inspiration of a young Argentine poet, Roman Garcia Pereira
(whose _Canto a Becquer_, published in _La Ilustracion Artistica_,
Barcelona, December 27, 1886, is a tribute worthy of the poet who
inspired it), and to the personal efforts of the illustrious Seville
scholar, Don Jose Gestoso y Perez. It is only fair to add here that
there is also an inferior street in Seville named for Becquer.]

Here Gustavo Adolfo Dominguez Becquer opened his eyes upon this
inhospitable world. Eight days later he was baptized in the church of
San Lorenzo.[1] He was one of a family of eight sons, Eduardo,
Estanislao, Valeriano, Gustavo Adolfo, Alfredo, Ricardo, Jorge, and
Jose. His father, Don Jose Dominguez Becquer, was a well-known Seville
genre painter. He died when Gustavo was but a child of five, too young
to be taught the principles of his art; but he nevertheless bequeathed
to him the artistic temperament that was so dominant a trait in the
poet's genius. Becquer's mother, Dona Joaquina, survived his father
but a short time, and left her children orphaned while they were yet
very young. Gustavo was but nine and a half years old at the time of
his mother's death. Fortunately an old and childless uncle, D. Juan
Vargas, took charge of the motherless boys until they could find homes
or employment.

[Footnote 1: The following is a copy of his baptismal record:

"En jueves 25 de Febrero de 1836 anos D. Antonio Rodriguez Arenas
Pbro. con licencia del infrascrito Cura de la Parroquial de Sn.
Lorenzo de Sevilla: bautizo solemnemente a Gustavo Adolfo que nacio
en 17 de dicho mes y ano hijo de Jose Dominguez Vequer (_sic_) y
Dona Juaquina (_sic_) Bastida su legitima mujer. Fue su madrina Dona
Manuela Monchay vecina de la collacion de Sn. Miguel a la que se
advirtio el parentesco espiritual y obligaciones y para verdad lo
firme.--Antonio Lucena Cura." See La _Illustracion Artistica_,
Barcelona, December 27, 1886, pp. 363-366. Citations from this
periodical will hereafter refer to the issue of this date.]

Gustavo Adolfo received his first instruction at the College of San
Antonio Abad. After the loss of his mother his uncle procured for him
admission to the College of San Telmo, a training school for
navigators, situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir in the edifice
that later became the palace of the Dukes of Montpensier. This
establishment had been founded in 1681 in the ancient suburb of
Marruecos as a re