The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-10
CLARENCE NEWMAN.

The corner stone of Villa de Musquiz,
Mexico, was laid we'll nigh two hundred
years ago by the early Spaniards.
The old Jesuit priests were remarkable
men,. They sought out the far away and
unknown lands. and amidst the greatest
privations, restitution and self-sacrifce
laid the foundations of their mission
churches and schools and taught in this
country the native Indians new religion.
They worked on virgin soil, building on
no other mans foundation" They came
literally fulfilling the scriptures, bearing
the cross in one hand while with the other
they enriched themselves from the silver
mines OF the various districts, the products
OF which they carried down to the City of
Mexico, and with a prodigslity seldom
witnessed. and never equaled, adorned
their matchless cathedrals. And, though
they protested to walk in the footsteps of
their Master, proclaiming peace on earth
and good will to men," still the tribes vir-
tually became their slaves and labored in
their mines for l and 2 reals per day to
discharge an ever-accumulaling debt.
Thus the Jesuit fathers came into this
country and lived, toiled and died, leaving
their footprints on the sands of time"
And thus was this village nurtured into
life, and it has been watered by the rains
and dews of heaven and kissed by the
suns rays for ten score years or more.
1t rests in beautiful valley hard by the
eastern range of the Sierra Madre noun
tains, and is watered by brook, clear and
cold, which wends its way down from this
range. Ii has population of 5000 peo-
pie, all Alexicans. The houses are princi-
pally one-story, made of adobe and white
washed. The streets are narrow, and its
only redeeming features are the grand old
pecan trees, which cast an ever-welcome
shade, and plaza filed with roses and a
fountain i'll the center playing evermore.
The amusements OF the people consist
only of the fiestss held once year and of
music two evenings each week, and at
which times the young Spanish maidens
are permitted TO promenade around the
plaza, always in groups, moving in one
direction, while the gentlemen in like
manner go round in the opposite course.
How many love-lit glances are exchanged
on these occasions, and how many hearts
are pierced by cupid's darts, time. re-
morseless and unrelenting, alone can tell.
A dozen leagues westward the range OF
mountains curve northward, and each
evening the sun. doubtless by the dint of
doing it so often, goes down amidst the
many-tinted and rOse-colored clouds with
splendor unsurpassed and glory unri-
vailed. In such a country, and beneath
an almost unclouded sky for ten months
in the year, with an equable climate, the
missionaries came and saw and con-
quered."
Within the canyons and along these
mountains, "rock-ribbed and ancient as
the sun, they dug and delved in search
OF that, "tne love OF which is the root of
all evil" The countless old shafts and
innumerable pit holes and excavations
still visible attest how vigilantly they
went about their Masters work, and the
venerable names that still cling to these an
cient mines reveal how devotedly they
loved the saints. Saint John, Saint Au-
gustine, San Pedro and Jesus Marie, and a
long list of minor saints, establish be-
yOnd doubt their sacred purpose to i'm
press upon their subjects their great and
awe-inspiring cause. And, as i now write
on the cOnsecrated ground of the first.
named and knowing, as / do, its history
for two centuries. can but exclaim how
many crimes have been committed in thy
name, oh, Religion" If however, the
groves were Gods first temples" then, in
deed He might we'll have set up His affairs
here, Tor If lofty mountains. deep canyons
shady hooks winding, silvery, babbling
brooks and mammoth trees wearing deep
green foliage, lend any enchantment, no
more inviting alluring, awe-inspiring spot
can be found in Mexico or elsewhere than
this old San Juan mine, whose discovery
md conservation n a hplr hoo
date twice five score years ago.
At such a place, amidst scenes so fruit
full to the memory and so inspiring to the
Imagination, l was recently Willing AVA
a glorious spring-time eve of unsurpassed
beauty. and "where peace like an elder
down mantle" had settled upon all nature.
Content with my surroundings and in
dulging in day dreams, my reveries were
soon broken by the clatter of horses
feet coming up the roadway, and l was
aroused just in time to see Clarence New
man quickly rein up his steed and swing
himself lightly to the ground. Before |
could even bid him welcome, with voice
so clear and melodious that il was ever re-
freshing to hear him speak, he began:
well, Lam glad to see you, and also to
find you at leisure. You are not working
l believe, waiting for machinery, and /
htthO dloO ItOct0 hOM II AOA Attftiirt anu Us
the days hang heavily on my hands have
planned a hunting party of into the
mountains, and l came over to see if YOU
would join u.s.
/ answered him in the affirmative.
eve start" he continued, Eat daylight
on the morrow, and we must ride back to-
night and no time must be lost, so get
ready and we will be off Tor it is ten good,
long miles to the Escandide mine and the
sun is now almost ready to bid us good
night"
In few minutes had buckled on my
amor and We were in the saddle. Our
horses struck a lively gait, and the road
was so smooth, the scenery so grand and
bewitching withal as we skirted along the
foot of the mountains, the air so refresh
ing and Newman, now in one of his hap
piest moods was so entertaining in con-
versation that we had reached our desti-
nation almost before / realized that we
were full under way.
l had known Clarence Newman two
years. When | first came to Mexico he
was then the manager of the Escandide,
and soon a warm friendship sprang up be-
tween us, and we were much together
when circumstances permitted it. knew
but little OF his prior life, save that he was
from Georgia and had been a successful
physician, but that failing health and the
loss of property had induced him to come