MEPHISTRO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 10

MEPHISTRO

; vt i . \ y . ft A strange story is that Which attributes tho misfortunes of Spain .to the! possession by its kings of -a T ring.;-of - deadly maleficence. - , "Alcphisto’s ring,’ ’as it Was called, was a-gold ring set. with ;j large ynrev-. aid, the centre of which had beeit- hoi- ' lowed out and. contained iirounded with tiny diamonds. It/cameinto Spain (no one knows whence) in the reign of Philip 11, and fqllbwiug*its:.ai- : - rival came the succession .nfLfalaniitios;;: which brought about; the decline. •£. of* . Spanish power. To those who oiVned the ring it seemed to bring personal disaster, and at the time of the. Spanish War it was presented by. Hie ,

Spanish royal family, to g, church, possibly in tlie,,{ibpb .thgt its; baleful influj bnce would yb’e 1 neuiValiseeh Tjie. church was-bfinied- to. ihe ,l groaird, blit ..tlie.ring w;;js..s ; \yod, and this time given ;to a lhuseiTni/'.ntqsc-nju .was. after? .yfer.dsc; strnsnk" byadigh j-and the:'reTunflcif-IKo-'ring -to the,- royal Jj.uuily was., Jql)iji;;.qtJ. t .b r y 7! tbe.;;<!oieat of Spa n iolV'-ii tiny ‘ k'iicfViayy. ■ /The sVing afterwards' pfaefetDlji: a strong box mffd buric'rl/rt j.;!