The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-25

tapia mud and lime) in the poorer. In
the summer the court is covered by an
awning (toldo). and then becomes the draw
ing room of the inmates. where they sit
az day long. dine and receive their guests
IN GOODNESS and comfort. Here tertulias
are gfven-the pleasant. informal receptions
which are about the only evening parties
ever given in Seville These patios show
very clearly the individual tastes OF their
owners. Each has a central fountain. or a
very old, moss-grown well. with olives.
banana, pomegranate and other trees grow
ing around it; some are brilliant with
flowers. others enriched with statuary and
others have ancient cypress trees cut into
fantastic forrs of temples and pagodas.
The zaguan. or short hail. which leads
from the street to the patio, is the place
where the young ladies of the family re-
ceive their calIs-the ladies' on the inside
OF the high, carefUlly-locked gates, the
gentlemen on the outside. II the accepted
lover were 10 be admitted to the parlor or
even to the patio. in the presence of his
dulcinea's father and mother it would
be considered cause for scandal; so
ne patiently hangs upon the grating. night
after night. however long the years be-
tween betrothal and the marriage. earning
Tor himself the title. conner heirro"-one
who lives on IRON No chairs are allowed in
the zaguan, for IL the lover were made
too comfortable. he might never go away
1t Is not uncommon to see engaged couples
standing close together on opposite sides
OF the gate, past midnight, perhaps with
the rain blowing in on them. oblivious of
all sublinary things. Like other Spanish
cities the windows OF Seville are faced
with iron gratings, and these, too are
rendezvous for lovers. Every evening you
may see hundreds of Romeos and Juliets.
making love through the window-b bars, each
slim gallant wrapped in a long. black Span
fsh cloak, the girls in their best attire, with
smiling, powdered faces and roses in their
hair Frequently Romeo brings his guitar
and his wooing is no whispered confidence,
but love-lorn serenade which everybody
may hear. 1t Is the fashion approved of
parents and guardians since time out of
mind, and for the lover to neglect IL would
be to forever forfeit his sweethearts favor.
The young lady who can boast the most
'iron-eaters" is the belle of the locality.
but fatal ARRAYS sometimes occur as the
result Of her coquetry, when the arriving
Romeo finds his place pre-empted by an
other.
HOT HEADED LOVERS.
You hear blood curdling tales of the swift
murderous use Of the long Albuceta knives
which everybody carries, when welded by
jealousy. Don Pedro the Cruel" set the
example in Seville, and his ardent coun-
trymen have not been slow to follow it,
The poorest servant wears a knife in his
sash. and many gentle dame secretes a
dagger IN her stocking, or as a hair pin
IN her shining tresses, and knows well how
TO use 1t when her temper is aroused. The
true Albucete knife is about eighteen in
ches long, with broad blade and a power
fui spring clasp. 1t is held open by a curl
Gus little wheel between the blade and
handle, and in native hands is used with
equal dexterity to slice . melon, or sharp
en- pencil or serve jugular vein. The
handle is of tortoise. or ivory, often richly
carved and inland with Jewels. with a
crucifix, or an image of the virgin, or the
Saviour u1on it; but the Christian emblem
does not prevent ii from being bathed in
human blood.
Speaking OF Don Pedro, nicknamed the
Cruel" his influence seemed to pervade
Seville. much as that OF Philip II does the
mother fed with him to it's Alcazar. the
most beautiful Moorish building in Spain.
which was his favorite palace when he
came TO be king and the scene of his wick
edest deeds Here he lived with the beau
tiful Castilian girl. Maria de Paddle. while
MS lawful queen. the poor French
princess, Blanche de Bourbon.
after being prosecuted and imprisoned for
years. was finally put to death at Medina
Sidonia- In this alcazar Pedro received the
Red King OF Grenada, with a promise of
safe conduct. and then murdered him for
his jewels. one of which. "the fair ruby.
great like racket ball." to-day adorns
the crown Of England. Here. too. he had
his brother, Don Fadrique. assassinated.
after inviting him to be his guest during a
tournament Maria De Padilla knew his
coming fate, but did not dare to tell him.
though from the beautiful ajimez window
over the gate she watched for his arrival
and tried to warn him by her tears. six
years later this murder was avenged by
Henry OF Trastamare, who stabbed Pedro
10 the heart: but Maria was already dead
ana buried with the Queens in the ROYAL
chapel, for after her death Pedro acknowl-
edged her as his morganatic wife and the
so-called marriage" received the sanction
Of the Spanish church. On an upper floor
or the AlacaZar is Don Pedro's bed cham
Der, and outside the door still hang a row
or grinning skulls, the heads of people who
incurred his displeasure It was favorite
little joke OF his that he had his enemies
placed where he could watch them.
Another pastime OF this strange moharch
was to go out, cloaked and disguised, at
night, to serenade his various loves be-
meath the window bars, after the fashion
OF Seville. and woe betide the previous
lover Of any maid who struck his fancy.
He is said TO have stabbed TO the heart a
score OF rivals. Dom Pedro and his vic
Tins have long been dust, but the lovely
gardens OF the Alcazar. which he caused TO
be planted. still keep his unlovely memory
green, as well as the grinning skulls and
gruesome traditions. All along its paths
are magical fountains, planned by him,
which, when q key is turned. suddenly
spring up and shower the walks and bios
SONS and make fairy rainbows in the sun
shine. You may pick oranges to-day from