Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 169, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1914 — Page 3

Werrd Legends of Mexico

O F all the relatively larger cities on the American hemisphere, the capital of Mexico is by far the oldest. Its beginning was • long before Columbus sailed on his memorable voyage of discovery, when It was the seat of the Aztec empire. Civilization of a sort flourished there long before the first hardy pioneers settled along the northern Atlantic coast and before the eyes of a white man had ever rested upon the Mississippi river. It has been a city of many vicissitudes. It has been held by Indian and Spaniard, by viceroy, by. repubem invader. Many of its streets are of the greatest antiquity. Many of its traditions are so old that no man knows whether they originated in the dayte of the Montezumas or of the Conquistadores. As is inevitable, the City of Mexico has its own peculiar folk-lore, its mysterious legends. There are old tales that have been handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth and are still told by Mexican nurses to the children as they were told centuries ago. The Wailing Woman. A relic of Aztec folk lore is the tale of the Wailing Woman. Once, a long time ago,-the story runs, there was & very bad woman in the City of Mexico. She gave birth to many children, but children bored her, and, as fast as one came upon the earth, she drowned it. Finally her conscience

began troubling her. It Is supposed that her punishment was to go through eternity looking for her lost •children. Frequently since then, it is said, watchmen have seen a woman in white, with a white mantilla over her head, roaming through the streets' at night Thdse who have inquired her business have received an answering inquiry as to where her children can be found. The greatest misfortune always overtakes those who question her. Most of them are stricken dead or become Insane. This latter fate is said to have overtaken a gifted young army, officer, iyho once tried to flirt with the Wailing Woman. It is said her lamentations are still heard at night, sometimes. One story with a foundation in fact is the legend of Don Juan Manuel. As the tale survives in the folk-lore Don Juan was an amiable enough gentleman, except that he had a bad habit of wandering out nights and murdering people. His custom was to approach somebody on the street, ask him the time, and, when he replied, tell him he was lucky because he knew the hour of his death and stab him to the heart. This went on until one night Don Juan killed his dearly beloved nephew, whom he had not recognized. Stricken with remorse Don Juan confessed to his priest, who for penance ordered him to go alone at midnight to a certain church, before which was a gallows, and to fell his rosary under the gallows. Three nights he attempted to fulfill the command, bnt was driven- back by the groans of the persons he had murdered, After begging in vain for a lighter penance he finally reached his goal under the gallows. And then angels from heaven came down and hanged him. —-——- .1- .'-iViiL : - • fSi ' i ' ,? *

As a matter of history there whs such a person in Mexico in 1641 and he was a dishonest collector of revenues. He was jailed, and, to Secure his liberty, his wife was compelled the hands of a judge- Don Juan broke prison, went to his home, found the judge there, and stabbed him to death. Later he was mysteriously lynched one night before the church, and from this grew the legend that the angels had punished him for his etna ‘ , - A striking story of ghostly revenge is the legend of Don Juan de Nava, pjfeest and gaardian of his orphan niece, a beautiful girl. A Portuguese nobleman, Don Duarte de Sarraza, fell in love with her, and she reciprocated the attachment, but the priest rejecter Don Duarte because he was known as a gambler. One night the priest came upon Don Duarte talking to his niece through her window. Duarte struck the old man with his dagger, which was imbedded in his skull, killing him. He threw the body, dagger and all, into a ditch. Just one year later Duarte was found dead at the site of the crime. Kneeling over him, oire~ of its bony hands" urlpping~ h.tr body by the throat, was a skeleton in priestly garments, with a dagger sticking in its skull. - The Ghostly Raven. Rather a weird legend is that of Don Rodrigo de Ballesteros and his raven. It is said that there is a certain bridge where at midnight when

the weather is stonpy one may even yet hear the ghostly cawing of this raven, although the incidents with which the story deals happened 300 years ago. Don Rodrigo, It seems, was very rich and very wicked. He lived in a palace and he and the raven dined from gold and silver plate, but the Don always went about in shabby clothes, in spite of his riches. He never went to church, and he made’ fun of holy things. Suddenly he and the raven both disappeared. On Investigation persons found in his house a sacred image that had been defiled and was sprinkled with blood. From this it was supposed that the raven had beaten the Image until it had shed the crimson fluid, and that Satan punished them both by taking them to himself. Occasionally, however, they come back to haunt the scene of their misdeeds. Rather a humorous turn is given to the story of the Street of the Somersault According to it a Spanish nobleman, Don Mendo Qulroga y Saurez, very rich and very old, was much neglected In his dying days by his beautiful niece, upon whom he had showered every benefaction. He planned to revenge himself by his will. When the will was read, everything was bequeathed to the niece, who wag spoken of in terms of the warmest affection, up to the last paragraph. In it certain terms of acceptance were set forth with the provision that if they were not complied with every cent Bhould go to religious orders. The terms were that on or before a certain day the niece must attire herself in her richest ball dress, and, wearing her richest Jewels, must proceed in her coach at noonday to the busiest corner in the city. There she must go to the middle of the street

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

POPULAR WITH BALL FANS IN NEW YORK

Long Larry McLean has made a great bid for honors since joining the Giants and is playing the best ball of ms career in addition to behaving himself on and off the field. While with the Reds Larry developed the reputation of being a “bad actor,” but his New York sojourn has been singularly peaceful and free from trouble. He adds considerable strength to, the Giants, stepping into the breach whenever Chief Myers is out of the line-up. Larry is a first-class backstop and is a good hitter. When in condition there are few more valuable men behind the bat in the big leagues. He has got along in good style with McGraw and has given his best efforts to the Giants, Larry acted as-catcher tor the Cincinnati Reds for several seasons and later was with the St. Louis Cardinals. r_ ~ T

NOTTS of the DIAMOND

First Baseman Jake Daubert of the Brooklyn Dodgers has signed a fiveyear contract. * * * \ Two Kansas state towns are blessed With Sunday ball this year for the first time —Emporia and Salina. * * . * Manager Wilbert Robinson of Brooklyn is said to be much elated over the work of Ollie O’Mara at short. • * * Johnny Murphy, shortstop, of the Toronto team of the Canadian league. Is out for the season with a badly broken leg. *•* • i The Cincinnati club has made a deal by which it will get the pick of the Dayton Central league team at the close of the season. * * * Umpire Steve Kane, just released by President Gilmore, has gone to Louisville, Ky., whfire he lias a steady job as night detective in a hotel. r~ • -- --# ‘ ‘ A Cleveland writer says the Naps are a great "rode” team. "Every team in the league has been riding Birmingham’s team,” says the critic. • • • Steve Evans of the Tip Tops must have found a magic bat, for he is displaying the highest batting average of any player in the three big leagues. * * • Outfielder Bert Shotten of the St. Louis Browns has a young brother who is proving a star as a pitcher for the Western Reserve university team. * • * So far eight elubowners of the American league have entered a protest, with the national commission against the proposed third big league. • * • It remained for the Pittsburgh Rebels to take the measure of Doc Crandall, the defeat of the Doc 6n June 11 being his first as a Federal leaguer. • * > e' Th*lp Yankees are on a still hunt for some hard hitting outfielders, as Manager Chance is still dissatisfied with the hitting abiHty of his outergardeners. • * * Manager McCormick of Chattanooga appears to have secured a real find in Bassier, the young semipro, shortfielder sent to Chattanooga by HugheyJennings. • • * Dee Walsh, who was released by the St. Louis Browps to Rochester because he could not hit, is swatting the ball like a crazy man in the International league. Joe Quirk, erstwhile Red Sox and Washington trainer, now with the Brookfeds, keeps the players supplied with racing tips and recently gave .advance information on a 10 to 1 shot. • • • Ennis Oakes may never hare been accused of brilliancy, but he is man enough to make the Pittsburgh Feds win. Since he took hold the team has played as good ball as any in the league. / : • • • The Red Sox may have a very good outfield, but it hasn’t got a thing on Muggsy McGraw’s outer garden. Bescher, Burns and • Robertson compose the best outfield in the National league. The Brooklyn Times the other day ■aid: "For speed in the outfield the trio under the management of Joe Tinker exceTany outfield trio seenat Brooklyn this year. AH are small ■lie and are southpaws."

Larry McLean of New York Giants.

HARD WORK OF COZY DOLAN

No Player Ever Was Ridden Harden, by Fans Than Was Former International League Speed Boy. / Commenting on the erratic work that Cozy Dolan has done for the Cardinals and the fact that St. Louis fans are still for him good and strong, notwithstanding, Joe Kelly in the Pittsburgh Chronicle writes: “Here’s good luck to him! No player ever was ridden harder by players and fans than was the former International league speed boy wheu he performed at Forbes field. Perhaps few who held down a berth regularly ever deserved more criticism, for his performances were on the awful order. But it’s a hard job to make good when hoots and howls follow every poor play, and the few successful ones are greeted with ironical applause. Dolan got off wrong at Forbes field and he seemed to be sensitive, too sensitive, to the crowd’s attitude. There

Cozy Dolan.

comes to mind a scene last summer when the Pirates were leaving their club house. They came out in twos and threes, laughing and joking, but among the first was Dolan, all alone. His face was strained and drawn and worried. He had failed that day, and he knew it. At that there was never a yelp from him. The fans poured their criticism on his head, and he sat tight and took it without a whimper. There is something in a guy like that, or the major league managers wouldn’t keep him sticking around.”

Evers Blames Murphy.

Johnny Evers, captain of the Braves, believes that the old Cub machine would still be in the runhing for the championship if it had not been disrupted by Charley Murphy. “With Saier, Tinker, Zimmerman and myself in the infield,” said Johnny, "Archer and Kling as catchers, Art Hofman, Jim Sheckard and Frank Schulte in the outfield, and the present pitching staff, the club would be in the world’s series this fall, instead of struggling along in the second division.”

Pennant Cities.

Only nine cities have had pennantwinning teams in the major leagues. Chicago leads the National league with 18, Boston is second, with eight, New- York is third with seven, Pittsburgh accounted for four, Brooklyn three, Baltimore three, Providence two and Detroit one. Since the Algerlean league began play in i 960 the Athletics of Philadelphia have won five, Boston three, Chicago three, and Detroit three. ’ <* ---- 7ZZ

Good In a Pinch.

Blackburne Is the pinch-hitting member of the White Sox team.

GIFTS TO FED STARS

Automobile for Each Player on Winning Team. Scheme Proposed by John Montgomery Ward, Old Giant Shortstop, to Interest General Public in Games Being Played. Federal baseball league officials, not to be outdone by organized baseball, which has its world’s series spoils to dangle before the eyes of players, will go their rivals one better in tbe way of a prize by giving a $4,000 automobile to evfery member of the team which wins this year’s Federal pennant. Although no official announcement to this effect has yet been'made by the Independents, it can be stated that President Gilmore Is working on tbe plan and will give the public the details as soon as he completes them. As there are scarcely more than a hundred percentage points between the first and last teams in the Federal league, there is almost an equal chance for every one of them to get the big prize. The pennant winners, however, wilL, not be the only ones to share in the new league’s philanthrophy. At the end season a jury of newspaper men will be asked to pick out a team of Federal star players and these will be matched against the league champions. Games will be played after the close of tbe season similar to the world’s series, but tbe contests will take place in several cities In order to give most of the fans a chance to see the games. — r ~"~~—' For instance, If Chicago wins the pennant a game surely would be lin, the great shortstop, holds forth; Brooklyn would get a game because Tom Seaton would be picked by the men for the All Stars; Indianapolis would also see a eoutest beeause Gy Falkenberg, and so on along the circuit. The Federal promoters believe that the great stakes wduld prove a powerful incentive to the players. This, however, is not the real object of the plan. The idea Is to get the public interested so that when a fan goes to see a game he will know that the teams he is watching are out for blood

John Montgomery Ward.

and that every game means something. The scheme was proposed to President Gilmore by John Montgomery Ward, the old Giant shortstop, business manager of the Brooklyn team. The outlaw chieftain greeted the proposition enthusiastically, as did also Owner Weeghman and Manager Joe Tinker. It is understood a standard automobile concern has been communicated with and that the company has agreed to furnish the cars at a figure considerably below the catalogue price because of the advertising which the plan would bring.

Practise Golden Rule.

It seems that the world is gettihg better. Or so the baseball world is at least According to Eddie Collins in a recent magazine story where he speaks of Connie Mack, the time was when one player would never suggest to another a means of improving his play. "When I was catching behind the bat” says Connie, or words to this effect, “I was good enough on my throw to second, but very weak at pegging ’em to third. And while every player in the league knew it and benefited by it not a one of them mentioned it to me or tried to show me bow to improve it It would not be that way today. The boys all help each other along and make suggestions, though they are on teams that are fighting bitterly for a pennant” ■ ,1

Players Not Superstitious.

In explaining a recent defeat of the Pirates at Chicago, Ed Konetehy, the first sacker of the Pirates, handed out this funny one: "In putting on my stockings Saturday and today,” he'said, "I put the left one on wrong side out Instead of allowing the blamed thing to stay that way, I changed. Then we go and lose” Koney swears that in the future, when the hosiery is donned wrongly, it will remain as first put on. Of course, ball players are not superstitious.

NOT .NEEDED "I am not needed here," he said, . His voice was full of bitterness; "I often wish that I was dead. The world iB sore at me, I guess; It hits me everywhere I so; Good Fortune's makin' others glad, She never hands me favors, though. T’ve never had no chance to rise, There’s always something In the way| Luck never handed me a prize. I’m sick of life, I’d like to be , At rest and free from all the care; There ain’t no place on earth for me. I ain’t been treated on the square.” He slouched away, still murmuring About the sadness of his case; He was an unattractive thing. With ragged stubbles on his face; He had not mastered any trade, Nor even learned his native speech; There was no goal that he had made Unfaltering attempts to reach.

Why He Was Hurt

"My friends,” said the minister, after he bad finished reading his text for the second time, "I promised last Sunday, as you will remember, to preach a sermon this morning that should be only 15 minutes long. I am very glad indeed to see such a large number of brethren and staters present, but there is one thing that causes me extreme sorrow. It is not that the large turnout today is probably due to the fact that I have decided to make my remarks brief. I realize that few men have such gifts of oratory as to be interesting or instructive for an hour, or even half an hour at a time. It was this conviction which led me to decide to cut down the length of my sermons, but I do feel hurt, my friends, when I see at least a dozen of the brethren in the front pews take out their watches, as I begin my remarks, for the purpose of letting me understand that I am to be timed. I had hoped that if I was not able to thrill you I at least possessed youj; confidence.”

What She Imagined.

"Don’t imagine,” he said after she hqd refused him, "that I am going away to blow my brains out or drink myself to death.” j "No," she replied, "I have no idea that you will do anything of that kind. You are going away* to do some wonderful thing which will bring you wealth and fame and make me regret all the rest of my life that I didn’t believe you when you intimated that you were one of the greatest little men that Had ever come over the asphalt.”

TRAINED.

"How in the Ha /$;$ world were . you (ML p able to eat the Btuff they served up at that 8um * mer hotel which you recommended ■ dB mjiy “it was easy. I had practised. My wife did her own cooking for three weeks before I went away." j

Success.

Some men succeed by working well. And some by dreaming splendid dreams; Some win through luck And some through pluck. And some through dark and sinful schemes. Some men succeed by aiming high. Some through rewards that effort brings. And some because Their ladies’ paa Are presidents of banks and things.

Wronged.

"The minute my husband gets s dob lar in his pocket he wants to run out and spend it” / “Does he? Then the neighborhood gossip must be untrue.” "What is the neighborhood gossip?" "It is that you never let him have as much ss a dollar at a time.”

Pity.

"Bibberson always, so he tells me, reads over hie after-dinner speeches until he h<* them by heart before he gets on his fast to deliver them." , ■ "Poor old chap. Think 'of Ms having to,do that when It Is such a bore ft* other people to hear them just onos.'