South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-10-12
FROM NEW MEXICO.
Speeitd Correpondssce.
SANTA FE, N. NJ, Sert. 80.


OF the three oldest towns in America,
1t not the very oldest. ST. Augustine
Florida, was settled in 1865, but il is
now known that the Spaniaris found
this populous town in 1912. 1t was
old when New York was a swamp.
and hoary when Columbus discovered
America. Just how old it is no one
knows, for it was the home of the Az
tee and his predecessors before the new
world was known. 1t is interesting
to look upon crumbling walls, here
within the borders Of our supposed new
country. which were certainly old
when Columbus landed, and old when
Peter the Hermit reused the knightly
men OF the middle ages to arm for the
first crusade. The Spaniards VINO
entered America through Mexico, in.
vaded New Mexico at ar early date
and made Santa Fe their capital, az
1t had been the capital of the Monte,
zumas before them, What wac San,
Ia Fe's Aztec name is unknown, but
1t Ia supposed to have been Cicuye.
The inhabitants of tho pre.Spanish
towns are called pueblo Indians, from
the fact hat they lived in pueblos or
towns, aud to distinguish them from
the nomadic tribes which would not
settle In villages. The pueblo In
dams were peaceful, civilized people,
cultivating fields, living in homes low
ing their families, AMI observing the
laws. The Spaniards reduced them to
servitude, and treated them with the
utmost larshness, compelling them to
work the mlnes-whose reported rich,
ness had been the cause of the Span.
lsh invasion.
The story of Santa Fe from the
time of It's settlement by the Spani.
ards until the Yankee invasion is the
uneventful story Of people who
could commonly get enough TO eat
and drink without any arduous exer.
ton, and who troubled themselves
little about wherewithal they should
be clothed, or indeed about anything
else except the day that WAS passing
over them Ii Montcsqnieu was
right in calling that people happy
whose annal5 were tircgono, the San
II teans should have been supromely
happy. According to al accounts.
they do derive vegetable felicity
from sitting on their heels in q shady
place in hot weather, or sunny place
IN cold weather, with sufficient sup
ply OF tobacco. And i'll this manner
they have be9uilei the time since the
day of the Spanish invasion, mixing
themselves up drea fully in the mean
time from all chronological point OF
view. and one year has been very
much like another. The Spanish
priesthood followed the conquerors
OF course, and there are more than
churches enough in Santa Fe to do
all the business, according 10 Ameri.
can notions, especially Is all Of them
are OF one ecclesiastical variety with
no distinction beyond that OF being
placed the special patronage OF differ
ent saints. OAs OF these, tue Chap Il
of San Miguel, is the Oldest church in
America, having been rebuilt in
1710.
The city Of Santa Fe is situated in
valley among the mountains of the
Sierra Madre, and, nearly 1000 feet
above the level OF the sea looks down
from its lofty perch upon a compare
lively barren and desert country. Ii
lies on both sides of tiny stream that
cmpties into the Rio Graude To the
westward, and is called after the name
of the city, which contains probably
between 1000 aud 5000 inhabitants
About three fourth, Of these are OF
Spanish or Mexican descent
possessing n strong admixturc OF IN
dian blood. Like all Mexican towns.
its buildings arc mainly OF adobe or
sun dried brick, the mud, mixed with
gravel and chopped grass, being press
eel INTO large cubes, about twice the
size OF our ordinary bricks, and then
lett to bake IN the hot sun. In this
dry climate, where SD little rain falls
throughout the year, these adobe otrCc.
lures stand the weather excellentty
for an indefinite period, many of the
buildings being, according to tradi.
ton, over 300 years old. At a short
distance from the city the maj 1rity Of
tho houses and churches are Undis.
tinguishabie in color from tho bare
hillsides, causing one to instiuctively
wonder wboro the place is until he is
| almost upon IT,
Starting to make n tour around the
main portion OF this old historical city.
which, owing to American enterprise.
IS rapidly changing it5 appearance
every year more and more, we soon
come to the famous plaza, in the heart
OF the business portion OF the town,
where the Indians In 1880. after ob.
tanning possession of the place and de.
stroying the churches and other public
! buildings,as well as residences OF their
former con1uerors, collected the sta
tues Of their saints aud burned them
in grand auto de f.. Here, thirty.
seven years ago, Keaney, surrounded
by his little pioneer army. proclaimed
| TO the assembled inhabitants the es-