Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1913-05-16
A CURIOUS COURT
|. Is Held Annually When France
Pays Tribute TO Spain.
PRICE OF AN ANCIENT PEACE.

'hfsf "e'p fHaH FtSS OoHtefSe tHoS
Calves Are still Humbly Presented
Each Year to the Naughty Descend
ants Of the Victorious spsniards.
Every year there takes place in the
Pyrenean highlands a remarkable fete.
Il IL heid at the boundary stone Of San
Martin. which separates the French
Wiley Bareton from the Spanish valley
NJ Isoncnl. Every year the represents
lives OF the French peasants assemble
there In order TO pay the spaniards a
tribute. which consists OF three calves
" the same nge and the same color.
aud the delivery Of the calves is ac-
r0mpanied by ceremonies which sun.
ciently indicate that the old inhablt-
ants OF the Roneal valley were once
victorious over their nelghbors.
At o O'Clock in the morning the may
ors OF the various villages In the Bare
ton valley. braveiy adorned with their
blue. white and red scarfs Of office.
march up 10 the boundary stone. IN
front OF the column walks a lad. with q
pike. from the point OF which Autters a
little white penn0n as gage OF peace.
The three cnlves 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.
10 front walks man clad in sheep
skins. who waves red pennon at the
end Of pike as a sign Of war. Behind
MIN walks the alcalde OF Isaba, the
principal village In the valley of Ron.
raj. and following him come the n.
aides OF tho other villages, their STATS
" Office I'm their hands. The bulk OF
he procession consists of shepherds.
tern looking fellows armed with old
Sbers and mntehlocks.
The nlcalde OF Isaba Is all glorious 70
behold In long black garment fas.
tened by gold buttons. tall white ruif.
tight fitting knee breeches. red silk
stockings and buckled shoes. A som.
hrero covers his head. and In his hands
he holds the staf adorned with silver
knobs. the emblem In Spain OF magis
terial dignity.
As soon as the Spaniards reach the
rendezvous the alcade OF Isaba 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 reason OF our coming"
answer the French.
Then the two standard bearers mn.
proaeh the boundary stone and lay
their pixies crosswise upon 1t. After a
few moments the Spaniard takes his
up again. sticks 1t into French soil and
then places II as 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 veterinary surgeon and
accepted. after which ali present take
up their stations under shady oak,
and. following the example of the good
st, Louis Of France and Alfonso the
Wise Of Spain. the alcalde of lsaba en-
thrones himself among the gnarled
roots of the oak and proceeds to act as
magistrate.
Shepherds and neatherds pass before
nlm and prefer their international com
plants. The Judge listens to both sides.
bids them bring forward their witness
es aud delivers Judgment without de.
ay. intllcting n tine on one. awarding
compensation to another, furnishing one
ind affordIng satisfaction to his victim
After all the quarrels are settled the
licalde undertakes the appointment OF
the pasture guardians for both valleys
80 that he enjoys even greater author
Ity In the township of Bnreton than the
president OF the republic himself. III
ually. they all betake themselves tc
Spanish soil, where n Homeric feast is
set out, and till late In the night the
nanquet gnes on. the descendants oi
the old warllkc mountain peoples drink
tng together In brotherly unity in com
memOrntion of the conclusion Of the
peace Of 1875 and the installation oi
the above ceremonies.
About 300 years after this treaty hat
been made the French began to refuse
to pay the tribute, but after some nego
tiations they consented to continue It
In more modern times they tried to ge
the tribute commuted to n sum of mon
ey. but the Spaniards declined, bu
agreed to forego the firing of guns ii
the direction Of France as being ,
| wound to French amour propre. II Lon