Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-27

vestiges of Moorish architectural remains,
are far more interesting than similar estab-
| lishments have at any time come upon IN
Spain. The wonderful roadway from Palma
| to Soller is grander than any roadway in
Italy, and half the distance winds along and
upon masses of mountainside masonry OF
| tremendous thickness and height. Over
near the eastern shore is Menacor, the second
largest city of the island A little distance
to the northeast is Arta, and here entered
by natural archway 140 feet high are
doubtless the most wonderful grottoes OF
the world; and at Alcudia is one of the most
famous fisheries of the Mediterranean.
But if none of these are seen visit to
Valdemusa and its once famous monastery
is worth a special trip to the island. With
as magnificent surroundings as those OF Val
lombrosa in Italy, mountain chasm IS
bridged by the ancient pile IN so extraor-
dinary and picturesque way as to seem at
a distance like a gray old, cloud-kissed nest
that has for ages defed decay and the bat
tling of the aerial tempests there. But the
gray of real decay is upon all things at VAL
demusa; in the gray old church and endless
cells and cloisters; in the gray old houses
that nestle along the mountain side beneath
it: and in the gray old folk that haunt the
spot like wraiths of those who once were
there. An indescribable sadness fingers
about this splendid Majorcan relic of monk
ish times and DAYS. The rich of Palma
come here in summer and live a gay mock
conventual life. George Sand halt CEN
tury ago passed the most dolorous winter OF
her life within these walls. With her was
Chopin. Perhaps in these very, cloisters
was born the wild and inexpressible melan-
choly of the melodic creations of the mas
ter's later life.
Pleasant Folk of the Island.
But best of all in Majorca you will love
the pleasant folk of the island and the
sunny setting in which you will everywhere
find them. The three classes in Majorcan
provincial life are the titled landholders,
the farmers who rent their land from the
nobility, and the common peasant laborers
who toll in the fields, forests and vine
yards. The houses of the nobility are very
fine and beautiful, and large number of
servants are retained. Many of the middle
class farmers each control from 500 to 1000
acres OF land. Such as these possess farm
steadings spread over acres of ground, all
surrounded by vine covered walls, and all
possessing first the quaint court into which
all the living rooms of the family enter,
and behind this, the greater court, from
which all the outhuildings and granaries
are reached
The structural semblance to the ancient
Moorish form of habltation is preserved
even among the cabins of the reasantry.
However humble the household, all its
members and belongings, even to the dom
keys, goats and fowls are fouud within or
radiating from this sunny open court. To a
strangers eye the high, apertureless outer
walls would present a cheerless aspect, were
they not covered with vines and blossoms,
and if the pleasant and often picturesque
interiors were not meanwhile in thought
and mind. These cabins are seldom isolated.
Two or three, and often a half dozen will
nestle together in pleasant irregularity, and,
with gnarled and ancient olive trees, ,clumps
of figtrees, scopses of almond, and tiny
groves of orange wi ith which they are all
surrounded, form the most charming coun-
tryside pictures of any Southern land.
Most Primitive Agriculture.
In my trampings about the islands Sc
cured entrance to many peasants and farm
ers' homes From this l found that all
methods of agriculture and homeside labor
were of the most primitive sort, and that
there were no idle folk in Majorca. Out
door labor of some kind is continuous the
year round All the women spin, knit or
weave, and 1 have never entered peas
ants cabin where mothers and daughters
were not in some such manner en-
pioyed. Hospitality is charming, naive
and whole-hearted. The plate of figs,
basin OF almonds or basket Of oranges,
with the wholesome wines of the country,
are ever ready for the friend or strangers
coming. I thought had partaken of that
drink of the gods, horchata, in Cuba. 1t is
simply the pulverized kernels of the
almonds to WHICH water and sugar is added.
Here where the almond grows in the great
gt
huge jars of the finest nuts for horchata.
The old mortar and pestle are here for their
grinding. The shells and brown husks are
removed, and quarts of the snowy powder
are literally s1eached,' The creamy LIQUID
fltering slowly through Then sonora or
senorita adds spice of flavor, tamarind or
or perhaps dash of wine,
with her own fair hand. 1t is food and drink.
And it is no wonder that in Majorca the en-
tire peasantry live sumptuously on daily
wages averaging less than 20 cents for men
and 15 cents for women, the year through;
when every manner of natures most royal
food is at every door for the taking, and in
such bounteousness that where it ripens it J
is valueless and without price.
Want and Crime Unknown.
Somehow there grows upon one the win
some notion that you have known all
these lowly folk before; that you have :
seen their festas and known their songs in
the sunny wales of Cuba, over in the glow
ing valley of Guines; that you have come
upon their brightness and cleanliness
among the Alps of Switzerland; that their |
and hospitality were met in |
Connemara and Donegal; that their thrift |
and frugality have their congener among |
the Pennsylvania Dutch; and that their |
love of home and simple village ways carry |
you to the pleasant mountain wales among |
the shining English lakes Surely they are |
an idyllic people in an idyllic land. Want
is unknown; crime is unheard of. There |
are no politics in Majorca and but one re-
liglon. All this in time may change. But |
rs L know it and you can know it, now,
little Majorca, fashioned in matchless |
beauty beneath a smiling sun, is the one
land Of plenty and content.
EDGAR i. WAKEMAN.
FOR throat diseases, coughs, colds. etc., effect
nal relief is found in the use of Browns Bron-
,hial Troches." Price Is cents. Sold only in