The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-06
GLORY THAT WAS SPANS

monster strides Women were encour-
aged to vie with the men, and women
doctors were many and skillful. From all
Europe students flocked to Spain, where
alone the shadow of the Dark Ages
had not fallen; and there they delved for
the secrets of mathematics, history. phil
osophy, law, botany and astronomy. And
while the arts were honored. the crafts
were not despised No line of labor was
too intricate for the Moorish artisans.
But when the call to arms came 1t found
the Moor ready and mighty in his strength
and skill The armies of the Chris
tians could not stand against him.
OF the beauty of the Moorish cities vol
umes have been written. "Cordova is
the bride of Andalusia," said an Arab
writer. Its palaces and its gardens ex-
hausted the rhetoric of a people whose
pens were facle with the imagery of the
Orient. OF "The City of the Khalir' 1t
was said that her long line of sultans
formed her crown of glory, and that her
necklace was strung with the pearls
which her poets had gathered from the
ocean of language Indeed. perhaps no
city of Europe except Byzantium could
rival the splendor of Cordova. OF its
great palace, called Damascus"
poet sang: "All palaces in the world are
nothing when compared with Damascus.
for not only has it gardens with the most
delicious fruits and sweet smelling flow
ers, beautiful prospects and limpid run
ming waters, clouds pregnant with aro-
matte dew, and lofty buildings but Its
night is always perfumed, for morning
pours on 1t her gray amber. and night
her black musk
All of this glory passed away. Gem
turtles of luxury Slapped the valor and
strength of the Moors. And as their right
arms lost their cunning the Christians,
driven into the mountains and wringing
a stubborn subsistence from bleak hills
and uplands, grew in strength. Slowly the
Moors were forced back until they held
only the kingdom of Granada. There
they made one last stand and for nearly
$50 years they held the Christians in
check and built a splendid state and en-
riched 1t with such enduring monuments
as the Alhambra.
Independence was only possible for the
Moors at last, however by paying tribute
to the Spaniards. When Ferdinand and
Isabella, by their marriage, united the
kingdoms of Aragon and Castillo Muley
Ally was on the throne OF Granada. He
knew that this alliance meant a final
struggle for the Moors. Determined to
be beforehanded In the conflict he said
to Ferdinand's envoy: Tell your SOW
ereigns that the kings Of Granada who
+rit~
coins only sword blades!
Bitter and cruel was the war that fol-
lowed. Muley Aly's son, Boabdil, having
temporarily ousted his father, led his
army against the Christians and was de-
feated with great slaughter. After this
defeat the struggle was continued by the
Moors for some years. but the end was
inevitable What school boy has not read
this description of the outcome: "Beau-
tiful Granada, how has thy glory fadedl
The flower of thy chivalry lies low in the
land of the stranger; no longer does the
Bivarambla echo to the tramp OF steed
and sound of trumpet; no longer is IL
crowded with thy youthful mobiles. glori-
ously arrayed for the tilt and tourney.
Beautiful Granada! The soft note of the
lutte no longer floats through thy moon-
lit streets: the serenade is no longer
heard beneath thy balconies the lively
/ castanet is silent upon thy hills; the
graceful dance Of the Zambra is no more
seen beneath thy bowers. Beautiful Gran-
adal Why is the Alhambra 80 forlorn
and desolate? The orange and myrtle still
breathe their perfume into its siken
chambers; the nightingale still sings
within its groves; its marble halls are
still refreshed with the splash OF foun~
tains and the gush Of limpid rills! Alasi
the countenance of the king no longer
shines within those halls. The light Of
,, the Alhambra is set forever!"
And the light of Spain burns dimly
where was once the scene of these
glories. What bitter reflections for thu
successor of Ferdinand that fragment
of that conquered people that chung to
the coast of Africa is now trailing the
proud banner of Aragon and CASTLE in
the dust.