Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-06
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
Stronghold and Spanish and
Moorish Neighbors.
HUELVA'S DESERTED HOTEL
Tarifa, Whose Pirates Gave Tariff
Tax Its Name.
NEGRO ART IN OLD ALGIERS
Millions Spent to Keep Fortifications
Up to Date by Great
Britain.
HUELVA'S DESERTED HOTEL
NEGRO ART IN OLD ALGIER!
By WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

| BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
| Chicago Record Herald.
| GIBRALTAR, March 81, 1910.
| 1t may have been the serene influence of
the holy Sabbath, or perhaps the shelter
of a lee shore, for the Sierras OF Spain
| doomed up like a titanic wall between
| the ocean and the northeast wind. How
| ever that may be, it was a grateful re-
| lief to see sunny sky and smooth water
after seven days of rain and rough
| weather.
l used to know an old farmer down in
New England who never grew in grace
when the east wind blew and l believe
that is difficult for any of us. But the
passengers on the good ship Berlin kept
their tempers and had a reasonable good
time. and the attendance in the dining
room was all that could be expected.
under the circumstances.
But one should expect wretched weather
in March. 1t is the fate Of all the world
around. on the top side as well as the
bottom side of the universe. June Is the
good month in all ATTITUDES and longi-
tudes, but no one can shorten the ides of
March nor extend the glory of June.
We passed the Pillars of Hercules in
sunshine, and saw nothing of the monster
which the ancients believed guarded the
straits.
The Phoenicians We're the first to defy
him. They crept through safely and
following the coast of Spain northward.
found the mines at Huelva, which furnish
ed the copper for Solomon's temple and
have been paying dividends ever since.
They now belong to an English company
and are in charge of an American engi-
neer.
ward to Cornwall, on the southwest coast
of the British isles. discovered iron there.
settled that country. and drew from 1t
great riches and many useful things. and
made the Cornishman who is descend
ant of the Kings of Tyre and Sidon, the
most successful and skillful miner in the
world.
Big Gambling Enterprise Checked.
The late King Alfonzo XII of Spain
granted concession to a syndicate OF
gamblers to make a Monte Carlo at
Huelva, and they built a magnificent ho-
tel and casino for that purpose. He died
before 1t was completed. Regardless OF
their investments. Queen Christina re-
voked the privilege, under the influence
of the priests. The hotel has never paid
dividend.
Across the river from Huelva is the
venera bic town of Palos, where Column
bus QUILTED for his first voyage of dis
covery. There stands the picturesque
convent of La Rabida, where he was a
guest of the Franciscan monks. 1t was
at the Chicago exposition, where the
building still stands and Is used as a
fresh air nursery for sick children.
The town of Tarifa, just north of the
Straits of Gibraltar. gave it's name to an
unpopular but profitable custom which
now prevails in almost all civilized ma
tons. The first tariffs were levied by
gang of privateers upon vessels passing
through the Straits of Gibraltar. This
historical fact has been the subject of
many Jest and much sarcasm. Some
people think the example of the original
pirates of Tarifa has been initiated too
zealously in modern times.
The tariff collected by the bold seamen
who stood guard over this strait was de-
voted to the common good as well as
personal purposes, but the town never
prospered, and today is a sleepy village
of fishermen, without a future and with
out hope, and nothing but story 10
make it famous.
Tarifa is protected by Cape Trafalgar,
under whose shadow in 1908 Lord Nelson
met the combined fleets of France ana
Spain and fought one of the most nota-
Bile sea battles of history to decide that
Britannia rules the waves" The inf1u-
ence of Great Britain Sea power
has never been misunderstood since that
date. The lofty column which supports
bronze statue of Horatio Nelson, guard
ed by Landseer's lions, in the most con-
spcuous spot in London. bears testimony
TO that fact.
Site of Past Negro Culture.
Across from Tarifa. on the African
coast, on an aggressive headland which
projects into the Atlantic, is the pictur-
esque medieval city of Tangier, where the
and
culture equal to that Of Athens or Rome.
But the nhabitants have since become
depraved and degraded by corrupt in
iuences and are not only distracted by
internal dissensons, but are the cause of
serious controversies among the powers
of Europe.
Under good government Morocco
might again become a rich and prosper
Gus nation, but slavery and Incidence,
luxury and vice have deprived the peo-
pie Of energy and ambition. There seems
no hope of renaissance.
Affairs are in disturbed condition IN
Morocco. The sultan was overthrown,
you know. last year. The rebels are IN
power and are led by group OF worth
less ard reckless men. The French gov
eminent is looking after the protection
of foreign interests under an agreement
which was reached at an international
conference several years ago.
The rock of Gibraltar. which has stood
for centuries as a Sy1nDol VI SldpihtS,
fortitude and faith, rises abruptly 100
feet from the ocean inside the straits.
and although geographically a part OF
Spain. is owned and occupied by Eng
land as a military stronghold, a naval
station and permanent threat and de-
6ance to other European powers.
Hundreds of millions Of dollars have
been expended and are being spent to
make Gibraltar stronger and stronger
and to maintain British supremacy over
the Mediterranean. For no one can pass
m or out through the Pillars of Hercules
without the consent of King Edward VII,
hacked by a garrison of 1900 men and
some of the most effective artillery that
was ever forged.
gun that weighs 10 tons and can
throw 1,6OO-pound projectile thirteen
miles is mounted upon a parapet which
commands the channel. Any amount OF
other ordnance is mounted here and there
upon the rocky sides of the mountains,
apparently idle and useless, but of great
military and commercial significance.
Maintenance of Gibraltar Costly.
England holds Gibraltar at an enor-
NOUS cost as a sort OF insurance policy,
as we'll as a threat. Hundreds Of mill
lions have been expended here to create
a naval station. a harbor of refuge, re-
pair shops, arsenals, magazines Of ord