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In awe of such a thing as I myself。〃
〃Two truths are told
As happy prologues to the swelling act；
Of the imperial theme。〃
〃This is the eve of Christmas；
No sleep from night to morn；
The Virgin is in travail；
At twelve will the Child be born。〃
Cities have not only a certain physiognomy； they have also a
decided mental and moral character； and a definite political
tendency。 There are good and bad cities； artistic and
commercial cities； scholarly and manufacturing cities；
aristocratic and radical cities。 San Antonio； in its
political and social character； was a thoroughly radical city。
Its population； composed in a large measure of
adventurous units from various nationalities； had
that fluid rather than fixed character； which is susceptible
to new ideas。 For they were generally men who had found the
restraints of the centuries behind them to be intolerablemen
to whom freedom was the grand ideal of life。
It maybe easily undertood｛sic｝ that this element in the
population of San Antonio was a powerful one； and that a
little of such leaven would stir into activity a people who；
beneath the crust of their formal piety； had still something
left of that pride and adventurous spirit which distinguished
the Spain of Ferdinand and Isabel。
In fact； no city on the American continent has such a bloody
record as San Antonio。 From its settlement by the warlike
monks of 1692； to its final capture by the Americans in 1836；
it was well named 〃the city of the sword。〃 The Comanche and
the white man fought around its walls their forty years'
battle for supremacy。 From 1810 to 1821 its streets were
constantly bloody with the fight between the royalists and
republicans； and the city and the citadel passed from； one
party to the other continually。 And when it came to the
question of freedom and American domination； San Antonio
was； as it had ever been； the great Texan battle…field。
Its citizens then were well used to the fortunes and changes
of war。 Men were living who had seen the horrors of the auto
da fe and the splendors of viceregal authority。 Insurgent
nobles； fighting priests； revolutionizing Americans； all sorts
and conditions of men； all chances and changes of religious
and military power； had ruled it with a temporary absolutism
during their generation。
In the main there was a favorable feeling regarding its
occupation by the Americans。 The most lawless of them were
law…abiding in comparison with any kind of victorious
Mexicans。 Americans protected private property； they honored
women； they observed the sanctity of every man's home； 〃and；
as for being heretics； that was an affair for the saints and
the priests； the comfortable benefits of the Holy Catholic
Church； had not been vouchsafed to all nations。〃
Political changes are favorable to religious tolerance； and
the priests themselves had been sensible of a great decrease
in their influence during the pending struggle。 Prominent
Mexicans had given aid and comfort to the Americans in
spite of their spiritual orders； and there were many men who；
like Lopez Navarro； did not dare to go to confession； because
they would have been compelled to acknowledge themselves
rebels。
When the doctor and Dare and Luis reached the Plaza； the
morning after the surrender； they found the city already
astir。 Thousands of women were in the churches saying masses
for the dead； the men stood at their store doors or sat
smoking on their balconies； chatting with the passers…by or
watching the movements of the victorious army and the
evacuation of the conquered one。
Nearly all of the brave two hundred occupied the Plaza。 They
were still greatly excited by the miraculous ecstacy of
victory。 But when soldiers in the death…pang rejoice under
its influence； what wonder that the living feel its
intoxicating rapture？ They talked and walked as if they
already walked the streets of Mexico。 All things seemed
possible to them。 The royalty of their carriage； the
authority in their faces； gave dignity even to their deerskin
clothing。 Its primitive character was its distinction；
and the wearers looked like the demi…gods of the heroic stage
of history。
Lopez Navarro touched the doctor and directed his attention to
them。 〃Does the world； Senor； contain the stuff to make their
counterparts？〃
〃They are Americans； Navarro。 And though there are a variety
of Americans； they have only one opinion about submitting to
tyrantsTHEY WON'T DO IT！〃
This was the conversation interrupted by Ortiz and the message
he brought； and the doctor was thoroughly sobered by the
events following。 He was not inclined to believe； as the
majority of the troops did； that Mexico was conquered。 He
expected that the Senora's prediction would be verified。 And
the personal enmity which the priesthood felt to him induced
a depressing sense of personal disaster。
Nothing in the house or the city seemed inclined to settle。
It took a few days to draw up the articles of capitulation and
clear the town of General Cos and the Mexican troops。 And he
had no faith in their agreement to 〃retire from Texas； and
never again carry arms against the Americans。〃 He knew that
they did not consider it any sin to make 〃a mental
reservation〃 against a heretic。 He was quite sure that if Cos
met reinforcements； he would have to be fought over again
immediately。
And amid these public cares and considerations； he had serious
private ones。 The Senora was still under the control of Fray
Ignatius。 It required all the influence of his own personal
presence and affection to break the spiritual captivity in
which he held her。 He knew that the priest had long been his
enemy。
He saw that Antonia was hated by him。 He was in the shadow of
a terror worse than deaththat of a long； hopeless captivity。
A dungeon and a convent might become to them a living grave；
in which cruelty and despair would slowly gnaw life away。
And yet； for a day or two he resolved not to speak of his
terror。 The Senora was so happy in his presence； and she had
such kind confidences to give him about her plans for her
children's future； that he could not bear to alarm her。 And
the children also were so full of youth's enthusiasms and
love's sweet dreams。 Till the last moment why should he
awaken them？ And as the strongest mental element in a
home gives the tone to it； so Dare and Antonia； with the
doctor behind them； gave to the Mexican household almost an
American freedom of intercourse and community of
pleasure。
The Senora came to the parlor far more frequently； and in her
own apartments her children visited her with but slight
ceremony。 They discussed all together their future plans。
They talked over a wonderful journey which they were to take
in company to New Orleans； and Washington； and New York； and
perhaps even to London and Paris〃who could tell； if the
Senora would be so good as to enjoy herself？〃 They ate more
together。 They got into the habit of congregating about the
same hearthstone。 It was the Senora's first real experience
of domestic life。
In abo