The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-29
remains which haye been eyicted for
non-payment Of rent.


remains which haye been eyicted for
non-payment Of rent.
-.
Descending from the Guadaloupe
church, we are guided into grotto of
many rooms, the walls Of which are
ornamented with sort Of mosaic, pic
lures of men and birds and houses
made by setting different colored pieces
Of broken glass and stones and pottery
into the plastering. It has been a
work of infinite patience and Of no lit
tie artistic talent, and the effect is
striking and beautiful. It was while
investigating the walls of this place
that I made rather q startling discov-
cry. I had noticed numerous names
scribbled all over the place, after what
seems to be world wide custom Of .
certain class of the population, and
had just commented rather severely
on the habit, when, glancing a little
higher I saw my own name written On
the inside of shell, as plainly as I
ever wrote it myself. AS we were the
first of our party to visit the place, 1t
could not have been written by any Of
them, as Joke, SO there must be an
other &c. F. Scott" in the world.
Wherever he may be. here's to his
health, and God bless him!
~
At the foot of the hill is q little octa-
gonal chapel. built about spring
which is said to have burst
from the rock at the bidding of the
Lady of Guadalupe. and the waters
of which are reputed to cure all dis
eases, The spring is 5 or 6 feet across,
and the water tumbles and bubbles as
if it were boiling. As a matter of fact
it is luke warm, and tastes of sulphur
and iron. An iron cage covers it and
to this are attached tin pals with
which the faithful draw up tho water,
mutter their prayers and drink it fol
the healing of their infirmities In a
room near by are crutches and canes
etc., discarded bythose who have been
miraculously cured. Near this chapel
is great cathedra in which is sill.
yer railing of fabulous value. But il
was closed for repairs so we saw moth
ing of it but a sanctimOniOus thief ir
one of the side rooms who wanted t.
charge us two prices for rosaries
images of the Blessed Virgin and 9TH
er trinkets. He excused his exhOrbi.
tant rates by saying that the articles
had been blessed by the priest.
y.
Except among those particularly
well posted in such matters it is not
generally known that the San Carlos
Academy, in the City of Mexico,
contains the finest collection of paint
ings on this continent. But such is
the case. Nearly all of the old masters
are here represented, the tan colored
faces of their saints and martyrs and
angels, looking out pathetically from
the cloudy background Of the old
canvases. Native Mexican artists are
represented also, and most of us were
surprised at the excellence of their
work. Copying after the Spanish and
italian masters, they choose religious
subjects largely. But there are some
historical scenes that are well conceive
ed and beautifully executed, while the
picturesque landscapes of their own
country have inspired some of them to
excellent work in that line.
~
The National Museum is also a
place of much interest, particularly to
one who has made or wishes to make
any study Of chronological questions.
Here is the great Calendar Stone of
the Aztecs, weighing 20 tons or more
and covered with curious inscriptions
and devices. Near it is the Sacrificial
Stone, upon which, iftradition may be
trusted, thousands of victims have
been offered up to propitiate the frown-
ing gods. Images of these gods, carv-
ed in stone, by stone tools, are cluster
ed about, telling us more. with their
half.formed, distorted countenances,
about the people who worshiped them,
than they ever told the people them
selves about anything, whether in
heaven or on earth. Many of these
images bear striking resemblance to
the Egyptian statues, one in particu-
lar looking as if it might be a smaller
copy of the Sphinx. There are two or
three rooms full of these old Toltec and
Aztec remains. Other rooms are filled
with natural history collections. Here
and there, in a corner, stands hideous
grinning mummy, ''cured" by natural
processes. In a room by itself is Maxi +,
millian's state coach, not handsomely
shaped, but lined with silk and cover.
ed with gold-the costIiest carriage in
the world, they say. There is no
charge for admission into either the |
or the art gallery, but you fee
the guide who conducts you.
~
Everybody who is in Mexico on Sun
day afternoon goes to the bull fight. 1
was in Mexico on Sunday afternoon,
er0O. went tn the hull. fioht Ibid |