The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-09-17
A WONDERFUL STAIRWAY.
Remarkable Ruins Recently Discov-
cred in Central America.

In the Century gives an account ofre-
cent discoveries at Copan, under the
title of "The Mysterious City of Hon
duras." Mr.. Gordon says: The most
extraordinary feature that our excava-
tons have yet brought to light is the
hleroglyphie stairway already referred
TO. Facing the plaza at the southern
end, II occupied IL central position on
the western side of the high pyramidal
elevation that forms the northern wing
of the Main Structure Even in the
sad state of ruin in which we behold it
now, it affords magnificent spectacle.
What must 1t have been in the days
when it was entire, and reached from
the floor of the plaza to the entrance
of the temple that stood on the height
a hundred feet above.
When discovered. in 1894, this stair
way WAS completely buried beneath the
debris fallen from the temple, of which
not one stone remained upon another.
The upper part of the stairway itself
had also been thrown from its place as
II by an earthquake. and lay strewn
upon the lower portion. When, at
length. after months of labor. on which
/ from fifty TO one hundred men were
employed, the fallen material was
cleared away, an acre of ground was
covered with broken sculptures re-
moved during the progress of the work,
and the lower steps were found I'M
| harmed. In the center of the stairway,
at the base, Is throne or pedestal ris-
Ing to the ffth step, and projecting
| eight feet in front. The design upon
! its face is rich in sculpture and deli
cate in detail. II is made up in part
of handsome faces, masks, DEATHS
heads, and scrolls. beautifully carved,
and disposed with perfect symmetry.
but the ensemble is perfectly uniutelli-
/ gible. On the face of each step In the
/ stairway IS "A row of hieroglyphs, cary
/ ed in medium relief. running the entire
length At intervals in the ascent the
/ center Is occupied by human figure
/ of noble and commanding appearance,
arrayed In splendid attire, seated on
the steps. The upper parts OF all these
I figures were broken away, but the
pieces of several We're recovered and
restored on each side were solid bal
ustrades two feet thick; the upper
parts of these were also broken away,
but by careful study and comparison,
enough was recovered to enable us to
make out the curious and complicated
design. Portraltlike busts issuing from
the jaws of grotesque monsters, stand
ing out upon these balustrades, and re-
peated at regular intervals, formed
their principal adornment.
Notwithstanding the arduous toll un-
der the fierce rays of a tropical sun,
the exhumlng of this stairway, in the
construction which the ancient sculp-
tors exhausted tho resources Of their
art, was n fascinating labor, and was
performed under the constant stimulus
of expectation, and the excitement Of
discovery. When the last DAVIS work
was done, and stood upon the broken
throne at the base of the stairway, To
take n last look at the scene of my la
bors, so familiar had | grown with
every feature of the place that 1t seem.
th W AOHt buN iiAAie FAANi VI Inv hiAhh "
roll aside the mist that hid the past,
and restore again the shattered fabric.
From my position | could see the whole
plaza, with its monuments and temple
crowned pyramids. In front of me the
smooth cemented pavement stretched
away westward to range of terraces
that bounds 1t in that direction. but
leaves unobstructed the view of the
mountains beyond the valley. In other
days the parting shafts of the sun
struck the temple, and its sculptured
walls, adorned with paint and stucco.
flashed In the light, until the shadows,
mounting the throne aud climbing the
stairway, shot above the highest tower,
and left the city wrapped In gloom.
For n moment the peaks stood dark
and gigantic against the dazzling sun
set hues, crowned with glory: then the
eolors faded rapidly, giving way to n
pale glow above the mountains, while
sudden darkness fell upon the valley.
Musing on the scene, | was dlmly
aware of long array of shadows pro
iected from the past. Nor was 1t alto
gether fancy. This plaza has witness
ed many a scene of august pomp, and
many a gllttering pageant. Many a
priestly procession with solemn rites
has trod these sculptured stairs, and
here. doubtless, on many day famous
in the annals of the nation, the plumed
warriors of Co, returning with yictori-
Gus banners, bowed before the throne
where their monarch sat in state and
proudly reviewed them as they passed
Apologies with Coupon Attachment
A teacher In a Boston school, who
had been much annoyed by truancy
has recently been stringent In enforc
ing the rule that her scholars, on theiI
return to school, after an absence. must
bring her note stating in full the
cause of such absence, the note TO bf
in writing of parent or guardian
The following IL n note brought bN