The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-27
In tbs Balsarlo Isiands-No...

Special Correspondence q The Inteligeneer.
PALMA, MAJoRcA, Feb. 2.-The three
principal islands OF tho Dalcaric group
are, in size and importance respectively,
Maiorca, Manorca and IYiza. Tho first
is but sixty miles from east to west and
fifty miles from north TO south. Cabrera
and other lesser islets belong to the
group, but these arc triiling in size, al
most uninhabited and OF little general
interest. The population of the islands
now exceeds 100000 souls. Nfajorca is
by far tho most beautiful Of all the
islands, and as one at once falls in love
with her her capital city, Palma, and all
her sunny-hearted folk, few who first
land in Palina's sunlit bay will care to
seek adventure here beyond Majorca's
glowing shores.
Ono Of my first entertainments hero
was by the water-carriers OF Palma.
They arc not SO native as those OF the
Azores, 80 bold asthosc OF Italian cities,
SO voluptuous as those OF Lisbon, nor SO
languor.one.oyed and petite as those OF
Granada and Seville But could not
help thinking that hero III artist would
find hundreds OF perfect models for Il
Rachel at the Well. Tall, 1.-the, slender
but shapelcss Taidens are these, and
their dress, carriage. features and ways
constantly increase ones admiration
and interest. Had they beon simply
animal in their saucy beauty, ono study
ofonc group atone fountain would have
answered even sentimental traveller.
But ior days ] found myself, against
all apparent reason, drawn to this
fountain aud that, making all manner
of mental excuse for what my own
Judgment scourged me with rs an accu-
sation oil improperly. Attempt as l
might TO study all other lowly, become
interested in the majestic cathedral. or
essay tramps into the interior, back l
came to the fountains to contemplate
these iair maidens and cndeavor to un-
ravel the strange spell they had cast
upon me. In the first place, never
saw but one woman whose unrivalled
art gave her the perfect carriage these
women unconsciously own as naturo's
heritage. That woman was Sara Bern
hardt. Added to this was a conscious
dignity.and a not coyish but superb
and stately modes:y which lent positive
radiance to every movement gesture
or look.
Their attire added o rare charm to all
else. Their tiny feet were cncased in
dainty slippers. A skirt OF loosely
woven dark stuff ioll in close and grace
full folds about their long and shapely
limbs. Over this lay short napkin
like apron, spotlessly white. A dark
bodice low at the neck displayed ex-
quisite shoulders and breast, and its
sleeves stopping at the elbow, where an
edging Of white was seen, showed the
lower half of beautifully moulded arms.
The head is bare, covered by a wealth OF
hair coiled low and heavily in the neck,
giving in the sunlight the blue black
lustre OF the grape. The forehead is
strangely wide for the Latin type; and
the eyebrows, which almost meet, have
tho low wide arch. The eyes are large,
luminous, melting, sad and never were
seen eyelashes OF such length and black
ness on other women. The nose is
finely chiselcd and the nostrils are thin
and have perceptible trcmor. An
oval chin. dazzling teeth, a mouth that
suggests the hot blood OF the south,
chastened by endless repression, with
lips OF crimson. complete face OF Ma
donna like depth of feeling. This face
looks out OF filmy white. kcrchief
drawn close beneath the chin. with
points fastened with q rose or trifle OF
jewelry to the hair at either side of the
head; while its longest point covers the
neck and breast to the girdled waist
below.
PICTURESQUE SCENES.
In professions OF q dozen to a score
vending their way to and from, or when
lettering beside, the fountains, they
form groupings against the quaint old
walls beneath the lonely psalms, fit for
Tadema's master hand. Their burdens
arc mover carried upon their heads.
The bottom OF tho empty or filled ever
always rests upon the right hip, the
handle against the carriers breast, and
her half barred whitenrm is flung care.
lcssly around the vessel just below its
mouth.
Allinquiries regarding these bcauti,
tul water, carriers OF Palma brought
from the native population shrue OF
the shoulder with contomptuous smile
and tho sneering words,
La Ch.utar
That meant "a little long-eared OWL
could not understand why these radi.
ant maidcns could have so offensive a
name. followed some OF them about
the city and then to their homes. II
brought mo to strange quarter where
Il strange people with kindly vet sad
and smilcless faces wrought in all labo,
with that patience and diligence which
characterize but one race OF men. This
was in the "Chucta" quarter OF Palma
and this is the story of the folk that
live within it:
Death to the Jews" was the brutal
cry OF all good Christians in Southern
Europe towards the end OF tho four.
{ toenth century. In Palma thcy were
Prosecuted with relentless fury, beaten
with crosses OF wood they had been
compelled to kiss, and their houses
looted and sacked. During Passion
Week OF 1895 they were SO desperately
baited that some Jews attached slave
whom thoy named Jesus" 10 cross
and Knocked him in secret revenge. Fou,
OF the Jews concerned in the affair were
condemned to be burned to death. Their
sentences were then committed to dealt,
by hanging on condition OF becoming
Christians. As tho fury OF tho Chris.
tians seemed to promise the murder Of
all tho jews in Palma, not only did the
four condemned mon embrace Chris
Z tianity, butwithin two days time more
than two hundred were baptized, and
!: eventually the entire Jewish population