The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-21
THE SUN WORSHlPPERS
A story Of Mexico
BY HON, JOHN H. SMITH. Of Astoria.

BY HON, JOHN H. SMITH Of Astoria.
pooTEp and spurred and beled and armed
p We travelled the wlds Of Mexico
We were tanned ami aud cheerful and charmed
And our thoughts fast though our mules we're slow
Through mesquite and maguey and dry buffalo grass,
We hkd up rugged plateau and then
Swung up and around through tortooos pass
And up aud around and then upward AGAIN
We came to a groy, of oak pinon and Pine
Which crowned bold mountains mmuabe crest
And under its shade tho long days decline
We entered city and halted to ese
No vsrdsr appeared a. n. .tnns, city. s.,. IA
No door opened No greeting was said
But silent city revealed Us its fa'e
its walls but ruins it, people were dead
And there on the mountain beneath the groves shade
And the drift OF the sublime and serene
Stood and terrace, arch and arcade
And the stiffness OF death broctd over the seene
And resting in peace there in silent array
Under long OF uunsetbed tablets 81 s'o"
The ancient anomalous popuaee lay
Like their city unnamed, undisturoed and unknown
Our rOllakng guide Santiago Bill" Yerkes.
From his brow where trace OF the Aztec still iurke"
lie said. he lighted Cigarette
at ia better to worship the faraway
And dream in the moonlight and peer up above
Than to struggle for wealth like OF . gun
With nothing worship and nothing to low"
ONCE the world at the feet Of hc.e strange people lay
With its spcndor and wealth What they ~anted was light,
So in wonder they'd worship the sun through the day,
And they'd dote tn moon and the stars N the hsn"
awel they enme from below to thi, pure upper air
Where their homes like hopes. established on high
And their vs like their temples were simple and sqnae
And ways than onc they lived close 10 the 'Ny
apid they hail from above ! | can hardly decide
For the priests Tlacotepn ay its not 90
If the wind sous the stars when they died.
sky pilots deny and they ought to know
aBut away and aloof from the sowl. and the
The and strife and the stress and the strain
The worry and and the wranglng and wars
OF thu hearess, nterminabe struggle for gain
aTbey lived here in peace their temple bell rang
Benedction, Of peace from each summit and shelf
OF this mountain and each mothers son Of the gang .
psice with the world and at peace with himself
aAnd the native. down there in the valley tell
How the that still flock here and hover around
Are emblems OF peace and pilgrims well
this alter crowned tablet sueWh grouhdi
@And then when the west gow4 in crimson snd gold,
In wonder and they will whisper to one
That the alter built by these pope Of old
Stir burn in the sky on the trail Of the sun
aHme a. music and mirth turned their work into play
they woye and men smiled q. '1ey wrought
Here thy danced with delight at the dnwn OF the day
To welcome the and were thrilled by the thought
"Tbat It's light was all life and all life its light
And As part of its light their own lives were divine
Here they croond TO the il roe on the night
And laughngly. joyfuly fell into line
aFor PROFESSIONS which bcnt in grand serenade 49,.
In It's praise they eyeled in festivals sports
And melody peace and eontenment and made
No provisions for arenals prison, nor courts
Here they nestled to nature touched by distress
Heard tha call Of ril or the OF dove
And were sooth into sleep by the wnfs SOFT cares
As IL murmered the musical message OF love-
Our guide then arose. like victor who dons
IIis aurels Of triumph, and, barring his head
He stooa for n moment a statue in bronzr,
And in proud earnest tones in conclusion then sahi
Hsav thew too were sunshine cheerful and iairi
And thrown this dark world to help make "lsh"
Like the plmmer gLpam ard the glow and the gaie
on their alter6res thrown OF the darkness OF night
aOu these tablets temples you find not trace
OF A single inschpon--n0t even name
here lived the Of a marvellous race
Too wise TO trouble, great to seek fame
"Your heroes who struggle for glory are good
Tn their place, suppose and you praise teH' pu.
DoG nv hat at the thought Of the ancient VINO $1,000
with his feet on earth and his face TO the SKY
That night in camp when our blankets were sP'es"
We looked o the sky and we're glad setned hear
And we smiled On the a. 1t sailed overhead
Next morning greeted the sun with eheer'
Next day we back in the saddle again
And hitting the trail in h strenuous way
Tn deem meditation, when OF our men
pyoke the spell Of our silent reflections, TO sayi
ak. IA hotter TO worship the farAway sun
And 10 dream in the moonlight and peer up above
for wealth ike a