"But now I shall have to leave you. I could show you much more, of course, but there might be an objection if I did. You ask why? Because a certain city I know would be afraid that you might agree with me that Barcelona is more important than she is!"
"I am an old clock. I used to sit upon a shelf in one of the most curious castles in Spain--El Escorial ([)e]l [)e]s-k[=o]´r[)i]-[)a]l). It was built by King Philip II.
[Illustration: TOMB OF THE CHILDREN, EL ESCORIAL]
"King Philip built El Escorial as his tomb. Today, it stands a gray and gloomy monument upon a barren hill, and in its vaults are buried the kings and queens of Spain.
"Among the marble tombs, there is one which looks like a round, white birthday cake. It is the tomb of the children--young princes and princesses.
"King Philip watched the building of this immense palace from a rocky seat on a hill above. And later when he was very ill, he used to lie in his bedroom next to the chapel and listen to the church services.
"Ho, hum! I am a sleepy, lazy old clock. But then, all clocks in Spain grow lazy, for we are seldom used. Everybody is always late.
"Yet here is a funny thing. I have been told that Spain produces more quicksilver than any other country. Think of that! Quicksilver!"
"I am a fan. I belonged to a lady who lived in the town of Valladolid (väl´yä-th[+o]-l[=e]th´). It was built by a Moor named Olid, and was called Valle de Olid, Valley of Olid.
"The names of many important men are connected with Valladolid. King Philip II was born there. The Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, were married there. Cervantes (s[~e]r-v[)a]n´t[=e]z), the author of 'Don Quixote' (d[+o]n k[+e]-h[=o]´t[+a]), that famous Spanish romance, lived there; and Christopher Columbus died there."
"I am a bonnet, and I am very proud of myself because I am a beautiful creation. I am also very proud to think that I was born in the marvelous city of Segovia (s[+a]-g[=o]´vyä).
"Segovia has a Roman aqueduct which is one of the most remarkable of its kind in the world. It is sometimes called the Devil's Bridge, because a legend tells that Satan built it in a single night.
"There is also the famous Alcazar, an ancient castle set high upon a sharp cliff. It was built in the eleventh century by King Alfonso VI. Besides these marvels, Segovia has many fine churches and castles and cathedrals.