The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-10-07


large. From the plaza at Santa Fe
influences go forth. which permeate
every nook and corner of New Mexico.
Here we see the rich man clad in neat,
soft garments and the beggar clad in
rags. The beggar in this place re-
minds one of the paintings which we
see representing the beggar of ORR
entail lands. It is sad comment up
on New Mexico that she makes no pro-
vision for her poor. But to return to
our description of the plaza. Here
rich and poor equally enjoy the COM
forts of the delightful shade furnished
by the trees. Settees enough to ac-
commodate all are furnished free of
charge. The seats are usually we'll
filled with people who sit here hour
after hour, enjoying natures beauty
or gossiping with their neighbors. The
poor, stricken consumptives who come
here especially enjoy this spot. The
soft, velvet carpet of green grass which
covers the entire place gives to it a
special charm for these poor unfortu-
mates. In the center of the plaza sur
rounded by flower bed, planted to
choice and beautiful varieties of flow
ers, stands a monument OF marble and
granite erected to the memory of the
Federal soldiers who fell in the de-
fense of the Union at different places
throughout the territory during the
late war. This is said to be the only
monument in the United States hav-
ing the word rebel inscribed upon it.
Fountains placed at regular distances
throughout the place play and
sparkle in the sunshine, giving very
pleasing effect to the scene. The
grounds are laid out into walks and
promenades, large promenade en-
tirely surrounding the four sides of
the plaza, while smaller ones run dag
onally from each corner to the center.
A coping, about eighteen inches high,
made of cut brown stone entirely sur
rounds the great promenade on the
out side. This coping has openings
at the four corners of the plaza for
purposes of ingress and egress. Here
in the evenings and on Sunday after
noon q silver cornet band furnishes
fine music for the pleasure of the pub
lie. Everybody turns out to these con-
certs and our plaza is full of gaiety
and life. The music, the many differ
ent races of people represented here
the great variety of intellect and cos
tune, make an hour spent in the plaza
a very enjoyable and profitable one.
A broad street lined with large busi-
ness blocks surrounds this spot of
beauty and life on all four sides. The
large adobe building extending the
entire length of the north side of the
plaza is the ancient capitol building
of New Mexico. The building is in a
good state of preservation and is occu-
pied by the Federal and Territorial
governments. Uncle Sam has his post
Office in the west end. The governor
and secretary of New Mexico occupy
the middle portion and The Historical
Society of New Mexico occupies the
east end of the building. This is pop
ularly known as the Governors Pal
ace" and has been used as the seat of
government almost as far back as ira
dition can carry us. Long before the
Spanish invader surrounded it and
captured its inmates its walls sheltered
the deputies and viceroys of the Monte
zumas. Within these historic walls
Gen. Lew Wallace wrote Ben Hur.
This fact alone attracts many visitors
to the old building. Here also crimes,
too dark and foul to be written upon
} history's pages, have been committed
without number. 1t is very singular
that this building should remain in
tact throughout all the centuries of
crime and conquest incident to this
southwest country. To-day about the
only thing which disturbs the eternal
peace which hangs over the place is
the sight-seer and the relic hunter,
who wish to see everything first and
afterward wish to carry it away in
their pockets. Around the plaza in
the various blocks nearly every mod
ern business is represented besides
many ancient ones. Santa Fe may
we'll be proud of her beautiful plaza
and its historic surroundings.