The morning call., 1891-06-21
7ns otdeu House in the United States.

Houses built by these people are standing
as q conclusive evidence that they built
not for one generation, bnt for centuries.
Their manners and customs were like
those races who occupied the mountainous
regions of Northern and Western Mexico.
Resembling the Indian in physical appear
ance, yet they lived and constructed houses
after the manner of the earliest Aztec civ
iliZation.
In the southeastern part of the ancient
village OF Santa Fe, just across the Santa
Fe River, stand two monuments of pre-
historic architecture, the oldest house and
the Oldest church In America. Their exact
age is unknown. They stand as enduring
monuments 20 a race of people extinct, not
OF any intention or wantOu neglect on their
part, but for the continued wars waged by
savage Spanish explorers, and still more
savage bands of hostile Indians.
After driving the last iuhabitant from the
village, the conquerlng Spaniards set up
government OF their own, and In 1850. after
the close Of the conquest, builtmany houses
that are to-day standing In various sections
of the city. On the south side of the Plaza
Juan de Oiermlne, the first Spanish Cover
nor, built his palace, the only one ever
erected in America For many generations
the palace was occupied by the Spanish
Governors aud Captain Generals until forced
or driven out by the Indians in 1850 after
besieging the city for nine days. Remain
ing in the hands of the Indians for MANY
years, it WAS finally retaken by the Mexi-
cans. The palace was again occupied by the
Mexican Governor, aud had been continu-
ally until taken by the American forces in
1876 aud 1913.
Thus we have in the executive mansion
of New Mexico perhaps the oldest palace in
the world. As it stands to-day, complete
and perfect in all its appointments, with
proper care a thousand wears NAV glide
hV 81, fr,f.,
the ruins of Baalbec or of Tyre, the Ameri-
can people Will rejoice in the antiquities
they possess, founded centuries before the
birth OF the graudest republic that ever gov
eTned people. 1t was in this building. in
one of the large apartments opening i'm full
view Of the plaza, that General Lew Wal
lace finished that wonderful book that has
done so much toward evangeiZng the
world, spreading the gospel truth before
millions and making the name of its author
famous in all lands. Ben Hur" was given
10 the world by General Wallace while Gov
ernOr of New Mexico occupying the same
building that has been used as the executive
mansion for more than three centuries by
the Spanish, Mexican and American gov
ernments.
look down through the vista of years
and from that faT-OH SnOTe call before me
the generations who have inhabited these
valleys and mountain sides, d | see races
of men and generations of people who
have passed away, leaving on the scroll
of time not single deed proving their ex-
istencP, save in the perpetuatiOn of pre-
historic race and their manner of construct
ing places of abode.
On account Of its antiquity and of its po-
sltiOn as the most nOrthern outpost of
SpaniSh-Amerlcan civilization, Santa Fe
claims our attention to-day. 1t is of
another civilization, ana one feels as
if in a foreign land The old churches
of San Miguel aud GuadaOupe were
erected by the Franciscan Fathers who
accompanied the Spaniards into the country
as missionaries, the first about 1850 the
second alb ut 80 or 70 years later. In 1880
the Indians Tebelled against the SpaniaTds
and drove them from the country. They at
once burned down the chaDelS and other
public buildings and residences collected
the church saints on the plaza and burned
them; forbade the use Of word of the
Spanish language, and swoTe their intention
10 wash away the baptism of the Catholic
priests, and allowed those who had been
married by them TO put away their wives
and take others.
They utterly destroyed everything per-
tanning to the Spaniards. Twelve years
latter the Spaniards returned and again re-
duced the Indians to submission. The men
were sent to the forests and the churches
were soon rebuilt. On one of the beams
of the church of San Miguel appears an
inscription in Spanish, OF which the fol-
lowing is translation: 1.-The Marquis de