The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-02
Corpse of a City

course many are much older. And il is
safe to say that nothing whatever has
been built in Salamanca during the last
100 years.
a BIT FROM PLUTARCH.
Furnishing up your ancient history
you remember that Plutarch relates how,
$50 B. c., Hannibal raised the seige of
Salamanca, after the Spaniards had prom
ised to pay 300 talents Of silver and to
hand over 300 hostages. 1t seems that
the race was not famous for keeping its
word, even at that early day, and having
failed to comply with the terms agreed
upon, the Punic chief returned and gave
the place over to plumber. He ordered
the male population to come out unarmed
and, being afraid TO trust them demand
cd that they leave their cloaks behind
But he did not reckon on the women!
The latter concealed swords under their
sayas and when the Massaesylian guard
placed over the unhappy prisoners left
their charge TO join in the plumber and
pillage. the women gave the swords to
the men, who rushed back and killed
hundreds of the plunderers. So much for
Plutarchs contribution TO the history
of Salamanca, true or false.
LATER HISTORY.
We know that under the Romans this
city became the ninth military station
on the Via Plata, silver Way''-the
broad zone that led from Santander on
the north coast of the peninsula, to ca
diz on the south At Salamanca the
Goths coined their golden money. until
the place was ravaged BY the Moors;
and Spaniards re-C0nQuered it in 1855.
Although fully three-fourths OF the city
is now in ruins it i still wonderful
mass OF colleges. converts and churches
Indeed. nowhere in the world. upon such
81 small area. can be found such wealth
Of sculpture, such pomp Of architectural
display, as in this corpse of city
whose population has dwindled from So
o9o % hardly 500.
THE SALAMANCA OF TO-DAY.
You PUT up at La Burgalesa," the
only hotel now open in the place. and
are surprised to find IL mot half bad
as the English say-considering the ex-
IRENE poverty % the region and the gen
eraI badness Of the Spanish INNS Close
ny IS Jhe Plaza Mayor the great square
which for SO years enjoyed the reputa-
zion Of being the finest IN Spain. capable
of holding anoo0 people. where bull fights
were held for the amusement az kings
On one side are the municipal buildings
the other three sides being occupied by
arcades OF arches on Corinthian columns.
the whole a marvellous sample Of Platter
esque architecture. But IFS glory has
long since departed Behind those splen-
did arches are dark, dirty, poverty
stricken shops, and back 81 them are
narrow. ill-paved alleys lined with tum-
ble-down palaces and swarming with
beggars.
THE STUDENTS
All this once proud plaza is deserted
except fer bessars. asleep i'm the sun
but in the evening the few remaining
students congrecate there. staggering ~
and down. arm in arm, proudly wearing
their ragged cloaks ike regal srmine,
pulling their interminabIe cigarettes ana
shouting their Casullian songs. The old
time atmosphere which arises in the
mind with s,rolling bands q ma
siciaus. escapades OF balconies and the /
roguish exploits 50 charmiRsly pictured |
in the pages Of The Bachelor o. Sala- !
manca' and Ceramics TIA Fingide.'
is now slmoS, extinct The ugly black
costume 81 the order Is ye; worn. but the
ooNw1od fork and spoon stuck IL the /
cooked hat are nowadays only for orns-
ment. and are no longer used 10 Ssh oat
tidbits from the caldrcn of the convent
kitchen. Since the construction a. raI-
roads in this part 81 Spain the business +