The Ordway new era., 1905-08-04
J Gem Of Sunny Spain
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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 It's gardens almost
the year round. The oranges Of Se-
Vile are esteemed as among the finest
produced In the old world.
Its people are ospitable-"sympat
ico," as the Spanish call any one TAX
Ing kindly interest In another-indo-
lent and gay. They enjoy life as only
q southern Spaniard can. taking pro-
found pleasure In sociability. In sing
Ing their national songs. In playing
tho guitar. and In dancing. They are
as care-free rs 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. It
Is bright enough to win for Seville the
character OF joyous place.
The Spanish have a proverb that
He who has seen Seville has seen
q marvel" They are proud Of the
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
ish period. It is place OF quaint
doorways. odd windows. charming
patios. and other Characteristic archi-
Nf
IL the home OF the cloaked gallant
singing a 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. It Is the custom
OF Seville to have courting conduct
ed thus. and lovers are jocularl, called
"eaters Of IRON"
Home Of the BuIiHght.
To the casual traveller Seville pre-
sents, besides the charm OF its life.
some attractions Of more than ordi-
nary interest. 1t Is the home Of the
bullhght. and holds the finest fights
in the country. except possibly those
at Madrid. which are under the pa
lEOuhSe VI TOydIty. IL 10 disSs " 81
to the other extreme Of the list. famous
AZ the birthplace and home OF tile great
painter Murillo. Its public buildings
are beautiful, and their traditions go
back to the days Of Julius Caesars
residence 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 1876. and was
consecrated by the Moors to use as
a 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 1t fall into the hands
of Christians. Their purpose was
happily thwarted, and one OF the most
striking architectural features Of
Spain preserved. It was not i'm
proved, however. by being incorporat-
ed into the cathedral. or by the bel
fry added to 1t. The original tower
was $50 feet high. It 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. It contains no staircase, tho
ascent to the top being made up in
clined planes, thirty-fve in number.