The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-24

| prepared by the National Geographic So
| ciety Washington. D. c.
Spain, whose sons once dominated
Europe and through their language
and civilization dominated much of the
western world, has not yet been
spoiled by the tourist. Cut off from
the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees
and the sea-forming, in fact, de-
tached bit Of Africa-Spain has gone
on through the centuries preserving
countless ancient traits which give her
life and people peculiar stamp.
Nowhere else does the past, with It's
great warnings against pride, intoler-
ance, and extravaganza, so impress
even the casual passer-by. Journey
Ing into Spain from France. the trav-
eler Is promptly notified by change
of gauge at the frontier that even the
railroads In Spain are different. Their
gauge Is over a foot wider than that
Of central Europe and of America; so
passengers must change cars and
freight be trans-shipped. This wide
gauge Is great advantage, and Amer
lean railroad men sigh for it. 1t en-
ables more powerful locomotives and
more capacious cars to be used, though
the Spaniards have not yet risen en-
tirely to their opportunities.
Travellers who know little Spanish
and have learned by experience in 9TH
er lands that the genuine people,
whom one comes to know, travel third
class, go In with them, regardless Of
bare wooden seats and crowded quar-
ters. One can be very comfortable
with rug or two; and, instead of
French-speaking travel
erS, one has as neighbor an intelligent
Castilian farmer, who uses an Amer
lean harvester, and who laments
Spain's illiteracy and official corrup-
ton as the chief cause Of her trou-
bles; or 1t may be Barcelona COM
mercial traveller, who lays SPANS ills
which all admit, saying, "Pobre
Espana!" (poor Spain)-to her highly
administration, which tax
IS the whole country, and especially
ich and popuIous Catalonia, for Ma
1rid officeholders.
The ancient divisions of Spain, for
centuries independent and often hos
lie countries, still hold somewhat |
lloof from each other. The Galatians |
wen speak different language, al
led to Provencal,, as different from |
Jastilian as Dutch is from English.
Barcelona 10 Attractive.
AS one comes from the north, the
rst important town Is Corona, men,
rable for the heroic defense against
he French century ago.
Barcelona, SPANS largest and bust
st city. is most attractive place, pos
essing the best climate in the west
IN Mediterranean-mor equable tian
hut of Nice A stroll along the Ram
la, the chief boulevard, Is full of in
crest. One can take delightful ride
n the top of double-decked trolley
ar to the Tibidabo, pine-covered hill
the city and Its magnif-
ent harbor.
A few miles down the coast Is Tar
lgona, whose stately aQueduct Is
that she was the chief city
I Roman Spain. 4 few hours further
,uth lies Tortosa, on the Ebro, the
nly large river In Spain emptying
ito the Mediterranean. Its waters
re largely diverted into irrigation
mails, which make the fields and gar
Ems a delight to the eye; and the
of date palms and waving
heat shows what variety Of prod
It's the country produces. One can
II, see on the streets huge Jars which
mind one Of ALI Baba and the Forty
hieves, and in the wine stores wine {
sold in pig-skins which give 1t
ste much like that Of the dilute
'ruce gum into which wine degen- I
ates in Greece. II
Turning inland one Is soon met by
e strangely toothed ridge Of the !
ontserrat (about 1000 feet high, the |
additional home of the Holy Grail. t
ow the train iabors up to the bleak q
ghlands of CASTLE, bare and forbid s
ng. Central Spain ID a high plateau. t
ossed by rugged mountains, scorched q
summer and frozen stiff in winter. t
Here and there shepherds accom- t
nv their heavy-feeced merinps, U