The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-04
FATE OF FAMOUS
MOORISH PALACE
PASSING OF THE ALEXANDRIA.
THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE CRUaI-
BLING TO PIECES.

The Great Palace of MOhammed,
Left Intact by the MOOrs When
They Were Driven Out of Granada
More Than Four Centuries Ago,
Likely to Meet the Fate of the
CnmpnniIe ut Venice-spain Has
no MiIIiOnaires to Restore IL ana
no American millionaire
Residence.
Grenada, Dec. 3.-It was no mere
alarmist report which was sent out
from this country regarding the con-
dition of the world famous Alhambra.
The cracks which have appeared In the
walls are serious, and it will not be
surprising IL the historic building Is
overtaken by the same fate which be-
fell the Campanile at Venice. 1t might
easily be saved by prompt action on
the part of the Spanish government,
but there is little hope that such ac-
ton will be taken. Offcialdom, for
years. has neglected the Alhambra in
a fashion which would have outraged
WdSulHBlOl AAftibg aAAA eAN PANoNAA~
condition Of the wonderful monument
of Moorish elegance and grandeur is
merely the natural result.
In the arts of civilization the Moors
were much superior to the people who
finally succeeded in driving them out
of Granada in 1892. The great palace
of Mohammed, which they left intact
behind them, was to their conquerors
as a pearl cast before swine. Unable
to appreciate its bewitching architec-
ture and other evidences of progress
in the arts far in advance OF their own
achievements. they fell at once to de-
spelling the work.
Whitewashed Walls of Stone Lace
work.
Much OF the delicate stone lace work
was filled up with whitewash; the
painting and gliding effaced, and the
furniture looted. Charles V destroyed
the greater part of the Winter Pal
ace to make room for an unsightly
building designed to serve him as a
royal residence which was never fin
ished Philip v Italianized many Of
the rooms and completed the degrade
ton of other portions by erecting par
titions which blocked up whole apart
ments that were gems OF taste and
patient ingenuity.
In subsequent centuries the greed
and indifference OF successive Span
ish governors permitted the wonderful
pile to be still further pillaged and de-
faced. The superb entrance arch, call
ed by the Moors the Gate of the
Law" with its impressive inscription
in Arabic, There is no conqueror but
| God" was irreparably multilated to
make way for a wooden image OF
II, - A..
Sebastini. blew up eight OF the towers
and other buildings narrowly escaped
a similar fate.
DespoiIed by the French.
But these acts were perhaps render
ed necessary by the exigencies OF war.
IL was their French conquerors who
first taught the Spaniards the value
OF the treasure they possessed In what
remained Of the Alhambra, and res
cued II from the absolute ruin and
| desolation that were overwhelming t.
The roofs" says Washington Irving
were repaired. the saloons and gale
leries protected from the weather, the
gardens cultivated, the water courses
restored. the fountains once more
made 10 throw up their sparkling
showers; and Spain may thank her in.
vaders for having preserved 10 her the
most beautiful and interesting OF her
historical monuments
A curious feature OF the Ahambra II
a memento Of the assistance rendered
by the English IN driving the French
out Of Spain. A park OF English
elms covers the approach. This tim
Der was a present from the Duke oi
Wellington. who sent the trees over
from England 20 Ferdinand VII after
the grateful monarch hEn made over
"a spanish estate 70 the English ga.
yiOur 81 the country.
shattered by Earfhquaks
In 1891 the ancient pile was hhatter.