The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-20

who conquered tho islands with galeys
"plated with ox.hidea and skins ms II
protection against tho iatal strokes OF
tho Baleario singers"
Ruled in turn by VNnd0ls and Goths.
the islands eventually fell into the
hands OF the Moors, shortly after south
'ern Spain became prey to the hordes OF
Gcbr.al- Tarck.- Curiously tho people OF
tho islands reached their highest pros
pority under their African rulers who
taught them all the arts and cruelties OF
piracy, until tho Balearicans became
master OF and spread terror over the en-
tire Mediterranean. The isles were thus
merged into clear yet terrible COM
monwoalth, whose power was often
courted ind employed by ncighboring
sovereigns. The accumulation OF treas
ure was enormous; SO great MS to invite
cupidity OF invasion and oven TO "holy'
crUsades; until Don Jayne ], King Of
Araeon and Count OF Barcelona, III Sep
tembcr 1920, sailed for Palma with II
fleet OF 100 galleys and $4,000 mon, prin-
cipally Catalunian pea2ant warriors
Palma fell. Tho males OF the mixed raco
Of pirate Moors and Balcaricans
were bWtcherod, sold as slaves, or
banished to tho African coass. The wo.
men became tho slaves and wives OF tho
the Cat0lbnian peasant warriors, Tho
islands were nnrtitioned Off among the
followers OF Don Jayne l., founding
titled land-holding ariGtocracy, existing
to this day, rs proud rich and noble
bloodcd as Europe eyerknow. The thon
independent kingdom-of Balcnrica, un-
der eventual vassallago to Pedro ~, OF
Aragon, was finally merged with Aragon
into the Spanish dominion, With
mothers OF pure Balc0ric and Moorish
blood and fathers IRON. the sturdy, slug
gish aud over-contentcd ,Catalunan
stock, tingod end tempered by u match
less clmH and fruitful soil, tho 100 in
tervening years have moulded a race
fine in physique, supple OF limb,
CHEEKY Of temper and heart, melodic OF
speech and tongue, fair TO look upon
and truly good to End andVknow,
Having lett the beautiful, sleepy, sun.
lit bay Tor Palma's streets. you hive en-
tered city Of nearly 10000 souls,
where Italy, Spain and Algeria seem 10
have formed 4 charming composite in
architecture and people. The hugcuess
Of walls IS everywhere remarkable.
Everything is constructed as ii for etcr.
nNllasting. No street is beautiful, but
not one fails OF d picturesquencss that
is ofton weird and grotesQue. Every
structure possesses in some portion,
and frequently in tho moss unexpected
position, some wonderful and ornate
ornamcntation. Tiny squares with
whipping fountains arc set in all
sorts OF odd corners. A hugo
church may tower on the ono
side OF each OF these. At
corner may stand, or projectfrom c,,-
rious and seemingly unnecessary wall,
y massive carved facade or garsoyl,
from which the water is erdlessly low-
ing. At another sidc mass OF vines
and yerdure, capped to the sight by far
domcs or spires, is only visible. Out
jutting ut another spot, tho anglo OF
some huge building seems TO have
pushed its way half across the plaza
and with its galleries, balconies and trc-
mondous overroaching roof is ready to
pitch headlonS into the open space be-
meath, While another sunny side
shows only roof OF red tiles sloping
like tent cover, unpierced by q single
aperture, from an interminable height
wholly to the edge OF q stone cloister-
like porch beneath.
CURIOUS SIGHTS.
In all open spaces are palm-trees.
And these. rising from courts, lifting
their spreading ironds high above roofs
from darkened thoroughfares, often
leaning, like the tower OF Pisa, out OF
quaint old courts, and here and there
being preserved by IN entire building
constructed around them, lend a dream
full, mystic, almost lonesome and pa
thctic coloring to every massing OF
structures upon which tho eye may
rest. 10 me, the palm, whetherI have
seen it in southern Spain, in Sicily, in
Morocco, in Algeria, in Cuba, or here in
Palma, whose name had its origin in
the former extraordinary number OF
paln-trees upon tho Island, has always
been IN emblem OF dolorous isolation
and indispensable loneliness. It hints
Of tho camel, tho Bcdoin, the desert.
In art, in story, in fact, it ever suggests
the endless hopelessncss and impassi-
bility Of tho barriers between the races
that subsist upon and rest beneath it,
and those who lnow'and love the maple,
beech and oak. ~ k.EfTl ..
1t is q city OF steep ascents and i'll
paved streets, but OF witching old bits
OF curious architecture, and perhaps MS
lovely and splendid interiors as any
Moorish o. semi-MoorishH city can
show. All the houses rotain features
OF Moorish taste and evidences OF me-
dieVal forms OF habitation and living.
They are not higher than three or four
stories at best. More have but the
ground tlooriwith an upper one, and an
attic called porcho Invariably the
entradas to the interior are studies in
carved arabesques and fcnciful Moorish
designs. Balconies are as universal and
huge or as lace-like and fragile rs in
Granada or Seville. 4 marked peculi-
arity OF all structurcs.is thoir hugo pro-
jectinc roofs, spread out like pent.
houses and frequently most iascinat-
ingly worked out and decorated. And
the lowliest home in all lalma is
charming in its patio or court-that
lovoliest OF NIL interior arrangement
around which Mos!em or Christian
home can be built. Il,
Every one OF those courts is place OF
beauty, sunshine and song. In every
ono there is the melodic sound OF water
from running jetty or fountain. In
every one, whether glittering with
splcndor marble columns and daintily
eli ,a,.1.l,n. - y