The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-30
SCENES IN SANTA FE.

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|
Interesting Description of u Convent and
.Some of Its InmAtes-rhe Philosophical
Burro.
Arrived ut Santa Fe, for the first time
we seemed to have turned our back
upon the somewhat crude and materi-
al civilization of the West, to have got
ten out of the new into the old, out OF
the present into the past. Although
the oldest city in America, it does not
possess frame house, a steam engine.
or any new-fangled contrivance. The
streets are very picturesque. for the
most part without sidewalks. the little
squat 'doby" houses turning their
blank mud walls outward, with only a
little square opening mp high. like a
sort of an eye. taking peep at life and
things. The houses are for the most
part built about open courts into which
the doors open. Some of the poorer
sort have no such opening, but are en-
tered from the top by ladder. There
are quaint old-very old-Spanish,
Catholic churches. built of large blocks
of adobe, roughly plastered with mud.
On Sunday the streets were filled with
gaily-dressed women, the richer sort
with the lace mantilla, and the poorer
with bright shawls over their heads;
the native men, with broad, tapping
sombreros and capas gracefully flung
| over one shoulder; the Indians in their
fantastic toggery, and everywhere a
foreign language sounded in our ears.
| We hay, most interesting acquaint-
nnces ard some warm friendships
among logs, but we had to come
to Santa De to meet with the charming
little burro. The delightful little crea-
ture is quite the philosopher among
animals. On meeting you he eyes you
over thoughtfully, seems to weigh your
character; if you are found wanting he
ceases to notice you with Indian
stoicism or dismisses you with an i'm
patient toss of his head. If, however,
you meet bis approval he sometimes
| tips you merry wink, gives you
meaning look. and says unutterable
| things with his ears. Doubtless hecould
speak if he would. but being philOs-
| opher and somewhat gwen to despising
the human animal. he has OWNED the
secret of the proverb that: Speech is
silver, but silence is golden" He will
stand, with pathetic or consemptuous
patience to be laden, so deeply over
laden that between burden and burden
only his expressive eyes and ears and
the thin w;sp of tail are apparent at
either end. We are told that when he
understands that his way lies toward
the mesas, among green pastures. he
| ambles on with fair speed, but arrived
there not all the King horses nor all
the Kings men can make him return to
the city. He rolls and kicks and laughs
to scorn his driver. who usually bows
to necessity and leaves the creature to
wander at his own sweet will until, sat-
isfied with mere material pleasures, he
again returns to the haunts of lnen to
study mind and morals. 1t is notice
able fact and may seem to justify his
rebellion that he is usually fed whilst
in town upon waste paper.
In strolling with our botanist upon
the outskirts of Santa Fe we discovered
the bell-pull of the convent hanging
invitingly outwards. Our botanist,
supposing that the foot of man might
not enter within this house of vestals,
turned to thread his way along the Rio
Chiquito. which flows through the CEN
ter of the city. Here let us stop just
one moment to introduce our big child
hearted botantist. He is well nigh
seventy and learned in much and
various sciences. His soul has
never taken strong hold on world
" desires, or greatly striven for
the things men mostly prize. In spite
of his three score years and ten time
has touched him lightly and left his
heart simple and young. He is a SUI
preme lover of nature, and once con-
feS sed he felt himself brother to every
plant that grew. Doubtless he is. A
sister in white guoif, black serge veil,
with simple gown OF the same, an
swered the summons and kindly con-
scented to show us the convent school.
The little world within the high adobe
walls seemed one piece of beauty and
happiness. The low, Onc-storiedts,:3
ingS formed open squares .s:Jund two
centers. Within one l. flower garden
bloomed with a great wealth of
tropical glow. Within the other
was playground, where twen-
ty or thirty young girls were
playing at lawn-tennis or croguet, or
wandering hand in hand or seated to-
gether beneath the trees in pleasant
converse Their skirls of merry laugh
ter and the musical cadence of their
mongrel Spanish chatter told of the I'M
restrained gaiety of youth. 1t was Sun
day, after their morning service and
ear. .Snner. The sister eypla ned that
until 1--WE o'clock angelius the girls
were free to be happy IN their own way
on this their holiday. These Mexican
Christians are not very strict Sabbath
rians.
Sister Mary Angela, our cicerone,
was very typical nun. She had a
calm, oval face, downcast, patient eyes,
subdued voice and meek carriage: new
ertheless there looked out from her
clear, blue eyes a happy spirit-a sort
of coy maidenl!ness. She was very
pretty and not above thirty. When, in
The bell tower, we were taking bird s.
eye view OF the squat garden city
mapped out below, the botanist passed
iuSa beneath the outer wall. scarcely
stones throw off. Pointing him out to
oar sweet companion, she asked, as she
scanned him little curiOusly: ..Why
did he not come with thee. dear lady?'
"Might a man come hither. sister?"
20 yes, dear lady. 1t is my duty to
show our school to all strangers. And
as the magnetism of our eyes drew his
upward she added:
Il think he must be good.
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