The Argosy — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

46 Letters from Majorca. dued beyond any power of description. Ancient and exquisite windows dye the pillars and the walls and the pavement with rays and colours that might rest on an angel’s wing. ‘The obscurity appeals most strongly to the imagination, and rouses the religious fervour of this impressionable people. How different these southern influences from those one encounters under Northern skies! By what widely separate roads these opposite races travel Heavenwards ! The effect of the whole is one of the utmost dignity and simplicity, inspiring the most frivolous with a certain religious sentiment. I have seldom been more impressed by any building, and H. C., who is so much at home in all these matters, shared the feeling. It was, singularly enough, first designed by a Majorcan. | The cloisters are worthy of the cathedral. ‘They are small but of exquisite Gothic architecture. An ancient fountain for ever plashes its cool waters in one corner of the court, overshadowed by the pointed arches of a Gothic canopy. Beyond this, in the open space, orange and other trees spread their branches, and fleck the sunny pavement with dancing shadows, and give you upward glimpses of a sky bluer than we dream of in England: a sky that seems merely the slight covering or outer veil of celestial regions. We stayed, wrapped in dreams and visions, until the very last moment of our time, and then made the best of our way to the Majorcan boat. The magnificent port was crowded with shipping. We had to take a small boat to our little steamer lying in the middle of the harbour. She proved very comfortable as far as cabins and arrange- ments were concerned, but a terrible roller. We started at four o’clock, with more people than we had expected. The passage out of the harbour was very grand, toned by a descending sun, a sky red and glowing, and gorgeous clouds that sailed onwards. Windows on shore caught up the red flush. An immense rock, like a second Gibraltar, stood out boldly, and seemed to guard the entrance. Low lying, undulating hills beyond, stretched downwards, veiled in the loveliest purple hues. A cormorant here and there skimmed the wide waste of waters, hieing home on the strong wings of its race. Once free of the harbour, and out on the broad main, the boat began to show the stuff she was made of. One trembled for what she might do on a rough sea. H. C., with the most innocent air in the world, proposed an early dinner, and afterwards declared his intention of remaining on deck all night. By that time a very unpleasant motion had set up. Many had fallen victims, and H. C. did not escape. I turned in early, and was only disturbed during the night by an occasional sea striking the vessel, and sending a shiver through it that uncomfortably suggested a possible dissolu- tion of the craft. H.C. braved the deck until midnight, then wisely changed his mind, and turned in also. About six o’clock the next morning, we came up with the long, ECORNIELOOOKS.E@