Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
THE DECAY OF SPAIN
lib egan With Reignof Philip
and Mary.
VAST EMPIRE NO MORE
INJURIOUS EFFECT OF TOO MANY
HOLIDAYS AND CIGARETTES.
Trade and Labor Despised-Milions OF
Idlers-More Money Spent on
Bull Rings Than Schools.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Special Correspondents of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record-Herald
GRANADA, Spain, November 80. lSoo.
The reign of Ferdinand and Isabella IS
called the golden age of Spain. although
the kingdom did not reach the height OF It's
prosperity and influence until fifty years
later under the rule of their grandson,
Emperor Charles V, who was the greatest
monarch of his time, whose dominions ex-
tended farther than those of the Roman
empire, and included more nations than
Napoleon was able to subdue. But the con-
consolidation Of the several petty kingdoms
into which Spain had been divided and the
subjugation of the Moors took place under
Ferdinand and Isabella, and was due more
to the energy and ability of their prime
ministers, Cardinals Mendoza and Cisneros,
and to the military genius of Gonsalvo de
Cordoba TEL Gran Captain than to their
royal master and mistress.
Too Good for Ferdinand.
Ferdinand was a weak person. a wishy
washy, selfish Jealous narrow minded
bigot. Isabella was too good for him. She
is one of the finest figures in all history.
No woman ever carried more grace or more
brains TO a throne. Ferdinand was always
drag upon her. She was as energetic and
as determined as Catherine the Great of
Russia without her vices; she was as great
as Elizabeth of England, without her vanity
and fickleness. Isabella was a wise, noble
far-sighted woman. and every man who
wrote in her time elevates her to the high
est pinnacle of virtue, piety and personal
attractions. Peter Martyr, Ovedio and
OF her writer's of that have left yalIIn-
inous records and much interesting per-
sonal gossip of the royal household and
fortunately their letters and journals have
been preserved intact We also have the
letters written from Spain by several for
e1gn ambassadors of that period, who graft
fed the curiosity of their own sovereigns
and courts by giving details Of events and
descriptions of persons who were prominent
upon the political stage in Spain.
Isabella's Personal Appearance.
From them we know that Isabella was
beautiful woman, with red hair-and you
will remember that Cleopatra, Catherine Ii,
Joan of Arc, Maria Theresa and several
other eminent women who have influenced
the destinies of the world were also red
headed. Perhaps there may be some con-
nection between the intellect and the mig
ments Of the scalp.
Washington Irving. who knew more about
Spanish history than any other of our
writer's, except his blind friend Prescott
says that she was well formed. of middle
size, with great dignity and gracefulness of
department and a mingled gravity and
sweetness c. demeanor. Her complexion
was fair; her hair auburn inclininp To red.
her eyes were Of clear blue, with a be-
n1gn expression, and there was singular
modesty in her countenance, gracing, as IT
Odd, wonderful frmness of p,rposa and
earnestness of spirit
Isabella was born April %, 1451 and mar
dfx.ax -
when she was eighteen years old. Upon the
death or her brother Henry she became
queen of CASTLE and Leon. She died in
april, loo4 at the castle of Medina del
campo, which stands half ruined by the
SIDE of the railway track Twenty-Five miles
south OF Valladolid, where Columbus died
caesar Borgia, the son of Pope Alexander
VI ana brother of Lucretia Borgia. was
ooiiiiiieo ior TWO years In the same castle.
Made "Mess" Of Everything.
Ferdinand survived Isabella twelve
years, dying January %. 1915, and made a
mess of everything he attempted after he
lost her advice and counsel He was King
OF Aragon. Naples and Sicily. Washington
Irving represents him to be of m ddle
stature, well proportioned, of active
habits and fond Of athletic exercise His
complexion was ruddy, his hair was the
same color as h wife's, his eyes were blue
clear and animated; his manners gracious
ms teeth white, small and irregular; his
voice sharp and his speech quick and fluent
These two sovereigns We're called ..Catho.
lic' by Pope Alexander VI who was also a
Spaniard. because of their devotion to the
church They had three children, Dona
Juanna, called ia loca" the insanel who
in 1i96 married Philip. Archduke OF Aus
tria, called 1.-The handsome" by whom she
mad two sons, Charles, afterward Emperor
Charies V, and Ferdinand, afterward EN-
peror of Germany. She never recovered her
health after the birth of her second son
and ultimately lost her mind She ruled
over Spain, however, with a regency of
Cardinai Cisneros for thirty-nine years
Isabella had son called Juan an ex
ceedingly promising boy, who was educate
with great care for the succession In 1Au7
ne married Princess Margaret of Austria,
sister SISTER OF PhiEp the handsome" his
peror Maxinlian. but died five months
later. as / told you in letter from Sala
manca The third child Of Ferdinand and
the King of Portugal, but reigned only
one year.
Charles v.
Thus the Catholic sovereigns were singu
iarly unfortunate in their children. but
their grandson. Charles V of Germany, who
was also Charles I of Spain, became the
greatest man Of his age. He was born in
looo In Ghent By the death of his father
he fell heir to the throne of Austria and the
Netheriands: by the death of his grand
rather, Ferdinand. to the crowns of Spain
and Naples. and by conquest he acquired
much other territory. until he had in h
hands all the powerful kingdoms of En-
rope except France and England. and, at
the same time, by discovery became pos
sessed OF the American hemisphere. 1t
was during his reign that the reformation
started and made great progress In his
German possessions, although he did his
best to suppress 1t by violent measures.
His son. Philip ii. in 1854 married ..RIoodv
MAry' of England and Hna ,,af. 49,.