Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-05
The. KINGDOM OF SPAIN.
XV-THE ALEXANDRIA.
BY Frederic J.Haskin.

GRANADA. Spain.
Since Washington Irvings Tales of
| the Alhambra" first saw the light every
American who reads books has known
something about the deserted Mohamme-
dan palace and fortress that crowns the
heights above Granada. Because Of its
part in the struggle between the Chris
tans and Moslems for possession Of
Span-a struggle that practically ended
| when Ferdinand and Isabella took the
keys Of the AIhambra from the Moors
in 1492-this palace holds a greater de-
gree Of romantic interest today than any
other in the world.
1t was toward Granada, the rich the
impregnable, the beautiful, that the epic
| advance Of the Christians from the foot
hills Of the Asturias was directed when
the scattered remnant of a European
people driven from their territory by an
Asian horde rallied to retake the Iberian
peninsula for the cross and the eau
casian. It was to Granada that the Mos
lens fled as to city Of refuge when
the Christians forced them from one
stronghold after another and the begin
ming of the end of seven and three
fourths centuries of Mohammedan rule
in Spain drew near.
The war Of Granada ended after ten
years of fighting. in which the scimitar
Of the orient and the sword of the occi-
where chivalric deeds were done by he'll
melted Christian and turbaned Moor in
such numbers as to supply the historian.
the poet and the novelist with exhaustless
opportunities for extolling knightly vir.
tues.
Granada fell only after a siege that
lasted as long as that Of Troy, and de-
cided question
Siege of Granada that had an i'm
as Long as Troy. UPON u world history
When the Alhambra was surrendered
upon the festival of the Epiphany. with
Christian lances glinting in the sunlight
along its battlements. and an army
massed within its walls to receive the
conquerors, the Moors, who had been
turned back by Charles Martel at Tours,
were driven from western Europe, never
to recover their lost ground. When the
royal procession advanced with Haunting
banners to the principal mosque and
offered prayers Of thanksgiving. courtiers
and cavaliers joining in a triumphant
hymn, Christian Europe believed that The
victory had been won under the direct
guidance of Providence, and that the
temporal conquest was OF less impor-
lance than the triumph of their religion
over the infidel.
"The halls of the Alhambra" says a
historian, writing of the surrender, now
rustled for the first time with stately
danes and Christian gentlemen before
hfr, ho
ors wandered with eager curiosity over
this far-famed palace. admiring it's YER
dant courts and gushing fountains. it's
halls decorated with elegant arabesques
and storied with inscriptions, and the
splendor of it's gilded and brilliantly
painted ceilings" And today. more than
four centuries since the unfortunate
Boabdil sailed forth In sorrow and dis
grace to surrender his capital. the ver7
dant courts and gushing fountains Of the
Alhambra are far more widely famed
than they wer, when the city of Santa
Fe was builded in the Vega by Ferdinand
and Isabella as their permanent head
quarters while laying siege to the A.oor-
ish fortress.
The oldest part of Granada, the Alba
was once the
Gypsies in Caves seat of the
Occupy the Albacin. ,ocpan ~" 10 nou.
pare of all traces OF its former beauty,
and is occupied by gypsies who live in
caves. But the Alhambra has lost none
of it's charm in decay, and the viaducts
by which the Moslem kings brought a
plentiful supply of crystal mountain wa
ter to their palace still fill its fountains
Many of the arabesaues have been re-
stored from time to time, and little of
the interior decoration of the ancient pail
ace is original construction. but the work
of preservation has been well and wisely
done. The verdure of the courts Is kept
at the standard Of perfection which made
the palace so delightful in summer dur
ing the days of it's first tenancy. and the
music of running and falling water is
heard throughout the stately halls and
courts. about which cluster a thousand
romantic traditions. The Zenil and the
barrow, true Alpine torrents fed from
SHOWS of the Sierra Nevada towering
above the Alhambra, flow through gorges
upon either side of the palace, and the
situation Is one of unrivaled picturesque
ness and unique charm.
The Alhambra, although the best ex-
ample of Saracenic architecture in Europe
is not to be compared with the Saracenic
palaces builded in India by the Mogul
emperors Akbar and Shah Jehan, de-
scendants of the great conquerer Tanner
lane. The Mogul palaces at Delhi and
Agra are marvels of costly and handsome
construction. and the Tai Mahal, the
tomb built by Shah Jehan to his favorite
wife. Is concedeu to be the most marvel