The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-22

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seems practically limitless. At Car
tagena. magnificent Mediterranean
port, there is already a smelter, and
the lead mines are within a few min.
utes drive. Men In these mines are
paid from forty-fivs to sixty eents
per diem. but as boys can work in
smaller and therefor less expensive
tunnels and az they command mere
ly thirty cents per diem. child labor.
rendered by boys ranging from ten
to seventeen, is here potent factor
Many of the miners, they exist on
bread, cheese, olives and cigarettes,
live in novels excavated in embank-
ments 1t would be interesting to
note the expression of four or five
dollar a day American miner from
Joplin, Galena or Occur d'Alene on
taking a glimpse at his Spanish RI /
val's conditions.
On a line a hundred miles inland |
from Almeria | found my first Span
ish sleeping car Don't pass this
hurriedly by Train service here has
become sore point with me. What
the trains do the balance of the time
| can not say but they generally |
leave for your destination about four
p. M. You pile into a compartment |
paying for an eight interest therein
at the rate of four cents per mile, |
pull serapa about you and pray for
morning Whenever you chance tot
doze the train stops and polite en-
ploye awakens you with proffer of
a hot water tank. Some of the ad-
vanced lines run a sleeping car as Of
ten as twice a week.
Anyway, | got one finally in the
hinterland from Almeria found ii
heading for the capitol at A. M. BY
payment OF an extra fare, it was a
train de luxe, attaining the hurricane
speed of Twenty-Five miles an hour,
and four dollars, secured an upper.
In addition to her train service
Spain Is assailed because of her
cooks. Here | arise in defense of the
Senoras A most excellent meal, well
cooked, can be secured at from thir-
ty to ninety cents, even in Madrid
Madrid, by the way. Is just another
big city Pardon. but somehow ci-
ties should be merely periodic How
ever, en- route from the station the
Prado Museo caught my attention so
thither / proceeded. Once within the
great central hallway, focused by
masterpieces Of Titan, Van Dyck,
Rubens, Murillo and VelasQuez, | be-
gan to dwindle feeling my insignif-
canoe. 1t was too much of an all
star cast TO be staring down on one
at once. Even !, however, could not
but enjoy some of the canvasses.
There was a MurIllo: Saint Some
body dipping a rebellious youngsters
stained face into a much needed ba-
sin. Next, my fancy was taken by
the clear blue effect in the distant
sky Of VelasQuez's Surrender OF Bre-
da;" and in contrast with II the dark
forest shadows Of Ruben's The Wild
Bear Hunt" As for the rest, there
were to the limit, ladies somewhat
adipose in tissue and quite big
enough to know better, prancing
about in bathing suits OF the antique
fashion. and kings and kinglets ga
lore. the major portion a bargain lot,
mere links in the imperial succession
now being saved from oblivion by the
glory of the artist who placed them
on lasting canvas.
From the Prade to the Palacio del
Rey is but a brief drive. and "Bill, u
as I'd named my driver, covered the
distance in short order. Very plain
ly something was at the palace. OF
course in California. Utah and New
York, the three places of my resi-
dence, kings are out of season, but
even a novice could see that the pal
ace was having very busy hour. AT
first ! thought II might be pay day.
Helmeted guards and troopers were
In evidence, fine equipages and mo-
tors stretched out in long line while
at a respectful distance grouped the
populace who pay for the gilt
| asked Bill what was on. but he
didn't seem to have been invited so
drew closer with my camera. AS /
approached the great portal OF the
palace. which is an immense sub
stantial white affair out came, in
twos and threes and then in crowds.
military officers, gorgeously robed
church dignitaries, men in ordinary
full dress and others in white satin
with knee breeches and white silk
stockings, and ladies In white and
| ladies in black with mantillas TO
match draped about their graceful
heads. Not just knowing my part, !
opened up with the camera, quite ex-
pecting arrest for lese majestic until
one. most gorgeous In attire, preened
himself nodding toward my kodak.
Well between dukes and marquises
captains general and grandees. |
soon lost count. Say. you couldn't
have heaved a stone without landing
on at least grandee. There were
no loose ones around, however,
stones | mean for the grandees were
! inst running over one. From most
friendly appearing Don ! learned that
the latest little Infanta Of Spain had
been christened, with the Cars re-
preventative as godfather Present.
lily the most thrilling witching music
arose and forth marching came a
hfe corps. gaily dressed boys. with
drummers close after. and next n
superbly drilled company OF the IA
nous Royal Halberdiers, their pole
axes across their shoulders.
That was Saturday. This is Christ
mas Day and here am In palace
writing in the Hall OF ambassadors,
the very room where Columbus was
commissioned by Queen Isabella TO
sail forth into the western sea.
The Alhambra is wonderful: ana
all This Hail and the Court Of Lions
have a charm beyond words.