The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-29

served IN appropriate urlls'
FLOORS or The CATHEDRAL.
The floors # the cathedral are paved with
white and black marble. II has been sara
that King Philip intended this immense pie
as a monument as well as tomb for ms
father. the great German Emperor. lmmedi-
atelv under the high altar in the Crypt Is
magnificent burial vault where sleep the re-
mans Of Spanish greatness. stately ana ceIe-
monious even in death. The approach 70 TINS
magnificent tomb is by two descending series
of stops enclosed in walls Of the rarest marbles.
ending in a jasper lined stair case, at the bot
tom Of which is the death chamber, octagon IN
shape and lined with black polished marbles;
the sombrenoss Of which IS relieved by Sllded
saints and shining chcrubims.
Here are twenty-slX repositories, most OF
which are now occupied by royal dust.
Charles the Fifth lies here, and near him the
remains Of his bigoted and saturnine son;
Outside the main building Of the 'Escurlal
but close enough to 1t for convenience
sake. stands the Princes palace,
comparatively small but beautiful str nc;
ture intended for the reception ana
entertainment Of royal guests. The interior
of this building is almost beyond description
for its wonders and rare works OF art. Inc
walls are frescoed Each ceiling Is dome
tho coioring OF which is a reflection OF the eN-
duisitely inlaid floor. On the walls OF one OF
these apartments. hang 800 carvings IN
black and white ivory one for each day OF the
year. illustrating scenes from the ga ana
New Testaments. These are SAID 10 nave peeh
done by monks. and so delicate is the work
manship that al short distance they might
we'll be mistaken for engrayings
TIE Prince PALACE.
The Princes palace is located upon plateau
in front Of the main structure. near two artl-
fetal lakes embOwered IN trees, hedges,
and exotic shrubs. all of which were
imported and set in made earth. When Philip
began the Escural the 'abomnailon 81 DESC
citation" had ever presided over the ioriorh
barrenness # this dismal region Before
taking our leave Of the interior If the build
ing. We took last look into the narrow retreat;
close 10 the high altar where the Wretcncd
ruler Of almost Onc-third OF the clNlhHcd
world spent the las, fourteen years OF ms ne
as religious rec.use here also ne dled'
A small iron heistead covered with leather
on which he had spent most Of these years,
still remains a. ne hit H.
We have 10 time t. dwell longer upon the
interior Of the Escuuai Volumes have been
written upon is wonders; lis chapels within
It's great cathedral and their wonderous works
OF art. ITS rehquaIy, It's grand sialr-chSes' us
vast library, irc-c1es, mles OK paintings dc,
pictIng the gl.ries OF old spain by land and
by sea down u Armada times, after whlch
her power began to decline. her marbles ana
p1rphyres and beieweled treasures, the
tributes # crowned heads and princes to the
naughty rulers OF the once foremost power
of the world and last buL not least the vast
kitchen attached TO an establishment in
which was prepared the food Tor the courts
OF kings. princes and prclates and tneir re-
tuuer,. secular, Teii- i)us au ml.tar' io the
number Of th0u-ands en- l'd 10 DO t.lAe TO
time. to crafty tine VANITY or caprice az ti-hp.
These all passed under our view, 10 hu the
mind with wonder, hut nj the same tim" 10
recall themcancholy conclusion Of HIM. who
himself found at last that all was vanity,
vanity OF yanltes'
ANOTHER VIEW.
1t was now approaching the time or he
coming of tine return train which W. ID take
Us back 10 Madrid. fastening tOa nelghbor-
inc height IS. took Oue more look at the
builJn. whose interior bad SO much inter
cstcd H. during the day. The Inspection of
these had not caused ITS exterior 10 appear
brighter in our eyes Ihcrclt lay sui cold ana
dead like some vast sepulchral lchen cling
| ing tot the rugged SIDES OF the sullcn GuadaIana
| hills. wilderness of grandeur stretched out
before US, broken into ravnes here and there.
/ nursing scanty growth upon Whlch
fed hocks of black sheep. under the
! care of Castilian Shepherds clad in
costumes Of blacker wool. Under that dis
nal garb, however, investigation would
soon discover q spirit as proud as ms clothing
was dark. Along the solitary banks OF the
| Manmnares river, now seen slugghsllF
creeping away to the southwark, stand the
dark figures of these shepherds and their tacl-
turn dogs Both are famous in that part Of
Spain. The one ~ fierce rs he Is silent, and
the other rs stately a. he Is proud The chet
boast OF the latter is that nc Is defendant
from generations of heroes, whose ancestors
were originally angels from heaven. and that
in his arstocratc veins flows the puresi Of
blood untanted by that Of the jew or the
Moor.
COST OF TIE ROYAL TOY.
II does not appear 10 be known what was
the exact cost OF building the Escurial. Philip
lavshed his treasure without stint upon tins
mOnstr0us toy. IL should be remembered
that at that time he had at his com
mand the wealth Of continents. South
America and Mexico were pouring in
exhaustiblc treasures into his lap, while ms
galleons came IN squadrons, ireightcd win
the wealth II the East. 1t was while N the
midst Of this luxury that he undertook the con-
struction II the l'cural. The traveller IN
Spain. even at this day il overwhelmed with
| surprise at the accumulation Of treasure 20 be
| found in tho keeping OF the Church in the
great cathedrals. chape.s, monasuc institu
tlons and ecclesiastical palaces. But this D.
| all dead capital which, if relieved from Its
| financial imprisonment and sent out 10
meet the demands of traffic, would revive
| the waning prosperity Of "a country that has
been undergoing slow but sure decay these
centuries past under the oppressive influences
Of too much ceremony, silver and superstition.
| VIII this ever be done,
The foregoing lines have been hurricdly
thrown together from recollections Of IA trip
made through Spain twenty years ago and
| from a few notes made at that time. II they
| shall excite tho Imagination Of the reader, so
| that he shall desire 70 know more Of the his
tory "of the eighth wonder Of the world.
and of the country which contains 1t. he will
find ample reward in penetrating further tho
mysteries Of the former. and find in the latter
nation. I.
NINGHAM.
| Inrnnce md Misunderstanding ComuanX Sold