The Flag Paramount

           AttheheadoftheinsurgentpartyappearedthatHectorandlearnedThebanofthesouthernrepublics,DonSabasPlacido.Atraveller,asoldier,apoet,ascientist,astatesmanandaconnoisseur—thewonderwasthathecouldcontenthimselfwiththepetty,remotelifeofhisnativecountry.

           "ItisawhimofPlacido’s,"saidafriendwhoknewhimwell,"totakeuppoliticalintrigue.Itisnototherwisethanasifhehadcomeuponanewtempoinmusic,anewbacillusintheair,anewscent,orrhyme,orexplosive.Hewillsqueezethisrevolutiondryofsensations,andaweekafterwardwillforgetit,skimmingtheseasoftheworldinhisbrigantinetoaddtohisalreadyworld-famouscollections.Collectionsofwhat?PorDios!ofeverythingfrompostagestampstoprehistoricstoneidols."

           But,forameredilettante,theæstheticPlacidoseemedtobecreatingalivelyrow.Thepeopleadmiredhim;theywerefascinatedbyhisbrilliancyandflatteredbyhistakinganinterestinsosmallathingashisnativecountry.Theyralliedtothecallofhislieutenantsinthecapital,where(somewhatcontrarytoarrangements)thearmyremainedfaithfultothegovernment.Therewasalsolivelyskirmishinginthecoasttowns.ItwasrumouredthattherevolutionwasaidedbytheVesuviusFruitCompany,thepowerthatforeverstoodwithchidingsmileandupliftedfingertokeepAnchuriaintheclassofgoodchildren.Twoofitssteamers,theTravelerandtheSalvador,wereknowntohaveconveyedinsurgenttroopsfrompointtopointalongthecoast.