The Republican journal., 1900-03-29
and the whole city in darkness because
the gas works were under water

and the whole city in darkness because
the gas works were under water.
Aside from the people, there are not
many objects of interest in Triana. To
the right OF the bridge, the once formida
BILE castle afterwards served for many
years as the Inquisition. Being almost
swept away by flood, the dread tribunal
was removed to palace in the Gale de
San Marcos, on the other side of the
river; and thence to its last Sevillian
quarters in the Alameda Vieja. There is
a queer old church in the gypsy suburb,
called the Parroquia de Santa Ana, built
by Alfonso ell Sabio. in the year 1916. 1t
is a fine specimen of Gothic architare,
with pointed doorway, nave and aisles
supported on ponderous columns. 1t con-
tains great many paintings, by Campana
and other artists of the day; and the
quaintest tomb ever saw, of some long
forgotten Bishop, covered with gorgeous
purple and yellow tiles.
Crossing a small park, overgrown with
weeds and cluttered with rubbish, our
| guide conducted us to a house where he
said dance was going on, to which he
thought he might gain admission. 1t had
once been splendid mansion, Judging
from the highly ornamented facade-a row
OF battered statues filing inches along
the walls and an escutcheon over the
doorway bearing the lilies of France,
! quartered with the arms of CASTLE. 1t
was probably the residence of some titled
| grandee, before the Gtanos made this
rallying- place. But it's glories had van
ished long, long ago, together with the
fortunes of it's owner and the heads and
arms of the NEUROLOGICAL heroes in their
inches. Now ruin and decay hung over
all, the windows were curtaned thickly
with cobwebs and the doors shut and
barred But there were Indications of
merry life within--the tinkle of guitars,
the rythmical pattering of feet, the clink-
! ing of glasses and castinets, and high
pitched voice singing the familiar ballad
beginning:
| "Breoe ell pie como Andaluz,
| Los ojos de matadoro.''
The guide gave a resounding knock up
on the door, when instantly all was silent
as the grave. Another laundering knock
brought villainous- looking face to the
little square opening half way up the
oaken door, when lengthy explanations
ensued, in which the word ''amigos,'
(friends) was frequently used; then some
coin changed hands and the door was
thrown wide-to be quickly barred again
after we had entered.
Why the gypsies make such secret of
J their dances now a days, l do not know,
since civil law no longer interferes with
them, In times past royal edicts have
i been issued against them, and for cen
turtles the Church has never ceased to
hurl anathemas at them; but in vain.
The scene that met our eyes was as strik-
ing as pictureq ue. We We're in a spacious
patio, or inner courtyard, planted with
orange trees laden with golden fruit, and
in the centre of the grove the remains of
beautiful Moorish fountain. At least
! two hundred persons We're present, of all
/ ages and both sexes-most of them semi
outlawed, no doubt, if not worse. But
| true Spanish politeness prevailed, what
ever their sentiments towards ''Los Es-
tranjeros. Detacbng himself from the
crowd, a young man came forward and
made us elcome i'll che usual extrava-
i giant but meaningless phrase, bestowing
| upon us the house and all its contents.
reckless sort of way, a veritable hero of
the operate stage and dressed for. the
| part to perfection, in black velvet knee
| breecEes, leggings of yellow leather, rich
ly embroidered, green velvet jacket with
double rows of pesetas, (sllver coin), for
| buttons, and upon his head the national
catanes, the ugliest hat in existence,
/ which seems to have been modelled upon
a wash bowl. We We're told that he was
the owner of the house and very wealthy
man; and it was afterwards whispered in
our ear that his riches came through
smuggling and certain secret expeditions
to the mountains, whose object would
better not be too closely inquired into.
We were given seats close to an elevated
platform, where we had fine opportunity
to study the faces OF the crowd, and to
note that the fiery eyes of many glitteled
with anything but pleasure at the intru-
sion of strangers. Women were largely
in the majority, all in the most brilliant
colors, gorgeously embroidered silk shawls
and garlanded with flowers. Some wore
girdles of alternate red and white roses;
others had their jet black hair entirely
concealed by a solid mat of rose buds ex-
tending to the eyebrows and covering the
head like a closely fitting cap. The Or
chestra was composed of tambourines,
kettle drums and guitars, and their mo-
nOtOnous tune was accompanied by some