The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01

fully effective i'm the landscape, with their
lights and shadows and dim. blue line
blending with the horizon. are too far off
to benefit the city by their breezes. Il is
said to be an actual fact that the favorite
way Of cooking an omelet in Seville is TO
expose IL a few minutes TO the MONDAY
rays Of the summer sun. But. then the
houses are built on purpose for this kind
OF weather. and one suffers no iuconven-
fence from the heat if he takes life easily,
as The natives do. The old M0Ors were
wise in their generation and prepared for
hot weather and though ii is more than
( siN hundred years since Seville was taken
from them, their style Of architecture is
sim faithfully copied OF all the sights of
the town the Moorish patios are most in
terestng. You find imperfect specimens
Of them farther north-at Grenada, To-
ledo. and even Madrid-but Seville is pre-
eminently the place where the patio is
at its best. Ever the ordinary houses are
Oriental in plan and admirably fitted to
resist the scorchng heats Of summer
There are patios Of all sizes and degrees
Of splendor, from the several marble paved
courtvards Of the newest hotel to the
meanest and dirtiest in the old Jewish
quarter. Each shows something Of the
individual taste Of its owner. and one new
er tires Of peeping into them when walk
ing along the streets. That is easily done,
though the tall gates opening from the
zaguan-or short paved hail leading from
the sidewalk TO the patio-is always clos
ed and locked for the lacework Of its ele-
Eantly wrought and gilded iron is not much
hindTance TO the view.
In the Oldest houses the Kitchens are sit
usted close 10 the front doors. just OF the
zaguan. giving passers-hy the full benefit
Of garlic. grease. and saffron Odors. but
preventing the diffusion OF the same
through the patiOs and sleeping rooms.
The finest courts are foored with marble
usually Of various coIors and laid in pat
tiers. the walls are iulaid with elegant mo-
sale. and marble columns on every side
support the inner projections Of the upper
story. IN the centre is fountain sur
rounded by nOwerbeds; blossOming vines
Irvine around the columns. scores Of bright
winged birds sing in wicker cages. ham
mocks swing Iazily in the shade, and the
murmur OF the fountain mingles all day
with the family talk and the tinhe Of gui-
tars: for in these patios the people spend
most Of their wsking hours. The court
ward is always open to The sky at night;
but IN the day time when the sun Is hot,
an awning Is stretched over and frequently
sprinkled with water 70 temper the burn
ing atmosphere. The sleeping apartments
IN the upper story have many windows
looking into the patio but the street walls
are as blank as the face Of a man born
blind At night. the fragrance Of dew
sprinkled flowers IN tho patio ascends so
rich and overpowCring that one is fain to
close his windows and sleep like a sala-
mander, or wrap himself in a sheet and re
treat to the roof as the Seyillians have
funny habi: o. doing. So enormously high
are The sleeping rooms that looking up
from ones bed. one feels as il down in tn
bottom Of well. The floors are usually OF
white marble. and walls ornamented with
brilliant aNllejos. but the partitions 20
only d little way above ones head and the
ceiling is Of canvass or painted boards.
The unintroduced stranger must content
himself with only passing glimpses Of these
luxurious dwellings. for the proud grandee
guards his home with true Oriental jeal-