New-York tribune., 1907-06-16
THE -4LH1MBR4.
1 Plea for the Restoration Of the
Palace at Granada.

arday Review there is a long letter written
10y M Albert z. Calvert on the needs of the |
|rSlhamhra- For some years past" ne says, !
sinister rumors have been prevalent that this
precious building, founded in the thirteenth
injury by MOhammed the First Sultan Of
Granada is in danger Fortunately il is not
'"" laie TO avert the peril in which il stands |
ina me question is only of funds Tie
PaiiisN government, naturally anxious for The
N"ti"h OF ms renowned pile provides for
u'reht expenses Of repair; but so far has
non been able 10 expend the large sum necessary
3" effect thorough restoration Il NAV ner-
laps, be hoped that some thoughtful large
.nded millionaire VIII do himself much honor |
3 throwing some thousands literally .into tie |
breach From America especially would con !
'ihuu"ns 10 the needed work be appropriate
he couutrymen of Prescott Tjcknor and
Washington Irving might well feel a peculiar /
s'i'ltiHe foT the preservation of one Of tie |
greatest monuments in land with whose his /
'"rY those men Of letters had such close and
| t-l.iant dealings.
Mt Calvert speaks Of the disasters which
have hefalien the Ahambra. As he saws .Jt |
"a marvel that il should have survived the |
shocks Of earthquake The fury Of Ferdinand |
and lsaholla's soldIery. The demolition of whole
suites OF chambers hy the Emperor Charles Y |
rs many devastating confaErations. and-the |
gosrlnE disaster Of al-ils wanton spoliation
IS tfe French troops under Sehastiani in Jan,i-
uarz- lNl"-' But. as he adds. in spite Of the /
damage wrought hy malice rapne neglect and /
ACCIDENT. This Arabic Acropolis still rises proudly
obc The Vega, mutely demanding to he pre- !
served for the worlds Of art, history and ro- |
nance II rises proudly indeed but very
s;r.ar rsely. amid its picturesque surroundings /
Approaching il on the box Of q diligence as
one foIows The windinss of the long dusty /
Ioscs. one Is Httle puzzled 10y the unsylnnet- /
nca. and even incoherent pile The traveller
who has always seen il in the minds eye as i |
R.rG - fai-y palace forgets for .he moment /
;at most Of The pictures he has seen have been
studies Il The interior. and he wonders why the
"uter walls Go not Immediately dazzle him with |
la..Lty. But he draws nearer the mighty !
w.ls and towers fan into one Of the most TO |
mantle compositions in the world and after /
ward. when he comes TO know The whole building |
Setcr inside and out. ne finds Of his keenest
pleasures IN rambling about and seeing the |
broad outlines Of the mass from as many /
different points Of view as possible, He learns
.a,l how effectively the various members Of the |
ST. tI-e have been placed. Time and accident. I
tEe lsw needs Of new rulers have extended the /
scheme in this OF that direction. but to-day the !
a A-arrlbre remains, after all. an homogeneous I.
des-sr, fitted 10 the spirit Of its place.
Simplicity j. the note Of its exterior and sim
I'5ory rules within lis walls. FOR all that il is
6eco~.lteG with q sIlendOr unrivaed ly that Of J
Any other European palace. The architects Of
.he Alhamhra had this advantage, that the .
tradition OF Mohammedan at always /
clearly defined. suffering none Of those drastic ,
rhanges which marked the development of
Western schools. The notifications wrought ly I
successive generations in ther Gomes and arches .
are. on the whole triffing- The a-abesQues .
which form the staple of their decoration are /
Essentially ~ such a character that they may .
H. carried through infinite variations without .
eKer losing heir distinctive style OF charm. L /
Is Interesting 30 note TOO, that the color sense
n -hess CrieHtals, great Is i never lured .
tten beyond certain measure OF harmony and .
fepose. For some observers the halls Of the (
AIEarhra seem 10 blaze and glitter but ne +
ruth is that The marbles ard filings are so
cnnsu-rrlately arranged 10 color that their I.
glow is more fairly 10 be compared 10 he sub /
cued -ridesceuCe q the mOsaic-lTned churches q
E.ayer.ua. Df course the distribution of light I
has something 10 do with tins. The sun beating
down upon The Court of the Lions causes the /
slender columns a:d arches and all the fretted
surfaces 10 dazzle thc eye, bUt il ie not from /
tie courts that the \ hamhra takes lis key of
color That you viii ind in the cool. spacious
ci-au hcrs. lighted by few windows. through /
which In many cases exquisite lcafage filters
the sunshine. SO nat l. seems bring only