PRINCES IN SPAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19865, 13 June 1927, Page 11

PRINCES IN SPAIN

GUESTS AT SEVILLE WHAT THEY LEARNED AND Seville, favoured this year as never before by' innumerable visitors, has been very glad to count the British Princes among her guests. The ball on board the steamer Reinn Christina specially impressed th ■ Princes; certainly it was a spectacle more to their taste than that offered by the “acoso” on the cstilte uf th-’ Marquis de Guadalest. Amid the new and wonderful sensations that Andalusia offered the Prine*; of Wales the death of the poor your,; bull that bright and sunny afternoon will stand out as a regretful memory. When the Prince was so touched by th ■ sufferings of the victim during this mild trial it is easy to imagine what his feelings would bo at a real bullfight with its inevitable accompaniment of gored horses. Those Spaniards who view bullfights with disfavour, an i there are many who prefer football an : other sports to the national “fiesta,’-' will undoubtedly' find their hands strengthened by the Prince’s attitude. There were, on the other hand, many other things iu Spain that the Prince thoroughly enjoyed. The visit of the Prince of Wales will undoubtedly direct the attention of the tourist to Spain, which has hitherto been little visited in comparison with other countries in spite uf its great attractions. Spain can offer the traveller a variety of landscapes and colourings such as few other places can boast. Very few Europfelm travellers have any idea of the incomparable beauty of tii ■ whole region of Galicia. The Basque provinces arc better known because of the short distance which separates Han Sebastian from Biarritz, and English tourists have always shown special interest for Andalusia. But the Spaniards have done very little to attract foreigners. The climate of Malaga during the winter months is milder than that of the Riviera, but little or nothing is done to organise attractions dur ing the months of January, February and March, when tourists would flo v into the town. The Prince of Wales proved an unrivalled dancer even iu Seville, the cradle of all or t most of the Spanish dances. It was five o’clock in the morning when he left the side of the steamei Reina Christina after enjoying a typical Andalusian evening under the stars. The classical Spanish “Shottis” gave way before the “Charleston.” The society reporters called attention to th.• Prince’s predilection for antelope leather shoes, and the iaet has be?:i noted by the Spanish shoemakers, who, by the way, can compete, with the best oi their trade in Europe. The Prince will have observed that the monarchy is passing through a crisis in Spain, although he had no personal experience of the coldness that the Directory has produced among the people of the King, a coldness which robbed the official visit of the King uf Sweden to Madrid of the popular d*monstrations usual on such occasions The Liberal papers took care to point out that King Gustaf is a democrat, ano advantage was taken by part of the press of tho visit of the Prince of Wales to speak in high terms of the loyal tv of tho great British monarchy' to its counlry’j Constitution.