Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-02-01

| convent. That amiabhe gentleman
was so angry at being scorned thai
he had her burned alive in the market
place-a warning to other ladies that
he might admire in the future. Her
maid went voluntarily with her TO the
stake. a remarkable case OF devotion.
After his return from Mexico Corte;
| served In the army d Charles V. and
did valiant service in Africa, but he
does not seem to have profited much
by the treasures he captured in Mex
! leo, nor by his soverelgn's favor. for
.e died poor His ashes are no long
here. The gnides say that they
,ere removed to Mexico in 1923.
which was soon after Mexican indie
| pendence.
AS Italica is the noblest reminder we
have OF the Roman period at Seville.
the Alcazar Palace is the most splen-
| lid relic of the Moors. although 1t has
been enlarged, altered and restored
several times under the reign OF the
| Christian kings. The Vandals sue
fceeded the Romans. and held the
| place until the year 53l. when the
Goths came in, and they in turn were
| driven out by The Moors in 5Si, From
that date for almost 700 years Sew.
| lille was the Moorish capital and the
| Alcazar was the residence of the sui
| tan. Under them Seville enjoyed Its
greatest wealth and glory, 1t was the
emporium of the world. The records
show that 10000 people were employ
ed in The SILK trade alone, which has
now entirely vanished. The city was
| the pride OF the Saracens, who adorn
ed II with their refined taste and Its
schools like it's factories, and its pal
aces. were famous over the universe,
When the Spaniards came In l2iS,
and the Moors We're driven to Gran
ada. more than 100000 prsons, and
| among them the wealthiest, the mosl
important and entcrprising citizens
Jews, Moors and Arabs-abandoned 1t
and took their business elsewhere.
| Seville never regained It's Importance
| or prosperity. and. although for a
generation or two after the discovery
of America its commercial activity
and influence revived, 1t has never re-
covered its population or Us wealth
| or Industries,
The Alcazar is like Wis n from the
Arabian Nights"--a cataract OF color
and fantastic forms, the walls being
covered with the most exquisite arab
esques in plaster and brilliant tiles,
1t is second only to the Alhambra as
an example of Moorish architecture,
and every one OF its seyenty-eight
.ts aln oil
nearly all Of them are associated with
deeds Of cruelty ana assassinations.
The wickedest things hive been done
by the Christians since the conquest
OF the Moors, Pedro tho Cruel Is the
hero OF the bloodlest tragedies, 1t is
said that Queen Christiana breads TO
go there, and one docs not blame her
for shuddering every time she passes
the gates.
The upper portion of the palace is
still kept in order for the use OF the
royal family and court, and the Sew
illanos Insist that the king should
spend at least two months of the win
ter season here, although he seldom
gratifles them, One cannot blame
the queen-mother for not wanting to
come. because her personal assoca-
tions with the palace are not at all
agreeable. During the Columbian fes-
tivities in 1892 Alfonso VIII. then Z
years old, became very III here as the
result OF eating loo many sweetmeats
at the various dinners given in his
honor. and lay for three weeks danger
ously i'll with gastric fever In one OF
the magnificent Moorish chambers.
All the balls and banquets, all the pro-
cessions and ceremonies for which
the citizens Of Seville had contributed
large sums OF money and had spent
weeks in preparation. had to be
abandoned. everything but high
mass performed in the cathedral by
the archbishop and even that was
changed to TIE Deum Of thanksgv-
ing for The recovery of the king in
stead of in honor of the achievements
OF Columbus.
Near by is the Palace st. Elmo. for
many years the residence of the Duke
and Duchess OF Montpensier. which
was originally erected as a school for
the navy with the proceeds Of the
plunder brought home by Cortes and
Pizarro from America, 1t Is an en-
ormous building and one Of the most
expensive structures In all Spain. The
entrance Is especially fine. In lSi9
Queen Isabella IL. presented IL to her
sister, the Duchess of Montpensier,
who made II an ideal family home.
The late duke was a son OF King Louis
PHILIPPE OF France. and, as | told you
in previous letter. he married the
younger sister OF Isabella when she
was only IA years Of ago. Mercedes.
their daughter, was the first wife oi
her cousin, King Alfonso VII; An
tonic, their son. Is the husband OF
the lnianta Eulalie. Another Is the
wife Of the Duke of Portugal; another
is the wife of the Duke of Aosta, heir
presumptive to the throne OF Italy,
and still another is the Countess OF
Paris. whose daughter Louise liz sup
posed to be the selected wife OF her
| second cousin, the present king of
| Spain.
Upon the death OF Lhe late Duke OF
Montpensier his widow gave this pal
ace TO the church, and the gardens to