Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-07
Moose for Moose.
nv WASHINGTON IRVING.

Cwashinston Irving. l7sS-Isss, was an
ASo Trnte nSdsr the pen name OF Geofrey
Crayon. and earned enduring Tame VIII rs
Or's History Of New York" eteD
The former governor of the Alhambra
as the fortified palace Of the Moorish
rulers of Spain was called, was a
doughty old cavalier who prided him
self on being an old soldier, wore his
mustaches curled up to his eyes, pair
of campaigning boots, and sword as
long as a spit. with his pocket hand
kerchief tucked in the basket hut.
This governor had but one arm, but
that did not keep him from being ex-
ceedingly proud and punctilious, and
tenacious of his privileges and dignities.
He Iigidly eXacted the immunitieS of
the Alhambra. No one was permitted
to enter the premises of the ancient
fortress with firearms, or even with a
sword or staff, unless he were OF high
rank. Every horSeman was obliged to
dismount at the gate and lead his horse
by the bride.
AS the hill of the Alhambra rises
from the very midst of the city Of
Granada 1t must at all times be some
what irkSome to the captain general of
the town. It was like having an empire
within an empire-a petty independent
area in the very center Of his domains
The situation was rendered worse by
the irritable jealousy of the old one
armed governor, who took fire on the
least question of authority and juriS-
diction. 1t was made worse, too. by the
vagrant, loose character of the people
who had clustered around the fortress
as a refuge. From the safe confines
of the old citadel they robbed and pill
LACED the surrounding parts of the city.
Perpetual feud existed, therefore, be-
tween the governor and the captain
general. The governors was the more
violent hatred for the smallest of two
rivals is always the most fuSSy about
his rights.
The stately palace Of the captain gen.
eral stood Immediately at the foot Of
the hill of the Alhambra. Here was
always a hustle Of parade guard, and
domestics, and city officials. A beetling
baStion of the ancient fortress over
looked the palace and the public square
in front of it. On this bastion the old
governor would occasionally strut back
ward and forward, his sword girded by
his side, keeping a wary eye down on
his rival, like hawk inspecting his
prey from his nest in dry tree.
Whenever the governor descended into
the city 1t was in grand parade, on
horseback surrounded by his guards, or
In his stage coach, an ancient and I'M
wieldy Spanish structure of carved
timber and gilt leather, drawn by eight
mules, with running footmen, outriders
and lackeys.
The main dispute between these gov
erning rivals was the right claimed by
the governor to have all things destined
for the Alhambra pass through the city
free of duty and also free of inspection,
This privilege had given rise to extern
sive smuggling. The smugglers had
taken up their abode in the hooks and
crannieS os the fortress, and drove
thriving busineSs-aided and abetted by
the soldiers of Alhambra's garrison.
The captain general wished to stop
their smuggling. He called in his
lawyer and factotum. a Shrewd and
meddleSome fellow anxious to make trou-
bic for others. The lawyer advised the
captain general to insist upon the right
OF examining every convoy passing
through the gates of his city, and he
penned long letter for him, in defense
of this right.
The governor received and read the
long letter, and fused and fumed about
it. He vowed that he would never
allow the captain general to stop ard
inspect his conveys. Shortly after the
matter was put to the test-the gov
ernor's old corporal resisted inspection
the Alhambra. In the melee the COT
poral shot a customhouse officer. The
corporal was promptly clapped Into jail
by the captain general, and. finally he
was sentenced to be hanged.
The old governor was in towering
passion. Finally he dispatched a mes
sage demanding the surrender Of the
corporal. The captain general, under
the advice Of his crafty lawyer, replied