Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-28
In SPAIN.
HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER
FROM A SACRAMENTAN.
The City of seviIle-Its Landmarks
of Past Races-InterviewiD
a 60O-year-old Corpse.
SEVILLE, Spain, March l6, 1888.

objects date from the time of the Pheni-
clans. Then the Vis-Gothic period may
be discerned, after which the Romans
have left their landmarks. After them
came the Jews, then the Moors, and lastly
the modern Spaniards.
The objects of interest, however, are
mainly those of the Moorish period, and
among those the Alcazar ranks first in the
list of attractions. Conflicting and con-
Trajectory opinions are apt to arise, not
alone between different persons, but in the
opinions of an individual as to the rela-
tive merits and beauty of the Gothic and
Moorish STYLES of architecture.
When in a Gothic temple the Moorish
efforts appear insignificant and childish,
but when the same person enters the
" Hall Of ambassadors in the Alcazar, he
Is apt TO think the Gothic style unsympa-
thetic, cold and cherries.
There are to be found halls of marble
agate, alabaster, or stucco work. There are
fresooes and paintings covering ceiling and
walls, by painters so highly gifted as to
make the least of their works cost sum
equal to kings ransom" but neither
polished marble, costly agate or alabaster,
nor rare fresco or paintings, can equal the
beauty Of the Hall Of ambassadors in the
Alcazar
The palace Of the Alcazar here was a
fayorite residence of Peter the Cruel, who
restored and renovated it. Since then it
was the home of the reigning family for
several months in the year. 1t is now the
residence Of ex-Queen Isabel
Like all Of the beautiful palaces Of de-
spotic times, the repulsiYe features are
hidden out Of sight. Subterranean corri-
dors and labyrinthian passage-ways are to
befound, leading to-heaven knows where,
miles in extent. These in turn were the
prisons Of Goth and Moor. Damp and
dark, these prisons indicate the savage
cruelty Of times and men past and gone.
The cathedral, next to st. Peters, is the
largest and grandest cathedral in the
world. The tomb of the son of Columbus
3 Is to be seen here. There are two ships
carved on the marble slab, and if these be
the patterns of those used by Columbus in
his discovery of America they are worthy
Of being preserved The fore part shows
a jib and cross-spar, then fore and center
mast and the stern was a three-decker
Oars were used when the wind was not
propitious. These vessels could not have
been much larger than an ordinary fish
ing boat.
One of the chief features of this ca
thedral Is the body of St. Ferdinand in
the Capilla Real" 1t is inclosed in a
glass and metal case. The glass is covered
with a cloth of gold The cover is raised
three times year-on the 30th of May,
22d of August and 23d of November-and
when this happens a great military mass
takes place The altar and shrine of the
" Capilla Real" is Of gold, silver, crystal
and bronze, and contains a small ivory
image OF the Virgin which st. Ferdinand
carried with him into battle. A curtain
covers the altar, which is only removed ON
rare occasions.
While we were examining the wonder
full wood carvings our guide came rushing
up full of excitement, saying: All,
Senior, you veel see mntch-ver mulch
She veel cur to de Capilla Real. Oh, ser,
madam, you rel see mulch"
I thought til elbow had gone mad and
asked him to cool down and tell me the
cause OF his agitation.
'Ah, sir" said he, "ze Queen Isabel
take leef of Spain and go TO Warm in Lent.
She cum 10 bray an gonvess in the Ca
pilla Real, and dey gay gran mass, and dey
viii raze de gu-den, and you will see de
st. Ferdinand and de image of de Virgin
and de Queen"
| told him not to excite himself ST.
Ferdinand having been dead these 600
years there would be neither wit nor wis
dom in interviewing him for the RECORD
UNION, and as for Isabel, as a woman, we
have many at home as good as she, and so
far As her politics are concerned our Buck
leys and Higgins could double discount
her NV wife, however, was of different
opinion; she said, "We will see st. Ferdi-
nand and Isabella and hear the mass"
The villain Of guide looked at me in
patrorizing way, as much as to say, "Well,
for hersake ! viii forgive you" SO We took
up our station in front of the altar and
waited. Presently our guide came up and
Thisped, wen de gween gum in you moost
neel town. ant rimain neelink undil all tie
beeble rice"
"Base catiff; do you think that I will
bend the knee to any foreign Power, when
| owe allegiance to none but Uncle Sam ?'
"Only fer Won mineds"
"No, not for second Neither |, nor
my wife, nor my children will kneel"
"Ten Won gan nod see anysing."
We walked out of the chapel much to
the disappointment of my wife and the
guide The guide related the occurrence
10 clerical-looking party, who came up
and said, in fair English
81 can arrange so that you can all see
everything without kneeling come with
me-" He brought two low stools, on one of
which he seated my wife and on the
other my little daughter, and leaving them
in charge Of the guide gave him instruc-
lions. Then reckoning me to follow him,
he placed my son and self behind pillar
and looking very solemn and significant,
said, Wait"
Soon the pageant appeared. First came
pages, then sundry personageS, and then
the Queen. The people within and with
out fell down on their knees. The serv-
ices over, I asked for an explanation. The
new guide said that my wife and child
having been seated on the low stools, no
difference could be discerned between that
and kneeling.
"But we're you not working decep-
ton ~ / asked
"Oh, WE'LL" he replied laughing, "you
did not llneel, and you saw everything"
was wondering at this, and was about
TO walk away, when my guide tapped me
on lHS SueUiueT anu Sstlu
''Iu gif him nodding?'
''AIust ] give him fee for working a
deception" said l. My guide went over
and held a consultation with the other
chap, and as a result the other came over
and said:
"For five francs / will have you adj
mitted behind the curtain, and you can
view the great St. Ferdinand, the treas
ures of the sacristy, the image of the Virgin
and the tombs of the Kings. If not, you
will please pay me for rent of the chairs"
/ accepted his offer, and saw the remains
of the saint.
Considering that this saint and monarch
lived some 500 years ago, his remains are
in wonderful state of preservation the
face and features being well preserved.
Beneath We were shown the remains of
Peter the Cruel, and Maria Pudila and
their Legitimate children.
The carvings Of wood were wonderfully
true TO life in color, form, structure and
arrangement.
A massive suDerabundance Of precious