Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-09

| was gateway to something new and
strange.
And so it proved. My path led me
right between the cliffs into a plateau
of lunar landscapes such as one has
| seen pictured in astronomical fan
tastes. Great. SCARED mountains Of
rock, pitched unanimously in every
direction, forming deep gorges and
precipitous ravines, filled the little
! plateau. although the few level places
ana the gentler slopes were carpeted
with green and flowers.
ut is because they love their rocks
he said, with a deprecating shrug.
Later in the cooler part of the after
noon, mine host sent me, with guide,
up to the Puerto" above the town,
whence you are supposed to see Cadiz
and the sea. Jose, that was my guides
name, proved to be nn amusing person
AS we scrambled up the rocky path be
tween the two mighty cliffs of San Girls
tobal and San Fernan, he entertained
me with the history of his misfortunes,
He had been accustomed To metropoli-
tan life as '.mozo. in a Ronda hotel. He
had rashiy married was now the father
of five. and forced to live in this rock
bound hamlet, far from the metropolis
yes, he who was so passonately fond of
bull-fights. His eyes flashed at the
mere memory of it. And now were to
come the fera (fair) at Ronda, bull
fight with far-famed Machaquito
natador! But what would YOU have?
Los ninos para los toros,' the children
or the bulls''-and with resigned shruS
he again returned to his duties of guide
and mentor
Really. the view from the Puerto was
magnificent. A gateway in the cliffs
(which explains. strategically, the foun-
dation of Grazalema, by the Moorsl, af-
fords you an illimitable outlook west
ward over successive mountain-ranges
Into the fertile valley of Jerez. 1 cannot
assert that / saw the masts of ships lit
the cleaning harhor of cadiz, The day
was too hazy But. on the other side
from the cliff of San Fernan, whittier
Jose led me- 1 had a glorious eastward
view of Ronda on its rock. cleaning like
a golden tea-serVice on lofty table.
AND NOW a CAVALIER.
Now a mans resolution is usually no
stronger than his vanity. All day the re-
peated calculations. but 81 Senior Cabal-
Zero has walked from Rpnda on foot
had kept wearing on my proud spirit
And then Jose's pathetic hunger for
buu-fght had touched my softer side
and now mine host. after supper. took me
to the little town plaza overhanginE eby
some 500 feeD the valley below, with 2
l1ovely view Rondawards. Here mine
host a man of consequence, opening
uath through the throng of people, con-
Quoted me 20 the Cafe Allegira, procured
me an armchair, ordered me -everal
aouardientes, and introduced me to the
lselite of the town. all of whom he IN
formed of my wonderful pedestrian feat
at freauent intervals, between the per
formances of the only phonograph in
town Think of it. man alive thombreD,
/ from Ronda here. seven leagues, on foot,
| in the morning"
| Finally | weakened.
"Well. then, mere 30 reals" This
at first sounded immense. but translat-
ed, came to one dollar and u half
7 thereupon ordered the horse, stipu-
lated Jose as travelling companion A
| few moments later a TRANSPORTED Jose
| appeared to receive my orders
The ride home by" the road, proved, as
Anticipated comparatively un'nter-
esting Jose and I rode double most of
the way, | in the saddle. he, to his dis
comfort on the horse's bony sianks with
only blanket intervening. When we
arrived in Ronda, however. his spirits
rose, as we passed by the snowy booths
and through the cattle market tthe feria
was already in progress). But he was
not satisfied with merely depositing me
in safety at the hotel: before going ne
respectfully asked TO be introduced 70
my womenfolks, of whose existence he
had become aware in the course of our
ride This ceremony concluded, he was
up on his horse and away with shout
We left Ronda that morning. l nope
Jose succeeded in painting the town req
without the usual police-court conse-
quences-for the sake of his ''ninos,' /
hhope It'll G. A.. in N. Y. Post.