The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-15
Decay of the University of
Salamanca.
ONCE CENTER OF LEARNING
William {. Curtis Writes of
Deserted institution.
William E. Curtis. writing in the Chi

more space than I can give it. It was
founded by Alfonso, the ninth king OF
Leon. in 1913. Just before the union OF that
kingdom with CASTLE. and was the sub
5ect Of generous grants from several OF
his SUCCESSORS down TO the tine Of Philip
H. when the expression of opinions on
any subject became dangerous IN SPAN
ard education was discouraged In l3Ji
it was recognized by the pope and placed
on an equality with the great institutions
at Paris. oxford and Bologna. It T2s
greater than the latter two. both IN the
numbers Of its faculty and students aad
IN the advantages il offered for education.
II ranked Immediately after that Of Paris.
the second in the world. Students came
here from al over the world It's lectur-
ers had universal regulations. It's stu
dents were sought as instructors by for
eign universities, and it's diplomas car
ried weight in scholastic circles every
where The faculty controlled the priv'l-
eyes of printing in those days and ezer-
cised a censorship over the literature o
Spain Their "catedras," or opinions IN
on theological, scientific and legal ques-
lions were considered final. There was
no higher court OF appeal
But the university has now dwindied tG
absolute insignifcance. The rector's sal
airy is only $1,000 a year and none OF the
seven professors receives more than S79l.
The few students who remain lodge il
private houses. because the great dcrmi-
tories are uninhabiuabIe. and only a few
OF the hundreds of great lecture halls
which were once thronged with students
are used. The principal building. erected
in 49,, is considered one Of the most
notable examples of what IS called the
grotesque style Of architecture. It is pro-
fusely adorned with Picturesque details.
executed with the greatest skill. and the
facade is very elaborate, covered with
orrnorial bearings. and busts. with heroic
figures of Ferdinand and Isabella over the
principal entrance. where there is an III
scription in Greek too badly defaced u
be read
The university is divided into Escuel1s
Mayores Chigher schools. which rank with
our ordinary colleges. and Escuelas Men
ores (rninor schoolsl, which compare with
our academies. and both have the same
faculty. The lecture rooms are grouped
around a quadrangle with fine cloisters.
The professors occupy desks known es
cathedras, which in several cases are Of
handsomely carved old oak, but the stu
dents have plain wooden benches. without
backs, like those you see in crossroads
schoOlhouses in the Southern states They
are evidently of recent construction. and
several of them are enarly Whitfield away.
The chapel was originally a beautiful
specimen of Gothic work. but was spoiled
bvi being ..restored" ny an Incompetent
M r1.a1 H.
AlSonzo. the Learned. " in 125t, has $4,000
volumes. all old Scarcely book has been
added 10 il for "A century It contains
many autograph letters Of Ceramics an /
Cardinal Ximines. who are numbered
among the eminent graduates of the IN
,stitution. and a splendid collection of
Il manuscripts. MANY brought from the
Holy Land during the crusades, and more
captured from the Moors during the wars
that ended with their expulsion in tn
fifteenth century. The collection Of Ara
bian manuscripts is surpassed only ny
that At the EscuriaI. \ curious volurre
containing the Lords prayer in 81 Ian
guages. and beautifully Illuminated, the
librarian told me once belonged 70 the
great Napoleon. and if that is true no"
II came here IS mystery. Napoleon never
left anything Of that sort anywhere he
looted libraries, ait galleries, churches.
palaces. rnouastertes and private hous
of the gems of literature and art. most
Of which are now in Paris. but never
heard before of his contributing anything
Of value to . library or gallery outside Z
his own eountry
The greatest riches Of the Salamanca
library are the printed books Of the If
teenth century. Printing was introduce
into Spain at Barcelona in lf1l. Il has al
most everything that came from the press
in any Language at that period. with whicl
the librarian is on most familiar terms,
but he seems to have no interest in mod
ern publications.
The universiry buildings face what Is
called the New Cathedral. for Salaman-
ca has two. The old one was built in the
twelfth century by the famous Bishop
Geronimo. coufcssor Of The Cid, who &C
cornpanied him IN several battles. AMI
contains many interesting tombs, win
rome fine carvings in both oak and mar
be. The new cathedral which Is coal
neeted with 1t by a good example OF tn
roria gothic school Why there should
h two Is not explained in any Of the
hooks have read about Salamanca, and
the local authorities cannot tell me. Az
parently they do not think there is ang-
thing unusual about il, and act IS II il
we're CUSTOMARY Cor cities OF 2l.ooe people
70 have two cathedrals. Above the tomb
q Bishop Geronimo there hung. for 5e
years, a bronze cruc.ix, which was car
ried BY The Cid n al his battles. but n
1855 It disappeared ard has not been 1e-
covered. There is q popular impression
that one OF the canons OF the cathedral
knows the reasons and the time Of it>
disappearance, but that may be an injus-
tee. II had 10 intrinsic value. for il
vas made Of brass. and 1t cannot have
any histriccal value In one who + MT
allowed to exhibit IT, There are "A fev
FIRE old pictures in both o. the cathedTaI=
BIZ nothing extraordlnary
The old cathedral IS said To have ben
used by Richardson. the great architec;
Of Boston as a model FOR Trinity chur.n
81 thar city. which is famous for its mas
sive and Harmonious proportions
As Il two ca5helrals were not enough
- for the scanty population OF Salamanca.
there are six other churches. larger thai
any you have in Chicago. san BeaIto wes
built in 1l64 san Martin in les "a FIRE
specimen o. the E0nauesquel. san MAJ
COS. built in ZOO (circular IN shape and Pc
aGar arches 20 support its donel. Is
piritg Santo was built in 1850 San Est
ban dsaD contains the bones OF the ter
rfbie Duke of Ava. who died IN l5sa ar
in the adjoining chspel Is buried the good
friar. Diego de Diez. who is described q