The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER XX 99<br />
sensibly." "He's modest." "He reasons admirably."<br />
"What a pity that he doesn't know very well how to gesticulate," observed Capitan Basilio. "But there's time<br />
yet! He hasn't studied Cicero and he's still a young man!"<br />
"If I present to you, gentlemen, any program or plan," the young man continued, "I don't do so with the<br />
thought that you will find it perfect or that you will accept it, but at the same time that I once more bow to the<br />
judgment of all of you, I wish to prove to our elders that our thoughts are always like theirs, since we take as<br />
our own those ideas so eloquently expressed <strong>by</strong> Capitan Basilio."<br />
"Well spoken! Well spoken!" cried the flattered conservatives. Capitan Basilio made signs to the speaker<br />
showing him how he should stand and how he ought to move his arm. <strong>The</strong> only one remaining impassive was<br />
the gobernadorcillo, who was either bewildered or preoccupied; as a matter of fact, he seemed to be both. <strong>The</strong><br />
young man went on with more warmth:<br />
"My plan, gentlemen, reduces itself to this: invent new shows that are not common and ordinary, such as we<br />
see every day, and endeavor that the money collected may not leave the town, and that it be not wasted in<br />
smoke, but that it be used in some manner beneficial to all."<br />
"That's right!" assented the youths. "That's what we want."<br />
"Excellent!" added the elders.<br />
"What should we get from a week of comedies, as the teniente-mayor proposes? What can we learn from the<br />
kings of Bohemia and Granada, who commanded that their daughters' heads be cut off, or that they should be<br />
blown from a cannon, which later is converted into a throne? We are not kings, neither are we barbarians; we<br />
have no cannon, and if we should imitate those people, they would hang us on Bagumbayan. What are those<br />
princesses who mingle in the battles, scattering thrusts and blows about in combat with princes, or who<br />
wander alone over mountains and through valleys as though seduced <strong>by</strong> the tikbálang? Our nature is to love<br />
sweetness and tenderness in woman, and we would shudder at the thought of taking the blood-stained hand of<br />
a maiden, even when the blood was that of a Moro or a giant, so abhorred <strong>by</strong> us. We consider vile the man<br />
who raises his hand against a woman, be he prince or alferez or rude countryman. Would it not be a thousand<br />
times better to give a representation of our own customs in order to correct our defects and vices and to<br />
encourage our better qualities?"<br />
"That's right! That's right!" exclaimed some of his faction.<br />
"He's right," muttered several old men thoughtfully.<br />
"I should never have thought of that," murmured Capitan Basilio.<br />
"But how are you going to do it?" asked the irreconcilable.<br />
"Very easily," answered the youth. "I have brought here two dramas which I feel sure the good taste and<br />
recognized judgment of the respected elders here assembled will find very agreeable and entertaining. One is<br />
entitled '<strong>The</strong> Election of the Gobernadorcillo,' being a comedy in prose in five acts, written <strong>by</strong> one who is here<br />
present. <strong>The</strong> other is in nine acts for two nights and is a fantastical drama of a satirical nature, entitled<br />
'Mariang Makiling,' [69] written <strong>by</strong> one of the best poets of the province. Seeing that the discussion of<br />
preparations for the fiesta has been postponed and fearing that there would not be time enough left, we have<br />
secretly secured the actors and had them learn their parts. We hope that with a week of rehearsal they will<br />
have plenty of time to know their parts thoroughly. This, gentlemen, besides being new, useful, and<br />
reasonable, has the great advantage of being economical; we shall not need costumes, as those of our daily life