El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-06

Of the time. when It wasn't Cervantes
or Don Quixote- Barcelona claims
Columbus, says this town staked him,
and asserts that the story OF Isal s
jewels is a myth but Catalunya
doesn't like Castillo and never did
SevilIa brought Columbus's bones
back from Havana and erected
monument for him in the cathedral
there. where, let US hope, he sleeps
Al Salamanca I visited the univer-
sity where Columbus studied geogra-
ply and astronomy, and where the
Copernican theory was taught when
in the world. At Sevilla I saw Co
lumbus's little library. and the
larger. collection that his brother left
to the city-also saw there the mag
nificent collection OF original cocu-
ments known as the Archives Of the
Indies where are kept almost all the
original writings in existence relating
to the discoveries. colonizing and
evangelizing Of the new world saw
the original contract Of Ferdinand
and Isabella with Columbus, and the
original commission to fernando
Cortes to occupy and Christianize
Mexico
Compiling Worlds History.
Spain will welcome serious students
OF MlcAQG- anu EAhE AAIAAA 10
cility. A little corps OF copyists
photographers. and compilers is busy
all the time. but at the rate the work
proceeds il viii not accomplish 50
very much in the next 1000 years
one can never realize the enormous
extent OF the original data for the
worlds history or how little Is really
available yet to the ordinary reader
until one goes through such a col
lection as this. OF the Archives Of
the Realm OF Aragon" running back
IN a continuous and unbroken series
to the year So Imagine what the
archives OF 80 nations for the war
OF 1914-1919 win look like. One be-
gins to sympathize with the sour old
cynic who averred { at the average
history is composed one-third Of
half-truths. two-thirds OF magma
ton. prejudice, and idolatry.
From Burgos I went to Valladolld.
Three centuries ago. Cervantes
stopped there 3 years. The state has
taken over the house where he lived.
which sits back a little from tho
street and below the present grade
level Trustees have developed the
memorial absolutely perfectly. The
front space is a closed garden. with
a simple bas-relief on the wall Of
garden one descends to the old level
and enters a small ante room Through
a charming library OF L shape with
balcony, one passes into a cool shady
patio and walled garden, with many
seats, a fountain, ivy on the walls
flowers blooming, and many little
boys spraWled out on the grassy
banks or the stone benches reading,
that warm afternoon in July. The
library has collected every sort OF
thing about Cervantes. but branching
out It has acquired many books on
d frH- al
and generally speaking all
art, decoration, manuscripts, criticism.
cultural subjects excluding religion
commerce. and most OF the physical
sciences but possessing representative
books even in these departments. At
5 p m. on a hot summer day the
HhrSry rooms were fun OF small boys
and young men busy over their books.
just As Ceramics Left II.
All the rooms in the house are re-
stored as Cervantes left them. so far
as furniture is concerned; the walls
are plain, everything is simple and
Clean and tempting to reverie. study
and rest There is no admission fee |
and no tips
The cathedral at Salamanca is as
tonishingly simple, and beautiful. too,
though one likes better the old ca
has been LEFT untouched for centuries !
There were stately old tombstone
statues almost seemed to breathe.
In Salamanca are numerous beauti- Z
ful patios; the patio is the key to all /
domestic and public architecture. but
exterior facades are not sighted I
is all golden or pale /
orange color. shading into old ivory I
straw. or pearl. White marble me- ]
mortal tablets have been erected at !
every place OF historical interest in I
the city. As everywhere else in I
spain. there was much building and .
rebuilding going on
For sheer charm, elegance. and ]
pleasure am disposed to put the
little city OF Segovia-only 1900 !
people-in the first rank Il Is q
beautiful place TO visit. or to spend /
weeks in study or work. It Is mighty I
quiet-there is no excitement in Sc !
sovia, and II you seek thrills. no need &
70 seek thern there. The cathedral ]
Is gem OF composition and color 4
The cloister exquisite and impressive :
There Is stately castle. where I Wis 4
tied a throne-room OF Ferdinand and 1
Isabella There are running streams
and little waterfalls. lovely parks and 4
promenades. II Is happy well-to-do.i
and contented place, with splendid l
elms, and flowers. and fragrance OF I
-uxuriant verdure. And over every
thing those glorious golden sunset
-ints. a delicate thing is kept. saved 4
from the wreckage Of centuries be-