Francisco Ferrer; his life, work and martyrdom, with message written ...

6 Francisco Ferrer,
IT
For every ruler broken
A million men shall live.
One Bourbon heart bereaving,
Crushed out the black Pope's ban,
And lo, a world's heart heaving
To tJie general heart of man!
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yc W y:
FERRER AS HIS FRIENDS SAW HIM
By Renato Rugieres.
IS almost ini])ossible to write or to
speak of a loved
friend when the wound of his death is still fresh in
our heart, and our eyes full of tears. But, in spite
of all, I feel it my duty to consecrate some lines to the
martyr's memory.
The last long chat I had with him was in "Mas Germinal,"
near Mongat, on July 3, 1909, viz., some days
before the general strike protesting against the war,
which strike ended in an unexpected manner.
I had received a letter inviting me to spend a day with
him. I well remember him. It seems as though I see
him now at the Mongat station waiting for me. It was
ten o'clock. He was wearing a simple linen suit and a
straw hat, like an ordinary farmer. He received me with
his accustomed amiability, and embraced me very affectionately.
On the road to "Mas Germinal" he spoke to
me about his stay at his brother's.
"You know," he said, "that my dear niece died, and on
account of her illness I am here. I intended to stay in
London some months more in order to improve my knowledge
of the English language, and search for something
good and useful for our schools. In England there are
many thinkers, and although their writings arc intended
for their own people, we can use them by making a few
explanations in the translations of them. When we
reach home, I will show you a book I have already read,
and I should like to publish it. Have the kindness to
translate it into Spanish, if you consider it in accordance
with our aims. The passages marked with blue pencil,
and others with ink, you may take out; they touch upon
religious matters, and our books are for laic teaching."