The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-12
TOLEDO BLADES.

The glory of Toledo blades, like nearly
every other glory there, has in great
measure departed, but certain number
of sword makers and damascene work
ers still maintain a remnant of the old
tradition, though they have had to con-
form somewhat to modern methods. AT
their apogee they formed the most i'm
portant corporation in the town. and
possessed all manner of privileges,
which extended even to the smaller fry
who merely sold daggers and knives.
Every armorer worked for himself, and
boosted of methods and secrets of his
own. He might almost have been said
to be the master of an artistic school,
and great was the compensation among
ambitious youths to be admitted among
the ranks of his apprentices.
The peculiar excellence to which the
steel of Toledo owed its extraordinary
fame throughout Europe is said to have
been due to some special virtue posses
ed by the sand and water of the Tagus,
Just as the glorious beer of Munich is
attributed to some special property in
the waters of the Isar The original iron
came from the Basque mines of Mon
dragon, and was also deemed essential
to the general result Now, however,
both iron and steel are imported from
abroad. and the manufacture has sunk
if anything below the average mediocri-
ty of Europe This is as striking an
evidence as any of the universal deca-
dence of Spain, for the famous weapons
of Toledo attracted attention in song as
far back as the days of the Romans.
The Moors, as usual, advanced the art
to its highest pinnacle, and. though the
armorers of Florence and Milan may
have produced more artistic designs,
Shapespere was certainly justified in pro-
nouncing "Toledo's trusty" to be the
soldiers dream" Each of the greatest
makers had a mark or crest of his own,
and this was regarded as an indispen-
sable warrant of his workmanship That
of Julien del Rey was small heraldic
dog. He was a converted Moor, and
obtained greater celebrity than any cf
his rivals, predecessors, or successors,
King Ferdinand himself consenting to
stand sponsor for him at the font.
Other names scarcely less famous are
those of Donisio Corroentes, Orduno,
Ruiz, Martinez, and Cantera. Any of
their work, still to be found amid the
lumber of curiosity dealers, may almost
be said to be worth its weight in gold
What, however most appeals to the lay
mind is probably tn Espado de Tosca
the steel Of which is so true and finely
tempered that it may be doubled right
back and shut up thus in box for any
length of time. Most Of the modern
work is now absorbed by the govern
ment factory, which stands some little
distance out Of the town, and by no
means repays visit, everything there
being inferior and commonplace. 1T
would appear, indeed, that this marvel
ous art, like so many others, has entire
" passed away, and may never hope to
be revived. For the age of the sword
lied with the spirit of chivalry, and the
modern conqueror, with his machine
guns and dull mathematical calcula-
lions, would remain merely puzzled and
powerless if we placed in his hand a
Durandal or an Excalibur The days of
romance faded away long ago, and even
At Toledo we may only find misty mem
)ries which heighten our impatience and |
leepen our gloom.-London Saturday
Review