LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2523, 10 May 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

STRETCHED OUT: A EC3AEIO POLICE SKETCH. (To be continued.') The Argentina Republican Government cannot boast at Its army, at least so far as the morale is concerned. The greater portion of the military force there is compieed of convicted prisoners, who, after being transported to some one or other of tho frontier fo:ts, erected for the purpose of guarding against Indion invasions, are generally dratted into the regular army, where they are by no means always successful In overcoming their natural disposi’ion to misbehave. The seronos, or police, are organised on much the same system, especially in some of the interior provinces. In fact, the old idea of *• setting a th ef to catch a thief ” is here practically carried ont.

Mr Huutly was one of those happyhearted, easy-minded Englishmen who are often met with abroad, and had been my guest for some considerable time. He did not ‘‘take to” the dull routine of camp life—for my eatancia was far out on the prairies—and he was always glad of an tx 'Oss to visit the neighboring port town of Rosario. where the continual bustle and excitement were far more congenial to his nature than walking to and fro between the stilts of a plough. Mr Runtly, as the sequel will show, got more excitement than he expected during his last stay in the town just referred to, On a glorious morning of one of the long bright summer days peculiar to southern latitudes, having some business to transact in Rosario, 1 bad just given orders for my riding horse to be saddled when Mr Hnutly informing me that ha had a great desire to go in my stead, 1 accepted him as my temporary agent, and giving him th* neoessary instructions, wo shook hands and parted, he for his favorite little town, and I to return to my work on the firm. The evening was well advanced when my friend arrived in Rosario, and his long ride had given h ; m a keen appetite, which took some time to be sitisfled, notwithstanding the substantial hot supper that he ordered on his arrival at the hotel. After his meal, Mr finally passed an hour or two ohating with arms newly arrived countrymen, who were atde and willing to post him up in the latest nows from his native country. The hour would be nearly midnight, when my friend, feeling no inclination to retire for the nighr, left his hotel for a quirt stroll and a meditative smoke. Although by no imans a sentimental or poetically inclined man, the lovelimss of the evening induced him to extend his walk to the su urba of the town, where the heavy dew had settled down on many a fair snd awe 't-eesnted pl-.nt growing in the nicely-kept gardens surrounding the numerous handsome villas.

Presently my guest began to consider the latenta* of the hour, and the advisability of a good sleep after his long journey ; and he was ju>-t making up his mind to return to the hotel, when two serenes or night watchmen roughly accosted him, demanding to know where ho was going so late in the night Mr Huntly, who had lived several years in the country and knew the Spanish language well, explained to them that he was out for an evening smoke. This simple answer failed to satisfy his challengers, who now advanced to his side, threatening to take him to the ‘lock up.’ •Look me up!’ cried the astonished Mr Huntly; ‘what in the name of goodness would you do that for ? ’ ‘ Mny bueno’ (very good) ; ‘wo know yon are armed—all foreigners are ; and our town laws forbid any one to carry fire-arms unless by special lice, se.’ ‘ i ehmld think,’ answered my friend, who was very blunt in his remarks when annoyed. ‘I sh >uld think we would require to protect ourselves from such villainous police as your miserable town possesses ; and I can easily tell that you two are no better than your brother officials.’ ‘We want fire-arms, not insolenos,’ said one of the serenes, getting his long lanco into position. • At the name time,’ added the other, ‘we do not wish to be hard upon an ignorant stranger; so if you will give up your revolver and a few silver dollars, we will let yon go in peace, and say no more about the matter.’

‘ I’ll seo both of you in the middle of the Bio Parana first! ’ indignantly exclaimed my fi lend, trying to conclude the interview by wa king off.

In this move ho was hastily Interrupted by the strenoa. who, presenting their lances on either side, di-tifd him to move at the peiil of his life. Mr Huntly had a revolver upon him ; but, unfortunately, having brought it to town in order to be repaired, it was consequently unloaded. He showed them the melees weapon, and explained the slate it was in j then, taking a knife from his pocket, he assured the watchmen he had no other ‘ miasle ’ concealed about his person. The only response was a rude laugh, with the remark that it was even unlawful to be armed with knives, especially after dark. My f Tend was not the man to let his spi'ita be easily damped, and took mhar a j 'Cular view of the proceedings as far as they had yet gone. Looking the serenos full in the face, he laughingly inquired, ‘ Yon c mule of idiots appear to be under the impression that I carry a penknife with mo in cider to conquer my enemies and do battle with my foes. How do you suppose I can cut up my tobacco without a knife ? for you both know very well wo Eng iih invariably nso cake tobacco here. Bevides, Imw abnut keeping my finger-nails short and clean ? Perhaps I should hang a pair of scissors round my wait for the purpose? But then scissors will likely also be crunted as dangerous articles of war by your paternal government.' ‘ Will you go qn etly to prison, or remain hero with two or three lanoe thrusts through your infernally impudent carcass ?’ blitfly Inquired one of the w&tohmen.

* Ob, by the by, I forgot to mention that there li-s in my waistcoat-pocket a fullblown too'hpick ; Should I have also left it at home?’ inquired my friend, as ho still s'ood hi* ground, in spite of the angry signals made by his captors to move on with them.

At this juncture three additional sernos came upon the scene, and 1« ft Mr Huntly no alternative but to allow himself to be conducted by this bodyguard prisonwords, Several times during their march they came to a halt, and advired their p-iaoner to give np wh >t fire arms atd money he had, and he would be set free But my friend was now determined to follow the matter out to its end, and flitly refused to give a dollar to each of his captors, to which demand they hid gradually decreased as the policestation was reached. Becoming convinced that tholr prisoner would not bribe them to let him free on any terms whatever, the engaged serf nos gave him In charge to a aler-py official within the prison yard. ibis lctt"r individual refu-ed decisively to hear any proter-t from Mr Hunt’y, and ordering h’S guard to relieve h-m of any fire a-ms he might possess and then to shut him in a ce'l for the night, ho condescended to inform the unhappy captive that a full Investigation would be madn in the morning, but until then nothing could bo done. Mr Hnntley was then looked into a wretched ittle bole, barely large enough to contain a

Seconded by Mr B. Bound. [Cheers and applause] The Chairman then put the resolution to the meeting, whith w»e carried almoet unanimously, only being three egainet. [Ureov applauto] Mr Burt then addressed the meeting, speaking for the resolution. Mr John M.'Lachlan eaid ho would like to say a few words in explanation o£ the action ho had taken in the matter, as one of the earliest settlers in “ Dojleaton,” which was then known ss “ Bovgy Creek,” and went o;. to explain that the first post office was called East Lecslon, until Mr Doyle printed Dojloaton on his store, and then explained at sonu length the merits of each petition, until interrupted by Mr Osborne, who explained that it was quite sufficient to read the names of those signing the advertisement in the daily papero, whe protested against having theli letters addressed otherwise than Doyieston, to see which was right and which was not. Ur MoLachlan said fifty-six residents had signed his petition, and all signed voluntarily. Mr Osborne said Mr MoLachlan had failed to make a good excuse for his action, and challenged him to name fifty men within a radius of one and a half miles of Doyleston who had signed his petition. [Cheers and applause.] Mr MoLachlan said that he could not name them from memory, Mr R. McAusland spoke strongly against the change of name. Mr 8, L. Jones said ho had a few words to say, and would (like Mr MoLachlan to hear them, although ho signed for the mmo to be changed to Ellesmere, as he considered a place bearing that name should be in the Ellesmere district, and not in the Springs district as at present, and considered that the Government had no right to give them a name in the manner they did, and blamed Mr MoLachlan for not calling a public meeting when ho had a communication from the Government saying that they could not call it Ellesmere, but would call it any other name he liked. As ha did not call a public mett'ng he should have gone to the majority signing his petition, instead of only two or throe. He should like to see justice done for the general satisfaction of the residents of Doyleston. He went on to say that it was only out of personal animosity to Mr Doyle that the petition was got up by Mr MoLachlan, and not out of any other feeling. He considered that as it had been Doyieston for the last fifteen years it was too late to change it—[No, no, and applause]—and it was not right and just that the Government should thrust a name upon them without consulting them in the first place, and to see justice done he would propose the following resolution, viz.: —‘‘That this meeting request its chairman, Mr Rennie, to forward a copy of the former resolution to head quarters, ashing them respectfully to reconsider the action taken and to lot the name be as hitherto.”

Seconded by Mr MoLachlan and carried unanimously. Mr McLaohlan proposed a vote of thanks to the chair, after which the meeting terminated.