Francisco Ferrer; his life, work and martyrdom, with message written ...
Francisco Ferrer; his life, work and martyrdom, with message written ...
Francisco Ferrer; his life, work and martyrdom, with message written ...
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10 <strong>Francisco</strong> <strong>Ferrer</strong>,<br />
cause <strong>his</strong> scliools might destroy the power of that black<br />
confederation of tyrants. Therefore they were, <strong>and</strong> are,<br />
trying to confound the educationist <strong>Ferrer</strong> <strong>with</strong> the<br />
"Apaches" who have been given the very much cahuninated<br />
name of Anarc<strong>his</strong>t.<br />
Truth will shine some day, <strong>and</strong> those who now approve<br />
the murder of <strong>Ferrer</strong>, because they did not know him<br />
personally or <strong>his</strong> <strong>work</strong>, will be the first to render homage<br />
to t<strong>his</strong> martyr of modern civilization. The man whose<br />
death can cause tears even to those who only knew him<br />
by <strong>his</strong> <strong>work</strong> <strong>and</strong> good deeds, <strong>and</strong> can arouse an almost<br />
international protest against the murderers, certainly was<br />
not an "Apache."<br />
Rest in peace, beloved friend ; thy memory will always<br />
live in my heart <strong>and</strong> in the hearts of all those who in any<br />
way fight for freedom.—From London Freedom.<br />
y= «.' «<br />
FERRER'S EARLY LIFE<br />
Translated From the French of G.<br />
Norm<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong><br />
E. Lesueur By Helen Tufts Bailie. /<br />
FRANCISCO FERRER was born, in 1859, at Alella<br />
(not Abella, as it has been so often misprinted),<br />
a village eighteen miles from Barcelona. He belonged<br />
to a family of vine-dressers, tenant-farmers, in<br />
rather easy circumstances. He received a strict Catholic<br />
education. His first years were passed quietly among<br />
the vines, where he <strong>work</strong>ed during the week, <strong>and</strong> on<br />
Sunday at church, whither he accompanied <strong>his</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>mother.<br />
Of unusual intelligence <strong>and</strong> independent <strong>and</strong> vigorous<br />
character, he chafed under the severe discipline of <strong>work</strong><br />
in the field. He completed <strong>his</strong> education alone, as well<br />
as he could, <strong>and</strong> was very soon at variance <strong>with</strong> <strong>his</strong> parents,<br />
who were peasants <strong>and</strong> rigidly conservative. In<br />
1879, at the age of twenty, he announced himself a Republican,<br />
<strong>with</strong> such c<strong>and</strong>or <strong>and</strong> enthusiasm that he was<br />
obliged to leave the vineyards of Alella <strong>and</strong> the paternal<br />
roof. Fate befriended him. He became a railroad inspector,<br />
a satisfactory post to a young man of <strong>his</strong> age,<br />
assuring him freedom from mental <strong>and</strong> material worry.<br />
But <strong>Ferrer</strong>'s character forbade <strong>his</strong> thus sinking into an