Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-11

sister OF the queen of Spain, the
duchess of Nontpensier. had "a French
hu.band. who considered that he
might have a chance To govern the
land. and he wanted to do some
thing popular. So Rabida was ha-
bilitated. paintings put in it and
given the appearance which ] saw
last spring. AS near as can
remember, the essential difference
between the convent there and here
Is in number Of side walls or yards
being put upon the original convent,
q vcran.a or loggia opened toward the
ocean. and the cupola heightened.
The convent here Is not very much 10
see outside: IL does not stand on suf-
ticicntly high ground to sug yest all
Rabida. which Is about scventv-fivc On
one hundred feet above the waters
edge and far enough back to permit If
broad. inclined planes To he built tn 1t.
which was done last ycnr, aud a new
pier put there: and now the place
where Columbus was undoubtedly a
guest Is in better shape than II has
ever been. The walls were fully
scraped while was there and many
mural paintings of an early age in art
disclosed A good deal that was mys-
terious was found under the floors,
such a. vaults TO bury the dead. In
stored in several of the rooms. notably
the prior's parlor and sitting-room. and
ia his Office at the front of the con-
vent. whence he saw Columbus out
side. In brief. Rabida i'm Spain is
rong-loolxing. high object on the top
of hill. good ways back from the
water. and with the monument Ia Coz
lumbus built last year rising conspicn-
ousiy by It's side. which can be seen
from I.ueiva. three miles opposite. an
important town: and II is also three
miles from Palos. a little hill village
which furnished Columbus sailors.
In Chicago Rabida Is whitcwasheti-
looking building, iow-pitched and not
many feet above the water. which has
been malc To- come in like dock and
inclosc IL.
As soon rs ron pct in the chapel Of
the Chicago convent. however. you
find everything very much at Palos.
The scullcries. sta hles. etc. are not 10
he seen. but the center or cnciente OF
the convent is all here. and IL Is hllcd
with paintings and relies leading to
the central idea. which makes the Chi
cage Rabida one OF the greatest shrineS
In the world At this moment With n
trlistfuiaess and "a eordiality assuring
10 the world. the descendants of Co
lur bus. the monarchs 81 Spain and
other countries and the pope have
cent 80 this distant spot things price
less ns The utility 81 Columbus is do
volopcd more end rrorc with centuries.
There Is hardly museum in the world
which rallies about It's central idea
such n collection as this and q great
deal ~ Is i due Ia the Young news
pap1r nlan. Curtis. who. mcsting me
accidentally ia the convcn. here,
showed me through Il In part
Ia ,ehisla ! saw several paintings H.
mafrati 70 - the story ~ Columbus
They we're hardly painted more than
ats OF siyfv years AGO. aud I judged
bv the porfrEit- - Qseen Isabella and
Ter sister Nanipcasler icing there.
tifaf tit tt'thi flNtztfr&. a. a sop - the
spanish bad these rictnrcs made cnr-
- had every ono 81 them copied much
larrcr fhan u was out tbsre by artists
GOD enoagh fnr this purpose. and he
has allen ha3 copies mall - nearly
ever hiHT ta ~r about spain which
world y turialifs tel1uiisus. and he
sff e, w,rs eapt Frank - il.es sad
efher e.es MS abroad who see in al
yartrsrssa~ places. - procure material.
and tl.e ersaif Is something ssrprisiax.
sail b. = me
q 81 Is Is book which Grst esafaiss
tAr nsDse america Tais man up
herr whose pHtfaif yau 80 painted
seas bridge baliirr ia Safut Bie.
France. anA b. had -, down g. lafis.
sol There ~ sn~ al aesuups - tsse
aiaffrff ~ Nsarrfss IS Asaefiru4 Yes
pssi a hrn ~ ~, back - saint tne
BE- isaua a sienh whose piatare ais-s
snow Tssu here ataff patiishlns q
hftle i-ssk - geography. Ia iso7 Co
i'iehes Fsss sissas thst lime dfins
ais~s afsiy ~ spain Tie @eak wAs
Fsfg siad e abe infsfnsfi.,a. sd BE
ret y ia his hook ~hish sad ia