The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-01-31
4 CURIOUS COURT
It Is Held Annually When France
Pays Tribute to Spain.
PRICE OF AN ANCIENT PEACE.

ssN'O6 W nv HiVSUINu cHS6s
After More Than Five Centuries Three
Calves Are Still HumbIy Presented
Each Year to the naughty Descend.
ants OF the Victorious Spaniards.
Every year there takes place in the
Pyrenean highlands u remarkable fete
1t Is held at the boundary stone of San
Martin. which separates the French
valley Bareton from the Spanish valley
Of Roucai. Every year the representa-
tives OF the French peasants assemble
there in order to pay the Spaniards a
tribute. which consists of three calves
Of the same age and the same color.
and the delivery Of the calves is &C.
companied by ceremonies which sufij.
GENTLY indicate that the old inhabit.
ants Of the Koncal valley were once
victorious over their %neighbors.
At 8 O'Clock in the morning the may.
ors Of the various villages in the Bare.
ton valley. bravely adorned with their
blue. white and red scarfs OF Office.
march up to the boundary stone. In
front Of the column walks a lad. with q
pike, from the point Of which futters a
little white pennon as a gage of peace
The three calves are dragged in the
real Of the procession at the end OF
long ropes. Calves and scarfs take up
their position by the stone and await
the arrival OF the Spaniards.
They are SOC visible in the distance.
In front walks a man clad in sheep.
skins. who waves a red pennon at the
end Of a pike as a sign of war. Behind
him walks the alcalde Of lsaba, the
principal village In the valley Of Ron.
cal. and following him come the a.
caldes of the other villages, their STATS
of Office In their hands. The bull OF
the procession consists Of shepherds.
stern looking fellows armed with old
sabers and matchlocks.
The alcaIde of lsaba is all glorious to
behold in a long black garment fas-
tened by gold buttons. a tall white ruff. |
light Citing knee breeches. red silk
stockings and buckled shoes. A son.
brero covers his head. and in his hands |
be holds the stat adorned with silver |
knobs. the emblem in Spain Of magis.
terial dignity.
As soon Al the Spaniards reach the |
rendezvous the alcalde of Isaba steps
to the trout and addresses them In sol.
emn ceremonial style:
Are you come to pay tribute and
swear friendship according to old Gus
tom and Tradition y,
That Is the reason Of our coming"
answer the French.
= Then the two standard bearers ar
preach the boundary stone and lay
their pixies crosswise upon 1t. After q
few moments the Spaniard takes bis
up again. sticks It into French soil and
then places it az before on the stone.
On the cross formed by the two shafts
the representatives Of the two valleys
swear to keep the peace With loyal
mind.
: Then follows the delivery OF the three
calves to the Spaniards. They are ex.
amined by a veterinary surgeon and
accepted. after which all present take
up their stations under q shady oak,
and. following the example of the good
St Louis Of France and Alfonso the
Wise OF Spain. the alcalde of Isaba en-
thrones himself among the gnarled
roots Of the oak and proceeds to act al
. magistrate.
shepherds and neatherds pass before
him and prefer their International COM
plants The Judge listens to both sides.
bids them bring forward their witness
es and delivers judgment without de-
lay. INJECTING a ine on one. awarding
compensation to another. Furnishing one
and affOrding satisfaction to his victim
Aftsr all the quarreis are settled the
alcaloe undertakes the appointment Of
the pasture guardians for both valleys.
10 that be enjoys even greater author.
tty In the township Of Bareton than the
president OF the republic himself. f.
nally. they all betake themselves to
Spanish soil. where a Homer1c feast To
set out and till late in the night the
banquet goes On. tho descendants Of
the old warlike mountain peoples drink.
ing together in brotherly unity in COM
memOratton Of the conclusion Of the
peace Of 1875 and the Installation OF
the above ceremonies.
About 800 years after this treaty had
been made the French began to refuse
to pay the tribute, but after some nego
dat1ons they consented to continue It.
In more modern times they tried to get
the tribute committed to q sum Of mon.
~. but the Spaniards declined, but
agreed to forego the firing OF guns In
the direction Of France 40 being y
wound to French amour propre.-Lon.
don Spectator.
Hard Luck.
Maud-Beatrtx has lost twenty pounds
iately-her new gowns are perfect sue
cesses, her sweetheart proposed to her
last night her rich uncle died yester.