SPAIN 



The Magnolia Tree^ *Aranjuez 



\ RANJUEZ, the Roman Ara Jovis, is only a 

 ^ * short distance from the frontier of La 

 Mancha, the high road into that province passing 

 directly through it. " A lovely spot," says George 

 Borrow, " is Aranjuez. Here the Tagus flows 

 through a delicious valley, perhaps the most fer- 

 tile in Spain, and here upsprang a little city with 

 a small but beautiful palace, shaded by enormous 

 trees, where Royalty delighted to forget its cares. 

 Here Ferdinand the Vllth spent his latter days, 

 surrounded by lovely senoras and Andalusian bull- 

 fighters." Here was heard the roar of Manchegan 

 bulls in the spacious circus, the tinkle of guitars 

 in the cool shaded retreats mingling with the 

 sound of running water and the songs of innumer- 

 able birds. Elms, introduced by Philip II from 

 England, grown in heat and moisture to an 

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