The New York herald., 1921-08-14
Reviewed by JOSEPH GOULD.

Reviewed by JOSEPH GOULD.
THE revival OF Spanish letters is
one of the most interesting
events of modern times. The
ruthless energy which made the sons
of Pelayo carve out careers as Jesuits
or conquistadors is renewing itself.
In the Spanish temperament there
has always been a vein of fatalistic
melancholy. The writings Of Ricardo
Leon portray the soul of his people.
The fire of heroism still burns, but not
in the open air. 1t is enclosed by the
narrow walls of modern civilization
and its fumes are sitting and poison
the air.
"A Son of the Hidalgos" is fortunate
in that it's translator. Mrs. Seumas
MacManus, is Of the old Iberian stock.
She is not only familiar with the vo-
cabulary and idiom of the language
but she catches it's spirit. The transla-
ton reads almost like an original work.
Ricardo Leon sprang from sunny
Andalusa, Chance sent him to the
provinces of the north. Here he
achieved a double point of view. The
basic Spanish element of his character
gave him an insight into the lives Of
those around him, but being of an
other province, he could also observe
within a dispassionate aloofness. The
result is very fortunate. Mrs. Mac
Manus says: "And of all Santander
the city of Santilluna by the sea, the
scene of "A Son Of the Hildalgos.' pre-
served even to-day unmarried yet by
our modern civilization, relic of the
days when the sun never set In Span
ish domain"
Pedro de Ceballos was the last of a
long line of grandees. His boyhood
was clouded by the oppression of fam
lily portraits and other emblems of the
past He did not realize that he was
the apple of his fathers eye. When he
went to college he fell into disgrace.
He was recalled. There was nothing
for him to doSat home. Idleness corr
rupted him still further.
The story opens with his first Jour-
ney. He marries strolling actress
and joins her company He Is heart
broken when she dies. He breads go
ing home. Instead he marries woman
of radical ideas and devotes himself
to liberal propaganda. He lives in
Paris with a motley group Of revolu-
tionaries. He writes books which are
anathema to his old friends. This
period is described vvidly by Ricardo
Leon. but rather briefly. There is none
of the light hearted JOY in incident
which delighted the older picturesque
vvrifare of Spaiu TT ia introepertivp
and the emphasis is placed ON the
inner turmoil.
At last, Pedro de Ceballos returns
home The old don, his father, re-
ceives him in manner almost as
touching as the welcome of the Prod
igal Son Of the Bible. He tries in vain
to renew his old life. He had given
so much of his thought to propaganda
that when his old world crumpled up
he was much like Don Quixote when
ne realized that knight errantry was
not a going concern.
Most of the book describes his heroic
struggle to adjust himself to living a
life pleasing to those who love him
and in accordance with the traditions
of his gallant ancestors. One of the
most vivid sections is AN account of a
dream in which he sees the whole
history OF Spain fit before his eyes.
A marriage to his old sweetheart
brings him certain measure of peace
for short time and then his old
malady overwhelms him. Leon Ri
cardo describes his death in a manner
worthy of Cervantes.
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