Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-06

theca Columbia, founded by Fernando
Colon, son of Christopher Columbus, there
is a mine of literature relating 10 the
discovery OF America in which the stu
dent might delve for years. The five
manuscripts Of Columbus, including
CODY of the "Tractus de Imagine Mundi,
by Cardinal d'Ailly, with marginal notes
in the handwriting of Columbus. and
treatise on the "Bibican Indication OF tine
New World" written by Columbus to paci-
fy the inquisition,- constitute the CHIEF
wealth Of the collection from the point or
view Of the american
Priceless Murillo paintings enrich the
walls Of a small gallery in the Convento
de la Meroed in Seville. including the
famous ST. Thomas distributing aims.
which Murillo considered his best work.
In the chapel of the Hospital de la Carl
dad, built by penitent knight or the
Calatrava order in atonement of the sins
of a debauched youth, MuriIlos auto
graph is seen at the Bottom of a request
from the great painter to be admitted 10
the order. Wherever one turns i'm Seville
he is greeted with reminders OF the past
greatness of the city.
But it is not wholly because of its his
toric interest that Seville is attractive.
Its homes are unsurpassed in picturesque
ness by any in Spain. and the majority
of them preserve a purity of architecture
that has been wholly lost in the more
progressive Spanish capital The simplest
whitewashed home in Seville boasts an
entrance that charms the visitor who
passes it. The handsome iron-griiled
doors and marble courts of the preten-
tious homes are unsurpassed in beauty
by any SurviVals OF the characteristic
Moorish style Of home building. Through
the .'Zaguan' or vestibCle or Seville
homes is seen patio ornainented, in the
case of handsome interiors, by marble
arches. Glass-covered galleries overlook
these courts, which are tastefully fur
nished and contain palms and flowers.
The court, even in unpretentious homes,
is always paved with marble, and there
is usually a
Courts Are Always founta
Paved With Marble. csntsr n
summer the patio is the living room Of
the family. A movable awning protects
it from the sun. These courts are always
brilliantly illuminated. often with colored
lamps and walk along the street after
nightfall is repaid by glimpses of the
manner in which modern Sevillians live.
"Quien no ha visto Seville, no ha visto
maravil la"-who has not visited Seville
has not visited the WAREHOUSES; a Span
ish proverb that is the equivalent of the
Italian See Naples and die, or the
Egyptian "He that has not seen Cairo
has not seen the world" These local
proverbs are always exaggerations. Sc
Vile occupies a fiat plain and boasts
nothing in the way Of picturesque site.
but despite its age and its narrow, old
fashioned streets with the overhanging
balconies almost touching, Ii has excep-
tional beauty and il one of the gayest of
European cities. AS Its climate is semi
tropical. the verdure of its gardens and
parks and the beauty of its promenades
are in keeping with the atmosphere of
romance that inheres in a city with SO
brilliant past.
The oranges are ripening i'm Seville
when the SHOWS from the bleak noun
tains are sweeping down upon frigid
Madrid, and the tinkling guitar of the
Andalusian lover is heard by moonlight
under the balconies of Seville homes as
it was a century ago. The Andalusian
capital is noted for the beauty of it's
women. and it is regrettable that many
of them are nowadays adopting the Gus
tom of wearing hats instead of mantil-
las.
A city of narrow streets and of great
poverty, but one of bright cafes, of
thronged streets, of enduring charm, Sc
vile is a place i'm which to linger when
weary of cities in which the roar OF
progress has drowned the voice of ro-
nance.