The Republican journal., 1910-05-12
Is it boots or shoes?"

Is it boots or shoes?''
Neither
20, see, dry goods"
"Well, yes, they do call my sermons
that sometimes.
With an average of five annual reports
each year, it is not surprising if some re-
ceive the bishops label.
l have sometimes wished for the gift
Of poesy, so generously given dear
sister, that might present more attract
lively the things worth seeing in our trips,
but the muse is very creditably repre-
sented in our number, and the more
prosaic way must still be mine.
Our travel story, however, for the
eighth year lacks nothing of charm or
interest.
Our Castles in Spain" have material
lied as by the magic wand OF the
lamented poet Stevenson. We have
been transported to all parts of this en-
chanting land in an easy, comfortable
manner, journeying always first-class,
and we are certain that with all the OPP
portunities afforded in our SIX months
abroad the so-called "polish of foreign
travel' must have fallen upon each MEM
Der of the party If we have sometimes
offended by miscalling names and places,
giving 'cacophanous equivalents" for
the real name, we have the consolation
of knowing that it did not detract from
the glories or loneliness of the objects
visited.
Our course through Spain was very
clearly marked by Miss Caroline Field,
who made most delightful guide, and
to Miss Kelley are we indebted for very
:~xo l.: sc of %h< oh
Colonizers and Settlers up to the time Of
Ferdinand and Isabella. The life Of
these Joint sovereigns was very graph
ically taken up by Mrs. Brown, and the
GROWING event of the most important
ress of the world was illustrated by a
sweet. original poem, all the sweeter for
being so unconsciously delivered. We
would be glad to quote it entire if time
permitted, and we hesitate to dissect it.
1t was certainly fit to grace the pages of
any publication.
From Mrs. Knowlton, Mrs. Dunton
and Mrs Small we received an instruc
tive review of other rulers and the i'm
portant events in connection with each
reign, and in an extremely interesting
way the life and masterpieces of Murillo
Dunton and Mrs. Craig.
at was these memories perchance,
From annals of remotest cid,
That lent the color of romance
To every trivial circumstance,
And changed the form and countenance
Of all that we beheld.'
We visited the Alhambra under the
guidance Of Mrs. Shaw, and all who have
fallen under the spell of her words in
prose or verse will realize the added
charm given to its porticos, pillared
halls, cool chambers, small gardens with
fountains rich with coloring and grace OF
architecture. 1t did indeed recall
''Aaddn's palace of delight
The city proper of Granada with its
narrow, crooked streets, yet with charm
ing public squares, its splendid cathedral,
which contains the monuments of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, its university and
other public buildings, were shown US by
Miss Annie Field, while her later ac-
count of the gypsies that inhabit almost
entirely the suburb called the Albayzin,
was SO animated and familiarly given as
to inspire the thought that sometime,
somewhere, she had sojourned with a
Bohemian band.
We had fine glimpse of the imposing
yet somewhat gloomy city Of Toledo,
under the chaperonage of Miss Maude
Mathews, and the view of its large
Gothic cathedral with it's magnificent
interior was exceedingly interesting,
alike for it's architectural beauty and
historical association
The side trip to the most important
manufacturing city of Spain, Barcelona,
NHck 81 Mot
long remain a happy memory. The
upon US in full force, and our JOY was
the fine institutions and elegant churches,
music lowered Ger US. and the strains Of
the old Spanish love songs, so charmingly
rendered by the sweet singer of the
party, as we'll as the fine view of some Of
Murillo's masterpieces given US, were a
never to be forgotten pleasure. 1t was,
too, upon this occasion that our party
We're accorded such sumptous apart
ments with everything delectable to
please the appetite.
Our visit to Madrid was happily dis
appointing, and it was given to Mrs.
Craig to conduct us through this much
maligned city. Perhaps we were fortu-
nate to schedule this trip during the
''proverbial three months of winter"
but as we recall our experience here we
are forced to say: Could anything have
been more delightful? Whether in the
view of the great suburbs, gates, prone
nades outside the city, or inside, the
squares and historical streets, the most
beautiful armory in the world, or that
picture gallery which no pen
can describe it was all too hastily seen.
We were seized with an earnest desire to
spend more time here.
We were compensated, however, for
the loss of the concerts at the theatres
and the academy halls, as we'll as the
grand opera, of which the Spaniards are
so fond, by that one glorious song, ''1n
Old Madrid" by Mrs. Pitcher, sung as
we left the city on our way to The
Escurial with Mrs. Knowlton. How
much might be said of this famous con-
vent, the eighth marvel of the world, the
origin of which is SO well known, but it
is too sad and gloomy after so much of
sunshine. Even in all the grandeur of
the royal palace one remembers longest
the cell-like room in which Philip II.
slept and had his last illness and died.
To all the side trips, beautiful Seville,
the city of poets and loves; Cordova of
the thirty suburbs and three thousand
the luxuriant gardens of
Aranjuez, Burgos, Valladolid and fair
Cadiz by the sea, shown us by our Presi-
III