Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-07
THE CITY, OF MADRID
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
| the nearness of the Sierra de Guadarrama,
| in which the winds.a are born.
A Modern City.
| Madrid is a modern city, although it is
very old, and is spoken of as Moorish out
pest in the early centuries. Alfonso vi
captured 1t in 1888, and since then it has
been controlled by the kings of CASTLE, but
| it never amounted to anything until Philip
II proclaimed 1t the capital and royal resi-
dence and called the cortes to meet here
for the first time in 1850. The popular the
ory is that this was done because he found
the climate more comfortable for his govt
but the real reason was that he was COM
PEELED to select a new capital because of the
jealousy between the other cities in which
the court had formerly lived. Saragossa,
Burgos. Valledolid, Salamanca, Toledo, Cor
dova, Seville and the other great cities
which had formerly been the capitals of
separate kingdoms all clamored to be the
seat of government. There were royal pal
aces in all Of them, which had been occuIiei
a portion of the year by nomadic court.
Down to the time of Charles 1t was
customary for the king to spend the warmer
months in the north of Spain and the win
ter months in the southern provinces. This
was not only very expensive, but it inter-
fered with Philips religious meditations,
and was exceedingly inconvenient for the
cortes, so he proclaimed as his capital the
youngest city in Spain, of. which none of
the others could be jealous-a badly built,
dirty and unhealthy place-and went into
the mountains to build himself the palace
which described for you the other day.
TYy,fi tba Mod
very little improved. although Charles III
who was man of great taste and enter
prise, built the palace which, in several re-
spects, Is the finest royal residence in Eu-
rope. He erected several public buildings
also, but Joseph Bonaparte tore away block
after block Of monasteries, converts and
tenement houses to make parks and open
squares. and to him the people owe the
splendid wide streets that are found in
modern Madrid. They called him "Rey
Plazuelas" dhe king Of open squares).
Many Fine Streets and Buildings.
There are many fine streets in Madrid, al
though they are not Spanish. 1t resembles
Brussels more than any other city, and,
while 1t is not laid out on any particular
plan. it is more French than Spanish. One
has to go into the narrow, crooked streets
in the old part Of town to find any Spanish
characteristics. The new part of town is
very attractive. The private residences are
built upon plans similar to those Of Paris,
and there are long blocks of apartment
houses arranged upon the French plan.
Occasionally some rich man has repro
duced the spectacular architecture Of the
Moors, which is startling in color, carving
and holdings. Such a house is now offered
for sale. 1t stands near the art gallery.
and the advertisements say that 1t cost
$500, 600. For some reason another the
owner, who is a member of the nobility,
offers it for sale for less than half that
price.
Altogether the finest building in town, ex-
cept the palace, Is the Bank Of Spain, which
is the actual treasury department of the
government, and, as custodian of the pub
lie funds. receives all the revenues and pays
all the warrants. 1t is a magnificent struc-
ture, covering as much ground as our
Treasury Department at Washington. The
Equitable Life Insurance Company of New
York has handsome building on the AL
Gala, the principal street, the greater part
of which is occupied by the principal club
In town. Nearly across the street from the
Bank of Spain is the palace of the minister
of war, fine building of brick, with stone
| trimmings. originally erected by the Duke
of Alva and sold by him to a syndicate of
citizens, who presented it to the notorious
Godoy the all-powerful minister of Charles
", who was known as the prince of
peace and controlled the government for
| several years. When he fell the property
was confiscated, and has since been used
for military purposes.
Some Sad Reminders.
Another fine government building was
erected for the colonial department, and
beautifully decorated with appropriate de-
signs. The walls and ceilings are covered
with paintings by the ablest artists in Spain
representing scenes in Mexico, Central and
South America, Cuba, Porto Rico and the
other Philippines. The picturesque scenery
and the romantic history of the colonies
seemed to fascinate the artistic sense of
Spain, and throughout the palace of the
king and other public buildings one Is con-
stantly reminded Of the vast territorial
possessions which once belonged to this
country In one of the buildings, painted
upon the walls in enduring colors, is map
of the world with the Spanish colonies
clearly defined by banners of red and yell
low, bearing the national coat of arms.
The officials allow it to remain. perhaps as
|
power of the nation. When I asked one of
the under secretaries why they did not
paint it out and cover the wall with deco
ration that was less melancholy in its sug-
gestiveness, he shrugged his shoulders,
tossed his head scornfully and answered
with that single word into which Spaniard
can put so much meaning:
"Porque!" .(Why notO
Having no further use for the colonial
building since the war with the United
States the minister of foreign affairs, who
formerly had offices in the royal palace,
now occupies it, and had a very pleasant
interview yesterday there and with the per-
manent under secretary, Juan Perez Cabel-
| lero, a very accomplished and agreeable
gentleman and one of the mainstays of the
government. Ministers come and ministers
go; cabinets are formed and fall; policies
are proclaimed and rejected: the govern
| ment is sometimes standing on It's head and
sometimes on it's heels, but Mr.. Cabellero
| holds the helm OF the foreign department
| steady through all the tempests and the
| Gains, and is one of the most important
and useful officials of the government.