The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-23
MADRID AS 1T IS.
"Gano" Takes rho Towards Through thu
Famous spanish Capital

"Gano" Takes tho Towards Through thu
Famous spanish Capital
KIND BRoTHERs AND SISTERS OF THE II.
L. C.-After a forced silence OF few
months | again visit you. In my last |
stated that this letter would also be de-
Madrid As 1t Is"
Madrid is the least Spanish of all the
cities in Spain. for it early learned,
like most OF the capitals OF Europe,
to initiate Paris in architec-
ture and customs. For beauty
it is unfortunately situated. 1t spreads
over several undulations of wide and
almost utterly barren plain, bounded
partially by snow-capped mountains.
Madrid has been the capital oil Spain for
over four hundred years, with the excep-
ton of briet period, when Philip III.
removed the court TO NalladOlid. Previous
to this it was merely an advanced post" to
Toledo, the carte" at that time, and as
the surrounding country was then denselY
wooded and inhabited by wild animals.
it was chiefly resorted to as a hunting
seat The river which intersects it has
OCbn uIEllnEN III D1GtlN " tAiO lttbAt VI
''the mighty Manzanares." Judging from
the long, massive bridges that span liz
Bed, it doubtless equals its reputation ~
some seasons of the year.
The population is about 100000, but the
streets are always crowded, as the peo-
pie live ont OF doors, alter
nately on the shady or sunny
side, as the season demands.
The most central part of the city seems to
be the puerta del sol gate OF the sum- an
open place, crescent shaped on one side
in the center is a large fountain OF enorm-
Gus water power. 4 Number of hotels face
this square and from it the principal
streets diverge; two lead to the palace,
and, opposite, two to the Carrera san
Geronimo and the bale de Alcala, broad
and handsome avenues lead TO the pra6O
and the retro gardens. The famous pradO
is long, broad, shaded promenade with
drive on each side, extending to botanical
gardens and the Fuente sasullana and
Recoletas. There are many charming
walks and drives in the gardens. much
resorted to in the early morning and even
ing.
The royal palace is a colossal, square,
white marble ediice, built by Philip Y in
1877 upon hill sloping TO the Manganares.
1t was designed to have four parades,
thirty-four entrances, 1000 pillars, twenty
three courts, gardens, a theater, churches
and public offices. But the original de-
signs were not quite so extensively carried
out. Near this is the SsRddO, or senate
house, but il is insignificant in architect
ure. Most of the old streets and squares
of Madrid are small: the sidewalks
scarcely allow two 10 pass; the shop
doorways are generally shaded BY curtains
of canvas, or of straw-matting. The
common people are early astir IN
the morning and fall asleep
anywhere in the streets at noon; in the
evening all Madrid is out and remains out
the greater part OF the night, the principal
rendezvous being the theaters, cafes and
gardens.
Thers are not great many sights in
Madrid and it's history has been much
more commonplace than that of most of
the cities of Spain. On the Correra San
Geronimo is the cortes or house of con-
gress. The entrance is not lofty but quite
elegant, with pillars OF the Corinthian
style and guarded by two bronze lions,
each with one paw on ball.
Among the places of interest Is the
naval museum. where, besides nautical
affairs and ship models and old flags, are
some quaint portraits of Ferdinand and
Isabella, Columbus and others. The arch
selogical museum is one of the most
interesting in Madrid. 1t has been in ex-
istence only a few years, but is still
quite extensive and contains some very
valuable and interesting collections of
relics, copies and models of Moorish archi-
lecture and metal-wOrk and Roman.
gothic and Carthaginian antiquities. But
aesthetic interest in Madrid centers in
the museum of paintings on the pradO, re-
nowned through all the civilized world
for its wonderful collection of choice
neutrality-suspicious. those by Spanish
artists.
In the Retro gardens. bordering on the
prado there are fine orchestral concerts
given. Some OF the theaters in Madrid
are very good; the opera, also, in its sea-
son.
Though there are hydrants in most OF
the house courts, yet all the drinking
water In Madrid is bought of carriers, who
bring it from certain reliable end wonder
full fountains, pure and clear as though
fresh from mountain sources, whence it
really comes; it is then left cool
in white porous jars for use. All Spaniards
are very particular about the water they