The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-06
BY MYRTLE MILES

From Mr.. w. B. Reynolds of Monte
vallo, who has kinfolks and friend in
Birmingham, delightful letter arrived
yesterday from Spain. Mr.. and Mrs. Rey-
nolds. who are inveterate travellers, have
been members of around-the-world tours
with number of Birmingham people,
all of whom will be interested In the
formers gossip of his travels in Spain.
lie writes from Granada:
have often wondered why more Euro
mean travellers did not stop in Spain. Since
seeing it myself I wonder still more. for
st is certainly one of the most unique
and interesting countries in the world
Landing at Gibraltar. we made our way
first through Andalusla, Spain's most in
teresting province. Just word about
Gibraltar. You know of course. this/big
rock, for that is all it is, rises 1900 feet
precipitousy from the sea and absolutely
commands the entrance from the Atlantic
ocean to the Mediterranean sea- 1t was
taken from Spain by the English in 1704
who have since spent millions and mil
lions In It's fortiications. They keep there
at all times COCO soldiers and a supply
OF rations for three years. The immense
guns which peep out from the honey
combed rock and which are also mounted
on top could bat$er to pieces any war yes
sel attempting an entrance from. one body
of water to the other. {
Leaving Gibraltar we commenced our
Journey by rail through Spain. 1t was
not long before we entered the cork for
ests. The commercial cork is nothing but
the bark of these trees, which is about
two inches thick and stripped from the
trees once every 10 years. 1t is said to
be the only tree in the world that can
live after its bark is all removed. These
forests are very valuable and belong to
English syndcates A ride Aof few hours
brought us TO Ronda This place is noted
for its beautiful women and has scenery
unsurpassed in SPAIN In Ronda rain
rarely ever falls in the daytime, and one
never tires of looking over the rocky
elens, olive and vine clad fields studded
with white fiat rooted houses shining in
its glorious sun. BY the way, l have
never seen wooden house or wooden
fence in Spain. The houses are all built
OF brick, small stone and mortar There
are no fences.
Our next stop was Ia Seville. Here 1t
is said there is never a day when the
sun dies not shine 1t has remarkable
and varied history. The Mohammedans
ruled Seville for 500 years. In fact Spain
has bowed to many conquerofs, Romans
Goths, Moors and Christians have all lett
their imprint on this ancient country.
Seville sent out many world famous men,
1T was from here that Columbus sailed
down the Guadalquivir river to the sea
to discover America. Magellan started
from here on his trip around the world,
Cortez to conquer Mexico Three Roman
emperors, Hadrian, Trajan and Iheodo-
sius were born here and SO were the
great painters Murillo and Velasquez. The
grand paintings of these two we saw in
Madrid. All travellers feel tired when
cathedrals are mentioned, but here let
me say, don't fail to see this great build
ing in Seville. 1t is one of the largest and
most magnificent III the world. To de-
scribe it successfully is almost impossible
This is a favorite place for heggars, put
there are beggars everywhere. AS some
one has aptly said, 1--WE see sick beggars
and sorry beggars, sad beggars and smil-
ing beggars, blind beggars, beastiy beg
cars and baby beggars." You can not
escape them. A woman will carry her
baby in arms, teaching it to hold out its
little hands in mute appeal for the pit
tance of copper. They crawl out from
the hedges along the road: they swarm
about you like flies whenever you stop
for a moments observation. They take
no denial and when you let your sym
pathies get the better of your good judg-
nent, dozen more appear. claiming al
most a right, a part of your bounty.
Every town of any size has its bull
ring. 1t is of course, national sport, II
sport it can be called. To me It's brutal
horrors defy description. can hardly
believe any one not a native can ever
want to attend second performance.
stu it is loved by the people of Spain
and is not likely to be abolished soon.
From Seville we went to Toledo. This
city is magnificently situated on the River
Tagus, on the rocky heights overhang-
ing its muddy waters. 1t is said to be the
Oldest city in Europe. As usual one OF
its attractions was a cathedral This is
one equal in size to a half dozen ordin-
ary cathedrals and second only to the
one in Seville. 1t has over 100 exquisite
stained glass windows and SO columns
of immense size and height. The city
was largely populated by the Jews until
the year 1900 when the Moors took 1t
and banished them. Two Jewish syna-
Ecgues still remain to show the impor-
fance of the Hebrew in Toledo l saw
one house which was known to belong to
y very rich Jew who had excavated seven
different rooms under the ground one
above the other, and the last opening on
the river below. These rooms were used
to conceal his valuabes and to escape in
case of attack. 1t is still noted for the
manufacture of swords and the Toledo
blade is known all over the world. It's
streets are so narrow that vehicles can
only go in one direction. One day our
carriage had to stop because the front
door of house was open. The driver
got out and shut it so we could pass.
From Toledo we went to Madrid-accent
ON last syllable. This is Spain's capitol
and the Paris of this section. 1t is noted
for it's picture galleries, its armory and
is the home of the King and Queen. 1t
has an elevation OF 2500 feet and has a
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