The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28

hected from the conieal tower of what
appeared to be huge place of worship.
At first thought it must be a market
place, for the lower portion of the edifce
was open on all sides and an infinite
number of tall pillars supported a ire
mendous steeple, which formed perfect
cone as it rose in the air. 1t was some
time before my eyes could accustom
| themselves to the intense light reflected
from this tall cone and permit me to
make out the details Of tins wonderful
palace. When l did make out what it
was was for the moment struck dumb
with establishment, for | saw that the
roof Of this grand building was covered
with glistening white metal, and this
metal appeared to be silver The wave
of light that was reflected from its SYM
metrical sides was something grand,
sublime, awful. A multitude Of per-
sons were moving around among the tall
pillars, and from one side of the huge
building poured dense volume of black
smoke.
This at once struck me as coming
from sacrifcial altar. The people
were dressed in white, the flowing toga
worn by the women much resembling
that worn by the Maya Indians. The
faint notes Of an exquisitely toned bell
! stole family on my strained ear and fill
ed the dark, dank depths of the swamp
with a strange melody. In view of the
dilapidated state of the ancient Spanish
. = l.
ing your credulity if | should tell you
of the symmetrical proportions and no
bic architecture that characterizes the
edifces of this silver city. With my
limited vocabulary it would be utterly
impossible for me to describe to you the
marvels that my eyes beheld.
"The city rested. as l have said, on
level plain between two chains of very
low mountains. Not a sheep browsed
on the green sides of these hills, and not
even a dog polluted the white streets Of
this enchanted spot. The people appear
ed to be busy. for outside of the temple
they thronged to and fro like on the
streets of our own Merida. offering sac
riice to a strange deity
"As is always the case in Indian vii
lagos, this sumptuous temple stood on
the summit Of small, symmetrically
shaped mound, and from the clouds of
smoke issuing from its sides l inferred
that sacrifice was at the time being
offered to the mystic deity of this strange
people.
Nothing could be more grand than
the view which stretched away beyond
this majestic pile. Toward the north as
far as the eye could reach rested bold
barrier Of rugged hills, seemingly reared
expressly by nature to protect from sac
religious eyes the fair proportions of this
enchanted region. Far away to the
south the blue waves of old ocean plung-
ed and rolled in their mad rush to kiss
the pebbly beach of the distant southern
islands, and to the west was the low
range of mountains, their green sides
ribbed and torn by yawning chasms,
their peaks tinged with a delicate tur-
quois blue that made them appear like
jeweled scepters in the hands of the god
of air Quetzalcuati, ever ready to smite
to the earth the intruder Of this his last
and most sacred domain.
The architecture of this city differed
from the prevailing styles in Merida. and
appeared more like that of Uxmal, Chi
chen-Itza, Xoxchilcalco and Palenque.
"a fact that appeared strange TO me
was that not an animal was in sight, and
look as might l could not discover one.
"The streets were filed with Indians,
but the main attraction seemed to be the
temple
'As my fever cooled and my brain
grew clearer l began to examine things
more infinitely, and | noticed that this
city had an air of cleanliness and ele-
gance in strange contrast to Merida.
Every part of the place reflected a SHIN
mering wave of white, and not a speck
appeared to mar the perfect alabaster
whitenesS.
How long l gazed on this glorious
sight | know not, but the sun was set
ting in the west when | perceived an
Indian leave the silver city behind him
ana follow a small beaten path that led
from the former place into the swamp
i'll which | was concealed.
Il was faint from the loss Of blood
and lack Of food, and remember dimly
of making up my mind to follow this
man, who | suspected was going to
Merida.
He came into the swamp and passed
within 100 feet Of where | was concealed,
and as he passed lie l slipped down
from my position and logged his foot
steps.
Il must have followed him with the
cunning Of an insane man, for the next
thing remember was five weeks later,
when found myself under the roof Of
my master, who sits by your side. and
who nursed me through a severe attack
of brain fever.
Il have never told this story 10 any
one but my master, for fear of being
ridiculed, but. senores," and here the
voice of the old man vibrated with in
tense earnestneSs, that Is the story of
the wound on my forehead, and / will
stake the remaining years Of my life
that the silver city exists, and that my
eyes have beheld it."-Kansas City
Times.
Jenny Lind is said to have LETT vo-
luminous journal win numerous letters
from people Of distinction. which her
husband. Otto Goldschnidt. viii use as
8 nucleus for his lie Of the gifted singer.
The Evolution OF Baseball.
Ball games are products and pretty good
illustrations Of the process OF evolution.
Hence II Is fitting TO proceed in their dis