DR. FRANCIA.
[To TRU EDITOR Or TIM ..EPLCTATOIC1 Suz,—Francia, the Dictator of Paraguay, is probably better known to your readers through Carlyle's essay than others of the great Latin-American statesmen who were evolved by the revolt of the Spanish colonies. "El Supremo," as he was called, is still remembered here, and not long ago I met a very old lady who had seen him as a girl. A relative of hers had suffered at his hands in the "Bala de In verclad," or hall of truth, as he cynically called the torture chamber which adjoined his apartment, where from the ease of his couch he could hear the declarations wrung from his victims. This building is now occupied by the Post and Telegraph Offices of Asuncion. Like most tyrants, Francis appears to have had his softer moments; and the following, which was told to me by a descendant of one of the old Spanish families here, may possibly hoof interest to your readers. As is well known, the Dictator was in the habit of supervising personally all the details of his Administration, and one morning, after a torrential downpour of rain common in these latitudes, he called for his horse and rode out to visit the cemetery, part of which had, it was reported, been swept away by the storm and some human remains exposed. The same thing often occurs here to-day. On arrival at the spot, Francia paused where a quantity of earth had fallen exposing a skull, through which a little blue flower, known locally as ffor del cielo, had sprung into being during the wonderful fertility of the tropical night. The people of these countries are natural speakers and versifiers, and Francis appears to have been no exception to the rule, for the following lines, improvised by him on this occasion, are not without charm r Graciosa for qua te vi nacer Cuan infeliz foe to suerte ! Qua al peso qua diste To encontraste con Is muerte. Site te dejo es coos triste, Cortarte es coon fuerte ; rues dejarte con Is vide Es dejarte con Is muerte."
The Spectator, which often shows a knowledge of the language of Cervantes, will, I trust, excuse my rough and very hasty translation :—
" 0 flower that fair before me bloomed
How sad thy fate !
At thy birth thou didst Meet Death face to face.
To pluck thee seems a wanton act, To spare thee one unkinder ; For to leave thee still with life, 0 flower, Is not to leave thee less With Death."
—jam, Sir, &c., C. G.
Asuncion.
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