Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-16
A CURIOUS COURT.
It Is Held Annually When France
Pays Tribute to Spain.
PRICE OF AN ANCIENT PEACE.
After Moro Than Five Centuries Three
Calves Are Still HumbIy Presented
Each Year to the Naughty Descend.
ants Of tho Victorious S%paniards.

iPyrenean highlands Il remarkable fete.
1t Is held at the boundary stone Of San
Martin. which separates the French
valley Bareton from the Spanish valley
Of Roncal. Every year the representa-
tives OF the French peasants assemble
there In order to pay the Spaniards u
tribute. which consists OF three calves
Of the same age and the same color,
and the delivery Of the calves Is ac'
c%ompanied by ceremonies which suti-
GENTLY indicate that the old inhabit'
ants Of tue ltoncal valley were once
victorious over their neighbors.
At 9 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 a
pike. from the poiut OF which hutters a
little white peunOn rs a gage OF peace.
The three calves are dragged in the
rear 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 soon 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 Il 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 bulk OF
the procession consists Of shepherds.
stern looking fellows armed with old
sabers and m%atchlocks.
The alcaide of lsaba IS all glorious to
behold in Il long black garment fas-
tened by gold buttons. a tall white ruff.
tight lifting knee breeches. red silk
stockings and buclsIed shoes. A som.
brero covers bis head. and In his hands
he holds the star adorned with silver
knobs. the emblem IN Spain OF magls.
terial dignity.
AS SOC as the Spaniards reach the
rendezvous the alcalde Of lsaba steps
to the front and addresses them In sol.
emn ceremonial style:
Are you come to pay tribute and
swear friendship according to old GUS
tom and tradition!'
THAT is the reaso OF coming"
answer the French.
Then the two standard bearers np.
pruach the boundary stone and lay
their pixies crosswise upon it. After a
few moments the Spaniard takes bis
up again, sticks it into French soil and
then places it rs 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. w.
Then follows the delivery Of the three
calves to the Spaniards. They are ex.
amiued BY Il veterinary surgeon and
accepted. after which all present take
up their stations under a shady oak,
and. following the example Of the good
St. Louis Of France and Alfonso the
| Wise OF Spain. the alcaIde Of lsaba en-
thrones himself among the gnarled
| roots Of the oak and proceeds to act as
a 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-
tnv / pniofipr "a finA nm nnn pNy.li ri ina
compensation to another. Furnishing one
and affordlns satisfaction to his victim.
After all tAes qnnr.e!s are settled the
alcaIde unde}takes the appointment of
the pasture guardians for both valleys.
so that be enjoys even greater author
ity in the township Of Bareton than the
president Of the republic himself. ri.
nally. they all betake themselves to
Spanish soil. where Il Homeric feast is
set ont, and till late in the night the
banquet goes on. the descendants OF
the old wurIike mountain peoples drink.
ing together in b%rotherly unity in com.
m%e.noration Of the conclusion of the
pence Of 1915 and the installation OF
tue above ceremonies.
About 800 years after this treaty had
been made the French began to refuse
to pay the tribute, but after some nego-
tiatious they consented to continue it.
In ,Iore modern times they tried to get
the tribute COMMITTED to Il sum OF mon.
ey. but the Spaniards declined. but
agreed to foreso the firing OF guns In
the direction Of France as being Il
wound to French amour propre.-Lon.
don Spectator. +
Hard Luck.