The New York herald., 1872-10-04
The Burning Or tho Escurial.

The magnificent structure erected by Philip
H. of Spain to commemorate his victory over
the French at st. Quentin has been destroyed
by fire. The scanty details furnished by the
telegraphic dispatches give reason to fear that
the building has been reduced to complete
ruin, and that the priceless treasures of art and
literature which were deposited in the Escurial
are lost forever. The fire is said to have been
caused by lightning, and there is something
appalling in the rapdity with which the grand
| old monument succumbed to the devouring
element Among the many landmarks which
within few years have been lost to posterity
none had so deep an interest for the thoughtful
mind as this temple-tomb Of the gloomy
Spanish King. It's history is strangely en-
twined with the glory of Spain in the days
when the shadow of her naughty flag
was cast over half O conquered world.
1t was the creation of q grand, austere
and gloomy age. and reflected proudly the
character of it's creators. How the majesty Of
that stately pile, in the midst of the desolation
that surrounded it on all Sides struck the
beholder with awe Even the vulgar sight.
seer, wandering without reverence at the bid
ding Of an idle curiosity, was wont to speak in
subdued tones in the mysterious twilight Of it's
cloisters. There was about this noble structure
such an air of majestic grandeur as humbled
mere human pride. It was impossible not to
feel how insignificant were men in presence Of
the tombs Of kings before whom the world had
| trembled. But the majestic temple frowned
down on the generation Of the hour as it had
done on their ancestors three centuries before.
Time seemed only to increase the awe which
the pile inspired, and while oil else changed
and passed away amid the shock of ages it
remained unshaken.
The loss Of this monument cannot be too
deeply regretted, for it was one of the links
that bound us to the past. Under it's shadow
the moderns could call up the remembrance of
a time when men worshipped other gods than
Mammon and soulless fashion. However much
the stern faith of the sixteenth century may
revolt the modern conscience there is an i'm
pressiveness in the whole -souled belief Of that
age which compels our admiration Religion
in those days was something more than for
mality, and the monuments the ages of faith
have left behind by their grandeur and noble
severity of aim dwarf the efforts Of modern
genius 1t is sad that these evidences Of the
past should be doomed to disappear one after
another until in the far distant future no trace
of these grand monuments shall remain for the
instruction and delight of the unborn genera
tiops. The Tuileries and the Hotel
de Vile have been destroyed, and
it is Only o few months since the venerable
Cathedral of Canterbury narrowly escaped
from the fate that has befallen the Escurial.
1t is evident from these examples that there is
no power in civilization capable Of preventing
the destruction Of ancient monuments, and
we may speculate on time when there will
remain no more trace Of the art and architec-
ture of the early Christian ages than we can
discover of the forgotten Phoenician civiliza-
ton. This is certainly sad reflection, the
more SO as the cause is due in chief part to
the indifference of the moderns, who take no
adequate precautions to preserve the monu-
mental treasures they have inherited. Had
only reasonable precautions been taken to pre-
pare for such an accident as has befallen the
Escurial, that magnificent structure could have
been saved for posterity. The solid nature Of
| the materials from which it was constructed
offered strong guarantee against the ravages
Of fire, and had there been some means at
hand to struggle with the flames in oil
probability they would have been extingfshed
before any serious damage had been done.
! But it was not SO decreed.
In few short hours the fire fend reduced
to a heap of shapeless ruins the temple the
all-powerful Philip had watched growing
slowly for one and twenty years. He vainly
hoped it would remain forever to bear witness
to his piety and power. When the light of
life fickered sadly out Of his weary heart he
found resting place in the shadow of its
crypts. Now his dust is mingled with the
ashes Of the temple he raised and the glory Of
both is at an end forever. The Spaniards,
with natural pride, were wont to call the
Escurial the seventh wonder of the world, and
the beauty, magnifcence and imposing gran
deur Of the structure went far to justify the
pretension. All this greatness is now at an
end the stranger no more will wander awe
struck over the marble pavement of the
| silent cloisters or linger on the jasper
steps to listen to solemn music reverberating
through the lofty aisles. The masterpiece Of
Bantista de Toledo and his pupil, Juan de
Herrera, has crumbled to ashes before the
electric fame, and one of the grandest ex-
amples of human genius brought forth in any
age is lost to posterity. Unfortunately the loss
| is not confined to the structure. The library
has suffered severely, but according to the
latest accounts hopes were entertained of saw
ing the greater part Of the books and manu-
scx;vts r. 10 that xhoro 1;to~o~,,
treasures should have been placed where no
adequate precaution against fire existed. If
there are other collections in Spain similarly