The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22
AN OLIVE FARM in SPAIN
THE MAKING OF SALAD OIL A
PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
Methods of Manufacture Not Likely to
Encourage a Taste for OIL
Relics of Inqufsition.

Correspondence OF the indianapolis Journal.
CORDOVA, Spain, Feb. 20-Our depart
ure from Seville was delayed another day
in order TO accept an eleventh-hour invita-
ton to visit an olive farm-an excursion
which believed would prove as interesting
to readers of the Journal as to myself. Ac-
cording to arrangement our hosts travel
ing carriage awaited US at 4:SO o'clock in
the morning, and after a hasty cup of cof-
fee we clattered through the still sleeping
streets of Seville-under the lofty Giralda,
among whose silent bells a colony of
hawks and pigeons were calling an early
muezzin of their own; past la Casa del
Avuntamiento, the great corporation
house, fronting the main plaza, whose IA
cade of silversmith chasing in stone is
pronounced the most delicate example of
Picturesque work in existence; past
churches and mosques and synagogues and
palaces. all crumbling with the weight of
centuries; through the antique gate beside
the Golden Tower; then several miles along
the Guadalquivir and then due east among
farm lands and vineyards, to the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada.
Passing through the village of Castileja
de la Cuesta, perched on hilltop near Sc
vile, wanted to visit the home of Her
nan Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, but
time did not permit more than a glimpse
of the exterior of the house in which he
lived and died. 1t is said that the rooms
remain much as he left them, and his fine
library is still intact. Bernal Diaz, his
lifelong friend and the chronicler of his ex-
petitions, wrote that Cortez sought retire
ment in his old home for the purpose of
preparing his soul for death, and piously
adds: when he had settled all his world
ly affairs, our Lord Jesus Christ was
pleased to take him from this troublesome
world" Cortez was sixty-three years old
when he died, in the winter of 1557-like
Columbus and many others, a broken
hearted victim of his kings and country's
ingratitude. He was first buried at San
Isidoro. near Italica, but not for long.
After many movings and changings of
sepulchre his bones found a final resting
place at Texcuco, in Mexico, the scenes of
his greatest glories and crimes Local
tradition asserts that his unquiet ghost vet
wanders about the corridors and patios of
his childhood's home-perhaps pursued by
vengeful wraiths Of Montezuma and Qua
tamotzin and other murdered Mexicans.
dlSIORlCAL COMMENTS.
Even more interesting is the castellated
convent of San Isidoro, five miles from
Seville, close by the ruins of the Roman
city that Scipio built. Though complete
ly Quilted by Soulte, it is still a magnificent
building and now serves for a church The
entrance is extremely quaint, of colored
bricks and gorgeous thing I'm purple and
yellow. 1t contains number of priceless
pictures by the early Spanish masters, a
beautiful statue of Isidoro, the patron
saint. and many interesting tombs. Among
the latter is that of Guzman ell Bueno who
received his title, "the Good" from King
Sancho ell Bravo, after the defense of
Tarifa against the Moors. Guzman had in
trusted his eldest son, nine years old to
the care of Infante Juan, who proved a
traitor. Having leagued himself with the
infidels. Juan brought the screaming boy
| under the walls and threatened to disem
bowel him unless the fortress was imme-
diately surrendered. Guzman replied, ST
prefer honor without my beloved son to
dishonor with him." The child was cruel
ly murdered and his little body hoisted on
pike. cry of horror from the soldiers
called Guzman to the battlements: and
when the iron-hearted warrior saw the
mutilated corps of his son, he turned to the
chld's mother and said calmly, ST was
afraid the wretches had taken the city,"
Guzman and his family are buried in San
Isidoro, and the custodian gravely asserts
that when the tomb was opened lin 1870,
the good mans body was found to have
been miraculously preserved and grown to
the height of nine feet
Though time was pressing, we went into
the old convent, all strangers do, to
place a tribute of flowers upon the tomb of
Dona Urraca Osorio, and her faithful maid
who lies at her feet. You doubtless know
the story-how the beautiful young daugh-
ter of a noble house unfortunately attract
ed the admiration of that terrible king.
Pedro, the Cruel. Because she rejected his
| sameful proposals, he caused her to be
chained to a stake and burned alive in the
| public square. AS her clothes were con-
| sumed by the flames. exposing her beauti-
| full form, the servant Leonora, faithful
unto death. rushed into the fire and by her
| own body shielded her beloved mistress
| from the gaze of the rabble.
| Since the dawn of history the neighbor-
| hood of Seville has been celebrated for its
| olives and oil. which yet form the staple
commodity of Andalusia. There are hum
dreds of haciendas. large and small each of
| which combines in itself an olive grove
| a village, a mandatory and a manor
/ house. The estate of San Esteban, which
we were invited TO inspect, Is notable one
| though less extensive than many-be-
| cause managed on lines comparatively up
| to date. 1t contains about 10000 trees each
| of which yields from two to three bushels
| of olives every year. The whole product
| averages five thousand arrobas, (of twenty
| five pounds. which sell from three to five
| dollars the arroba. AT the moderate aver
| age of $4,000 a year, the income from this
| small farm is not bad-considering that
| there are no crops to be planted over and
/ over and no cultivating to be done. But
| don't conceive any wild ideas OF imitation.
| Remember the adage, HE who plants an
| olive, plants for his childrens children"
| The trees are of such remarkably slow
| growth that TO start a fresh plantation
| requires a lifetime before profitable re-
| suits are attained; and to buy orchard
already in bearing requires fortune large
| enough TO live without labor.
| CELEBRATING THE OLIVE