' Is the love of a mother nothing but an
obligation?
Warner - World's Best Literature - v05 - Bro to Cai
The others, which had not the
strength again to stand up, lay stretched out in the convulsions
of agony; sometimes they stretched out their heads as though
impelled by terror. At these last signs of life the bull returned
to the charge, wounding anew with plunges of his horns the
bruised members of his victims. Then, his forehead and horns
all bloody, he walked around the circus affecting an air of provo-
cation and defiance: at times he proudly raised his head towards
the amphitheatre, where the cries did not cease to be heard;
sometimes it was towards the brilliant chulos who passed before
him like meteors, planting their banderillos in his body. Often
from cage, or from a netting hidden in the ornaments of a
banderillero, came out birds, which joyously took up their flight.
The first inventor of this strange and singular contrast could not
certainly have had the intention to symbolize innocence without
defense, rising above the horrors and ferocious passions here
below, in its happy flight towards heaven. That would be,
without doubt, one of those poetic ideas which are born spon-
taneously in the hard and cruel heart of the Spanish plebeian,
as we see in Andalusia the mignonette plant really flourish be-
tween stones and the mortar of a balcony.
At the signal given by the president of the course, the clar-
ions again sounded. There was a moment of truce in this bloody
wrestling, and it created a perfect silence.
Then Pepe Vera, holding in his left hand a sword and a red-
hooded cloak, advanced near to the box of the alcalde. Arrived
opposite, he stopped and saluted, to demand permission to slay
the bull.
Pepe Vera perceived the presence of the Duke, whose taste
for the bull-fight was well known; he had also remarked the
who was seated at his side, because this woman, to
whom the Duke frequently spoke, never took her eyes off the
matador.
He directed his steps towards the Duke, and taking off his
cap, said,
«Brindo (I offer the honor of the bull) to you, my
lord, and to the royal person who is near you. "
1
1
woman
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FERNAN CABALLERO
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At these words, casting his cap on the ground with an inimi-
table abandon, he returned to his post.
The chulos regarded him attentively, all ready to execute his
orders. The matador chose the spot which suited him the best,
and indicated it to his quadrilla.
"Here! ” he cried out to them.
The chulos ran towards the bull and excited him, and in
pursuing them met Pepe Vera, face to face, who had awaited his
approach with a firm step. It was the solemn moment of the
whole fight. A profound silence succeeded to the noisy tumult,
and to the warm excitement which until then had been exhib-
ited towards the matador.
The bull, on seeing this feeble enemy, who had laughed at
his fury, stopped as if he wished to reflect. He feared, without
doubt, that he would escape him a second time.
Whoever had entered into the circus at this moment would
sooner believe he was assisting in a solemn religious assembly,
than in a public ainusement, so great was the silence.
The two adversaries regarded each other reciprocally.
Pepe Vera raised his left hand: the bull sprang on him.
Making only a light movement, the matador let him pass by his
side, returned and put himself on guard. When the animal
turned upon him the man directed his sword towards the ex-
tremity of the shoulder, so that the bull, continuing his advance,
powerfully aided the steel to penetrate completely into his body.
It was done! He fell lifeless at the feet of his vanquisher.
To describe the general burst of cries and bravos which broke
forth from every part of this vast arena, would be a thing abso-
lutely impossible. Those who are accustomed to be present at
these spectacles alone can form an idea of it. At the same time
were heard the strains of the military bands.
Pepe Vera tranquilly traversed the arena in the midst of
these frantic testimonials of passionate admiration and of this
unanimous ovation, saluting with his sword right and left in
token of his acknowledgments. This triumph, which might have
excited the envy of a Roman emperor, in him did not excite the
least surprise — the least pride. He then went to salute the
ayuntamiento; then the Duke and the royal” young lady.
The Duke then secretly handed to Maria a purse full of gold,
and she enveloped it in her handkerchief and cast it into the
arena.
V-189
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FERNAN CABALLERO
Pepe Vera again renewed his thanks, and the glance of his
black eyes met those of the Gaviota. In describing the meeting
of these looks, a classic writer said that it wounded these two
hearts as profoundly as Pepe Vera wounded the bull.
We who have not the temerity to ally ourselves to this
severe and intolerant school, we simply say that these two
natures were made to understand each other— to sympathize.
They in fact did understand and sympathize.
It is true to say that Pepe had done admirably.
All that he had promised in a situation where he placed him-
self between life and death had been executed with an address,
an ease, a dexterity, and a grace, which had not been baffled for
an instant.
For such a task it is necessary to have an energetic tempera-
ment and a daring courage, joined to a certain degree of self-
possession, which alone can command twenty-four thousand eyes
which observe, and twenty-four thousand hands which applaud.
IN THE HOME CIRCLE
From (La Gaviota)
A
MONTH after the scenes we have described, Marisalada was
more sensible, and did not show the least desire to return
to her father's. Stein was completely re-established; his
good-natured character, his modest inclinations, his natural sym-
pathies, attached him every day more to the peaceful habits of
the simple and generous persons among whom he dwelt. He.
felt relieved from his former discouragements, and his mind was
invigorated; he was cordially resigned to his present existence,
and to the men with whom he associated.
One afternoon, Stein, leaning against an angle of the convent
which faced the sea, admired the grand spectacle which the open-
ing of the winter season presented to his view. Above his head
floated a triple bed of sombre clouds, forced along by the im-
petuous wind. Those lower down, black and heavy, seemed like
the cupola of an ancient cathedral in ruins, threatening at each
instant to sink down. When reduced to water they fell to the
ground. There was visible the second bed, less sombre and
lighter, defying the wind which chased them, and which sep-
arating at intervals sought other clouds, more coquettish and
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FERNAN CABALLERO
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more vaporous, which they hurried into space, as if they feared
to soil their white robes by coming in contact with their com-
panions.
“Are you a sponge, Don Frederico, so to like to receive all
the water which falls from heaven? ” demanded José, the shep-
herd of Stein. "Let us enter; the roofs are made expressly for
such nights as these. My sheep would give much to shelter
themselves under some tiles. ”
Stein and the shepherd entered, and found the family assem-
bled around the hearth.
At the left of the chimney, Dolores, seated on a low chair,
held her infant; who, turning his back to his mother, supported
himself on the arm which encircled him like the balustrade of
a balcony; he moved about incessantly his little legs and his
small bare arms, laughing and uttering joyous cries addressed
to his brother Anis. This brother, gravely seated opposite the
fire on the edge of an empty earthen pan, remained stiff and
motionless, fearing that losing his equilibrium he would be
tossed into the said earthen pan an accident which his mother
had predicted.
Maria was sewing at the right side of the chimney; her
granddaughters had for seats dry aloe leaves, -excellent seats,
light, solid, and sure. Nearly under the drapery of the chimney-
piece slept the hairy Palomo and a cat, the grave Morrongo,
tolerated from necessity, but remaining by common consent at
a respectful distance from each other.
In the middle of this group there was a little low table, on
which burned a lamp of four jets; close to the table the Brother
Gabriel was seated, making baskets of the palm-tree; Momo was
engaged in repairing the harness of the good "Swallow (the
ass); and Manuel, cutting up tobacco. On the fire was conspicu-
ous a stew-pan full of Malaga potatoes, white wine, honey, cinna-
mon, and cloves. The humble family waited with impatience till
the perfumed stew should be sufficiently cooked.
“Come on! Come on! ” cried Maria, when she saw her guest
and the shepherd enter. “What are you doing outside in
weather like this ? 'Tis said a hurricane has come to destroy
the world. Don Frederico, here, here! come near the fire. Do
you know that the invalid has supped like a princess, and that
at present she sleeps like a queen! Her cure progresses well -
—
is it not so, Don Frederico ? »
## p. 3012 (#586) ###########################################
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FERNAN CABALLERO
ren.
Her recovery surpasses my hopes. ”
My soups! ” added Maria with pride.
“And the ass's milk,” said Brother Gabriel quietly.
« There is no doubt,” replied Stein; "and she ought to con-
tinue to take it. ”
"I oppose it not,” said Maria, “because ass's milk is like the
turnip — if it does no good it does no harm. ”
"Ah! how pleasant it is here! ” said Stein, caressing the child-
"If one could only live in the enjoyment of the present,
without thought of the future !
“Yes, yes, Don Frederico," joyfully cried Manuel, « Media
vida es la candela; pan y vino, la otra media. ' ” (Half of life is
the candle; bread and wine are the other half. )
“And what necessity have you to dream of the future ? ”
asked Maria. “Will the morrow make us the more love to-day?
Let us occupy ourselves with to-day, so as not to render painful
the day to come. ”
"Man is a traveler,” replied Stein; "he must follow his
route. ”
“Certainly,” replied Maria, «man is a traveler; but if he
arrives in a quarter where he finds himself well off, he would
say, We are well here; put up our tents. »
“If you wish us to lose our evening by talking of traveling,”
said Dolores, we will believe that we have offended you, or
that you are not pleased here. ”
“Who speaks of traveling in the middle of December? ” de-
manded Manuel. Goodness of heaven! Do you not see what
disasters there are every day on the sea ? — hear the singing of the
wind! Will you embark in this weather, as you were embarked
in the war of Navarre ? for as then, you would come out morti-
fied and ruined. ”
Besides, » added Maria, “the invalid is not yet entirely cured. ”
“Ah! there,” said Dolores, besieged by the children, "if you
will not call off these creatures, the potatoes will not be cooked
until the Last Judgment. ”
The grandmother rolled the spinning-wheel to the corner, and
called the little infants to her.
“We will not go,” they replied with one voice, “if you will
not tell us a story. ”
“Come, I will tell you one,” said the good old woman. The
children approached. Anis took up his position on the empty
((
((
## p. 3013 (#587) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3013
earthen pot, and the grandma commenced a story to amuse the
little children.
She had hardly finished the relation of this story when a
great noise was heard. The dog rose up, pointed his ears, and
put himself on the defensive. The cat bristled her hair and pre-
pared to fly. But the succeeding laugh very soon was frightful:
it was Anis, who fell asleep during the recital of his grandmother.
It happened that the prophecy of his mother was fulfilled as to
his falling into the earthen pan, where all his little person
disappeared except his legs, which stuck out like plants of a
new species. His mother, rendered impatient, seized with one
hand the cotlar of his vest, raised him out of this depth, and
despite his resistance held him suspended in the air for some
time-- in the style represented in those card dancing-jacks, which
move arms and legs when you pull the thread which holds
them.
As his mother scolded him, and everybody laughed at him,
Anis, who had a brave spirit, - a thing natural in an infant,-
burst out into a groan which had nothing of timidity in it.
“Don't weep, Anis,” said Paca, “and I will give you two
chestnuts that I have in my pocket. ”
« True ? " demanded Anis.
Paca took out the two chestnuts, and gave them to him.
Instead of tears, they saw promptly shine with joy the two rows
of white teeth of the young boy.
“Brother Gabriel,” said Maria, "did you not speak to me of
a pain in your eyes ? Why do you work this evening ? ”
“I said truly,” answered brother Gabriel; “but Don Frederico
gave me a remedy which cured me. ”
“Don Frederico must know many remedies, but he does not
know that one which never misses its effect,” said the shep-
herd.
"If you know it, have the kindness to tell me,” replied Stein.
"I am unable to tell you,” replied the shepherd. "I know
that it exists, and that is all. ”
“Who knows it then ? » demanded Stein.
« The swallows,” said José.
« The swallows ? »
“Yes, sir. It is an herb which is called 'pito-real,' which
nobody sees or knows except the swallows: when their little ones
lose their sight the parents rub their eyes with the pito-real,
## p. 3014 (#588) ###########################################
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FERNAN CABALLERO
1
((
and cure them. This herb has also the virtue to cut iron - every-
thing it touches. »
“What absurdities this José swallows without chewing, like a
real shark! ” interrupted Manuel, laughing. "Don Frederico, do
you comprehend what he said and believes as an article of faith?
He believes and says that snakes never die. ”
"No, they never die,” replied the shepherd. When they see
death coming they escape from their skin, and run away. With
age they become serpents; little by little they are covered with
scales and wings: they become dragons, and return to the desert.
But you, Manuel, you do not wish to believe anything. Do
you deny also that the lizard is the enemy of the woman, and
the friend of man ?
If
you do not believe it, ask then of
Miguel. ”
“He knows it ? »
“Without doubt, by experience. ”
“Whence did he learn it ? ” demanded Stein.
"He was sleeping in the field,” replied José. "A snake
glided near him. A lizard, which was in the furrow, Saw it
coming, and presented himself to defend Miguel. The lizard,
which was of large form, fought with the snake. But Miguel
not awaking, the lizard pressed his tail against the nose of the
sleeper, and ran off as if his paws were on fire. The lizard is a
good little beast, who has good desires; he never sleeps in the
sun without descending the wall to kiss the earth. ”
When the conversation commenced on the subject of swallows,
Paca said to Anis, who was seated among his sisters, with his
legs crossed like a Grand Turk in miniature, “Anis, do you know
what the swallows say? "
"I? No. They have never spoken to me. ”
«Attend then: they say — " the little girl imitated the chirping
of swallows, and began to sing with volubility:-
1
« To eat and to drink!
And to loan when you may;
But 'tis madness to think
This loan to repay.
Flee, flee, pretty swallow, the season demands,
Fly swift on the wing, and reach other lands. "
"Is it for that they are sold ? ”
“For that,” affirmed his sister.
## p. 3015 (#589) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3015
During this time Dolores, carrying her infant in one hand,
with the other spread the table, served the potatoes, and distrib-
uted to each one his part. The children ate from her plate, and
Stein remarked that she did not even touch the dish she had
prepared with so much care.
« You do not eat, Dolores ? ” he said to her.
“Do you not know the saying,” she replied laughing, «He
who has children at his side will never die of indigestion,' Don
Frederico ? What they eat nourishes me. »
Momo, who found himself beside this group, drew away his
plate, so that his brothers would not have the temptation to
ask him for its contents. His father, who remarked it, said to
him :-
"Don't be avaricious; it is a shameful vice: be not avaricious;
avarice is an abject vice. Know that one day an avaricious man
fell into the river. A peasant who saw it, ran to pull him out;
he stretched out his arm, and cried to him,
Give me your
hand! What had he to give ? A miser — give! Before giving
him anything he allowed himself to be swept down by the cur-
rent. By chance he floated near to a fisherman: "Take my
hand! ' he said to him. As it was a question of taking, our man
was willing, and he escaped danger. ”
“It is not such wit you should relate to your son, Manuel,”
said Maria. “You ought to set before him, for example, the bad
rich man, who would give to the unfortunate neither a morsel of
bread nor a glass of water. 'God grant,' answered the beggar
to him, 'that all that you touch changes to this silver which you
so hold to. The wish of the beggar was realized. All that the
miser had in his house was changed into metals as hard as his
heart. Tormented by hunger and thirst, he went into the coun-
try, and having perceived a fountain of pure water, clear as
crystal, he approached with longing to taste it; but the moment
his lips touched it the water was turned to silver. He would
take an orange and the orange was changed to gold. He thus
died in a frenzy of rage and fury, cursing what he had desired. ”
Manuel, the strongest minded man in the assembly, bowed
down his head.
Manuel,” his mother said to him, you imagine that we
ought not to believe but what is a fundamental article, and that
credulity is common only to the imbecile. You are mistaken:
men of good sense are credulous. ”
## p. 3016 (#590) ###########################################
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FERNAN CABALLERO
"But, my mother, between belief and doubt there is a
medium. ”
“And why,” replied the good old woman, "laugh at faith,
which is the first of all virtues ? How will it appear to you
if
I say to you, I have given birth to you, I have educated you,
I have guided your earliest steps — I have fulfilled my obliga-
tions!
' Is the love of a mother nothing but an obligation? What
say you? ”
"I would reply that you are not a good mother. ”
Well, my son, apply that to what we were speaking of: he
who does not believe except from obligation, and only for that,
cannot cease to believe without being a renegade, a bad Christ-
ian; as I would be a bad mother if I loved you only from
obligation. ”
"Brother Gabriel,” interrupted Dolores, “why will you not
taste my potatoes ? ”
"It is a fast-day,” replied Brother Gabriel.
“Nonsense! There is no longer convent, nor rules, nor fasts,”
cavalierly said Manuel, to induce the poor old man to participate
in the general repast. “Besides, you have accomplished sixty
years: put away these scruples, and you will not be damned for
having eaten our potatoes. ”
“Pardon me,” replied Brother Gabriel, “but I ought to fast
as formerly, inasmuch as the Father Prior has not given me a
dispensation. ”
“Well done, Brother Gabriel! ” added Maria; Manuel shall
not be the demon tempter with his rebellious spirit, to incite
you to gormandize. ”
Upon this, the good old woman rose up and locked up in a
closet the plate which Dolores had served to the monk.
"I will keep it here for you until to-morrow morning, Brother
Gabriel. ”
Supper finished, the men, whose habit was always to keep
their hats on in the house, uncovered, and Maria said grace.
## p. 3017 (#591) ###########################################
3017
GEORGE W. CABLE
(1844-)
ERHAPS the first intimation given to the world of a literary
and artististic awakening in the Southern States of America
after the Civil War, was the appearance in Scribner's Mag-
azine of a series of short stories, written by an unknown and hith-
erto untried hand, and afterward collected and republished in Old
Creole Days. This was long before the vogue of the short story,
and that the publication of these tales was regarded as a literary
event in those days is sufficient testimony to their power.
They were fresh, full of color and po-
etic feeling — romantic with the romance
that abounds in the life they portrayed,
redolent of indigenous perfumes. - mag-
nolia, lemon, orange, and myrtle, mingled
with French exotics of the boudoir,- inter-
pretive in these qualities, through a fine
perception, of a social condition resulting
from the transplanting to a semi-tropical
soil of a conservative, wealthy, and aris-
tocratic French community.
Herein lay
much of their most inviting charm; but
more than this, they were racy with twink-
ling humor, tender with a melting pathos, GEORGE W. CABLE
and intensely dramatic.
An intermixture of races with strong caste prejudices, and a time
of revolution and change, present eminently the condition and the
moment for the romance. And when added to this, he finds to his
hand an almost tropical setting, and so picturesque a confusion of
liquid tongues as exists in the old Franco-Spanish-Afro-Italian-Amer-
ican city of New Orleans, there would seem to be nothing left to be
desired as "material. The artist who seized instinctively this oppor-
tunity was born at New Orleans on October 12th, 1844, of colonial
Virginia stock on the one side, and New England on the other. His
early life was full of vicissitudes, and he was over thirty before he
discovered story-telling to be his true vocation. From that time he
has diligently followed it, having published three novels, “The Grand-
issimes,' Dr. Sevier,' Bonaventure,' and John March, Southerner,'
besides another volume of short stories.
## p. 3018 (#592) ###########################################
3018
GEORGE W. CABLE
That having received his impressions in the period of transition
and ferment following the upheaval of 1861–1865, with the resulting
exaggerations and distortions of a normal social condition, he chose
to lay his scenes a half-century earlier, proclaims him still more the
artist; who would thus gain a freer play of fancy and a surer per-
spective, and who, saturated with his subject, is not afraid to trust
his imagination to interpret it.
That he saw with open sympathetic eyes and a loving heart, he
who runs may read in any chance page that a casual opening of his
books will reveal. That the people whom he has so affectionately
depicted have not loved him in return, is perhaps only a corrobora-
tion of his own words when he wrote, in his charming tale (Belles
Demoiselles Plantation, « The Creoles never forgive a public men-
tion. ” That they are tender of heart, sympathetic, and generous in
their own social and domestic relations, Mr. Cable's readers cannot
fail to know. But the caste line has ever been a dangerous boundary
- a live wire charged with a deadly if invisible fluid — and he is a
brave man who dares lay his hand upon it.
More than this, the old-time Creole was an aristocrat who chose
to live behind a battened door, as does his descendant to-day. His
privacy, so long undisturbed, has come to be his prerogative. Wit-
ness this spirit in the protest of the inimitable Jean-ah Poquelin -
the hero giving his name to one of the most dramatic stories ever
penned — when he presents himself before the American governor of
Louisiana to declare that he will not have his privacy invaded by a
proposed street to pass his door:-“I want you tell Monsieur le
President, strit -- can't — pass — at
me — 'ouse. »
The Creoles of Mr.
Cable’s generation are as jealous of their retirement as was the brave
old man Poquelin; and to have it invaded by a young American who
not only threw their pictures upon his canvas, but standing behind
it, reproduced their eccentricities of speech for applauding Northern
audiences, was a crime unforgivable in their moral code.
Added to this, Mr. Cable stands accused of giving the impression
that the Louisiana Creole is a person of African taint; but are there
not many refutations of this charge in the internal evidence of his
work? As for instance where in (The Grandissimes) he writes, “His
whole appearance was a dazzling contradiction of the notion that
a Creole is a person of mixed blood”; and again when he alludes
to the slave dialect,” is the implication not unequivocal that this
differed from the speech of the drawing-room? It is true that he
found many of his studies in the Quadroon population, who spoke a
patois that was partly French; but such was the “slave dialect of
the man of color who came into his English through a French strain,
or perhaps only through a generation of close French environment.
## p. 3019 (#593) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3019
A civilization that is as protective in its conservatism as are the
ten-foot walls of brick with which its people surround their luxurious
dwellings may be counted on to resent portrayal at short range,
even though it were unequivocally eulogistic. That Mr. Cable is a
most conscientious artist, and that he has been absolutely true to
the letter as he saw it, there can be no question; but whether his
technical excellences are always broadly representative or not is not
so certain. That the writer who has so amply proven his own joy
in the wealth of his material, should have been beguiled by its pictur-
esqueness into a partisanship for the class making a special appeal,
is not surprising. But truth in art is largely a matter of selection;
and if Mr. Cable has sinned in the gleaning, it was undoubtedly
because of visual limitation, rather than a conscious discrimination.
In 'The Grandissimes,' his most ambitious work, we have an
important contribution to representative literature. In the pleasant
guise of his fascinating fiction he has essayed the history of a civili-
zation, and in many respects the result is a great book. That such
a work should attain its highest merit in impartial truth when taken
as a whole, goes without saying.
The dramatic story of Bras Coupé is true as belonging to the
time and the situation. So is that of Palmyrea the Octoroon, or of
Honoré Grandissime's “f. m. c. ” the half-brother, or of the pitiful
voudou woman Clemence, the wretched old marchande de calas. Had
he produced nothing more than his first small volume of seven tales,
he would have made for himself an honored place in literature.
As a collection, these stories are unrivaled for pictorial power and
dramatic form, and are so nearly of equal merit that any one would
be as representative in the popular mind as the one which is given
here.
« POSSON JONE' »
From (Old Creole Days): copyrighted 1879, 1881, 1883, by Charles Scribner's
Sons
The manhood we remembuat ciet le bheathen behere yet remained
at manhood a remembrance of having been to school, and
of having been taught by a stony-headed Capuchin that the
world is round -for example, like a cheese. This round world
is a cheese to be eaten through, and Jules had nibbled quite
into his cheese-world already at twenty-two.
He realized this, as he idled about one Sunday morning where
the intersection of Royal and Conti Streets some seventy years
ago formed a central corner of New Orleans. Yes, yes, the
trouble was he had been wasteful and honest. He discussed the
## p. 3020 (#594) ###########################################
3020
GEORGE W. CABLE
matter with that faithful friend and confidant, Baptiste, his yel-
low body-servant. They concluded that, papa's patience and
tante's pin-money having been gnawed away quite to the rind,
there were left open only these few easily enumerated resorts:
to go to work — they shuddered; to join Major Innerarity's fili-
bustering expedition; or else — why not? - to try some games of
confidence. At twenty-two one must begin to be something.
Nothing else tempted; could that avail ? One could but try. It
is noble to try; and besides, they were hungry. If one could
“make the friendship” of some person from the country, for
instance, with money,- not expert at cards or dice, but as one
would say, willing to learn, - one might find cause to say some
« Hail Marys. "
The sun broke through a clearing sky, and Baptiste pro-
nounced it good for luck. There had been a hurricane in the
night. The weed-grown tile-roofs were still dripping, and from
lofty brick and low adobe walls a rising steam responded to the
summer sunlight. Up-street, and across the Rue du Canal, one
could get glimpses of the gardens in Faubourg Ste. -Marie stand-
ing in silent wretchedness, so many tearful Lucretias, tattered
victims of the storm. Short remnants of the wind now and then
came down the narrow street in erratic puffs, heavily laden with
odors of broken boughs and torn flowers, skimmed the little
pools of rain-water in the deep ruts of the unpaved street, and
suddenly went away to nothing, like a juggler's butterflies or a
young man's money.
It was very picturesque, the Rue Royale. The rich and poor
met together. The locksmith's swinging key creaked next door
to the bank; across the way, crouching mendicant-like in the
shadow of a great importing house, was the mud laboratory of
the mender of broken combs. Light balconies overhung the
rows of showy shops and stores open for trade this Sunday
morning, and pretty Latin faces of the higher class glanced over
their savagely pronged railings upon the passers below. At some
windows hung lace curtains, flannel duds at some, and at others
only the scraping and sighing one-hinged shutter groaning toward
Paris after its neglectful master.
M. St. -Ange stood looking up and down the street for nearly
an hour. But few ladies, only the inveterate mass-goers, were
out. About the entrance of the frequent café's the masculine
gentility stood leaning on canes, with which now one and now
## p. 3021 (#595) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3021
Is
another beckoned to Jules, some even adding pantomimic hints of
the social cup.
M. St. -Ange remarked to his servant without turning his head
that somehow he felt sure he should soon return those bons that
the mulatto had lent him.
“What will you do with them ? ”
“Me! ” said Baptiste, quickly; "I will go and see the bull-
fight in the Place Congo. ”
« There is to be a bull-fight? But where is M. Cayetano ? »
"Ah, got all his affairs wet in the tornado. Instead of his cir-
cus, they are to have a bull-fight -- not an ordinary bull-fight with
sick horses, but a buffalo-and-tiger fight. I would not miss it — ”
Two or three persons ran to the opposite corner, and com-
menced striking at something with their canes. Others followed.
Can M. St. -Ange and servant, who hasten forward -- can the
Creoles, Cubans, Spaniards, San Domingo refugees, and other
loungers - can they hope it is a fight? They hurry forward.
a man in a fit ? The crowd pours in from the side-streets. Have
they killed a so-long snake? Bareheaded shopmen leave their
wives, who stand upon chairs. The crowd huddles and packs.
Those on the outside make little leaps into the air, trying to be
tall.
« What is the matter ? »
"Have they caught a real live rat ? »
“Who is hurt ? » asks some one in English.
“Personne,” replies a shopkeeper; "a man's hat blow' in the
gutter; but he has it now. Jules pick' it. See, that is the man,
head and shoulders on top the res'. ”
“He in the homespun? ” asks a second shopkeeper. "Humph!
an Américain - a West-Floridian; bah! ”
“But wait; 'st! he is speaking; listen! ”
« To who is he speak — ? ”
«Sh-sh-sh! to Jules. ”
Jules who ? »
“Silence, you! To Jules St. -Ange, what howe me a bill since
long time. Sh-sh-sh! »
Then the voice was heard.
Its owner was a man of giant stature, with a slight stoop in
his shoulders, as if he was making a constant good-natured at-
tempt to accommodate himself to ordinary doors and ceilings.
His bones were those of an His face was marked more by
OX.
## p. 3022 (#596) ###########################################
3022
GEORGE W. CABLE
(
weather than age, and his narrow brow was bald and smooth.
He had instantaneously formed an opinion of Jules St. -Ange, and
the multitude of words, most of them lingual curiosities, with
which he was rasping the wide open ears of his listeners, signified,
in short, that as sure as his name was Parson Jones, the little
Creole was a “plum gentleman. ”
M. St. -Ange bowed and smiled, and was about to call atten-
tion, by both gesture and speech, to a singular object on top of
the still uncovered head, when the nervous motion of the Améri.
cain anticipated him, as, throwing up an immense hand, he drew
down a large roll of bank-notes. The crowd laughed, the West-
Floridian joining, and began to disperse.
Why, that money belongs to Smyrny Church,” said the
giant.
“You are very dengerous to make your money expose like
that, Misty Posson Jone',” said St. -Ange, counting it with his
eyes.
The countryman gave a start and smile of surprise.
« How ddyou know my name was Jones ? ” he asked; but,
without pausing for the Creole's answer, furnished in his reck-
less way some further specimens of West-Floridian English; and
the conciseness with which he presented full intelligence of his
home, family, calling, lodging-house, and present and future
plans, might have passed for consummate art, had it not been
the most run-wild nature. “And I've done been to Mobile, you
know, on business for Bethesdy Church. It's the on'yest time I
ever been from home; now you wouldn't of believed that, would
you? But I admire to have saw you, that's so. You've got to
come and eat with me. Me and my boy ain't been fed yit.
What might one call yo' name? Jools ? Come on, Jools. Come
Colossus. That's my niggah — his name's Colossus of Rhodes.
Is that yo' yallah boy, Jools? Fetch him along, Colossus. It
seems like a special providence. — Jools, do you believe in a
special providence ? »
Jules said he did.
The new-made friends moved briskly off, followed by Baptiste
and a short square old negro, very black and grotesque, who
had introduced himself to the mulatto with many glittering and
cavernous smiles as “d'body-servant of d'Rev'n' Mr. Jones. ”
Both pairs enlivened their walk with conversation. Parson
Jones descanted upon the doctrine he had mentioned, as illus-
on,
## p. 3023 (#597) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3023
a
trated in the perplexities of cotton-growing, and concluded that
there would always be “a special providence again' cotton untell
folks quits a-pressin' of it and haulin' of it on Sundays! ”
"Je dis,” said St. -Ange, in response, “I thing you is juz
right. I believe, me, strong-strong in the improvidence, yes.
You know my papa he hown a sugah-plantation, you know.
Jules, me son,' he say one time to me, I goin' to make one
baril sugah to fedge the moze high price in New Orleans. '
Well, he take his bez baril sugah – I nevah see So careful
man like me papa always to make a so beautiful sugah et sirop.
'Jules, go at Father Pierre an’ ged this lill pitcher fill with holy-
water, an' tell him sen' his tin bucket, and I will make it fill
with quitte. I ged the holy-water; my papa sprinkle it over the
baril, an' make one cross on the 'ead of the baril. ”
“Why, Jools,” said Parson Jones, “that didn't do no good. ”
“Din do no good! Id broughd the so great value! You can
strike me dead if thad baril sugah din fedge the more high cost
than any other in the city. Parceque, the man what buy that
baril sugah he make a mistake of one hundred pound — falling
back - "mais certainlee! ”
“And you think that was growin' out of the holy-water ? »
asked the parson.
« Mais, what could make it else? Id could not be the quitte,
because my papa keep the bucket, an' forget to sen' the quitte to
Father Pierre. ”
Parson Jones was disappointed.
"Well, now, Jools, you know, I don't think that was right.
I reckon you must be a plum Catholic. ”
M.
strength again to stand up, lay stretched out in the convulsions
of agony; sometimes they stretched out their heads as though
impelled by terror. At these last signs of life the bull returned
to the charge, wounding anew with plunges of his horns the
bruised members of his victims. Then, his forehead and horns
all bloody, he walked around the circus affecting an air of provo-
cation and defiance: at times he proudly raised his head towards
the amphitheatre, where the cries did not cease to be heard;
sometimes it was towards the brilliant chulos who passed before
him like meteors, planting their banderillos in his body. Often
from cage, or from a netting hidden in the ornaments of a
banderillero, came out birds, which joyously took up their flight.
The first inventor of this strange and singular contrast could not
certainly have had the intention to symbolize innocence without
defense, rising above the horrors and ferocious passions here
below, in its happy flight towards heaven. That would be,
without doubt, one of those poetic ideas which are born spon-
taneously in the hard and cruel heart of the Spanish plebeian,
as we see in Andalusia the mignonette plant really flourish be-
tween stones and the mortar of a balcony.
At the signal given by the president of the course, the clar-
ions again sounded. There was a moment of truce in this bloody
wrestling, and it created a perfect silence.
Then Pepe Vera, holding in his left hand a sword and a red-
hooded cloak, advanced near to the box of the alcalde. Arrived
opposite, he stopped and saluted, to demand permission to slay
the bull.
Pepe Vera perceived the presence of the Duke, whose taste
for the bull-fight was well known; he had also remarked the
who was seated at his side, because this woman, to
whom the Duke frequently spoke, never took her eyes off the
matador.
He directed his steps towards the Duke, and taking off his
cap, said,
«Brindo (I offer the honor of the bull) to you, my
lord, and to the royal person who is near you. "
1
1
woman
## p. 3009 (#583) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3009
At these words, casting his cap on the ground with an inimi-
table abandon, he returned to his post.
The chulos regarded him attentively, all ready to execute his
orders. The matador chose the spot which suited him the best,
and indicated it to his quadrilla.
"Here! ” he cried out to them.
The chulos ran towards the bull and excited him, and in
pursuing them met Pepe Vera, face to face, who had awaited his
approach with a firm step. It was the solemn moment of the
whole fight. A profound silence succeeded to the noisy tumult,
and to the warm excitement which until then had been exhib-
ited towards the matador.
The bull, on seeing this feeble enemy, who had laughed at
his fury, stopped as if he wished to reflect. He feared, without
doubt, that he would escape him a second time.
Whoever had entered into the circus at this moment would
sooner believe he was assisting in a solemn religious assembly,
than in a public ainusement, so great was the silence.
The two adversaries regarded each other reciprocally.
Pepe Vera raised his left hand: the bull sprang on him.
Making only a light movement, the matador let him pass by his
side, returned and put himself on guard. When the animal
turned upon him the man directed his sword towards the ex-
tremity of the shoulder, so that the bull, continuing his advance,
powerfully aided the steel to penetrate completely into his body.
It was done! He fell lifeless at the feet of his vanquisher.
To describe the general burst of cries and bravos which broke
forth from every part of this vast arena, would be a thing abso-
lutely impossible. Those who are accustomed to be present at
these spectacles alone can form an idea of it. At the same time
were heard the strains of the military bands.
Pepe Vera tranquilly traversed the arena in the midst of
these frantic testimonials of passionate admiration and of this
unanimous ovation, saluting with his sword right and left in
token of his acknowledgments. This triumph, which might have
excited the envy of a Roman emperor, in him did not excite the
least surprise — the least pride. He then went to salute the
ayuntamiento; then the Duke and the royal” young lady.
The Duke then secretly handed to Maria a purse full of gold,
and she enveloped it in her handkerchief and cast it into the
arena.
V-189
## p. 3010 (#584) ###########################################
3010
FERNAN CABALLERO
Pepe Vera again renewed his thanks, and the glance of his
black eyes met those of the Gaviota. In describing the meeting
of these looks, a classic writer said that it wounded these two
hearts as profoundly as Pepe Vera wounded the bull.
We who have not the temerity to ally ourselves to this
severe and intolerant school, we simply say that these two
natures were made to understand each other— to sympathize.
They in fact did understand and sympathize.
It is true to say that Pepe had done admirably.
All that he had promised in a situation where he placed him-
self between life and death had been executed with an address,
an ease, a dexterity, and a grace, which had not been baffled for
an instant.
For such a task it is necessary to have an energetic tempera-
ment and a daring courage, joined to a certain degree of self-
possession, which alone can command twenty-four thousand eyes
which observe, and twenty-four thousand hands which applaud.
IN THE HOME CIRCLE
From (La Gaviota)
A
MONTH after the scenes we have described, Marisalada was
more sensible, and did not show the least desire to return
to her father's. Stein was completely re-established; his
good-natured character, his modest inclinations, his natural sym-
pathies, attached him every day more to the peaceful habits of
the simple and generous persons among whom he dwelt. He.
felt relieved from his former discouragements, and his mind was
invigorated; he was cordially resigned to his present existence,
and to the men with whom he associated.
One afternoon, Stein, leaning against an angle of the convent
which faced the sea, admired the grand spectacle which the open-
ing of the winter season presented to his view. Above his head
floated a triple bed of sombre clouds, forced along by the im-
petuous wind. Those lower down, black and heavy, seemed like
the cupola of an ancient cathedral in ruins, threatening at each
instant to sink down. When reduced to water they fell to the
ground. There was visible the second bed, less sombre and
lighter, defying the wind which chased them, and which sep-
arating at intervals sought other clouds, more coquettish and
## p. 3011 (#585) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3011
more vaporous, which they hurried into space, as if they feared
to soil their white robes by coming in contact with their com-
panions.
“Are you a sponge, Don Frederico, so to like to receive all
the water which falls from heaven? ” demanded José, the shep-
herd of Stein. "Let us enter; the roofs are made expressly for
such nights as these. My sheep would give much to shelter
themselves under some tiles. ”
Stein and the shepherd entered, and found the family assem-
bled around the hearth.
At the left of the chimney, Dolores, seated on a low chair,
held her infant; who, turning his back to his mother, supported
himself on the arm which encircled him like the balustrade of
a balcony; he moved about incessantly his little legs and his
small bare arms, laughing and uttering joyous cries addressed
to his brother Anis. This brother, gravely seated opposite the
fire on the edge of an empty earthen pan, remained stiff and
motionless, fearing that losing his equilibrium he would be
tossed into the said earthen pan an accident which his mother
had predicted.
Maria was sewing at the right side of the chimney; her
granddaughters had for seats dry aloe leaves, -excellent seats,
light, solid, and sure. Nearly under the drapery of the chimney-
piece slept the hairy Palomo and a cat, the grave Morrongo,
tolerated from necessity, but remaining by common consent at
a respectful distance from each other.
In the middle of this group there was a little low table, on
which burned a lamp of four jets; close to the table the Brother
Gabriel was seated, making baskets of the palm-tree; Momo was
engaged in repairing the harness of the good "Swallow (the
ass); and Manuel, cutting up tobacco. On the fire was conspicu-
ous a stew-pan full of Malaga potatoes, white wine, honey, cinna-
mon, and cloves. The humble family waited with impatience till
the perfumed stew should be sufficiently cooked.
“Come on! Come on! ” cried Maria, when she saw her guest
and the shepherd enter. “What are you doing outside in
weather like this ? 'Tis said a hurricane has come to destroy
the world. Don Frederico, here, here! come near the fire. Do
you know that the invalid has supped like a princess, and that
at present she sleeps like a queen! Her cure progresses well -
—
is it not so, Don Frederico ? »
## p. 3012 (#586) ###########################################
3012
FERNAN CABALLERO
ren.
Her recovery surpasses my hopes. ”
My soups! ” added Maria with pride.
“And the ass's milk,” said Brother Gabriel quietly.
« There is no doubt,” replied Stein; "and she ought to con-
tinue to take it. ”
"I oppose it not,” said Maria, “because ass's milk is like the
turnip — if it does no good it does no harm. ”
"Ah! how pleasant it is here! ” said Stein, caressing the child-
"If one could only live in the enjoyment of the present,
without thought of the future !
“Yes, yes, Don Frederico," joyfully cried Manuel, « Media
vida es la candela; pan y vino, la otra media. ' ” (Half of life is
the candle; bread and wine are the other half. )
“And what necessity have you to dream of the future ? ”
asked Maria. “Will the morrow make us the more love to-day?
Let us occupy ourselves with to-day, so as not to render painful
the day to come. ”
"Man is a traveler,” replied Stein; "he must follow his
route. ”
“Certainly,” replied Maria, «man is a traveler; but if he
arrives in a quarter where he finds himself well off, he would
say, We are well here; put up our tents. »
“If you wish us to lose our evening by talking of traveling,”
said Dolores, we will believe that we have offended you, or
that you are not pleased here. ”
“Who speaks of traveling in the middle of December? ” de-
manded Manuel. Goodness of heaven! Do you not see what
disasters there are every day on the sea ? — hear the singing of the
wind! Will you embark in this weather, as you were embarked
in the war of Navarre ? for as then, you would come out morti-
fied and ruined. ”
Besides, » added Maria, “the invalid is not yet entirely cured. ”
“Ah! there,” said Dolores, besieged by the children, "if you
will not call off these creatures, the potatoes will not be cooked
until the Last Judgment. ”
The grandmother rolled the spinning-wheel to the corner, and
called the little infants to her.
“We will not go,” they replied with one voice, “if you will
not tell us a story. ”
“Come, I will tell you one,” said the good old woman. The
children approached. Anis took up his position on the empty
((
((
## p. 3013 (#587) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3013
earthen pot, and the grandma commenced a story to amuse the
little children.
She had hardly finished the relation of this story when a
great noise was heard. The dog rose up, pointed his ears, and
put himself on the defensive. The cat bristled her hair and pre-
pared to fly. But the succeeding laugh very soon was frightful:
it was Anis, who fell asleep during the recital of his grandmother.
It happened that the prophecy of his mother was fulfilled as to
his falling into the earthen pan, where all his little person
disappeared except his legs, which stuck out like plants of a
new species. His mother, rendered impatient, seized with one
hand the cotlar of his vest, raised him out of this depth, and
despite his resistance held him suspended in the air for some
time-- in the style represented in those card dancing-jacks, which
move arms and legs when you pull the thread which holds
them.
As his mother scolded him, and everybody laughed at him,
Anis, who had a brave spirit, - a thing natural in an infant,-
burst out into a groan which had nothing of timidity in it.
“Don't weep, Anis,” said Paca, “and I will give you two
chestnuts that I have in my pocket. ”
« True ? " demanded Anis.
Paca took out the two chestnuts, and gave them to him.
Instead of tears, they saw promptly shine with joy the two rows
of white teeth of the young boy.
“Brother Gabriel,” said Maria, "did you not speak to me of
a pain in your eyes ? Why do you work this evening ? ”
“I said truly,” answered brother Gabriel; “but Don Frederico
gave me a remedy which cured me. ”
“Don Frederico must know many remedies, but he does not
know that one which never misses its effect,” said the shep-
herd.
"If you know it, have the kindness to tell me,” replied Stein.
"I am unable to tell you,” replied the shepherd. "I know
that it exists, and that is all. ”
“Who knows it then ? » demanded Stein.
« The swallows,” said José.
« The swallows ? »
“Yes, sir. It is an herb which is called 'pito-real,' which
nobody sees or knows except the swallows: when their little ones
lose their sight the parents rub their eyes with the pito-real,
## p. 3014 (#588) ###########################################
3014
FERNAN CABALLERO
1
((
and cure them. This herb has also the virtue to cut iron - every-
thing it touches. »
“What absurdities this José swallows without chewing, like a
real shark! ” interrupted Manuel, laughing. "Don Frederico, do
you comprehend what he said and believes as an article of faith?
He believes and says that snakes never die. ”
"No, they never die,” replied the shepherd. When they see
death coming they escape from their skin, and run away. With
age they become serpents; little by little they are covered with
scales and wings: they become dragons, and return to the desert.
But you, Manuel, you do not wish to believe anything. Do
you deny also that the lizard is the enemy of the woman, and
the friend of man ?
If
you do not believe it, ask then of
Miguel. ”
“He knows it ? »
“Without doubt, by experience. ”
“Whence did he learn it ? ” demanded Stein.
"He was sleeping in the field,” replied José. "A snake
glided near him. A lizard, which was in the furrow, Saw it
coming, and presented himself to defend Miguel. The lizard,
which was of large form, fought with the snake. But Miguel
not awaking, the lizard pressed his tail against the nose of the
sleeper, and ran off as if his paws were on fire. The lizard is a
good little beast, who has good desires; he never sleeps in the
sun without descending the wall to kiss the earth. ”
When the conversation commenced on the subject of swallows,
Paca said to Anis, who was seated among his sisters, with his
legs crossed like a Grand Turk in miniature, “Anis, do you know
what the swallows say? "
"I? No. They have never spoken to me. ”
«Attend then: they say — " the little girl imitated the chirping
of swallows, and began to sing with volubility:-
1
« To eat and to drink!
And to loan when you may;
But 'tis madness to think
This loan to repay.
Flee, flee, pretty swallow, the season demands,
Fly swift on the wing, and reach other lands. "
"Is it for that they are sold ? ”
“For that,” affirmed his sister.
## p. 3015 (#589) ###########################################
FERNAN CABALLERO
3015
During this time Dolores, carrying her infant in one hand,
with the other spread the table, served the potatoes, and distrib-
uted to each one his part. The children ate from her plate, and
Stein remarked that she did not even touch the dish she had
prepared with so much care.
« You do not eat, Dolores ? ” he said to her.
“Do you not know the saying,” she replied laughing, «He
who has children at his side will never die of indigestion,' Don
Frederico ? What they eat nourishes me. »
Momo, who found himself beside this group, drew away his
plate, so that his brothers would not have the temptation to
ask him for its contents. His father, who remarked it, said to
him :-
"Don't be avaricious; it is a shameful vice: be not avaricious;
avarice is an abject vice. Know that one day an avaricious man
fell into the river. A peasant who saw it, ran to pull him out;
he stretched out his arm, and cried to him,
Give me your
hand! What had he to give ? A miser — give! Before giving
him anything he allowed himself to be swept down by the cur-
rent. By chance he floated near to a fisherman: "Take my
hand! ' he said to him. As it was a question of taking, our man
was willing, and he escaped danger. ”
“It is not such wit you should relate to your son, Manuel,”
said Maria. “You ought to set before him, for example, the bad
rich man, who would give to the unfortunate neither a morsel of
bread nor a glass of water. 'God grant,' answered the beggar
to him, 'that all that you touch changes to this silver which you
so hold to. The wish of the beggar was realized. All that the
miser had in his house was changed into metals as hard as his
heart. Tormented by hunger and thirst, he went into the coun-
try, and having perceived a fountain of pure water, clear as
crystal, he approached with longing to taste it; but the moment
his lips touched it the water was turned to silver. He would
take an orange and the orange was changed to gold. He thus
died in a frenzy of rage and fury, cursing what he had desired. ”
Manuel, the strongest minded man in the assembly, bowed
down his head.
Manuel,” his mother said to him, you imagine that we
ought not to believe but what is a fundamental article, and that
credulity is common only to the imbecile. You are mistaken:
men of good sense are credulous. ”
## p. 3016 (#590) ###########################################
3016
FERNAN CABALLERO
"But, my mother, between belief and doubt there is a
medium. ”
“And why,” replied the good old woman, "laugh at faith,
which is the first of all virtues ? How will it appear to you
if
I say to you, I have given birth to you, I have educated you,
I have guided your earliest steps — I have fulfilled my obliga-
tions!
' Is the love of a mother nothing but an obligation? What
say you? ”
"I would reply that you are not a good mother. ”
Well, my son, apply that to what we were speaking of: he
who does not believe except from obligation, and only for that,
cannot cease to believe without being a renegade, a bad Christ-
ian; as I would be a bad mother if I loved you only from
obligation. ”
"Brother Gabriel,” interrupted Dolores, “why will you not
taste my potatoes ? ”
"It is a fast-day,” replied Brother Gabriel.
“Nonsense! There is no longer convent, nor rules, nor fasts,”
cavalierly said Manuel, to induce the poor old man to participate
in the general repast. “Besides, you have accomplished sixty
years: put away these scruples, and you will not be damned for
having eaten our potatoes. ”
“Pardon me,” replied Brother Gabriel, “but I ought to fast
as formerly, inasmuch as the Father Prior has not given me a
dispensation. ”
“Well done, Brother Gabriel! ” added Maria; Manuel shall
not be the demon tempter with his rebellious spirit, to incite
you to gormandize. ”
Upon this, the good old woman rose up and locked up in a
closet the plate which Dolores had served to the monk.
"I will keep it here for you until to-morrow morning, Brother
Gabriel. ”
Supper finished, the men, whose habit was always to keep
their hats on in the house, uncovered, and Maria said grace.
## p. 3017 (#591) ###########################################
3017
GEORGE W. CABLE
(1844-)
ERHAPS the first intimation given to the world of a literary
and artististic awakening in the Southern States of America
after the Civil War, was the appearance in Scribner's Mag-
azine of a series of short stories, written by an unknown and hith-
erto untried hand, and afterward collected and republished in Old
Creole Days. This was long before the vogue of the short story,
and that the publication of these tales was regarded as a literary
event in those days is sufficient testimony to their power.
They were fresh, full of color and po-
etic feeling — romantic with the romance
that abounds in the life they portrayed,
redolent of indigenous perfumes. - mag-
nolia, lemon, orange, and myrtle, mingled
with French exotics of the boudoir,- inter-
pretive in these qualities, through a fine
perception, of a social condition resulting
from the transplanting to a semi-tropical
soil of a conservative, wealthy, and aris-
tocratic French community.
Herein lay
much of their most inviting charm; but
more than this, they were racy with twink-
ling humor, tender with a melting pathos, GEORGE W. CABLE
and intensely dramatic.
An intermixture of races with strong caste prejudices, and a time
of revolution and change, present eminently the condition and the
moment for the romance. And when added to this, he finds to his
hand an almost tropical setting, and so picturesque a confusion of
liquid tongues as exists in the old Franco-Spanish-Afro-Italian-Amer-
ican city of New Orleans, there would seem to be nothing left to be
desired as "material. The artist who seized instinctively this oppor-
tunity was born at New Orleans on October 12th, 1844, of colonial
Virginia stock on the one side, and New England on the other. His
early life was full of vicissitudes, and he was over thirty before he
discovered story-telling to be his true vocation. From that time he
has diligently followed it, having published three novels, “The Grand-
issimes,' Dr. Sevier,' Bonaventure,' and John March, Southerner,'
besides another volume of short stories.
## p. 3018 (#592) ###########################################
3018
GEORGE W. CABLE
That having received his impressions in the period of transition
and ferment following the upheaval of 1861–1865, with the resulting
exaggerations and distortions of a normal social condition, he chose
to lay his scenes a half-century earlier, proclaims him still more the
artist; who would thus gain a freer play of fancy and a surer per-
spective, and who, saturated with his subject, is not afraid to trust
his imagination to interpret it.
That he saw with open sympathetic eyes and a loving heart, he
who runs may read in any chance page that a casual opening of his
books will reveal. That the people whom he has so affectionately
depicted have not loved him in return, is perhaps only a corrobora-
tion of his own words when he wrote, in his charming tale (Belles
Demoiselles Plantation, « The Creoles never forgive a public men-
tion. ” That they are tender of heart, sympathetic, and generous in
their own social and domestic relations, Mr. Cable's readers cannot
fail to know. But the caste line has ever been a dangerous boundary
- a live wire charged with a deadly if invisible fluid — and he is a
brave man who dares lay his hand upon it.
More than this, the old-time Creole was an aristocrat who chose
to live behind a battened door, as does his descendant to-day. His
privacy, so long undisturbed, has come to be his prerogative. Wit-
ness this spirit in the protest of the inimitable Jean-ah Poquelin -
the hero giving his name to one of the most dramatic stories ever
penned — when he presents himself before the American governor of
Louisiana to declare that he will not have his privacy invaded by a
proposed street to pass his door:-“I want you tell Monsieur le
President, strit -- can't — pass — at
me — 'ouse. »
The Creoles of Mr.
Cable’s generation are as jealous of their retirement as was the brave
old man Poquelin; and to have it invaded by a young American who
not only threw their pictures upon his canvas, but standing behind
it, reproduced their eccentricities of speech for applauding Northern
audiences, was a crime unforgivable in their moral code.
Added to this, Mr. Cable stands accused of giving the impression
that the Louisiana Creole is a person of African taint; but are there
not many refutations of this charge in the internal evidence of his
work? As for instance where in (The Grandissimes) he writes, “His
whole appearance was a dazzling contradiction of the notion that
a Creole is a person of mixed blood”; and again when he alludes
to the slave dialect,” is the implication not unequivocal that this
differed from the speech of the drawing-room? It is true that he
found many of his studies in the Quadroon population, who spoke a
patois that was partly French; but such was the “slave dialect of
the man of color who came into his English through a French strain,
or perhaps only through a generation of close French environment.
## p. 3019 (#593) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3019
A civilization that is as protective in its conservatism as are the
ten-foot walls of brick with which its people surround their luxurious
dwellings may be counted on to resent portrayal at short range,
even though it were unequivocally eulogistic. That Mr. Cable is a
most conscientious artist, and that he has been absolutely true to
the letter as he saw it, there can be no question; but whether his
technical excellences are always broadly representative or not is not
so certain. That the writer who has so amply proven his own joy
in the wealth of his material, should have been beguiled by its pictur-
esqueness into a partisanship for the class making a special appeal,
is not surprising. But truth in art is largely a matter of selection;
and if Mr. Cable has sinned in the gleaning, it was undoubtedly
because of visual limitation, rather than a conscious discrimination.
In 'The Grandissimes,' his most ambitious work, we have an
important contribution to representative literature. In the pleasant
guise of his fascinating fiction he has essayed the history of a civili-
zation, and in many respects the result is a great book. That such
a work should attain its highest merit in impartial truth when taken
as a whole, goes without saying.
The dramatic story of Bras Coupé is true as belonging to the
time and the situation. So is that of Palmyrea the Octoroon, or of
Honoré Grandissime's “f. m. c. ” the half-brother, or of the pitiful
voudou woman Clemence, the wretched old marchande de calas. Had
he produced nothing more than his first small volume of seven tales,
he would have made for himself an honored place in literature.
As a collection, these stories are unrivaled for pictorial power and
dramatic form, and are so nearly of equal merit that any one would
be as representative in the popular mind as the one which is given
here.
« POSSON JONE' »
From (Old Creole Days): copyrighted 1879, 1881, 1883, by Charles Scribner's
Sons
The manhood we remembuat ciet le bheathen behere yet remained
at manhood a remembrance of having been to school, and
of having been taught by a stony-headed Capuchin that the
world is round -for example, like a cheese. This round world
is a cheese to be eaten through, and Jules had nibbled quite
into his cheese-world already at twenty-two.
He realized this, as he idled about one Sunday morning where
the intersection of Royal and Conti Streets some seventy years
ago formed a central corner of New Orleans. Yes, yes, the
trouble was he had been wasteful and honest. He discussed the
## p. 3020 (#594) ###########################################
3020
GEORGE W. CABLE
matter with that faithful friend and confidant, Baptiste, his yel-
low body-servant. They concluded that, papa's patience and
tante's pin-money having been gnawed away quite to the rind,
there were left open only these few easily enumerated resorts:
to go to work — they shuddered; to join Major Innerarity's fili-
bustering expedition; or else — why not? - to try some games of
confidence. At twenty-two one must begin to be something.
Nothing else tempted; could that avail ? One could but try. It
is noble to try; and besides, they were hungry. If one could
“make the friendship” of some person from the country, for
instance, with money,- not expert at cards or dice, but as one
would say, willing to learn, - one might find cause to say some
« Hail Marys. "
The sun broke through a clearing sky, and Baptiste pro-
nounced it good for luck. There had been a hurricane in the
night. The weed-grown tile-roofs were still dripping, and from
lofty brick and low adobe walls a rising steam responded to the
summer sunlight. Up-street, and across the Rue du Canal, one
could get glimpses of the gardens in Faubourg Ste. -Marie stand-
ing in silent wretchedness, so many tearful Lucretias, tattered
victims of the storm. Short remnants of the wind now and then
came down the narrow street in erratic puffs, heavily laden with
odors of broken boughs and torn flowers, skimmed the little
pools of rain-water in the deep ruts of the unpaved street, and
suddenly went away to nothing, like a juggler's butterflies or a
young man's money.
It was very picturesque, the Rue Royale. The rich and poor
met together. The locksmith's swinging key creaked next door
to the bank; across the way, crouching mendicant-like in the
shadow of a great importing house, was the mud laboratory of
the mender of broken combs. Light balconies overhung the
rows of showy shops and stores open for trade this Sunday
morning, and pretty Latin faces of the higher class glanced over
their savagely pronged railings upon the passers below. At some
windows hung lace curtains, flannel duds at some, and at others
only the scraping and sighing one-hinged shutter groaning toward
Paris after its neglectful master.
M. St. -Ange stood looking up and down the street for nearly
an hour. But few ladies, only the inveterate mass-goers, were
out. About the entrance of the frequent café's the masculine
gentility stood leaning on canes, with which now one and now
## p. 3021 (#595) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3021
Is
another beckoned to Jules, some even adding pantomimic hints of
the social cup.
M. St. -Ange remarked to his servant without turning his head
that somehow he felt sure he should soon return those bons that
the mulatto had lent him.
“What will you do with them ? ”
“Me! ” said Baptiste, quickly; "I will go and see the bull-
fight in the Place Congo. ”
« There is to be a bull-fight? But where is M. Cayetano ? »
"Ah, got all his affairs wet in the tornado. Instead of his cir-
cus, they are to have a bull-fight -- not an ordinary bull-fight with
sick horses, but a buffalo-and-tiger fight. I would not miss it — ”
Two or three persons ran to the opposite corner, and com-
menced striking at something with their canes. Others followed.
Can M. St. -Ange and servant, who hasten forward -- can the
Creoles, Cubans, Spaniards, San Domingo refugees, and other
loungers - can they hope it is a fight? They hurry forward.
a man in a fit ? The crowd pours in from the side-streets. Have
they killed a so-long snake? Bareheaded shopmen leave their
wives, who stand upon chairs. The crowd huddles and packs.
Those on the outside make little leaps into the air, trying to be
tall.
« What is the matter ? »
"Have they caught a real live rat ? »
“Who is hurt ? » asks some one in English.
“Personne,” replies a shopkeeper; "a man's hat blow' in the
gutter; but he has it now. Jules pick' it. See, that is the man,
head and shoulders on top the res'. ”
“He in the homespun? ” asks a second shopkeeper. "Humph!
an Américain - a West-Floridian; bah! ”
“But wait; 'st! he is speaking; listen! ”
« To who is he speak — ? ”
«Sh-sh-sh! to Jules. ”
Jules who ? »
“Silence, you! To Jules St. -Ange, what howe me a bill since
long time. Sh-sh-sh! »
Then the voice was heard.
Its owner was a man of giant stature, with a slight stoop in
his shoulders, as if he was making a constant good-natured at-
tempt to accommodate himself to ordinary doors and ceilings.
His bones were those of an His face was marked more by
OX.
## p. 3022 (#596) ###########################################
3022
GEORGE W. CABLE
(
weather than age, and his narrow brow was bald and smooth.
He had instantaneously formed an opinion of Jules St. -Ange, and
the multitude of words, most of them lingual curiosities, with
which he was rasping the wide open ears of his listeners, signified,
in short, that as sure as his name was Parson Jones, the little
Creole was a “plum gentleman. ”
M. St. -Ange bowed and smiled, and was about to call atten-
tion, by both gesture and speech, to a singular object on top of
the still uncovered head, when the nervous motion of the Améri.
cain anticipated him, as, throwing up an immense hand, he drew
down a large roll of bank-notes. The crowd laughed, the West-
Floridian joining, and began to disperse.
Why, that money belongs to Smyrny Church,” said the
giant.
“You are very dengerous to make your money expose like
that, Misty Posson Jone',” said St. -Ange, counting it with his
eyes.
The countryman gave a start and smile of surprise.
« How ddyou know my name was Jones ? ” he asked; but,
without pausing for the Creole's answer, furnished in his reck-
less way some further specimens of West-Floridian English; and
the conciseness with which he presented full intelligence of his
home, family, calling, lodging-house, and present and future
plans, might have passed for consummate art, had it not been
the most run-wild nature. “And I've done been to Mobile, you
know, on business for Bethesdy Church. It's the on'yest time I
ever been from home; now you wouldn't of believed that, would
you? But I admire to have saw you, that's so. You've got to
come and eat with me. Me and my boy ain't been fed yit.
What might one call yo' name? Jools ? Come on, Jools. Come
Colossus. That's my niggah — his name's Colossus of Rhodes.
Is that yo' yallah boy, Jools? Fetch him along, Colossus. It
seems like a special providence. — Jools, do you believe in a
special providence ? »
Jules said he did.
The new-made friends moved briskly off, followed by Baptiste
and a short square old negro, very black and grotesque, who
had introduced himself to the mulatto with many glittering and
cavernous smiles as “d'body-servant of d'Rev'n' Mr. Jones. ”
Both pairs enlivened their walk with conversation. Parson
Jones descanted upon the doctrine he had mentioned, as illus-
on,
## p. 3023 (#597) ###########################################
GEORGE W. CABLE
3023
a
trated in the perplexities of cotton-growing, and concluded that
there would always be “a special providence again' cotton untell
folks quits a-pressin' of it and haulin' of it on Sundays! ”
"Je dis,” said St. -Ange, in response, “I thing you is juz
right. I believe, me, strong-strong in the improvidence, yes.
You know my papa he hown a sugah-plantation, you know.
Jules, me son,' he say one time to me, I goin' to make one
baril sugah to fedge the moze high price in New Orleans. '
Well, he take his bez baril sugah – I nevah see So careful
man like me papa always to make a so beautiful sugah et sirop.
'Jules, go at Father Pierre an’ ged this lill pitcher fill with holy-
water, an' tell him sen' his tin bucket, and I will make it fill
with quitte. I ged the holy-water; my papa sprinkle it over the
baril, an' make one cross on the 'ead of the baril. ”
“Why, Jools,” said Parson Jones, “that didn't do no good. ”
“Din do no good! Id broughd the so great value! You can
strike me dead if thad baril sugah din fedge the more high cost
than any other in the city. Parceque, the man what buy that
baril sugah he make a mistake of one hundred pound — falling
back - "mais certainlee! ”
“And you think that was growin' out of the holy-water ? »
asked the parson.
« Mais, what could make it else? Id could not be the quitte,
because my papa keep the bucket, an' forget to sen' the quitte to
Father Pierre. ”
Parson Jones was disappointed.
"Well, now, Jools, you know, I don't think that was right.
I reckon you must be a plum Catholic. ”
M.
