The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-09-03

4
given recommendation to the Mar
quesa de Chaves, reputed the clever.
est woman in Madrid, because she was
as solemn as an owl, and rarely spoke.
Her salon, called ''the Fashionable In
stitution for Literature, Taste and Sci
ence," was the resort for the wits and
notables of Madrid.
Here again he had easy work, but
getting into trouble about girl, was
compelled to leave the city. On his
way to Toledo he rescued a young no.
bleman, named Don Alfonso, from ar
rest. They became friends and after
Don Alfonso reached home, he and
his father became Gil Bias patrons,
placing him as secretary to their rela-
tive, the archbishop Of Granada, who
was inorginately vain and as broad as
he was long. sdls.i q. sst a'h
Gil Bias Praised his sermons and
was regarded as a young man Of ex.
cellent judgment until after the prel-
ate's mind was affected by apoplexy
and his homilies became discordant
rawlings. Gil Bias obeyed the arch
bishops command to tell him if he
fell short in his preaching and was
ANONYMOUSLY packed off. Reduced
to extremities once more, he passed as
the brother Of a disreputable actress
and thus secured the position as Sec
rotary to a Portuguese grandee, the
Marquis de Marialva. The trick was
discovered. He returned to Madrid
and after many amusing and not al
ways creditable adventures, was ap-
pointed under secretary to the duke
Of Lerma, prime minister to the king
His duties may be gagged by his COM
ment: Zone makes a merit Of any
dirty work in the service of the great"
His experiences with the upper and
the lower world, with actors, poets, |
physicians bandits, adven-
turers, and hidalgos and their serv.
ants, had sharpened his wits, and his |
native ability and smattering Of edu-
cation gave him growing influence. He
was courted, flattered and bribed; his
conceit and avarice became colossal.
He declared that "a court had all |
the soporific virtues Of Lethe in the |
case of poor relations" and confessed |
that "every trace Of his former gay |
and generous temper had disap-
peared."
Pride came before a fall. Having
been employed to procure question
able mistress for the heir-apparent,
he was arrested by the kings orders
and thrown into the dungeon Of Sc
govia. The prince interviewed, but he
was exiled from the two CASTLES. All
his property was seized and his mer-
.enary engagement to wealthy jew.
,ler's daughter was broken.
Then his friend Don Alfonso, whom
le had got appointed as governor Of
Valencia, presented him with a small
estate near that city.
On his way thither he stopped at
lis birthplace and found his uncle a
mental wreck and his mother worn out
n caring for his dying father. He
rave his father a pompous funeral,
md settled an annuity on his mother,
tut the towns people were so indig-
liant with him for his neglect Of his
'amily that they threatened to mob
lin.
Glad to escape with his life, he
'eached Valencia, where he was re-
'eived at his new home by seven or
light servants provided by Don AL
'onso. He got rid Of most Of them
Ind lived frugally, marrying Antonio,
laughter of his farmer, Don Basilio.
But his idyllic happiness ended with
he death Of his wife in childbirth.
Soon afterward the crown prince
'ame to the throne and offered him a
,lace Of high responsibility. Gil Bias
Who had learned wisdom, replied that
all he wanted was a good situation,
where there was no inducement to vio-
ate his conscience, and where the IA
'ors Of his prince were not likely to
re bartered for filthy lucre."
He was made confidant to the
,rime minister, who entrusted him
With the education Of his Legitimate
on and heir. This brought him a
tile.
After some years when the duke lost
be kings favor, Gil Bias followed him
nto retirement and on his death was
emembered with bequest of 10000
istoles. He returned to his beauti-
ul estate, made second marriage,
nd lived, happy and respected, train
lg his children wisely and confiding
D his memoirs all his errors, crimes,
oys and sorrows, together with his
pinions Of literature, society and the
tage. His narrative is interspersed
nth long and fascinating stories re.
lted by various characters whom he
ad met; these and his own adven.
ures furnish a vivid picture Of the
Spain Of the seventeenth CEN
1ry. .#r
"Gil Bias" is one of the wisest and
lost amusing Of romances, and though
Is not free from the coarseness per-
lifted at that time, vice is not depict
d attractively and its teaching Is