New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-02

developed and refined Dy the conditions OF du-
vanced civilization. Where one American went
abroad in Washington Irvings day or when Bayard
Taylor set ont his first journey, thousand
now dsport themselves in foreign countries.
Early books of travel written for readers who
seldom left their frcsides, and whose pulses
were not stirred by restless impulse TO find out
for themselves what the great world was ike
Travellers are now numbered by the hundred
thousand every year, and this branch or literature
8 largely conducted for their benefit The DOCK
writer Of the day cannot hope to rival Hum
ooldt in scientific learning, Irving in historical
knowledge, or Taylor in charm Of style and range
Of experience; but at least he can adapt himself
to the altered conditions of a world in which
travel has become one of the commonest functions
Of business and pleasure.
Dr. Stoddard has mastered this modern ART
In Spanish Cities" as in Across Russia he
fulfls the ideal of delightful travelling com
panion, whose conversation has informing quail
ties without being tedious, and whose style has
sparkle and flavor without froth. He writes ike
a man who had never seen guidebook, ana
whose sole purpose was to remind ms reauefS
delicately and with keen discernmcnt OF what
they already knew. That is the well-bred air OF
the experienced traveller on transatlantic liner
and it is equally charming in the printed page.
He imparts information without the mannerish
of teaching, and not so much OF 1t as 70 confuse
the reader with details of minor importance.
So judiciously are the processes Of composition
managed that the book has clear perspective
in which everything that an intelligent reader
desires to know about Spain Is revealed in It's
true proportions without displacement or eX-
aQgeration To read such volume Is to ENJOY
the delightful experience Of making the round OF
the Spanish cities, of visiting all the historic
,athedrals and palaces, of samphDg what Is most
characteristic in Spanish art and of watching the
movement Of modern life in the famous peninsula
without having any jclts or discomfort on the
road or being talked TO death at every turn by a
garrulous companion
One Of Or. Stoddard's chief qualifications for
writing an agreeable book is the faculty OF dls-
corning what is inherently interesting to cultured
minds in world of travellers, and of losing sight
of everything else. This involves analytical and
selective powers of high order. When these are
supplemented as in spanish Cities, by lucdlty
and directness of STYLE the finished product Is
equally instructive and entertaining. Even me
most well-worn historical themes and the most
familiar scenes in Spain are brought out In clear
light so as to have the effect of fresh studies ana
new pictures As an illustration Of the authors
refined method the following passage from one
of his chapters on the Alhambra may be quoted
The first visit, to the Alhambra Is like dream In
Mysteries as De Amics and some Others seem to have
done, nor did sense Of the romantic Prevent me
fold delights Of the place. But all desire to anayze
the different parts Of the palace TO study Il win "a
Observing and describing the courts and halls, The
fountains and arabesqges Immediately passed away;
such place conscientious traveller thinks OF Guig
Co~rt to court, from one hall into another gazing az
cgrea walls o09 s seng and nd e coamec ps aa
at visions Of artistic beauty within. ana bcaunui
views through superbly formed windows, anl look,
ing the I KO%n weTe Blended With choice e
such are Of these sentences here Tbn no I
the empire belongs to Cod Cod S essn ARE no els
lty" Perpetual salvation These are repeated on
walls and capitals Of columns and combined ana
Mii oriental decoration It is impossible not to
inerpret these records reigiOusy. and not to believe
tSaf t Rc6 Fey se Mcos the one only living
God, whose greatness and goodness ,hGy 1nu huid
fgs. Yet here mcdiiated. OF necessity, upoh, lle
Inconsistency OF man for IN sese sen TGDS and
whose ceilings are glded and starred IKE , nTa ar
5he b ~1 Se az the heavens oVerarchng the
courts and the pure water OF the sierra isi mn
myriad aSa Dfa an bSa s nave been enacted
and again Besides these rageel naes 'n n
love and poetry. gorgeous pageans, and those gatn
crings Of beauty and rank where dslclou. music;
faIr women and brave men added life and Joy and
ia the matchlcSS environment.
All these have passed away and are Only 1000 10.
rcverles and musings which delight he vagra M
M ,aRrg as Watching The gods5 or stand at
IN The shadow OF a carved window and see the Grim
son Ea on the OF a Court or pace Of the Hons
when the floats above 1t In the ar, h s ue
and all is still except the twtter the marlets IN
their tower or the notes OF the nightingale from '"e
near gardens. -
The authors itinerary included nearly all the
important cities Of Spain, and certainly all OF
historic interest and architectural prctensions
Beginning with Corona and its wonderful cathe-
aral, the circuit comprised busy and attractive
Barcelona; Tarragona with Its famous carvings
md cloistcrs: Reus with it's Catalonian traditions
Zaragoza with its castle and dungeon; Maoriu
with it's art treasures: medieval Toledo ana us
architectural glories the Escorial with its massive
architecture Cordova with its mosque and court
Of oranges Seville with its Moorish mementos
and sacred places; Cadiz arrayed like bride in
white: Granada and the Alhambra with the mists
of history enveloping them Malaga with its
declining fortunes; Gibraltar with it's military
scenes; Tangicr and it's Oriental interiors; ana
finally Burgos with memories Of the Gid. When
everything is so we'll done refinement OF criticism
ia required for indicating special excellence; but
we may refer to the chapters on Spanish art and
the Escoria as among the most brilliant LII this
charming book, and TO the following description
Of Cadlz as sample Oh lhe auVior Ill iuni'uH
style:
Cadiz whether viewed from land or sea. Is study
IN white When first IT, my voyage from
Tancier IL looked like white island, coral structure
growing out OF the ocean, dazzling and beautiful
eganst the turqnoise blue OF the spanish sky. As
drew nearer white towers and domes could be dis
ting,fshed and then the houses, all In white, with
shadowed lines between which the narrow streets
Of the city Seen from the land Cadiz appears equally
neninsula and II is only Joined to the mainland by
harrow isthmus. 1t is as luminous and brilliant when
mn dOWn
boat or by rail across the long fats. as when 1t Is
ched by sea- In both eases, the white city
sraInsf the blue OF sky produces the same
affect DE Amicis with wit. says TO give an idea
Of Cadiz could not do better than write the wore
note on the margin, Impressions OF Cadz.' Nor
does Cadiz belle It's external appearance when you