Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-20
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Mrs. rirr, ,5.s, May 8, 1904.
SrotherS nf a H. s

brothers of o. b. S
Dear siste diverse wanderings
At lass6ed the haven of the
we h., spublic, that spot on eartl
Fra aor wars, wines and miucl
l1Sd ladies', the seat of fashion
.t the world of women are doing
their best to initiate and the men
are going to ruin paying for the
same. In our walks and drives, We
are brought face to face with trail,
ing;silks, waving plumes, real lace,
frills, furbelows and flashing diam
onds; and the question arises, dc
these votaries have time to think OF
aught else? The little children of
the wealthy class are, many of them,
pretty as pictures. In the shady
avenues are piles of sand, same as
in America on purpose for their play
a1dhere accompanied by their nurses
they play to their hearts content
the nurses at the same time sewing
or knitting Possibly you will ask
how are these children dressed?
Many times in white merino, short
stockings. handsome capes or cloaks
and expensive hats. And with pail
and spoon they mix their imaginary
biscuits as earnestly as the American
children suitably dressed Sits the
sands or makes mud pies. Unlike
many cities, the poorer classes take
pains to appear neat and we see com
paratively few shabby dressed. And
the beggars are not numerous and
never persistent as in Oriental coun-
tries. But my letter is not to tell
you of Paris but of Spain so differ,
ent from the countries in Europe
From Bombay to Gibralter were
IL more days of ocean travel and
then and there we landed where
long cloaked guard and cavalier with
measured and graceful step were
seen same as in the days of Ferdi-
nand when so many crimes resulted
from daggers concealed under the
same style of garment. We all re.
member that Gibralter was the por-
tai through which Arabian learning
entered the peninsula with the Moor
in Ill \, d.
Our hotel was roomy quaint OLD
! place, all the furnishings, draperies,
pictures and curios spoke of differ
ent land and people. The Railways
hooks and corners and the manage
ment and service were strange, yet
, doing all they could in their way tc
make guests comfortable. Here we
met some people from United States
and some ladies from Scotland and
around a cheerful fire burning in an
ancient CRATE the evening passed all
too quickly. | cannot tell you the
origin of their manner Of house
keeping in Spain, but however much
they have battled with other nations
they certainly never were at wan
with dust and dirt, but we have
learned to believe that no matter
how much dust could be seen in the
rooms allotted to guests that all was
neat in the kitchen and this belief
has helped us through many a
doubtful meal. The streets are
narrow and foreign looking, the
natives are decently clad. Many of
the traders are from India and speak
English, bright looking fellows
There were not many objects of in
terest, the Moorish castle one of the
old buildings being the mostnoticable
There are gardens, promenadcs and
afternoon music. The resident
population is 10000 with 5000
British troops and no matter what
direction your walks lead more or
less red coats We're visible. From
this city to Algecirus by boat an
hours journey, then by rail to Ron
da four hours distant. The scenery
all the morning was one pleasant
picture Of valley, hill and mountain
and any place more beautiful, wild
and grand one need not wish for.
There were cork forests resembling
live oaks, olive orchards, white
houses on the farms so different from
many European countries where the
farmers all live in villages
The train followed a stream vet
was well up on the mountain side
and tunnels were frequent. Many
of the valleys are quite wide and
the white washed Moorish cottages
glittered in tho sun and had quite
an Oriental appearance and when
the train halted for Ronda it was
like closing the leaves of some inter
esting book Of pictured scenery.
Ronda is situated $500 feet above
sea level, built in a rock of porous
limestone. There is no dampness
Rain rarely falls in the day time and
there is sunshine nearly all and
every day. The town is divided
into two parts, the old Moorish and
the modern Spanish by a chasm il
the mountain 200 feet wide and 35(
deep; this crossed by two bridges
one of Roman origin and the othel
built by a Spanish architect 40 years
ago. This latter consists of an arch
Of over 100 foot span with heigh
above the foundation of nearly 800
feet. 1t is said that only one lif,
was lost in the construction and tina
one the architect himself. A rivel
rushes through the narrow gap witt
great force the people using the pow
er to turn their flour mill and also t,
light the town by electricity. Tn
views from this single arched bridg
were peculiar and fascinating; as W,
looked on the walls the mills below
looked like toys and the millers likl
many ants so small did objects ap
pear. The scenery of these gorge.
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