The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-29
General Weyler, Marquis o
Teneriffe, Becomes Captain
General.
HY LA MAnarIsE DE EnNrENnY

ny LA MARaUIsE DE FON'rENoY.
7 may seem timely. since Just at
present Cuba is once more the scene
OF insurrcctionary troubles, TO make
known that General Valerian Wey-
Ter. Marquis of Tcneriffe, who played
so important a role in the recent hts
tory OF the island. has just been pro-
noted to the very highest rank in
the spanish army. that OF captain-geE-
eral. This is the Spanish equivalent for
held marshal in Great Britain, Ger
many Austria and Russia, and in these
countries. and In Spain, as we'll as
everywhere else. the insignia of office
consist of a golden baton. Weylcr is
one of the pillars of the Spanish mon
archy, although on his return to
Europe from the Antilles In 1895. he
was so bitter against the government
for the poor support which he hal re-
ceived that he was suspected Of Car
lism.
To day. in spite OF his brusqueric and
soldierlike bluntncss. he Is tho most
popular commander among the rank
and file of the army. Is honored for
his straightforwardness. loyalty and
incorruptlbility, and known to have
tho soldiers welfare at heart, there IS
little danger as long as he lives of
either Carlist. or Republicans ever be-
Ing able to organize one Of those mill
tary "prouunciameutos" against the
government and crown which through
out the greater part OF the nineteenth
century were tho blight Of Spain.
Save for his official duties and his
constant intercourse with King Alfonso,
CaptainGen Wcy1er leads a very
quiet life. He Is but rarely seen at
the opera, at theatres. or in society.
He is devoted to his family. BY the
way, his marriage was something in
the nature of a romance. For the Mar
quise dc Tencriffe is the daughter OF
highly dignified and honest hard work
ing peasants. on one of the islands of
the Balearic group. where beautiful
women are the rule. instead OF the
amazing exception. and of which he
himself is Il native.
Weyler had attained the rank OF
colonel. and was in command OF a
when he fell In love with Teresa San
tacana. Wc?lcr VIGOROUSLY abhorrcd
Don Juanesque methods of laying
siege to the feminine heart. and as soon
appreciated. ne resolved TO make the
lovely "paysana'' his wife, though she
was iEnorant-as the Spanish proverb
whether the sun went round the
earth or the earth round the sun,
and had not even been taught to read
or write He did not disclose his mat
rimonial projects to his family and
friends. but made preparations for car
fo-ir hours before the time fixed for
the celebration of the wedding the
officers of his regiment received re-
quests to meet him at certain church
door early thu next morning.
He was then, as now, extremely pop
ular with his subordinates, whatever
their rank. though the strictest dis
ciplinarian. and thus the regtmental
corps d'ohciers accepted the invitation
unanimously.
AT the hour indicated they found
him awaiting them at the main en-
trance. and when they gathered about
him. he addressed them as follows:
Brother officers, none OF my people
know that l am to be married this
morning. I did not tell them. for rea-
sons of my own. mainly because I
detest useless discussion. But | do not
want to go to the altar without my
comrades. So l asked you 20 stand
by me as witnesses AMI friends. and
want YOU TO note what shall do when
the ohciating priest shall have united
me TO my dear young fancee." This
terse speech was hailed with really
heartfelt accla nations. and the mill