Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-11
THE MOORISH ALEXANDRA.
What Dr, Flanders says in Spanish Let
der Of this Most Homs rkslis Palace.

What Dr, Flanders says Ira a spa ish Let
der OF this Most Boma rkar,is Palace.
Tne Alhambra made upon me one
Of the profoundest impressions of my
whole life, and Iwould be glad 10 repro
duce IL while here upon tbespot In some
thing like adequate language. But that
i feel sure cannot do. Even Washing
ton Irving fell short of the reality In his
elaborately drawn picture of the history,
PEELED 10 believe, one of the most re-
markable palaces in the world; and yet
he had three years in which to study up
the subject and execute his task, for he
resided that length Of time in the Alham-
bra. The guide to-day points out TO
curious visitors the rooms that were oc-
cupied by Washington Irving.
Entering the inclosure through the
great gateway, we are surprised to sec
Mt our right large, partly y-completed
marble structure Of elaborate Grecian
architecture, but evidently of compara-
lively modern date. This is an abor-
tive attempt OF Charles V. to eclipse the
Alhambra. IL Is at once mn imperti-
nencc and failure. Had Charles com
pleted 1t according to the original de-
sign. IT would have been but monu-
nnnt of his stupidity and bad tnste, and
the noble old palace oT the Moors would
not have suffered by the comparison
even temporary eclipse. Except as
signal example ofmad folly, it should be
pulled down and removed.
Turning To the right Of the palace Of
Charles, and making slight descent, In
moment more we are in one of the
courts Of the Alhambra. We hold our
breath for moment in rapt amazement
and delight, and then exclaim, beauti-
iul! beautiful! Aladdin's palace in the
Arabian story, Is before us in solid
reality. 1t was impossible TO take il all
IN at glance. and SO we tarricd long in
that outer court, feasting our eyes and
regaling our senses until both swan in
sea of Joy.
Away, then, we went, from court To
court, from room to room, in delirium
Of delight. Walls Of lace. done IN mar.
BILE, rose around us; ceilings Of cedar
wood. inlaid with ivory and tortoise
she, j, and rich with blue, vermillion
and gold. looked down upon us; domes.
looking ike purest frost work, necked
with exquisite tints, and dropping with
frosty stalactitcs. hung around us; clus-
tiers of marble pillars. supporting bal
comics Of open tracery- work. also IN
marble, surrounded the courts. and look
cd as If the work Of cnchantment; rich
moshics, in many colors. sometimes
made beautiful wainscot. dome and cell
ing; while the bath still held its crystal
treasure in which the goldfish disportcd.
challenging the sunbeam with its golden
scales. and the fountain of lions still
played as in the days when Boabdil was
master Of the Alhambra
Once seen. and never 10 be forgotten.
Hour after hour went by. and still we
were riycted to the charmed spot. But
the sweetest ordorl finally oyerpower
the senses by excess; and so. after n
while, we stole away and aEcondcd the
Nela tower. and looked abroad over
mountain and vallcy-over avenues of
eim, groves Of orange. olive and fig:
over plains recently rich with harvest,
but now bare and parchcd; up TO the
perpetual SHOWS of the Sierra Nevada:
down dizzy precipiccs into deep valleys.
cool. shady and fragrant with poplar.
acacias. the cypress and myrtle, the
oleander and rose. Beautiful for situa-
tion." We said Of Jerusalem. Transfer
the phrase and. with more justice. let ii
be said of Granada. The waters that
make sweet and cool It's atmosphere. and
bring To it health. flow into the Darro
and Genil, that embrace in the valley
below; and as ] stood upon the lofty
tower and took in the magnificent pano-
rama, from Sierra To Sierra, / cxclaim
with Moore:
There !. not in tho vide woTl,i a valley 70
sweet,
"A that vale in whose bosom tho bright
waters meoi;
The last ray OF feeling and life may depar,.
Ere the bloom Of thai valley shall fade from
my heart"