Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-12-27

but it he does not understand tine
language he will be none the wiser.
Separated from the business portion
of Santa Fe by an Arroyo, which is
usually dry, only short walk from
the new capital building, and not far
from modernly built residences,
unconspiciously stand, in South Santa
Fe, 1.-THE Old House." This hut, for
such it is, and built of adobe, is re-
puted, and doubtless correctly, to be
the Oldest house in the United States,
1t is claimed that although it is not
known just when it was built, Cor
oDado lodged within its walls ON his
visit to the region in l540 At that
time it was two stories in height, but
having stood the action of the
elements so many years, it is new only
one story high and few feet shorter
in length. 1t, nevertheless, is still
quite we'll preserved and is still the
home of Mexican family.
Standing just across the street, or
lane, south, is the st. Miguel church,
also noted for its antiquity, and is
said to be the oldest church in
America. Catholic missionaries began
it's erection about l54O, and after it's
completion it was used for Spanish
settlers and Indian converts. Several
times it was almost destroyed by
revolving Indians, but each time 1T
was rebuilt and to the present day,
it is used for holding a nine-day
service each year. Like its neighbor-
ing relic of other days, it too is built
of adobe. When there is no service
the sexton demands an admission fee
of twenty-five cents.
In the center of the city, surrounded
on three sides by business houses, is
u pretty plaza of large shade trees,
and an historic spot it is.
1t was here that Onate camped and
first set mp the flag of Spain, and here
the General Kearney, in 1876, first
fioated the stars and stripes over new
Mexico. A handsome monument
erected by the d. of A. r. now stands
in commemoration of that event
Facing this plaza on the north,
extending the length of the block,
and forming the fourth side of it, is
the famous, Adobe Palace" only one
story in height. This building was
built in 1898, and has heen con-
tinuouslv used by the governors OF the
territory for more than three centuries.
Eighteen American and seventy-siX
Spanish and Mexican rulers have
received their guests within its walls.
It stands today in state of perfect
preservation and every part of it is
in use. 1t is occupied by the post
Office, the historical society and the
territory secretary. 1t was in one of
the rooms in the central part of the
building that General Lew Wallace,
while governor of the territory in 1879
and 1880, wrote the greater part of
his widely read Ben Hur, and the
same fire place that held glowing logs
then, gives forth warmth today.
The room is now used as dining
room. and to appease my curiosity,
not my appetite, the amiable hostess
permitted me to view the room and
photograph the fireplace
About mile distant from the plaza
on hill overlooking the valley, is
the Chapel Rosario, also built of
adobe. This Chapel was built about
1892 by Diego lie Vargas in respect to
Onr Lady of the Rosary because of
his success in recovering the city from
revolving Indians. The Chapel presents
a very homely appearance. 1t is
very crude, having the outward
effect of being plastered with mud,
and enclosing a small doleful bell ;
there is belfry of tin.
Space, however, will not permit me
to dwell at length upon each of Santa
Ic dttIoCtlOuS, nOI Will Slkut-
seeing tour of few days even enable
me to enumerate all of them. There
are the crumbling ruins of the old
Spanish garita which, under the
Mexican government, was used as a
custom house, and by whose walls
four leaders of the revolution of 1887
were beheaded. Old Foit Marcy,
nearby, also has an interesting history
of blood-shedding events; and then
coming to things of more recent days
there is the Kit Carson monument in
front of the new federal building,
the new capital building and many
other places of interest.
Santa Fe has a very delightful
climate at this season, and stranger
within her midst is royalty treated.
The city has many wide-awake
business men and every one of them
are proud of his city. They are also
eager to impress visitors with their
claims for singular statehood, and
in this connection it may be mentioned
as more than strange that next to
the oldest European settlement in the
United States is still the capital of
only teriory.