The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-06-20

finances are absolutely drained by TINS war
Still she could not renounce the project and re-
NAMED much more attentive to 1t than 10 tne
wonderful plaster palace into which the court had
Just moved Thither came Don Luis de Santangel'
treasurer of the church revenues, and stanch
friend of Columbus and sought audience with her
majesty He asked in amaZement If she would
let the paltry sum Columbus demanded deprive
her and Spain of inmeasurable glory. All ne
needs to set the expedition afoat, said Santangel
sis a million maravedi!" (between three and five
thousand doIlars), and he straightway offered to
advance the money.
This generous offer seems to have piqued its
royal hearer into proper contempt for the courts
niggardliness. Also it put end to her mis-
gvings and to her Difference to Ferdinand's opin'
ion. For the first time the scheme broke upon
her in all it's grandeur and the palace wall that
had echoed so many languorous Arabian love
songs now rang to her stirring cry: II will under
take this enterprise for my own kingdom Of Cas-
tile! And if its treasury is empty will convert
my jewels into the necessary money"
So messengers were dispatched instantly to
bring Columbus back. They overlook him some
ten miles off, just as he was crossing the Bridge
Of Pinos-a fine little stone structure with turrets
and abutments, massively built, for the Cubias
has great volume there in spring. This Pinos,
ancient Roman town, is prettily situated at the
foot of the Sierre de Elvira. 1t has been the
lem and Christian. In 1919 the Castilians suffered
frightful defeat there at the hands of the Moors.
both the royal princes Don Pedro and Don Juan,
being killed. But Piros' great date is 1892, when
lonely traveller on muleback pondering detected
ly on how large a part of his life had worn away
and must still wear away in frutless solicitings.
was halted the bridge by the queens messen-
gers and brought back to Granada. That bridge
more than any other spot in Europe(save perhaps
the convent of La Rabida) should be held sacred
by Americans. Yet few take the trouble to visit
1t, though many climb to the spot in the mountain
now called "The Moors Last Sigh"
Columbus, soul-sick of royal promises, needed
much urging ere he left the little bridge and
turned back; but when next he rode his mule out
Of Granada his head and his hopes were high,
his heart sang; the capitulatons had been signed
at Santa Fe and he carried in his pocket order
to the citizens of the little port of Palos to fur
nsh him with ships and men. Thus this most
momentous and adventurous journey ever re-
corded In history may truly be considered to have
begun in Granada.
Today this city Of so many memories is de-
scribed a living ruin" But even the city
itself has suffered mildly compared with the AL
hambra. Charles ", Isabella's grandson, pulled
down a large portion of 1t In order to erect his
still unfinished Renaissance residence. The Sala
de los Mocarabes and the Court of Lions were
injured by powder explosion just hundred
years after Columbus eyes had first gazed OF
them. In 171S Philip v. took fer his personal use
the revenues formerly assigned for the preserva-
tion of the Alhambra and the famous building fell
into total neglect.
Down below the hilltop, in the city ITSELF dirt
and decay reign where the Moorish nobility had
their palaces. The Spanish, Immediately after
their conquest, erected some fine buildings prin
cipaly the superb Gothic cathedral built as the
mausoleum of Ferdinand and Isabella But these.
too, are in sad need of preservation. =.