Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17

much electricity in him. We are
soon at the plaza. Mrs. McCumber
goes to engage our dinner look up
the character of the town. 1t has
30, 600 population. is the nearest like
Jerusalem of any other city in the
world, is great mining city and the
largest manufacturer of the Zerape,
the national blanket. of which / will
later explain, in the world.
We take another car for Guadalupe,
four miles down tho valley. Our car
is let down by gravity as it is all down
hill. l will say here, it was the
pleasantest ride of my life l have no
language to describe it; go take the
ride, you will then appreciate my
situation Our car comes to halt in
front of large church we enter the
grounds, oranges, lemons, bananas,
beautiful roses, yes, the grounds are
fine. We enter the church; it is an
immense cement affair. but it is not
the church proper we are interested
in, but a chapel connected with it.
This chapel, built by maiden lady,
is said to have the richest interior
in the world. Its cost was $l2, 900, 600.
We pay 81 to keeper and are admit
ted. To the left is cast of our lady
of Guadalupe, ahead the altar of solid
onyx, the surrounding rail of solid
silver, the entire sides and top of the
room covered with hammered gold,
thick as knife blade. do not care
to look longer. am filled with dis
gust that in this country of ignorance
$l2, 600, 600 can so lightly be spent for
superstition. What could have been
done with this money in enlightening
these people; what is it doing now?
Perhaps word as to the supersti-
tious condition of this country may
not come out of place here. After
Cortez landed in Mexico wave of
religious enthusiasm swept the
country. All the energy of the
people was expended in building
churches and religious pastimes; the
people became so poor that the more
intelligent demanded the destruction
of the church power. Laws were
passed confiscating all church pro-
perty; and no priest or nun could
walk the streets except in citizens
clothing. These laws are still in
force, the churches being the property
of the nation, and only used as they
may permit.
But L am going again too much
into detail. Ajoining the GA'urch is
q government orphan asylum. Here
is shown what can be done with these
people. The instructor brought out
about forty of these boys to play for
us | did not consider the Kilties in
it at all with these boys; they are
certainly susceptible of the finest
training. Adjonng this is a govern
ment Zerape factory. We were taken
through and afterward to the sales
room, where our party or the Me-
Cumber party loaded up with
stock. My daughter secured three but
| was slow and when got to the
counter the best were gone. so was
Obliged to content myself with
cheap one The Ierape is the nation
al garment of Mexico. They are worn
by all except the richest class. In
putting them on they throw one end
over the shoulder, fold the other
round covering the mouth. the fringed
end reaching about or little below
the knee after throwing over the back.
They are all prices from 81 to 500.
often costs S35 to $50. on those who
go barefooted and with scant other
clothing, is their principal clothing.
We go down TO where we were
landed. 4 street car is awaiting us.
and we are hauled back by mules that
are driven down. In an hour they
have delivered us back in the city.
We get our dinner, visit some more
old churches that must have cost.
millions in their time, visit the stores
with view of buying me fine
Zerape, bnt find they have so much
higher price than the others have
paid / will not crafty them.
Near sundown Mr.. Matteson and
the writer climbed to the top of the
LaBuffa COR in our language, Butfalo).
mountain overlooking the city. On
the very highest point is an immense
cross; a little lower are the extensive
forts of years since Inside these
walls is a large church. We arrive at
the summit at shutdown, walk through
the fort, look out to get view OF the
city, but il rs dark. There is no
twilight in Mexico.
1t will require too much space to
descbihe our return to town. l will
only say that they hav, no street