The morning call., 1893-04-02

and l found myself headed for Cuzco, in
Peru. On the way l fell in with small
party of Peruyians dwelling peacefully in a
small valley up in the mountains and their
quiet pastoral life pleased me. They were
a dignlfed people, totally unlike the rest of
their fellOH-countrymen aud they made my
welcome into their midst a hearty one.
With what few native words
knew and the few Spanish phrases In
common between US l managed 10 commu-
nieate freely with them. These people |
found were direct descendants of the ex-
tinet lncas. and they had preserved all the
traditions of their ancient race. They held
themselves alOOf from the Spaniards and
the missionaries. Their religion was a
simple one, and it agreed with my early
desires and | was more than pleased to
remain with them.
I'm the center of the small village was
small temple dedicated to the sun. the
visible symbol of their god, and there on the
broad roof of the building the small settle
ment would assemble every morning at sun
rise in deVOut worship Of the mediator Of
the Supreme Being.
Their religion and customs became
mine. My religion is unwrtten and has
been handed down in legends, which have
withstood the 1eers and ridicule of more
than three centuries. since the Spanish mis-
sionaries settled in that ancient country.
The language which contains those
legends has been scattered over farrell
uuuuldlu NdIltNS Iiht Tile Sduu On q SnOre
strewn with wrecks and ruin and broken
shells. Yet as time and sun sweep the
wrecks away the golden sand will reappear
in its old beauty.
There is nothing frivolous in the legeHsls,
or even immoderate, but there is in them n
mOdesty mingled with dignity and SUBJ
Unity and pastoral beauty associated with
supreme power which distinguished the
kingdom OF the Incas when 1t stood In its
glorious prosperity, and which. when the
yoke Is lifted, Will distinguish it again.
"The imperishable and permanent truth
contained i'll it, which sinks deeper into the
mind the more frequently it is repeated,
always beams forth bright rayIthat gains
even greater purity and freedom, like the
sun rising out of the mists of the morning.
THE history of this religion was written
in the splendid public works of the ancient
kingdom; in their bridges which crossed
great rivers; in the highways which leveled
mighty mountains and uplifted plains aud
which crossed great swamps; in the match
less gardens and aqueducts; In the beauty
and sDlendor OF the cities; in the trans
cendant treasures of gold and silver, and,
more than all, In the grandeur of the mighty
temples erected and dedicated to the gIorif-
cation of Supreme Being through the
medium of the sun as gladstone benedic-
ton for all the mercieS showered upon them.
at was also written in the provident laws
of the nation; its simple but progressive
life; its happiness and its calm, delightful
view of the world.
THE pure worship and sublime ritual of
the sun appealed to my nature-loving
spirit
over the little settlement in which l had
cast my lot the sun presided in unsulled
majesty and uncomfortable glory. If it
rained the sun shOne, filling the sky with
rainbows; il it showed or hailed he still
withheld not his light and warmth. The
sun was never absent. No wonder we re-
speeted it as having human power, ami
mated with godlike love.
ITO the sun is given purely the express
sion of the glory and power of the creating
spirit. and to that alone are temples
buiided. No temples are erected to the un-
seen God, for the Creator of the universe,
who is an animating, sustaining spirit, can
only be worshiDed In the unseen temple of
each worshiper's heart.
with these simple people l lived for
more than fifty years, but the bane of the
SpRniards was upon them. They pTospered
IN their simple occupation of filling the
soil, but in digging for gold were not very
successful. They had lost the old profit
able method of separating the precious
metals from the dross, and more than half
OF the gold and silver was lost in the mill
ing process. Gradually the little band
diminished, but their spirit was naughty
and they chung tenRelously to their ancient
customs and traditions. The band finally
diminished and merged into the others of
tHelt Idce III the iiitte seltlemeAL became
extinct.
1.-THE lost art in mining has been my work
to regain for years, and to accomplish that
end l came to California and settled here
about four years ago. So far 1t has eluded
me. but hope to recover it before the sun
calls me to 'himself"
AS the old man finished his story dark
ness had settled on the hills, and the ancient
child Of the sun announced that il was his
time for retiring. He prepared bed on
one side of the hut for his visitor, then
wrapping himself in his blankets was soon
asleep.
Gray streaks Of light were visible in the
eastern horiznn when the old man awoke.
and after preparing some coffee he walked