Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-19
SAN SEBASTIAN.

The three greatest attractions Of ma
ture. mountains. the sea and forest. give
to this Spanish town q setting unique even
where the unbeautiful Is almost worthy
Of comment by its rarity.
The ocean comes up to meet the woods.
which go almost to the waters edge. and
shade the pron1enades where Spanish
duennas frown askance at the freedom
Of Americanized girls
Between the mountains, which rise In
majesty as a background. and the restless
sea. the town nestles with instructive
grace.
1t is in every sense an all-the-year-
round place. Never extreme In climate.
with waters always blue, fields ever green
and easily accessible from all parts Of
Europe. it appeals to the tourists at every
season.
It has a superb casino with all sorts
Of amusernents, and Is SO sheltered from
sudden atmospheric changes. so IDEAL IN
that the condition Of the soil does not
permit the formation Of dust and on the
hottest night there Is q mountain breeze,
that many people from away have es-
tablished permanent residences there.
1t has the honor OF being the summer
home Of the Spanish court. Ever since
1887 1t has been the custom OF Queen
Maria Christina. the queen mother" to
November. The royal family lead very
simple and quiet life at the palace OF
Miramar King Alphonso gives much
of his summer time to yachting. OF which
ticipates in the regattas Of San Sebastian
which are the most important along the
Spanish coast.
In front Of the casino there Is q boule-
ward with avenues Of shade trees
Concerts are given here every Thursday
and Sunday during the year, and every
day during the season.
Jutting into the sea there is q break
water and promenade which skirts the
breathing the salt-laden air and obtaining
an extensive view Of the ocean.
There are three beaches at San Sc
bastian. but the Great Beach OF the
Concha is the most notable. AS its name
indicates, It takes the shape OF giant
shell. The fineness Of its sand and gen
tleness OF the waves. which are weakened
by the natural breakwater. render bath
Ing Immensely attractive even to the
timid or semi-invalided.
0irdling this beach like white ribbon
runs the circular, tree-bordered prone
made, beyond which similar outline of
hotels rear their sumptuous architecture.
There Is the ever interesting old Brit
ish cemetery, where lie English officers
killed fighting side by side with the Span
ish army against the Carlists q century
ago.
Above this plot rises the dilapidated
fortress Of Ell MachO, where Pavia, Fran
els First, was Imprisoned.
A school of arts and trades, an
historical and a-:.ctic museum, with per-
manent exhibition Of contemporary art,
interests the studious tourist.
There Is an extensive race course, close
by the beach Of Ondarreta, where the
meet takes place every year In Septem-
Der. The entries are International. Thou
sands OF francs are distributed in prizes
besides the royal cups and objects Of art.
Pigeon shooting, golfng and basque ball
are also among the diversions.
But dwarfing every other building as 1t
does every other sport is the bull ring.
This Is close to the sea and contains 1900
numbered seats In addition to the hun
dreds where people are allowed to sit,
II they can find room.