CURSE OF ISHMAEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10954, 20 July 1929, Page 9

CURSE OF ISHMAEL.

ILLEGITIMATE BIRTH. 'FAMOUS MEN WHO OVERCAME lIANDI CAB. Since Jshuiael was cant out into the wilderness with Hagar, those born out of wedlock have been severely handicapped in Life's race; yet in the pages of History’s, book of fume' their names are legion. # “Brought into the world with a disregard for established custom, or etiquette,” writes Dr. A. S. Rappoport in “Splendid Sons of Sin”, “these soils of sin seem, to have disregarded in their turn the ordinary laws of life*, to have walked new paths and paved new ways. In almost every instance Nature seems to have showered her gilts upon .such children of sin and to have endowed them with _ coinage, iutel.igence. and even genius.” Greatly struck by this phenomenon. the author seeks some explanation. “History offers us,” he .says, “many examples, especially in dynastic families, where- tne legitimate children are miles behind tlie illegitimate offspring in energy and intelligence. Now, are there any physiological and psychological reasons lor tlie facts I have enumerated? Cou’d thev not be adduced as: an additional proof that the crossing of races is advantageous for the liu-man species.' ’ Leaving the reader to ponder over tiiis curious problem, he proceeds to illustration. FOUNDERS OK DYNASTIES. Illustrious indeed are the names upon the rod. Themistoclep. Ptolemy Suter, Jugurtha King of Numidia, riioodorie King of Hie Ostrogoths?, Heliogubalus Emperor oi Rome, Charles Martel, the famous Alayor of the 'Palace who -aved Europe from the Saracens at the battle oi Tours. Arnoul Emperor of Germany—all were natural sons. have been founded by them—in England by William the Conqueror, in Portugal by John J., in Naples by Frederick L, and in Castile by Henry of Trastamara: whilst pre-Norman England had two such Kings in Edmund the Alartyr and Harold HaiefooL Almost every walk of life is represented. The Church by Edmund IJcn-n-r and Stephen Gardiner; Science and the Arts by Boccaccio. Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus (probably the greatest scholar the world has ever known). Cardanus. Richard Savage the poet, and d’Alembert-, who was found abandoned a-s a babe on the •step; of a Parisian church. Luckily for the great philosopher and posterity. he was forthwith adopted by a kindly couple who cherished him. as their*own son. The Duke of Berwick, natural son of James TL and Arabella Churchill, won fame as a Marshal'of France during hts father's exile. A VERSATILE RULER. Alaufred, King of Sicily, was the natural son of the Emperor Frederick 11., who is said to have kept a regular harem, recruiting its inmates from Saracen countries. In courage, ability, and intellectual attainments he far outshone his father’s legitimate offspring. Having iron the kingdom of Sicily by force of arm;, he held it- by virtue oi his wise and popular rulo until killed on the battlefield oi' BeSicventivm. An enlightened ruler, he was anxious to educate Id? -üb-jeot-s. himself studying philosophy and mathematics to that- end. _ He was. moreover, a. poet and musician of no mean ordei : ;f is sa-iu that Ins delight- was. io venture out into the city streets at night-, singing songs. Francisco Pizamk conqueror of Pern, was the offspring of a casual union between a Spanish officer and apeasant girl. His father disclaiming paternity and his mother boin-jo pov-erty-stricken. Pizarro was employed from a tender age. as a .swine-herd until rosy tales of a.-distant Eldorado lured him to.,join an expedition io Darien. There he entered into “pqiiu'erslnj)” with two other adventurers to share the proceeds of their swashbuckling.' Not one could sign bis name, -so the agreement had to he signed on their behalf by strangers. Even when famous as tlm conqueror of Peru. Pizarro could neither read nor write. There was nothing, nob’o in his nature, nothing noble- in bis end—lie was assassinated by bis associates in the house which he occupied ts Governor of Hie new Spanish dominion. THE SAVIOUR OF EUROPEDon Juan of Austria, victor oi Lepa.iito, was the illegitimate son of the Einperor Charles \ . and a- washerwoman named Barbara Blomberg. Entrusted by tho Emperor first to afiddler and liis wife, he was transferred into the keeping of the Court Chamberlain until such time as bis ha-lf-brothei’, Philip 11. of Spam, decided to recognise him. For. the purpose of this formal recognition the King arranged a hunting-party. Den Juan, ignorant of his parentage, wye confronted with his sovereign in the forest and thenceforth treated as one of t-liei royal family. 1 have never caught hotter game.” remarked King Philip as the lam ting-party broke up. Despite the. enmity of the Infante Carlos, whose temper was so cruel that- he forced liis shoemaker to cook and eat- a faulty pair of bools. Den Juan rose ever higher in royal favor. His military prowfcss so impressed the Pope that lie was appointed .command cr of tbe 'Holy -League' forces against the:. Turks. At Uepnnto ho -won n decisive* victory ; -tints for the second time a bastard saved Europe ' from the Saracen menace. Appointed Governor of the Netherlands, he had to journey to his post disguised as a Moorish 'servant. There lie saw for the first—and last—time- Ins- mother, who was loading so profligate a. lifei that luj was forced to throw her into prison. She .revenged herself hy spreading a rejjort that lie, was not the son “of the. great .Emperor, but tho cliild of her amour with an obscure furrier. Soon afterwards Bon Juan died of fever in a hovel which had been a pigeon-house. , IMPOSING NAMES. Jean. Count Dunois. ’known as the Bastard’ of Orleans, was the- natural son of Louis Duke of Orleans by Ma-riet-te d’Enghien Having, with Joan of Arc, freed France from the English voice, he was buried with lienor, Louis XL attending the funeral in person. > . Dr. Rappoport might linye made his list of -famous Ish’mtels even more imposing, for Alexander the Great, Homer, the: nifamotis Caesar Borgia, and Maurice of Saxo.nv nil belonged to the class of winch lie writes.' - ■