El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-14
y n ADRID. Spain, Aug. 14-Heroes
MI of history are often men pro-
40 duced by conditions Those of

ADR1D. Spain, Aug. 14.-Heroes
lN of history are often men pro-
duced by conditions. Those Of
legend are usually the incarnation Of
ideals. The Cid Campeador-the lord
Observation-Disclosures Rodrigo de BIZ
var. was a Spanish hero of the 18th
century. AS historical character,
Rodrigo was a soldier of fortune, who
sold his lance alternately to Christian
king and Moslem Amir, but legend has
clothed him in the virtues that made
the beau ideal cavalier of the period.
AS a historical character the Cid has
substance enough to be rated by i'm
partial chroniclerS of later periods
among the heroes of nations, with Sal
adm, Henry of Navarro, prince Henry
of Portugal, Robert Bruce and even
Cromwell and Charlemagne.
But 1T is eel milo Cid as the leg
endary historical Rodrigo de Bivar is
known, that gives the American trav-
eler in modern Spain an insight into
the ideals of the country that pro-
duced soon after his time the dazzling
adventures who pillaged the palaces
of Peru and Mexico and turned a
stream of gold into the Golfers of
Spain.
The Story of the Leper.
say that the disease is not contracted
as result of merely coming into the
presence of a leper. everyone fears a
man afflicted with leprosy. There is a
story OF the beginning of the Cid's ca
reer which pictureE him as rescuing a
leper from a beg, putting him on his
horse, taking him to his inn and eat
ing with him The Mortified guests
at the inn saw the scales of Ieprosy
fall into the dish of food They stam-
peded for the open air, but Rodrigo's
sense Of hospitality was such that he
went to BED with the leper by his
side. His conscience was so clear that
he slept profoundly. In the night the
Cid was awakened by a fresh breeze
blowing upon his back. The leper was
gone. but st. Lazarus appeared, in
forming aim that he had taken
lepers form to test the bravery and
virtue of Rodrigo. In future the pure
knight should be victorious over his
enemies, and be respected and loved by
his countrymen- The legend, picturing
the cid as being somewhat more oblig-
ing than the good samaritan, and as
we'll armored by merit as Daniel i'm tie
lions den merely sets forth at :,lt al
OF ElIightIlress.
The historical Rodrigo de Bivar was
critics in warfare, but Eel milo Cid" the
beloved legendary knight was. King
Alfonso. the learned called upon the
mobiles of Leon, Navarro Castillo Ga
licia and Asturias, to help him to take
a city. 1t was suspected that Alfonso
had compassed the death of his broth
er. No knight but the Cid was bold
enough to express the suspicion He
not only expressed it, but demanded
that Alfonso swear that he had had no
part in the murder or conspiracy be-
fore his lance should see service in AL
fonsos cause. The king meekly swore
that he was innocent But the Cid.
backed by those who had made him
their spokesman, demanded that the
oath Of innocence be taken publicly
Holding the bible before the monarch,
the Cid subjected him to a cross ex-
animation that would have done credit
to modern criminal lawyer.
That the legendary Cid was a man
of blameless domesticty is indicated by
the fact that there is a gap of several
years in his exploits. occurring at the
time of his marriage to a cousin of the
king OF CASTLE. He is supposed to have
spent the time upon his estates, carry
ing out the scriptural injunction that
the bridegroom shall not go to work
nor to war for a given period. but shall
stay at home and cheer his wife
Peerless in Peace and War.
AS a tact1c1an in war and a dip1o-
matist in peace, the Cid was without a
peer. He captured the city of Alcocer,
during his exile from CASTLE, by pre-
tending to retreat before sally made
from the gates upon his small force,
while picked men he had left in hid
Ing near the gates rushed in and Sc
cured them so that the Saracens could
not return from their rash sally To
defend the city successfully he pre-
tended to overlook an attempt of the
enemy to cut off the water supply.
After 1T was cut off he informed his
forces that they must fight or famish
He endeared himself to the n-comba-
tants of Alcocer by raiding the sur
rounding country and taking so much
booty that they grew rich trading in
whato the Cid generously gave away.
BY a strange stroke of fate the Cid,
who had prospered as an intriguer and
deauble-dea1er during his exile, lost
the confidence of Alfonso after their
reconciliation by making a tactical
blunder that cut his forces off from
those of his majesty OF CASTLE at a
critical time. For this he was out
lawed. deprived of all lands and castles
decreed TO him by the crown of CASTLE,
and even Of his patrimonial estates,
which had come down to him as the
heritage of a nobleman. His wife and