The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-08-09
Hotel Equals New York.

Hotel Equals New fork.
The Ramblasf saw them first at
s the next morning. My friends had
sent me to bed at 2--"eariy." they
said. for must be tired after
long journey and we breakfast
at TO-"
My hotel was as excellent comfort
able and complete as anything In
New York. Barcelona is half ultra
modern. one-fourth medieval Span
ish and the other fourth back In the
twilight OF ages.
Being an early rising American
one who used to think II G!nful not
TO have on a street dress by 5. and
hearing a mighty hummlng below
my window, : started out for little
turn before the Barcelona breakfast
and dlscoveredmany impedimenta TO
leaving the hotel.
Half a dozen blind gypsy guitar
lists encircled the entrance at even
this early hour. They were strum-
ming and chanting weird Andalusian.
Malaguan, Sevillian and Castillian
melodies. The great. wide, tree-lined
boulevarded thoroughfare. the Ram
ba, was q mass OF people critically
acclaiming the musicians as they
aimlessly followed in their wake.
The musicians, who had a leader
with eyes which could see. imme-
dately surrounded me, at the same
time Justify playing and escorting
me down the street. Nothing but a
gift of money unloosed the band.
To Nowhere in Particular.
The entire central thoroughfare
was packed with a vast, elastic, NOV
ing concourse Of people OF all ages.
sexes and conditions. None Lad the
least suggestion of being bound for
anywhere in particular, or expecting
TO get there at any particular time.
Swallowed in the vortex I buffeted
the stream and was in turn buffeted
like a cork in a mill race. To the
native rambler no person is sacred;
no one is present but himself or her
self. Each steers direct course re-
gardless Of the others. Progression
is like that OF ferryboat humping
into it's slip. Not only does no one
apologize should he careen you sew
eial points from your course but he
still remains oblivious to your very
existence.
In an hour I had covered perhaps
ten blocks out and back, reaching
the shelter of my hotel much as one
feels after a bad Atlantic crossing.
Breakfast consists of cinnamon spiced
chocolate and round, sweet cakes,
sandwiched, if you like, with fresh
fruit pulp. Invariably Is included
the morning paper-El Vangudrdid,
its entire front page spread with
death notices OF prominent citizens
who may have departed the day be-
fore, each announcement ornamented
with large black cross and solid
black rule border.
"oh, you haven't begun to rambls
vet" said my friends. I'VE will start
YOU right" They did. We ran the
suitarist blockade and reached the
port by means Of circuitous back
alley route. The Rambla begins at
the port. cutting through the city as
knife through cheese.
.'T Starting to Ramble.
The drop of the nag was at the
tall column Of granite crowned by a
Columbus statue, his outstretched
hand pointing seaward. but to ths
west, the opposite direction from the
new world which he discovered
Don't ask why-Barcelona is that
way!.
Here we began our venturesoms
ramble. At the port it was not so
crowded. Being centre Of business
activity it was Stunned by confirmed
ramblers, who naturally fight shy of
anything strenuous. The central
asphalted footway was edged on
either side with q narrow, I'll paved
NIT. .~oSoruafa zslvadgn