Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-10-25
Los Edificios de Madrid.
(The Building Of Madrid.)
(Bv Ralph l.. Raw

the Banco de Espana Bank of
SPAIN which is situated on the
southwest corner where the Gale
Alcala crosses the Paseo. 1t is a
white building constructed of marble
and granite like the Palacio Real.
Its shape is rectangular. On the top
of the building on it's northeastern
corner there is a large clock with
two bells above it, a large one to
strike the hours, and smaller one
to tell the quarter and half hours.
These bells are almost concealed by
the royal coat-of-arms which are
cut out on a thin upright block Of
marble. The windows of the two
lower stories have their adjacent
sides at right angles, but those in
the third or upper story have their
upper edges slightly curved. The
main entrance to the building is
under the clock.
To the north across the Gale
Alcala is the dwelling of the
Minister of War Eel Ministerio de la
Guerra a small building Of red
brick, some distance back from the
street. In front of it is large lawn
with grassy plots and flower gardens
separated by wide stone walks and
drives. All along the south side of
the lawn there is a ten foot steel
fence with sharp points along the
top. To the east stone wall, Of
the same height as the fence, shuts
off all view from the Paseo. A de-
scription of this describes also the
various buildings Of the members of
the cabinet-the iron fence, the
stone wall, the uniformed guards at
the gates-these words are used al
SO in descriptions Of not only the
ministerial dwellings, but also those
Of the nOblemen and grandes of
Spain. A view Of one shows how
they all look, excepting that the
noblemen's palaces are nearly all Of
white marble.
On the east side of the Paseo and
about half way between ell Minis
terlo de la Guerra and la Plaza de
Colon is the Blblioteca Nacional or
National Library, also large white
building with wide marble steps
leading to the main entrance. At
the top of the steps may be seen a
life-sized statue Of Philip IL. (Felipe
Secundo,) the king who made
Madrid the capital From distance
the frieze appears like that of the
citadel of ancient Athens. Inside
may be seen stuffed animals and
reptiles from all over the world.
On the floor above these one may
see specimens of stone from many
different places. Several of these
are marked Dane Co., Wis, E. q.
a." On the third floor is the library
proper where one may get books on
any subject or in any modern,
language and some in ancient
languages. On this same floor are
many fine paintings by modern
artists of the present time. They
are very good, but do not seem SO
after one has seen those of the
masters. In the entrance hall is
marble statue Of the queen mother,
Maria Cristina, sitting on the throne
and holding in her arms the infant
king. This is one of the large
libraries of the world. Here was
held large exhibition in honor of
Columbus in 1892.
Across the street to the north and
one block to the west of the Ameri-
can Legation is the residence of the
Count Villaverde, former premier.
The former Count died suddenly
last July just as he was preparing
to 60 to San Sebastian. The build
ing is white, of three stories, and of
rectangular shape.
In the Prado stands the Museo
Real. One reaches the northern,
or main, entrance by means of
broad stone steps. The color is the
same as that of the most of the
buildings above mentioned. The
paintings of the different artists are
in different rooms. Those Of Murillo
are in the main hall. Ia the base
ment there is a room devoted to the
memory of Alfonso XII. One fine
painting in this building is the
Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
/ by Murillo.
Across the street to the northeast
is the Real Academia Espanola or
Royal Spanish Academy, medium
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