Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-19
THE ARCHITECTS WIFE.
Story of the Rebuilding Of the
Bridge OF San Martin.

NlNuN btaliiuuta given IN the CatecniAfn,
would add the following; Blessed are they
that marry a sensible woman, for theirs
shall be domestic felicity And II II were
lawful 10 illustrate the Bcatitudes with his
torical notes, would append 10 the afore-
said ninth the following explanation;
In the middle Of the fourteenth century
Don Enrique dc Trastamara was bcsieging
Toledo, which offered a brave and tenacious
defense, being loyal TO that King called by
some "Tho just" and by others 1.-THE
Cruel" Many a time and oft had the faith
full and COURAGEOUS Toledanos crossed the
magnificent bridge OF San Martin, one OF
tho handsomest and most useful, archi-
tectural treasures OF that monumental city,
and, hurting themselves upon the camp of
Don Enrique, established in the Cigarrales,
they had wrought bloody havoc amid the
besieging host. To prevent the repetition
OF such sallies Don Enrique determined 10
destroy tho bridge OF San Martin, which,
as has already been said, was the noblest Of
the many that form the girdle Of tho city OF
martyrs, Of councils and Of cavaliers. But
what value have artistic or historic monu-
ments In the eyes Of the ambitious polite
ians whose dream Is 10 bury adagger in the
breast Of a brother, that they may scat
themselves In the throne he occupiesi Well
20 whose fame 80 much has been contrib
uted by Tirso and other great Spanish poets,
consist OF multitudcs of villas and country
houses, with their lovely gardens and fruit
ful orchards, all shut in by hedges.
One night the leafy branches Of these
trees were Topped OF by the soldiers Of Don
Enrique, and piled upon the bridge Of San
Martin. The dawn was beginning 20 open,
when glow Of wondrous brilliance lit up
the devastated gard ems, the waves
OF the Taio, the ruins Of the palace OF Don
Rodrigo, and the little Arabian tower re-
hccted In the waters Of the river, at whose
foot, 40 history hath II, the daughter Of Don
Julian was bathing when the III fated king
set eyes upon hor fateful beauty An inn
mense fire blazcd on the brid ge Of San Mar
tin, and the cracking Of the MASSIVE carven
beams, wrought with all the skill Of the chisel
which created tho marvcls Of the Alhambra,
seemed the pitiful plant OF art crushed by
brute force. The Toledauos, awakened by
The sinister glow, ran 10 save their beloved
bridge from the imminent ruin which
menaced IL, but they ran futilely, for
frightful crash that rcsoundcd lugubriously
through the hollows Of the Tajo told them
that the bridge stood no longer. When the
rising sun gildcd the domcs Of the imperial
City the girls who went TO M their jars with
the cool and crystalline water Of the river
turned homcward again with the vessels
empty and their hearts full Of sorrow and
indignation, for the current Of the Tajo ran
turbid and boiling, carrying on its whirling
waves the ruins of the bridge OF San Mar
Elm, which still were smoking.
Many years had passed since tho fratri-
eide OF Montiel destroyed the bridge of San
A ~
crtcd all their powers to have Il replaced by
another which should be its equal In
strength and beauty But the genius and
cndcavor of tho best architects, Christian
and Moorish, had not been able TO crafty
the ardent wishes Of the Toledanos, for the
rapid current OF the river always swept
away foundations, piles and stagings be-
fore the placing OF the gigantic arches.
Don Pedro Tenorio, one Of the great Arch
bishops 20 whom Toledo owes almost as
much as 70 her Kings, sent proclamations
10 almost every city and village of Spain,
calling Tor architects 10 rebuild tho bridge
of San Martin.
Ono day man and woman, entirely I'M
known, entered Toledo by the CaInbron
gate, and, after inspecting the ruins OF tho
bridge, they hired house close by, and
shortly thereafter the man betook himself
10 the archiepiscopal palace. Tho Arch
bishop, surrounded at tho moment by cava-
lers and prelates, was overjoyed at the ar
rival of an architect, Immediately gave him
audience, and welcomed the stranger kindly.
"My lord,n said the new arrival, ''my
name, no doubt unknown 10 you, is Juan de
Arevalo l am an architect, and ! am
brought hero by your proclamation sum
Jnoning such"
"Do you understand the difficulties CON-
prised In rebuilding the bridge at San Mar
Tin, fricndr
al DO, but / believe myself capable Of
overcoming them"
"whero have you studied architecturer
at Salamanca"
" And what works testify 10 your slrilli"
None whatever" Noting the frown on
the face of the Archbishop, the stranger
fastened to add; ~ was a soldier in my
youth, my lord but leaving the profession
OF arms / devoted myself 10 architecture,
and N no Arm and wellproportioned pile at
testa my knowledge, II 10 that for the sake
81 bread I have relinquished 10 others the
credit Of more than one edifce Of my con-
structiou across the Tonnes and tho Duero.
And for the rest I offer you my life in
pledge Of my competency
"How sol you speak In riddles. You mus,
know that men are no longer put 70 death
for failure 10 perform tho conditions Of q
promise"
ave, true, my lord; bat when the main
arch Of the bridge should DO completed the
place OF its architect Is on the keystone
and n the arch prove false and fall, III
builder would fall with it."
"That offer II surely fair" said the Arch
bishop, "as a proof OF your earnestness anC
sincerity. Let the work be begun 70
morrow"
Juan dc Arevalo fastened 10 the humble
dwelling, In whose embrasured window sa
watching the woman who had accompanies
him 70 Toledo; q woman still young an'
beautiful, Notwithstanding her face bor
The traces Of vigils and privations.
"Catalinai my Catalinar' exclaimed tn
architect, embracing his wife fondly
among these monuments that glorif.
Toledo there win be one that viii transmi
10 postcrity tho name Of Juan de Arevola
No longer could tho Tolodanos, approach
ing tho Tajo over escarped rocks ans
masses of ruins, exclaim. ssHere was th,
bridge OF san Martini for already th'
new bridge reared itself In. shapely pro
portions upon the rent foundations, nov
made solid, Of the ancient structure Tit
Archbishop and other wealthy Toledano'
were showcring rich gifts upon the fortu
nate and skillful architect who had succeeded
IA throwing tho three great arches Of tn
bridge, In spite Of the gigantic daring o
tho work and the furious currents Of tn
river.
On the eve OF tho day Of San Yldcfonso
patron saint Of tho city. Juan dc Arcval,
Informed the Archbishop that his task wa,
completed, saving only the removing O
1ho scnnolding from the three ARCHES /
was q porilous tost-tho taking down o
tho complicated system Of heavy iron scat
folding which brnccd tho enormous mas
OF delicntely carved Il mbors. but the calm
issue. which Dc PROMISED v meet gtpndinl