Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-04


would have taken bad tumble if it had not
been for the Moors, who kept Flooding
away at their work OF putting up superb struc-
lures, making just laws and good governments.
promoting agriculture, studying the general
welfare of humanity and pursuing the higher
branches Of learning. For this reason, to most
people, the interest Of Spain hes in its past
MOORISH MONUMENTS.
The frst result of even a rambling trip
through Spain is thorough and lasting respect
for that wonderful people, race that has left
fts enduring monuments wherever it has been.
IN architecture ~ well a. in the records Of his
tory. In Seville the Alcazar shares with the
great cathedral the attention Of visitors and
many get from II the more pleasure. The Al
caxar Vas IN It's day great Noorish palace. 1t
IL magnificent structure, grand even in its
present condition, and as is the case with the
AlhAmhrs, one can but imagine what il was
when its builders we're in the hey-day of
fhsn power and the hall Of the ambassadors,
gorgeous with rugs and with draperies, was
filed With great men. The style of this build
ing, which IVES erected in the latter part Of the
twelfth century, IL pure Moorish II was added
20 ct various times and Was probably at one
time much more considerable m extent than il is
today. The vorkmanship is xquisite in the relief
work on the walls, in the many slender, graceful
pillars, with their diversified capitals and the
beautiful ceilings that hang like rich canopies
above al the apartments 1t il like gem, COM
plete in itself Parts Of it, in the opinion of
many, are equal to anything in the Aihambra.
To one coming from . country where q century
old building Is looked upon % an antique this
Aleazsr, that has stood for seven csnturies still
with it, solid valla, glorious gilt and colored
carvings, 10 . revelation. To attempt to describe
10 would be hike describing picture Of Murillo
20 blind person Back Of il all, and inelosed
tn great stone vail, on the top of which the
MeosA used TO maintain . sort Of promenade, ID
. garden where one 10 lostin the beauty Of the
winding paths, where the air is filed with the
odor Of sveet-smelling orange blossoms and the
sound Of flowing fountains on all sides, and
vhsrs roses grow to . size and perfection that
would drive Washington florist to despair.
Thee decorations Of the Aleazar, those rich
carvings, or alculejos, on the walls were all
Hiied IN and covered over with plaster and
whitsuash by the conqusrors of the Moors, and
fss esaturiss we're allowed TO run to ruin and
decay until the only wonder is that anything al
al b kft- They were called barbaTians who
built the Alcazar. What name goss with psopls
Who could vantonly destroy such work is .
question that others must answer. Much has
bean done in the way Of repairs and restora-
child that has broken its most precious toy
Bssm 10 realize the mistake they have made and
Az doing the best they can to remedy it
Raphssl ContrerAs, the man 10 whom Tie Span
isk government has intrusted the high
duty Of restoring the AIhambya, and
Who has been for thirty-nins years engaged
upoa u tAsk, IN his book ON the Arabic moRu-
thus: aThs sneisns civilization Of Spain owe
much 70 thsm- Ths spaniArd - he i, thai
tyPs 90 different from shs Europsan fAmily
ald sbove "a fsom The northsrn rsceA repre-
ssnts today In is decadencs the culture thai
nstthsr eEusl religious prosecutions. nor tn