La Junta tribune., 1905-08-12
Gem of Sunny Spain
Especial Correspondence.)

Seville. one of the ancient capital
cities of Spain. the seat successfully
of Phoenician. Roman. Gothic, Moor
| ish and Spanish rulers. is one of the
most charming of places for the idler
who wishes to see Spanish life at its
best
Its climate is warm and delightful.
Flowers bloom in its gardens almost
the year round. The oranges of Sc
vile are esteemed as among the finest
produced in the old world.
Its people are bospitable-"syinpat
/ ico." as the Spanish call any one TAX
| ing kindly interest in another-indo-
lent and gay. They enjoy life as only
a southern Spaniard' can. taking pro
/ found pleasure in sociability, in sing
| ing their national songs. in playing
the guitar, and in dancing. They are
as care-free as any people one may
meet in Spain. and though the life of
their city has not the bubbling ex-
uberance OF that in southern Italy, ii
is bright enough to win for Seville the
character Of a joyous place.
The Spanish have proverb that
He who has seen Seville has seen
7 a huss arc Pioha VI Nht
city. of its antiquity. the character
of its people. and the beauty Of its
daughters.
The houses OF Seville are very old.
some of them dating from the Moor
1 ish period. II is place of quaint
doorways. odd windows. charming
patios. and other characteristic archi-
tectural features OF southern Spain. II
is the home OF the cloaked gallant
singing q serenade at his lady's bal
cony to the accompaniment of his
guitar. or standing In the shadow. by
her barred window. whispering sweet
nothings in her ear. II is the custom
OF Seville to have counting conduct
ed thus. and lovers are jocularly called
! eaters OF iron"
Home Of the eulifght.
To the casual traveller Seville pre-
sents. besides the charm OF It's life.
some attractions OF more than ordi-
nary interest. II is the home Of the
bullfight. and holds the finest fights
in the country. except possibly those
at Madrid. which are under the pa
tronage of royalty. 1t is also, to go
to the other extreme of the list. famous
as the birthplace and home of the great
painter Murillo. Its public buildings
are beautiful. and their traditions go
back to the days OF Julius Caesars
residonce in the city, which he ruled
for Rome.
Seville. like most Spanish cities.
has one distinguishing object Of more
interest than all others. 1t is the Gi-
ralda tower. one OF the finest In the
world, whose beautiful proportions rise
grandly above the city's roofs. The
tower was erected in 1896. and was
consecrated by the Moors to use as
muezzin tower from which the faith
full were called to prayer in the ad-
joining mosque. When driven out OF
Seville IN 1888 the followers Of Ma
homet wished to destroy this tower.
rather than have II fall into the hands
| of Christians Their purpose was
happily thwarted. and one of the most
striking architectural features Of
| Spain preserved. II was not i'm
proved. however. by being incorporat-
ed into the cathedral. or by the bel
fry added to II. The original tower
| was $50 feet high. II Is so feet square
| at the base. The material Is stone
for the lower 81 feet. and above that
brick. relieved by tracery and ara
besques. The color of the tower IL
pink. II contains no staircase. the
ascent to the top being made up in
clined planes. thirty-fve in number.