The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-30
oopynsAs By J. W. Muller
Ry }. w. MULLER

Throughout all Spanish-speaking
countries there is being Observed this
three hundredth year of the death
of Don Miguel de Ceramics Saape-
dra, the author of Don Quirote dc
la Mancha." Much as other races
prize this work, they cannot realize
how the men of Spanish blood piew
it. 1t is infinitely precious to them,
almost holy. Throughout the Span
ish Americas. from Cuba to the end
of South america, the stranger who
knovs "Don Quirote" wiH find ea-
ger responsiveness eperywkere, from
the wattled hut of peon to the pal
ace of sugar or cattle king. The
story offered here is from Book III.
One morning Don Quixote and his
faithful squire sancho Panza beheld
IL men on the road walking In long
I row. This row was held coyly to-
gether by long chain, so that the gen.
tlemen looked neatly like beads on q
string.
The chivalrous warrior naturally
spurred at once to aid these mortals In
distress. since the books of chlvalry
that had put crack into his worthy
brain had taught him that knights al
ways did so without asking too many
| questions.
There were armed guards with the
string of beads and they did not re-
ceive him too effusively. Still, as Is
the good custom in polite Spain, they
permitted the chainful to stand still
while Don Qulxote rode along the line
and spoke to the fettered pedestrians.
II am chained up for being violently
In love-" the first man in the row con-
fded to the knight. Indeed, 1 en-
braced the object of my affections so
passionately that the police hardly
could tear me away. Unfortunately
this frantic love affair was with
basket of linen. So they gave me soft
treatment with the lash and now am
on my way to serve for three years as
an element dasher."
'What is that?" asked the Don,
whose reading of knight errantry
books had acquainted him with only
the most poetic and fiowery language,
and not with the simple. chaste phrases
Of the chain-gang.
"He means that he Is going to be n
galley slavei" said the beads, with
roars of laughter.
The second galley slave In the row
would not reply at all to Don Quixote's
inquiry, but another rogue answered
for him with generous heartiness. "He
Is canary bird. He Is with us be-
cause he sang too much!"
rs 1t possible" cried the generous
knight, that men are sent to the gall
leys for singing?"
Indeed, they are, when they sing
In anguish" answered the rogue.
Il cannot unfold your riddle" ven
tured the simple warrior.
"Sir," said guard, "they call this
fellow a bird that sang In anguish be.
cause he confessed on the rack"
"And now he mopes," said another,
because they all jeer at him for not
having the courage to deny, since 1t is
no more painful to say, mo- under the
torture than yes And think they
are somewhat in the right"
what did you do?" asked Don
QuIxote of the next man.
For want of twice five ducats," an
swered he, II must NOV the great
meadow for five years.
Don Quixote inferred that knowing
the great meadow" meant to row with
galley-sweeps over the pleasant blue
Mediterranean. "And all that for ten
ducats?" he murmured. II would give
twenty with all my heart to deliver
you.'
THANK you for nothing" retorted
the gentleman. at is like Offering
man mustard after he has eaten all
the meat. You might as well give your
ducats to starving man at sea-"
As the knight still lamented over the
iniquity of sentencing man to FIVE
years in the galleys for mere lack of
ten ducats, the galley slave conde-
scended to instruct him. "With ten
ducats," he explained, II could have
creased the courts palms. Enough. 1
say no more. but go along like dog
IN string"
The tales of all the other prisoners
were equally edifying. Don Qulxote
erecognized that they were not inno-
cent lambs: yet, on the whole, he
thought that much might be said for
them as well as against them. There
fore he turned to the guards and de-
manded that they unlock the chains
Let them answer for their sins in an
nther world" said he.
"Take your empty pate about its
own business !" responded the leader
with great impollteness. Those who
play with cats will get scrntched.v
This insolence from one whom ,the
zhivalry romances would have referred
to as "caitlff," SO infuriated the war
| riaf. thnf ha .,l,n rarad I'LL. f.ii....