Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-02

city by the land side. and that 30
strongly defended by ancient Moorish
Notifications as TO appear utterly in
vinclble. All around it rise black pre-
cipitous rocks, backed by rugged hills
scOrched by the trOpic sun into every
shade Of orange and brown. but WITH
never hint OF living green. Guarding
the entrance 10 the town stands the
ruined castle of Cervantes. on 4 pro-
iecting spur Of the mountain. At its
foot Is the bridge of Alcantafa. the cele-
brated Bridge Of the Bridge, closed
at both ends by gate-towers and strid-
ing with high arches across the Tagus
as e rushes through the deep chasm In
the rock II is truly q CITY set upon
hnl" and with good reason-because It's
"munition Of rocks made natural
fortress. The Romans built IN the plain
because their legions were strong
enough 10 defend an unfortihed city
but the GOths came from the north,
where feudal chiefs, who were little bet
ter than robbers. We're wont 10 immune
themselves behind thick walls. from
which 10 sally out and attack cities;
and so they built castles IN Spain as
they had built them on the Danube and
the Rhine But though the present city
Is OF Gothic origin. the oldest bridge Is
Roman structure resting on the same
cliffs It's noble arches. after the original
Roman pattern spanning the same
deep gorge and rushing river. From
the farther bank comes the ascent by
steep winding terraced road overlook
ing the parapet and the wide landscape
OF plains. mountains and river The at
mOsphere Is so clear that every assure
IN
THE DISTANT HILLS
can be counted and each building on the
line OF the horizon stands out against
the turquoise sky as II seen through a
microscope. clumsy vehicle. half wa
gon half omnibus. drawn by six mules,
harnessed three abreast. conveys pas
sengers from the railway station. across
the bridge and up the military road 90
the town The mules are caparis0ned
IN true Castillan fashion. with glitter
ing brass and tinkling bells and gaudy
tassels: but are urged with cruel
blows oaths and frantic cries by their
gypsy driver mp The winding way al a
speed which threatens Ia snap their
slender legs like pipe stems. The so
phistlcated traveller VIII have none OF
II. but climbs the heights Oh foot. tax
ing time 90 recover his wind az ire
able preteXt OF admiring the landscape.
Where the terraced road makes
zlgzag 20 the highest level.
stand the magnificent Moorish gate
way, Puerta del Sol. Gate of the sun
Of a splendid orange-red color. rs four
horseshoe arches. set one behind the
other richly embossed with tracery. IL
h the best preserved monument Of lbs
class In the Peninsula. and Indeed the
finest " liz epoch in the world for the
defensive works Of the Saracen. despite
their soldity. have suffered so much
from the caprice of kings and the can
non OF besieglnR armies. that perfect
one H. rarely 20 be seen. The portcuIlis.
studded with bolts and spikes. still
hangs by It's rusty chains though the
drawbridge disappeared some centuries
ago. and the mOat eXcaYated with IN
Unite labor In the living rock has been
partially filled ~ a few guards ln
ragged uniforms charged With the COLI
| lection OF municipal duties, lounge
| about the gateway. and few female
! heads. in dshablle. thrust out Of adj
jacent windows aa the omnibus rattles
| by are the only signs OF lie.
! A little farther on you encounter an
other gateway. and then plunge Into
streets 20 narrow. stony and tortuous
that you cannot believe they are streets
al All. but mere accidental riffs In the
! rock. or assures worn by mountain
i STRAINS
10 the Tagus. or course. II on foot you
are lost in no time amid the Intricate