." Hugo's other great drama, in It's ever-fresh appeal on the stage.
 The seventeenth century was stoop- ing toward it's end. With it. in Spain the sun Of the House of Austria was setting. Charles II, was a King only when he rode out to show his gorgeous person. In the Council of Government his voice was unheard. He neither saw nor cared that his courtiers strong and greedy hands were tearing apart the transmarine empires that had been made by the fierce con- querors who followed Columbus
 His Queen, Maria, neglected by him. choked by the tyrsnnous and deceit full ceremonial of the Spanish grandees was no better than a prisoner, guard cd by the malicious Duchess IAlbu- auerque.
 The true rulership lay in the hand of Don Sa1luste de Bazan, Marquis oi Ffnias. While Charles hunted. Don SalIuste reigned. Other great men of court who might have become his rivals he chained to himself with fet- Ters of gold. So for twenty years his creatures that he sent out as gover- nors squeezed treasure from the Indies of the East, and the Indies of the West, pillaged the Philippines and drained the Americas for him and his supporters.
 when the young and beautiful sis ter of Emperor Leopold was married to Charles after the death of his first wife. Don Salluste made no objection He simply saw to 1t that the woman of Neubourg" should not gain any ascendancy over her royal husband For the rest. in a court where cere- mony prescribed that the Queen of Spain must not even look out of the window. it was easy enough to keer the Queen as far from the wheels of government as if she were a ragged peasant in the Castil!an mountains.
 The German girl did not wish to reign. Before she had been in Madrid many days her greatest desire was only to snatch few breaths now and then Of something approaching free- dom. Yet, though Don Salluste dis dained her and had made her power less, his fall came through her.
 He wronged a young girl of the court. who went to the Queen to beg for redress. Such little scandals had been hushed up and treated with for bearance in previous time. but the Ger man Princess, with her un-Spanish ideas of morality, did what she would not have dared to do in any matter o1 state however great. She went for Don Salluste and ordered him to mar ry the girl. He refused indignantly To his amazement he received word 6 few days later that he was to be ban. isheI from Madrid.
 He could not credit It, but he found all too quickly that his power, indeed had vanished over night. Threats and monarch.
 Don Salluste, almost insane with shame and rage, decided to leave court at once before his ruin should become known to the courtiers or the popu- lace But before he departed he swore he would set in train some terrible revenge that should ruin the Queen.
 He sent an emissary into the slums of the town for a brawling, wild fel- low known throughout the thieves and wuffians' haunts Of Madrid as Zafari With hat knocked in, broken feathers dangling. boots split open. and draped 1n c ragged cloak that concealed all fhe rest of his apparel except a long and excellent sword. he appeared be- fore the great nobleman. and, as soon as they were alone. addressed him familiarity and somewhat contemptu- pusly as cousin"
 Unknown to all except himself and Don Salluste. ''zafari" was, indeed Don Caesar de Bazan. Count of Garofa .a spendthrift who had wasted bis in- Eheritance and then had disappeared I6rom his world. To escape his credi- EEors, he spread the report that he had kiied in the Indies. Then under a Mypsy name. he joined the reckless szpirits who were making Madrid un- @afe.
 1 "A pleasant thing" said Don Sal Auste, "to be 'cousined' by a bandit, by Hhe friend of that Galician theit lMata1obas. who plunders all, Madrid defying the police"
 "I would not be very presentab bie without him." answered Don Caesar with a low and sacastic bow. Seeing me without e coat. he gave me this 6illken one."
 He threw back his ragged cloak and showed a superb doublet of rose-col- kored satin embroidered in gold. You see" continued he, smiling, "he robbed that amber-perfumed flop. the Count Of Abe, of it, and gave 1t to me. Love ,letters written to the Count are crammed in all the pockets. Often kwhen have nothing to eat, I sit some- -where where I can smell good cook ling and delight my soul with them. ' ! Don Caesar" said Don Salluste, T wish to rehabilitate you. Hereafter take of my fortune as you need Here lis purse for the beginning. There is Eonly one condition"
 Name it," said Don Caesar aston fshed and hopeful. 'T'll fight swords Iman from hell for you or raise a re- beIlion in Madrid"
 'T want none of this" said Don Sal s1uste. "I want more delicate service. i'You must help me spread a net. l think you are not very scrupulous. l want you to avenge me on a woman with a terrible and memorable ven- geance."
 Don Caesar measured his cousin with 8 glance, tossed the purse at his feet end exclaimed: "fIe who claims the right to bear a sword and would take stealthy vengeance--an on a woman, too--should hang on the gallows, cous- in. I will leave you with your people of the court. Don Salluste, I herd with wolves. not snakes"
 Your hand. l pray" said Don Sal luste. instantly. T said this only to try you. Ah. cousin. my test has suc- ceeded well. I feared you were more hardened by your misfortunes. Wait here, and I will fetch you 500 ducats to prove to you that I am in earnest
 As Don Salluste left the room he beckoned to tall young man dressed in brown livery with red and gold "Stay at the door. RuV Rlas" said he