Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
CITY OF ROMANTIC ORIGIN.
The Site of Puebla in Mexico Revealed
by Angels to Fray Garces.
From Modern Mexico.

From Modern Mexico.
Enthusiastically fair is the location of Pueb-
Ia, in the midst of the fertile Atoyac val
lev on rolling ground, that secures GOOD
drainage and surrounded by some OF the
Krandest mountains in the world. only
twenty-five miles distant rise the crests OF
Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, or The
White Woman" their mantles of perpetual
snow glistening in the sunshine; and there
Is the rugged Malintzi, over 1900 feet in
height and her companions scarcely less
Imposing; with grand old Orizaba piercing
the sky in the distance. What an unerring
sense of the artistic was possessed by the
early padres of Mexico and California, caus-
ing them invariably to select the loveliesf
and most appropriate sites for their mis-
sions and towns!
This is the story Of the founding of Pueb-
Ia and every Mexican believes its truth
as Enthusiastically as he retains faith in the
efficacy of prayer and penance. tradl-
ton handed down from the Aztecs claims
that. before anything was known about the
Christian religion III Mexico. the heather
Indians used to see visions of angels gain
cred in mighty hosts in the heavens above
the spot now occupied by the city. Inc
name is authorized by revelations 10 the
pioneers in the new faith. also. When the
Spanish invaders came they found a great
CITY numbering 100000 inhabitants. six
miles from the site VI ueDlSi' anu loohCd
upon as the sacred city of the country.
This vas Cholula. surrounding the pyramid
OF the same name. Its temples are said to
have numbered 400 its chief priests were
legion, and hither came the Aztecs from
far and near to worship. and to offer up
human sacrifice. The ceremonials and pro-
cessions We're more impressive than any
where else in Mexico, and the sacrifclal
stone on the summit of the pyramid flow
ed with the blood of thousands of beings
whose hearts We're cut from their bodies by
the fanatics Of that era. The Spanish con-
Querors thought 1t best to establish Chris
tian city near this great center Of heathen-
ism. and also felt the need of resting
place on the highway between the City of
Mexico and the coast. a weary walk over
a preciptous mountain range and broad
valleys being the only means of travel. The
bishop, who came over from Spain in 1929,
the good Fray Julian Garces, thought much
about the matter, yet could not decide
where to establish the new town. One night
he dreamed. and his vision is described as
follows: He beheld most beautiful plain
bounded by the great slope of the volcanoes
westward, broken by two little hills a league
asunder, dotted by many springs. and cut
by two rivers, which gave abundant water
and made all things fresh and green. And
he gaZed, in pleased Amusement at this
charming place, 10! he saw two angels
who. with a line and rod measured bounds
and distances on the ground, do those
who plan the founding of great buildings,
and mark where shall be wide streets and
open squares. And having beheld this WIS.,
ION the bishop awoke. Straightway he
set himself. that very hour. to searching for
the site that chosen by the angels.
And as he walked, being. no doubt. d.
vney ordered in his goings he came to the
very plain that he had seen in his dream.
Then gladly he exclaimed: This is the site
that the Lord has chosen through His holy
angels; and here, to His glory shall the
city be-"
Puebla is considered the key to the ma
tonal capital. from military point of
a oh ypI han de tty,nAc In
both civil and foreign 1t was cap
tured by Yturbide. August ., 1921: occupied
by Gen Scott May -. 1917; held against
the French. May >, 1852; captured by the