The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29
THE FAMOUS ESCURIAL.
REniNYsCEYCES or 4 BRIEF TOUR
~ orr SPIN.
The remarkable Buiidins Known AS tho
Eighth wonder OF the Worid-Buiit Ivy
Philip u. in i5G3-A Palace. Convent
and Tomb Cost Ct The Royal Toy.

For the Hmesl
Immediately a.tcr toe close of the late war
twas nay privilege to make trip through
old Spain from the pyrcnees to Gibraltar
Two Of us we're together, chiefly because 1t
had been told rs that Oh account Of the ban
dts infesting tho mountains We should have
10 cross. il was unsafe % travel alone. We
coujd not. however. understand why these
gentlemen of the read could not rob two as
well as q single traveller. Hatiackod wecouid
not defend ourselves, for the reason that
n heavy penalty is attached 70 carrying arms
without a license IN that country. The bag
GAGE was strictly examined upon passing ne
French frontiers and pistol fouhu among
ones effects would prove ms obnoxious as a
protestant prayer-bOok or Bible WOuG nave
dopo at that time. But we neither saw nor
heard of banditt during the entire journey.
and would never have thought of them. had
We not seen along some If the more rugged
passes mounted troops armed with lance ana
carbinc. doing. what seemed u us very USE
less patrol duty.
Al thattimc there were few railways in Spain.
Arriving az Madrid by rail from "a tunnel at
the western end of the Pyrenees by the way
Of St Sebastian. the tourist was generally
consigned 10 the keeping Of the diligence, or
STAGE rs We GILL II. i' JUN ~ WV
aforesaid city had been made. and having seen
everything attractive within ITS limits. we
prepared 10 visit al object Of singular inter-
est III It's cHNirOns.
THE EsCURIAL.
Toeq than twenty miles by rail northwest
from Madrid stands the "tscurlal. 10 see
tins remarkable building would consume an
entire day. Accordingly, accompanied by our
cicor0ne We arrived at the nclChbOrng station
I'll "a tifp December 81.
II describing tins eighth wonder OF the
world" ! prOpIs" TO give simply my personal
impressions of q place too familiar 10 me
readers @. history 10 be dwolt upon at length
here. This vast structure. a combination OF
unlace convent. church. library. picture cal
i,rv and tomb, rs is well known was butt 10y
Plilip n Of Spain in the year 1868 Tie city
Of Madrid elevated upon rocky plateau
some two thousand feet above the sen: is the
centre # q barren, rocky region described by
"A radius OF about forty miles.
To the strangers eye IT presents drearv
and dismal view. Over this vast plain one
looks without nope for some pleasing OBJECT
The only relief is % he found III tine magnlh-
cent public highways. which radlate from the
ritv ont toward the horizon like the spokes OF
wheel Along these thorouehiares all the
traffic passes, except that done by lew r"i-
The palace of the "Escura' is in
cluded within this dismal circle. 1he
ROYAL protector in selecting the site seemed
anyiou, to secure the most fOrbidGing and
melancholy spot among all the rugged slerlas
If the Gueriaranl mountains. and about
Twenty-Five hundred feet above the sea. High
M on q plateau among these mountains
the visitor Is astonished to find this immense
nile. The first impression is one OF amaze
iuont at the folly Of wasting 50 much labor
and treasure upon such a work and upon such
spot Near the great building and almost
rr0uching beneath n, fr0wn. lies typical dl-
f..l ed SPANISH village whose chief use APP
par q to consist in supplying poor meals and
l..,n.Die wines to travellers.
A LOFTY PERCH.
Having made arrangements for refresh
ments after our return from inspecting
tine place of which we had heard 50
much. cur cicer0ue first conducted us 10
"A lofty perch IN the rear Of and ut some
distance from the palace. His object was TO
give as such a view a. would enable the eve
4 take an clearly the extent, shape and
salient points of the building. We were soon
seated upon the very spot upon the side of
the mountain from which Philip himself was
accustomed 10 look down upon the caly
progress made on tins mOustTOus creation OF
ms perverted genius. Hence 1t derived Its
name of-kincs' Chair.
From this elevation the entire area OF the
T-curia appeared 10 occupy about the space
If the Capitol grounds IN Richmond, and IN
tie exact shane of q gridiron rectangular, and
turned over ON lis upper side. The handle OF
the cridiron is represented 10y the palace, or
apartments occupied by the court when
there while "A tower al each Of the four cor
ners represents the legs OF the aforesaid COOK
ing implement. This vast structure Is built
entirely Of granite and blue Slate quarred
from the very hill upon which We were seat
ed. Philip erected the EScural as monu-
mont TO his father, Charles !. and IN COM
memoratlOn 90 the victory of his troops over
the French at the battle of 81. Quentin,
which took place on the anniversary OF 81.
Lawrence's day
While the result Of the fight was in doubt
the supersttious devotee invoked the and Of
the Saint. yowiug at the same time t. build a
shrine IN his honor should ms arms
be victorious The King was faith
iul t. his promise, and although ms
ORIGINAL purpose was TO erect only palace. a
convent and tomb under ono root he gladly
added the stately church. whose dome Of solid
granite now towers three hundred and twenty
fee; above the centre If the sanity grldiron.
The Saint Lawrence hcrcrclerred 10 was "a ma
tive OF spain. was martyrcd some time IN tho
third century 10y being roasted alive on n grid
iron; hence Philip selected this implement as
,he general plan OF the Escural.
sIzE OF THE PLACE.
In order to get a better idea Of the size of
this wonderful place, let the reader imagine
himself pcrched high up on the side of bare
hill. looking down upon the binding al an
angle OF nearly forty-iivo degrees. There
il lies before him. spread cut described
above. II he he "a citizen of Richmond he
viii better understand 1t 10y it, being COM
pared with objects tamilArto him. He sees be-
fore him mass Of granite and blue slate cover
iug nearly the space of the Capitol grounds.
forming series of rectangular court-yards,
covered with grass and adorned with foun-
tains and statues. These all connect with
each other, and are made by the crossing Of
tho buildings with each other like the
divisions of waiNe-iron. In one of
these are the cells Of the monastery
whore live the silent monks, performing
their peculiar duties. IN another the literary
FOUNDATIONS of ages compose the royal library;
In another hang the art productions of the past
centuries, from the pencils OF medieval and
modern painters. and lastly comes the pri-
waite apartments of the royal family. rich in
art treasures adorned with every device OF
luxurious taste and hung with perhaps the
Oldest and ratest tapestries known u the
world From tie midst Of this cougenies Of
buildings rises the ma estic root and dome of
the Cathedral. Our Capitolat Richmond stands
only cighty-seven feet above the ground and IL
measures little over 200 feet from the pave
mont to the top Of ST. Paul's church steeple
Now put on the top Of the latter another TO
feet and some idea may Ice formed OF the
height of this dome OF solid stone "a il scars
Gp into the air. surmouuted by its beautifully
proportional lantern.
ARCHITECTURE OF TIIE STRUCTURE.
The architecture # tine Escurial is in keep.
lng with the taste and tcmDerament of fna