A FAMILY FLIGHT THROUGH SPAIN.
DID you carefully read what I said about the Horners in their flight through Egypt and Syria? And do you remember it in detail, as to price, appearance, etc? No, of course you don’t. Who ever heard of these giddy girls and boys remembering anything for a month? Oh! Oh! I can hear your indignant voices. Well, that is too bad; and I believe in my heart as many of you as sent for the book and read it, have a very vivid and delightful memory of the family and their experiences. But for the benefit of the new Pansies, and of those who could not or did not send for the other book, let me introduce you to this one by the same authors, and offer it to you on the same excellent terms: one dollar and twenty cents, if you are willing to have it bound in boards, and one dollar and fifty cents if you want it in cloth. Remember, that is a dollar cheaper than any others can get it; a special offer to the members of the P. S.
I had no idea that Spain was so interesting a country until I travelled with the Horners. I think now that it makes a very great difference about one’s enjoyment in travelling, who their companions are. I am very fond of Bessie Horner, and for that matter of Tommy himself, while Mr. Hervey is fully as good a friend of mine as he is of the other travellers. This beautiful book which gives the story of the flight through Spain, is very fully illustrated, giving one an excellent idea of the country, its birds, its fruits, its buildings, etc. For instance, take this description of
THE ALHAMBRA.
Under the Moors, the Alhambra was the scene of many romantic events, the legends connected with which still people its courts with phantoms. The road leading up from the hotel to the entrance is shaded with tall trees, and the water trickles down the side, making the grass fresh and green. The walls are of a beautiful red or orange color, which is shared by the soil; this alone gives a glowing aspect to the scene. The chief place of entrance is called the Gate of Justice. It is more than a gate, being a square tower, the upper part of which contains rooms where people live. Their little flower pots filled with bright blossoms, stand on the ledge of the window. The horseshoe arch of entrance is below; for as the ground is terraced, the level of the palace is above that of the arch, and is approached by an ascent, and a staircase within the tower.
COURT OF LIONS. (From Family Flight through Spain.)
Over this arch there is carved an outstretched hand pointing upward, to avert the evil eye; over the second one a key is sculptured; a symbol of the power of the prophet to open and shut the gates of heaven. The passages within the tower wind about under several arches, until they lead out and up to the walled-in plateau, on which the Alhambra stands. A little farther on is another gateway, and building, called the Puerto del Vino; it formerly contained a Mihrab, or Moorish chapel.
From the high terrace near these two gates is a lovely view across the deep ravine to the Sierra Nevada, always slightly touched with snow, and taking on beautiful lights, according to the time of day: dark blue in the morning, and, as evening approaches, roseate; for in addition to the sunset tints, the natural color of the soil and stone make the tone of the range warm and rich. Here opens a large plaza, called the Place of the Cisterns, on one side of which is the Alcazaba, or fortress, with its dismantled castle, while opposite it appears the palace of Charles the Fifth, which he began to build, but never finished. He destroyed the greater part of the beautiful winter palace of the Moors, to make room for his own, and afterward abandoned his plan, leaving the unfinished ruin, with open arches, staring to the sky. It is said that earthquakes discouraged him from going on with his palace. There are planted garden beds, and walks leading along the side of it, to a plain, unadorned wall, through which a door leads to the real glories of the Alhambra.