The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-07-26
clans. and even Moors and Bebers from

Ii
the Spanish colonies of Africa. The
balconies of the houses are occupied
by senoras and senoritas in festive an.
parel and garlanded with roses; while
through half open doors issue the click
of castinets and the tinkle of guitars
Indicative of merry-making going OH
within. The cafes, with their walls of
plate glass, their gliding and gorgeous
frescoes and thousands of mirrors. are
crowded to repletion with animated
crowds. Such picture does the Gate
of sum present every pleasant even
ing; and at this time of year it's lights
are seldom extinguished, or its prone.
made deserted, until the melancholy cry
of the Waterman announces the dawn of
day. Sun worship could never have
originated in Spain. 1t is often said
that the most delightful thing in Spain
is its blue sky and the most detestable
thing is the sun that causes it. No
Spaniard would ever have sold his
shadow to the devil, like the German of
the story. for such paltry thing as a
purse OF gold that never became empty:
for, much as he likes gold, he loves
shade more. All day are the streets
deserted: but no sooner has the sun set
than the whole population come pour
ing forth, to enjoy the cooling breezes
and listen to the bands while promenad-
ing round and round the plazas. No
other city in the world can turn out so
many fine teams of Andalusian horses.
as proud and graceful as their masters
and mlstresSes: and on other hand. no.
where can you see so many ignoble
mule teams amid such procession of
arlStocratic carriages. Those who sit
in carriages drawn by mules appear not
a bit less vainglorious than those be-
hind the highest stepping steeds, and
doubtless the former consider them
selves infinitely higher in the social
scale than the multitudes afoot. On
Sundays and holidays there is such a
dense throng Of pedestrians and CARR
ages that one progresses but slowly-and
that is just what you want, as there is
so much to see in the way of genuine
"local-color."
From the eastern side of Puerto del
Sol-the point where King Alfonso was
fired upon by an assassin some years
ago-a street leads straight to another
splendid bit of local color in the Plaza
Oriente. The latter is beautiful little
park, with bronze equestrian statue
of Philip ". in the centre, which is
said to be the most perfect work of its
kind in existence And it ought to be,
for three of the greatest geniuses of
the time contributed to form its fault
less proportions. The model, taken
from the kings favorite charger. was
sketched by NelaSquez and carved by
Montanes, both unrivalled IN the differ
ent branches OF their art: and it was
Calico who suggested that the lower
part of the statue be cast solid and the
upper half hollow. in order to preserve
the balance 1t was cast III Florence in
1920. 1t is 10 feet high and weighs $50
cwt.: yet the horse curvets, supported
by the hind legs. and the name and
scarf appears to absolutely float in the
air. Around the oval garden of which
this celebrated statue forms the centre
piece, are scattered fourteen colossal
statues of kings and queens, III bronze
and marble. Nearby, on the left, is the
Royal Palace and on the right the
royal theatre. 4 few rods beyond the
latter You come to the plaza de Isabel
Segunda, with its fragrant garden and
queer statue of the Drama, in snow
white marble. Then there is the Plaza
de las Cortez, in front Of the spanish
House of Commons. Its chief attrac-
ton is the bronze statue of Miguel de
Cervantes, the author OF Don QuiXote.
Dressed in the old Spanish costume, the
greatest author Spain ever produced is
represented as hiding under his cloak his
crippled arm, mutilated at Lepanto-a
thing which he never did in life, it be
ing the pride of his existence Reliefs
on the pedestal represent the inimitable
adventures of the "knight of the >or.
rowful Countenance. The consider
able cost of this monument was de
frayed out of the Bula de Cruzada:
thus Cervantes. who had fallen into il
repute among his coUntrymen and was
ransomed from the prison of Algiers
by the monks Of La MERGED, whel
dead, owed this tardy monument to a
religious fund FANNIE 3. WARD.
Resolutions of Respect.