By His Excellency Señor Don Gonzalo Zaldumbide, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Ecuador in the United States, Corresponding Member of the Academia Española de la Lengua. Postponement of the Seventh International Conference of American States. By James A. G. Rehn, Secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. An Eighteenth Century Scientist in Colombia: José Celestino Mutis____ By Dr. Antonio Ayllón Pastor, Founder and Director of the Peruvian Junior Red Cross; Head of the Public Health Department, Boys' Vocational School, Lima. HIS EXCELLENCY JUAN ESTEBAN MONTERO RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT OF CHILE December 4, 1931-December 4, 1937. HE President of Chile, elected October 4, 1931, by a large on majority of the popular vote, and inducted into office on December 4, 1931, is a man 52 years of age, whose reputation for probity, political modesty, and scholarliness was greatly increased by his brilliant record in the last ministry of Ex-President Ibánez. Holding as his first public office the portfolio of Minister of the Interior, he became a popular hero and was acclaimed as the man best fitted to assume the presidency. Don Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez belongs to the modern intellectual middle class of Chile. It is probable that he never dreamed of reaching the highest office in his country's gift, although his ancestor Manuel Rodríguez, a famous fighter in the War of Independence, doubtless transmitted to him some of the qualities which shaped his destiny to this end. The son of a farmer, Señor Montero was educated first in the secondary school of his Province, located in the city of Curico, and then in the Jesuit School in Santiago. Later he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1901. The ability which he displayed during his school and university days forecast the sound judgment, depth of legal learning, and invulnerable uprightness which now characterize him. From 1906 to 1912 Señor Montero was legal adviser to the Council of National Defense, and from 1912 to 1925 professor of trial law on the faculty of the University in Santiago. In the latter year he felt obliged to refuse appointment to the chair of civil law because of the changes introduced into the organization of the University; he thus made common cause with the students. Although Señor Montero was first advanced by professional men as their candidate, no one doubts that as President he will be the servant of the entire nation. The fact that he resigned from the vice presidency of the Republic prior to the election in order that his opponents might feel that he was exerting no influence upon results through his official position is one reason for the belief that as chief magistrate of Chile Señor Montero will be impartial and unselfishly patriotic, jealously guarding the honor of the high office entrusted to him. INTRODUCTION TO MONTALVO1 By His Excellency Señor Don GONZALO ZALDUMBIDE Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Ecuador in the United States; Corresponding Member of the Academia Española de la Lengua HE writer who, after the admirable prologue called El Buscapié, in which Montalvo explains the idea of his "Chapters which Cervantes forgot," still believes it should be expounded here more in detail, might be set down "as a bold man or a simpleton." Everything essential has been said at length by Montalvo himself, with that proud modesty with which he so magnificently admits his shortcomings, apologizes, shows his enthusiasm and finally gives his reasons for deciding to undertake the preparation of his work. Neither the book nor its purpose needed any defense. But that most singular Buscapié is the most amazing and superabundant assortment of reasons and keen witticisms ever brought together to justify a book fully justified in itself. Montalvo could not have been unaware of his high calling to this undertaking. To anyone at all acquainted with the nature of his genius, it was the natural consequence of spiritual affinities that Montalvo should have attempted-not only as an exhibition of his learning and cleverness, but also as an expression of his idealism, sensibility, and honor, of his instinctive justice, and of his moral code an imitation of the model dearest to his predilections as author and as man. Everything attracted him to it. "An essay or study of the Castilian language," he himself says. It is not, of course, a systematic reconstruction of the speech of Cervantes nor even a careful and erudite use of words and expressions peculiar to that time. Where another would have written a retrospective work as a grammarian or an archaic purist, Montalvo moves with the assurance and the freedom of one who finds himself in his element, speaking his mother tongue. The prose of Montalvo, in itself Cervantic, demanded, to complete the illusion of his Golden Age, a contemporary subject, suitable material. Therefore he seems to be breathing his native air in the midst of objects, ideas, and sentiments familiar to his condition, in the thick of mighty deeds, trophies, and combats suitable Under the title of Dos Palabras this introduction is published in "Capítulos que se le olvidaron a Cervantes. Ensayo de imitación de un libro inimitable." Obra póstuma de Juan Montalvo. Paris, Casa Editorial Garnier Hermanos, 1921. The centenary of Montalvo's birth was celebrated on April 13 of this year. Readers who are interested in a further discussion of his life and work are referred to the brilliant essay, "Montalvo en el Centenario de su Nacimiento," by Señor Zaldumbide, published in the BOLETÍN DE LA UNION PANAMERICANA, Junio de 1932. See the tribute of the Governing Board to the memory of Montalvo, pp. 434 to 436.-EDITOR. |