The record-union., 1892-10-31
SPANISH WOMEN.
High State of Cultivation Among Then
in Past Centuries.

minds eye beauty with raven" tresses,
eyes of sparkling blackness, olive com
pleXiOn and movements the personitica-
ton Of grace. But this ideal will not
servezin connection with one sof Spain's
nOblCst women, Queen Isabella, who pos
sessed auburn hair, blue eyes and a clear
( complexion, though this type of beauty
Is exceedingly rare in Spain. And it
/ seems most fortunate that there is some-
thing black to contrast with the all per-
vading- Hood OF yellow, which according
10 some travellers, has inundated the land
and bathed everything, rocks, earth,
mowers, fruits, fields, even sky i'll its
jaundiced light.
The life of the Spanish women in gem
eral IS life Of ease, but ease without
luxury, for Spain is poor-eXcept in ro
nance, history and beautiful women
though poverty sits upon Spaniard's
brow with as little weight and concern As
doth a feather upon the gentle zephyr that
bears 1t along.
The educational advantages of the
Kingdom are limited, and the feminine
portion OF the inhabitants are slow to avail
themselves OF such opportunities as are
offered, because of a general prejudice of
long standing to educational advancement
especially strong in regard to women;
then in Andalusla and the northern and
northwestern provinces, the inertness Of
! the people, produced by the langu0r Of
the climate peculiar to these portions Of
the country, no doubt aids the above
stated prejudice. But Spain has sadly
deteriorated in this, as i'm almost every
other respect. Consult the histories and
there is presented shking contrast be-
tween the Spain of to-day and the Spain
! that reJolced in the discovery of America.
! To-day she possesses ten universities;
four centuries ago fifty were dotted in the
vega of Granada alone.
During the reign of Ferdinand and Isa-
| bella women pursued the study OF the
sciences, and attained to great knowledge
and brilliancy therein. They delivered
lectures from the chairs OF the uniVersi-
ties and took part i'll public exercises of
the gymnasium. In the ancient languages
their education was especially extensive
ana far surpassed that OF the women of
to-day. Dona Lucia de Membrane lee
tured on the Latin classics i'll the Univer-
sity of Salamanca; the duties of the chair
of rhetoric in the tar-famed university at
Alcala were performed with great honor
by Dona Francisco de Lebrija
During the sixteenth century Isabella
Losa was appointed Doctor of Theology,
which gives rise to the thought that
Spain in that day would have had little
difficulty in settling the woman Ques-
tion," as it relates to the Methodist Cen
eral Conference.
During the seventeenth century Spain
possessed not few women who We're re-
nowned for ability in the different arts.
Every city in the south of Spain seemed
to be able to boast of female artist" SAWS
one writer. In Valencia resided Dona is
abella Coello, who acquired fame both as
musician and an artist. Granada pos
sessed both celebrated artist and an en-
graver inc opper.
Seville was proud to number among
her inhabitants Luisa Roldan, a re-
I no Efi lVNt,- IL.
wood and clay. This lady seems also to
have been celebrated for her domestic
qualities from the fact that it has been
recorded by historians that she managed
with greatest success her house with it's
servants, her studio and her fathers
pupils. She was appointed sculptress in
ordinary TO the King, Charles H., and
has left beautiful specimens of her rare
talent.
n miniature wrought by Maria and
Luisa de Naldes, two gifted sisters, was
treasure highly priced by its fortunate
pOSsessor.
Donna Maria de Abarco had an en-
viable reputation for taking likenesses."
EAlany city and palace is rendered more
interesting to the traveller by bit Of his
tory or legend, the point OF interest in
which is frequently centered in a woman,s
name.
Segovians are pleased to show you the
exact spot in their city where Isabella
was crowned Queen of CASTLE. Sante
Fe rejoices i'll having been built under
her supervision. Isabella is one of the
greatest adornments of history. Her ma
| tural grace and dignity, that reserve
without GOODNESS, her stanchness as a
friend, her comprehensive mind, firm
ness and tact, her aversion to anything
little or selfish, or that involved base or
unscrupulouS methods made her a fit
subject for Queen. Surely a crown be-
came her well, and yet in studying her
character we find another illustration Of
that time-worn, but ever true aphorism.
mo rose without thorn" We read
with pity and regret that she gave her
sanction to the establishment OF the in
QUESTION and the prescription Of the
Jews, which constitute the great blemish
upon her name and history. But her
bigOtry, her strong desire for the dispen-
satlon OF justice, and the spirit of the acc
III which she lived combine into cause
for her action in respect to those evils.
The one act of her life that above all
others has endeared her to the heart of
every true American, and which forms
the highest pinnacle in the temple of
noble deeds, which she reared during her
life and left as bequest to history. il
the part she took in the discovery of our
country. And those words: II will
assume the undertaking for nv own
crown of CASTLE, and am ready to pawn
my jewels to detray the expenses Of il if
the funds in the treasury shall be found
inadequate" will continue to resound
through future ages as they have in the
four centuries that have elapsed since
their utterance. The coming celebration
at Chicago will honor not only the name
/ of Columbus, but the name of Isabella as
well.
san Juan de Luz is of principal interest
to the tourist because of the marriage of
/ Maria Theresa, daughter of Philip ". of
| Spain, to Louis XIV. of France. which
! occurred within its walls in 1860. and il
! is said the little town has never awak-
ened from the dream that came over it
upon that eventful day.
! Not the least among the interesting
I associations connected with Alcala is its
! having been the birthplace of Catharine
/ OF Aragon. daughter of Ferdinand and
Isabella. who shed honor upon her own
and her adopted country, as well as upon
4 feminine administration, for it was dur
! ing her regency in England that the
English gained the battle of FIodden
Field, which was one of the greatest
victories ever won against the Scots.
When, gazing upon the church book
containing the record of the baptism of
Cervantes, our eyes fall upon his mothers
name we think of that pretty act of her
devotion to her son, the gift of all her
l-----------------------------