The St. Louis Republic., 1904-05-22
One of the Newest States Will
Exhibit Great Many An
cient Relics.
CHURCH BELL CAST IN SPAIN.
Weighs 19S Pounds, and Was
Baptized Maria Josefa, as
Inscription on Surface
Testifies.

In the little gray stucco building which
represents New Mexico on the Plateau OF
States at the Worlds Fair the lover Of
antiques will fnd much to interest him.
for New Mexico-one of the newest States
IN the UnIon-wtll exhibit the most an
cient relics that VIII be seen at the Ex-
position.
A church bell cast in Spain in 1855 and
which tolled from the tower OF a mission
church IN New Mexico in the days when
St Augustine, Fla. and Santa Fe, n. NJ.
were new towns established by the ad-
venturers from Spain. and when Indians
hunted deer upon the ground where the
great cities OF the United State, now
stand, IS the Oldest OF tho exhibits IN the
New Mexico building.
The ben antedates ths discovery of
America I37 years.
The bell is OF iron. but IN the mold we're
cast many silver ornaments as the molten
metal was being poured in. and the bell
contains large proportion OF precious
metals. Thir was true Of most OF the
Spanish church bells cast at that time, as
II was universal custom of the devout
In Spain 10 cast oliver and gold crucinxes
enG Images OF saints into the bell mold
because OF a belief that bell thus made
would be OF greater power to call TIE
sinful 70 worship
The bell. which weighs 1es pounds, was
baptized Maria Josefa, as an Inscription
on its surface testiies II was brought
from Spain by Father Juan de Padilla,
one OF the Franciscan monks who accom-
panied Coronado to New Mexico, and Il
was first hung in one OF the mission
~ "a Eav
TO Gran Quivera, where IL was hung IN a
mission church. the ruins of which are
was taken to Algodones. where Il hung
In the parish church TIL Il was shipped
to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition by
Governor Otero Of New Mexico. who dis
covered it and resolved to have it ex-
hiolted.-
ANCIENT MAP EXHIBITED.
One curious antique which Will be seen
in the New Mexico building is q French
map Of the United States so old that San
Ia Fs and st. Augustine are the only
cities shown in the entire country. Ac-
cording 10 common belief at that time
met and cut a large area OF the western
Part OF the continent Of North America
off from the mainland. The map was ex-
ecuted upon this theory, and what is now
the United States is described as Two
great Islands,
The old map was discovered in Paris by
New Mexico
Many solid silver plate. and other arti-
cles Of tableware made in Spain centuries
ago and long treasured as heiriooms by
the Otero family have been sent by Mrs.
Otero. wife Of the Governor OF New Mex
leo. TO be shown in the State building
Silver plate and gold ornaments nam.
mered from the unalioyed metal by the
Aztecs of Mexico centuries before the con-
be found in the collection Of antiques
One particularly handsome Aztec relic IN
a silver drinking mug, which is said to
aeo hs' xGotes .shibis of sIepwsss sds
by the aborigines is mug, bowl and plate
hammered out OF pure silver IN Durango.
SiSe hiI,nr tTon tpe S anS "a sihs,aa
Among them will be the original proclama-
ton Of General Stephen S. KeRrney, U. S.
A. when re took possession of the terri
isi6.
Modern exhibits will also be made. and
smong them will be a table of gold and
silver fligree work worth $500. The Ia
bic was made of gold and silver mined
and smelted in New Mexico. The top Is
ornamented by picture Of a Pueblo vii
laFe, the State Capitol at Santa Fe, San
Miguel Church and the Governors palace
at the four corners, and in the center Is
the coat Of arms Of New Mexico. The pic
lures are formed Of the filigree work.
which IS made OF finely spun wire. The
table is richly inlaid with precious stones
from the mines OF New Mexico. including
tLEt4ub.Nf anu
Among the modern exhibits Is the coat
that Aguinaldo wore when he was cap
tured by General Frederick Funston and
many other Filipino relics. which were
sent to Mrs Otero by an army officer who
was present when Aguinaldo was captured
A collection OF Filipino arms and ac-
coutermeuts in miniature, mounted upon
a shield. is another of the modern exhib-
Its
The NeN Mexico building. although
small and unpretentious, will lie found one
OF the most Interesting OF the State build
ings