pungent wit and humor, and its clever portraiture of provincial life in Spain at the beginning of this century; ‘La Alpujarra’; ‘EL Escandalo’ (The Scandal), a story which at once created a profound sensation because of its ultramontane cast and opposition to prevalent scientific opinion; ‘El Nino de la Bola’ (The Child of the Ball), thought by many to be his masterpiece; ’El Capitan Veneno’ (Captain Veneno); ‘Novelas Cortas’ (Short Stories), 3 vols.; and ‘La Prodiga’ (The Prodigal).  Alarcon is also favorably known as poet, dramatic critic, and an incisive and effective writer of general prose.

His other publications comprise:—­’Diario de un Testigo de la Guerra de Africa’ (Journal of a Witness of the African War), a work which is said to have netted the publishers a profit of three million pesetas ($600,000); ‘De Madrid a Napoles’ (from Madrid to Naples); ’Poesias Serias y Humoristicas’ (Serious and Humorous Poems); ’Judicios Literarios y Artisticos’ (Literary and Artistic Critiques); ’Viages por Espana’ (Travels through Spain); ‘El Hijo Prodigo’ (The Prodigal Son), a drama for children; and ‘Ultimos Escritos’ (Last Writings).  Alarcon was elected a member of the Spanish Academy December 15th, 1875.  Many of his novels have been translated into English and French.  He died July 20th, 1891.

A WOMAN VIEWED FROM WITHOUT

From ‘The Three-Cornered Hat’

The last and perhaps the most powerful reason which the quality of the city—­clergy as well as laymen, beginning with the bishop and the corregidor—­had for visiting the mill so often in the afternoon, was to admire there at leisure one of the most beautiful, graceful, and admirable works that ever left the hands of the Creator:  called Sena [Mrs.] Frasquita.  Let us begin by assuring you that Sena Frasquita was the lawful spouse of Uncle Luke, and an honest woman; of which fact all the illustrious visitors of the mill were well aware.  Indeed, none of them ever seemed to gaze on her with sinful eyes or doubtful purpose.  They all admired her, indeed, and sometimes paid her compliments,—­the friars as well as the cavaliers, the prebendaries as well as the magistrate,—­as a prodigy of beauty, an honor to her Creator, and as a coquettish and mischievous sprite, who innocently enlivened the most melancholy of spirits.  “She is a handsome creature,” the most virtuous prelate used to say.  “She looks like an ancient Greek statue,” remarked a learned advocate, who was an Academician and corresponding member on history.  “She is the very image of Eve,” broke forth the prior of the Franciscans.  “She is a fine woman,” exclaimed the colonel of militia.  “She is a serpent, a witch, a siren, an imp,” added the corregidor.  “But she is a good woman, an angel, a lovely creature, and as innocent as a child four years old,” all agreed in saying on leaving the mill, crammed with grapes or nuts, on their way to their dull and methodical homes.