The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-25
A SPANISH CITY ON A oRAG.
The Stronghold of ROnda, Where
the People Are as Savage as Their
Home.

The Stronghold of ROnda, Where
the People Are as Savage as Their
Home.
Mrs. Pennell in the September Century.
Then he went to Ronda, which is a
dream of picturesqueness. There is incon-
gruity in the thought that you can make
the journey thither as simply as IL YOU
were going from New York to Philadel-
phia. The town, as J. walked through 1t.
seemed commonplace at first-common-
place, that is, for a southern town, where
one accepts marvels OF color and light as
matters of course His impression was
one of awful glazing heat; of donkeys, and
donkeys, and more donkeys everywhere;
of little low houses 50 white one could
hardly look at them of glimpses into long,
cool entries, where people were forever
standing waiting for an inner door to
open. And then, suddenly, there before
him was the bridge flung across that won
derful chasm-the bridge that Joins old
to new Ronda; the bridge that so many
artists since the days of David Roberts
have tried to draw or paint, despairing
even while they sought to record the
strange, almost exaggerated, picturesque
ness Of the wild mountain gorge, with the
little white town looking down so fearless
ly from its dizzy point.
There is something in the contrast that
seems to suggest-but with a difference
the gay village that nestle so cohdently
at the base of Vesuvius. The strangest
part Of II is that until one comes TO the
bridge one does not know, except from
the guide-book, that the gorge is there at
all Who could suppose that the river, ap-
parently, at least, would force It's way
through the very highest part Of the noun
tain?
There is a little Alameda where one
can stand, leaning against the railing,
and gaze down for ] do not know how
many hundreds or thousands OF feet IL
is here, OF all places, that one realizes
the awful hight OF the precipice; but II
is from below one sees the marvel best
and most comprehensively-fro far be-
low. where one can follow the winnings
of the white road along the very edge Of
the cliff and under stately white gate
ways, and look TO the bridges hanging in
the air, as Il werc across the roaring
stream as fantastic and unreal and en-
trancing as any Arabian knights picture.
II IS only as II should be to find the peo-
pie as fantastic as their high-built town
so grsy and ghouli5h. indeed, that Il
Is hard to talk about them; so savage in
their manners that they might drive the
more timid traveller quickly away and
back to civilization. When any one comes
to draw the great bridge from the APP
propriate point beneath, the sport OF the
leading citizens is to gather in crowds
upon II, and throw stones upon the rocky
hillsldes, starting an avalanche which
makes the artist who has been foolish
enough to go there drop his work and
run for his life. stu, l suppose, one must
nay somehow for the privilege OF visiting
the most sensational place In Spain. It's
wonderful position, It's magnificent
bridges, its beautiful little valley, where
the finest fruit in Spain is grown, its
encircling crown Of sierra, make up 20
a certain extent for the discomfort Of
staying in its horrible boarding house.
among the savage brutes Of It's popula-
ton.