Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-12
In SPAIN.
A VISIT TO GRENADA AND THE
ALEXANDRIA.
Labor Questions and Agitation a
Blessing-Thieves for Landlords
and Slaves for Populace.
Correspondence of the RECORD UNION. I

through the medium of old-fashioned
lamps. Our bus ratified on at a lively
pace through some very narrow streets
lined on both sides with shops. Shortly
after We began climbing the terraced in
clines leading to the "Sierra del SOL" on
the summiG of which is the Alhambra, and
by the side Of which was our hotel.
The next morning We obi aimed an ex-
cellent view of the surrounding country
from the veranda of the hotel. The
scene Is beautiful and romantic and the
site of the palace of the King of Granada
is well chosen. Artifcially terraced water
courses sent numerous streams of water in
many directions. These water-courses are
the work of the Moors, aid through the
abundance Of water the renowned gardens
of the Alhambra became possibility.
Accompanied by guide we started for
grove Of elm trees, planted here by order
Of the Duke of Wellington, and began as
cending the hill. The grim old fortress in
no way indicates from its exterior view
that it was at one time the most beautiful
and luxurious dwelling in Europe We
passed through a massive gateway of
modern construction, and thence came to
"The Gale Of Justice" We were then
conducted to the Tore de la Vela,"
where Cardinal Mendoza raised the Chris
tian flag.
The regulation for the irrigation of the
valley or " vega" is announced by a bell
in the tower, just as was done by the
Moors 500 years ago. Close to the sides of
the outer fortress are the ruins of the I'M
finished palace of Charles V. We were
shown the Court of Lions, with its many
slender white marble columns. Above
them were the characteristic horseshoe
arches, covered with arabesques and quo
tations inscribed from the Koran, while at
regular intervals the words There is no
conqueror but God, i" or God is the only
conqueror." In the center is the so called
"Lion Fountain Twelve lions or pan
theirs ofting a large marble basin.
Either the Moors were not skilled in the
art of animal carving, or these figures are
efigies This is the only monument of
Arabic life work in sculpture, and was
no doubt suggested to them by the twelve
brazen oxen supporting the brazen LAYER in
Solomon's Temple.
These crude efforts, however, would not
do justice to the peculiar accomplishments
of this singular people. The Koran pro-
hlbltS the carving of any representation of
animal life, and it was this prohibition
that brought forth an art at once peculiar
and original. Debarred from following in
the footsteps of the Egyptian, Greek and
Roman, the Arabian artist narrowed down
TO the themes of geometrical outlines and
the symmetrical confguration of vegeta-
ton, has produced a creation wonderfully
potent in the economy of art. The costly
lace of Brussels, the labored embroidery of
Switzerland, the harmonious blendings, in
terminglings and Celebrations of our mod
ern carpets, our modern linen table covers,
window curtains, and even the humble oil
cloth patterns, owe their origin to the
efforts Of the Moorish artist This is
so much so that it is even now a common
occurrence for lace-makers to send their
designers here for ideas and copies. So
minute and intricate are some of the de-
signs that they defy the efforts of the la
bors Of the most skilled and patient drafts
men.
An interesting place is the hall of the
Oencerrages," where the alcove of the
dome Is finished in fantastic knots and fes-
toons, similar to the work in the Mosque
el Azhar at Cairo. The Tocador de los
Reina,' or dressing-room of the Sultana, is
a small square chamber The floor has
perforated tiles, through which assembled
perfume. The Hall of the ambassadors
contain the notices of the Kings of
Granada. The decorations are of the
highest order. The easements contain
baths, underneath which large earthen
jars were discovered filled with gold.
Leaving the Alhambra we descend to
the city. The streets were filled with peo-
pie, lounging and strolling around without
any apparent aim. The most numer-
Gus and the most industrious part
of the population are the beggers. can
not understand how it is possible for we'll
TODD Spaniard to sit down and eat his din
ner with relish so long as the greater num-
Der of his countrymen 90 naked and
hungry, but the proud Castilian does
not seem TO mind this. The patience and
fortitude of these poor people are put to
wonderful test. Perpetual hunger is the
sad lot Of a very large portion of the peo-
pie of Spain, and poor rs the poor are in
Ireland and Italy, it is no comparison to
the poverty of the people here. Can it
be that Spain is expiating for the sins and
barbarous eruelties that she has committed
against the conquered people in Spain and
America If so, why are not the rich
also exp;ating? Why does the burden of
her fall rest upon the poor alone? 1t may
be, however, that the beggars of to-day are
the direct descendants of the torturers of
old. Be that as it may, it is an undeniahle
fact that there is more real poverty,
wretchedness and suffering in Spain than
in any other country in Europe.
From what l have observed here / have
come to the conclusion that this new axiom
may be added to the list of cold saws"
blessed is the land that has a labor ques-
ton and has labor troubles"
| know that there are many who fear.
and do not wish labor agitations in our
country, but it is an undeniable fact that
through the medium of labor agitations we
owe much of our standing as a nation of
freemen and a people of progress The
price of labor determines the physical, in
tellectual and spiritual welfare of people,
and in a land where there is no labor
question, no labor troubles, no labor agita-
ton, that land is dead, and the people are
starving slaves. Spain has no labor ques-
ton, and the laborer has no choice but to
accept the miserable few coppers a day for
his toll
1 asked a young man in large porce-
lain factory how much he received day
for his labor. Three-quarters of a
peseta," he replied (which is fifteen cents.
And this for skillful lathe work. This
same young man for similarly skilled
work in the United States would receive
at least 81 % to 81 per day.
''Can he not buy as much for his fifteen
cents Is the 81 % or s. will buy for him
in the United States?'
No, indeed Bread, meat, rent and
clothing are fully as high in Spain.
Under existing circumstances it would
hardly be proper to open our ports and
receive free of duty the products of slaves,
so that their masters may be enriched
Protection is good enough for the present
Spain, with territory, resources and
climate superior to that of France, suffers
much in comparison. Containing less than
half the population of France, it is unable
to give this limited population employ
ment. Her mining industries are chiefly
operated by English capital and English
superintendents. Her agricultural re-
sources are crippled by nobility ownership
i i