The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-07
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THE EsCURIAL

Some years ago" says ] p n;,
thy of Chicago, 1T was my eooa 'l"Vf'
TO put in some weeks in Madris ,Ile
most interesting thing 1 saw NO tne
Escorial, or Escurial as it is FIJI. ue
spelled. This is the combinstior
ace, monastery, fortress and COL pS-
that Philip ii. built. To the reIiotaE
turn of Philips mind the wo,,s o''1s
TINS extraordinary and beautifpI s, Oss
ture. 1t Is situated about thirr,, s 's'
from Madrid, on mountain siSs ainls
looking as wild and bleak a landSoaat
as could We'll be found anywhars rs ISle
rope. 1t was named for s5ra % So Eu-
and, according TO tradition pbai Sa'It
built it in obedience to a yow up H.
taken. Its distinctive name b1T.,l lad
ii takes from the struggling int ,I'
iage that nestles below it. th. orlvo. WI
pauons of whose inhabitants ara w.
manufacture of chocolate and rha ra1-a
ing on of counterfeit money on gnIibi.
strangers. The Escurial proper looras
/ above the town, immense. ungsinll
/ even monstrous, and yet with an air =,
Understandable grandeur. The buildinsa
clumsily adapted though they ans -
the inequalities Of the ground covs.
nine acres and are really naiesti"
The main feature. and the most inter,
esting one of the great structure is N.
cathedral which is acknowledge n h
one of the finest Renaissance churchas
to be found anywhere in Europe. II
simply enormous. and perfectly carri1il
out in every detail. In the day of h
creation the Escurial was fortraS
impregnable against the existing inp..
nentS of war, and from its towers al
wide an eXpanse Of territory lay OBS,
70 the sight as to render an attack M
surprise impossible About half mi !
from the Escurial a spur OF the mou
tain filings boldly out. and at its
IRENE point is a natural seat. fro
which a widespread view can be 81
tanned. This is called Philips seat. aH|
here, legend has II. that gloomy m0a|
arch was accustomed to spend his TIM
in fine weather. Successive rulers ~.
riched and added 70 the EscuriaI. mt
at the close OF the last century II.
treasures ii contained We're beyond con.
pUtation. It's tapestries. pictures, Ibrl.
ries and works of art We're priceless
But beyond the Pyrenees the figga
OF the Corsican was beginning 10 cas-
that blighting shadow that marked il
such strong contrast the eEGing Of th;
old order Of governments and the b4
ginning of the new Soon his armia
crossed the Pyrenees and Spain fl
under the dominion Of the little man i
gray. Where Napoleon conquered b
despoiled, not for personal gain. bat {
enrich and adorn imperial France. O
the art treasures of all the countit
he conquered the Little Corporal lai
heavy tribute, and Spain he ruthless
despoiled. A later government made
partial restitution, but many of Il
finest pictures in the Louvre today bea
witness that that restitution was n
complete. The EScurial. famed EuroI
over for two centuries on account
the fabulous richness Of its posse
sions, was a specified place 10 plunde
and its pictures. library and 9th
treasures were scattered or taken
France. a few the monks preserved
hiding them away in adjoining cave
and among them was a wonderi
statue of Christ on the cross. to discoy
which the French are said 10 Ia
searched the length and breadth
Spain without success Today the F
curiai is used as q college Ii is Al
the burial place CT the Spanish king
. l-N. Y. Tribune.