The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-11-17

flows through its midst The number of the
churches, and the devotional feelings Of the
people are very noticeable, but easily ex-
planned. A people who fought eight hundred
years for their faith, with galantrv and a
courage which never for a moment despaired.
may we'll feel proud of their complete success,
and cherish with peculiar sanctitv the forms
OF that religion to which they owe their pros
perity, even when that religion has lost all its
spirituality, and when their once high and
chivairic bearing has degencrateG TO a pride
which rests on few sterling qualities Of man.
hood.
The original inhabitants Of the country
were the Iberians. History knows not the
origin. nor much of the customs of this peo-
pie but II is supposed they crossed the straits
OF Gibraltar at some remote period, coming
from the south of Asia Their descendants
are now called Ba>ques. and inhabit the
mountainous districts of the interior. Next
came the Cells. pushed westward bv the nv
Rad races which overlooked from the north
Of Asia. The Cells made partial conquest
of the country. and at length. uniting with
the conquered race, formed the Ce!ibcrians
Cells and Iherians For many wears the
PhGnicians.- mvs:erious people whose
splenlor and inventive genius dazzlel the
world, and whose history battles the an'iqna
ry.-made inroad> into the country in search
OF gold and other metals. Their ships visit
ed lis shores. and commerce of considerable
extent was carried on. Afterwards. for MANY
Years, lllSpania was the battle-ground be-
tween the two great Empires of the world
Carthage and Rome. When AZ lenp,h Rome
was victorious. Spain was speedily la,inize,!.
and with its language. borrowed from Italy
much OF It's culture and refinement. Rome
+ kept possession of the country four hundred
vears--the earliest began and the latest con.
Qucred Of her humorous provinces. Sn.in
Have to lone one of her best Emoerors in
the person Of Ira an - her favori.e writer
ul'on a"ricul'urr. Coum.lla.-and her most
>kllf"I rh"torlrian, Qrinc,ii,ian. On the fail
OF Rome the Go'!I> descended nron Snaip
, and uniting with is former irliaiutant, farm.
cd tn" rt"e known a, Spar.iar,l>.
While these changes were going on. the
Moors came over from Africa. and occn,.;.J
the t>r''c plains and mora,ain slopes of Gre
nada and 'hr southeastern provinces. brine.
ing with them Ii" learning and luxuriauce
, of the Ara'iar>. and all the u.ac;r and ms
! '"rv OF he East Through TIN, Oh ,nn.l Fl.
r"l'" has derived some of il, most im,ort,,,
benefits. The Moors in.ro1u ed ,he s,u1,
"i mathematics and tie physical sciences
revived the learning Of Greece ana R-uo..
. winch every where else had teen comr,,..l,
- FORGOTTEN in III" fusion aul confusion If r,....
Subsequent 70 III" ti' of X ,m-. and ave a,
impetus 10 poetry and he f.. arts Win, h s,,r
yves To the present. day. The dreamy >,,ir
II and gorgeous .t!,'., OF thu Ori,u. s,1..lr,,
, Vie coar>cnc>> Of The North. and enriched a,
, already powerful inarira-on with is ow,
. >"'''r and more suite conceptions. DARN.
, their occupation of eight hundred wears. IN
M"or> tcauttrI the Land I'll il was s.p.,I.,
: slower with r'ra>a,i. ci'i,.>. Is nlo>oue>
. colleges. universities lihr.ri->. fountains r,s
- lis ani palaces. w-r,. tie wo.,i.- o.. n,
world. The Story of their expulsion. oca;,
+, 'i'a'ln-'!y tod by Washington Irving. Is +.
nliiitr TO all
! In his RAPID glance at the history Of the
Peninsula, two things are 10 be noticed :; :,
The combination Of elements which have
produced III" Spanish character Th,rr were.
'ii>' 'hc two races of lhrrans and Ccl,>. ON.
, from the South. the o, her from IN. Nor.b or
Asa. meeting. and tir,llv uniting: at lcn,,h
after many in,crmda.e ,h,nres. these united
, races contend with another race from, III,
south % ASA. holding another and dan
ccrons religion. and after eight cen,nric. cf
hard. amos uninterrupted f.h'inc. prevail Il
a. '''>' '"'i!i. III" till!t between iri>;l an
ty and Mahouedan;>m was first fought and
deriied on spanish SOIL and we can not Suf.
hrlent'v admire The va!or and proves of the
bold Ca>'lllan knights who prevailed arain>,
Nower'u' foe. >tro,,l how long time
was spent IN war and revolution. B.>i}s
the two hundred wars of war with Rom.
and the eight hundred with the Saraceps W.,
! Know not how many Were spent with other
nations IN m" intcriirlia'" wears |, il won
d'r'Ul that Our earliest ideas Of romano. ~, 4
rh.a'ry are associated with Spain: The
daring examples of her knich.>-.he lofty
'an>e IN which they were engaged and to
which they ever a>''i;''cd their good fortune.
the narnitud" of the Interests AZ >t,k. in
which all Chri.tcnanm was involved hut
winch only the ca,Iier> OF Spain su>rancd.-
finaiiN the GROWING success ot the wtoi,. IN
the expulsion OF the Saracen invsd,r,-fbe
, conquest Of fhe iniilel ior.-all con>rir. ~
iIft high on tine record of honorable fam. tb,
bold heroic spirits Of the old Castilian heroes
OF history and romance
~ MONUMENT To ETHAN ALIEN. -
The Legislature Of our State has a, lenc,h
, thought best to hcstow some mark of honor
upon the brave old hero 10 whose coura,.
and virtue the State owes much Of IFS rroS.
peritv. and whose fame ought TO Toe cherish.
ed as our most priceless legacy A bill pass
! ed the House on Monday which had rrevi.
on>'r passed the Senate, aprrorriarins $1,000
. for the erection Of monument over the dn,.
OF Ethan Allen at Burlington. The bill pass.