Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-03-04
BEAUTIFUL LEGEND
Of THE TITAN
Of CHASMS
Magnificent Painting Now
Purchased by the Santa Fe
Had inspiration in Wierd
Story of indian Lore,
CPhoenlx RenubliearN

w r. Rollins beautiful and inspir-
ing painting Of the Grand Canyon,
which has aroused am unprcced-
euted interest in Phoenix. has been
lost to the city aud to Arizona, for
the canvas has been purchased for
the santa Fe Chicago offices through
Mr. e. p Ripley, presldeu, of the
company, and within week win be
carefully Cased up and shipped to its
final destination.
1t is stated that the painting will
be placed on exhibition In the Chi
Cago Art Institution before taken to
the gallery in the Santa Fe offices.
The price paid for the painting has
not been made public at this time.
1t is the purpose of the company to
have an engraving made of the origi-
nal and photographic prints win be
displayed in numerous other offices
in the United States and along the
companys lines. The purchase has
placed the stamp Of merit on the
work of the artist, who has in his
studio many Other fine studies, ana
which win mean much to Mr. Rollins
in his success as a delineatOr Of pic
turesque types and in scenic wonders.
The story of how the conception
was first brought to the artists mind
is interesting because of the legendary
lore that reVolves around it and in
the telling of which Is revealed the
story which the painting has for a
theme. Yesterday MI Rollins con-
scented to relate this beautiful legend.
AS is well known he spent two years
in Oraibi, a Hopi village, studying
Indian life; learned their language,
their Custotms, their ceremonies and
much thpis II plppital hfgtprNF
The tale can wen be told in MI. Rol-
Inns own words: 1T was in this Hopi
village that the inspiration came to
paint the picture which you see. Dur
ing my stay with the Hopis, very Cd
men of the tribe came into my kee
or house, and upon many occasions
different ones greeted me thus,
Quaeha, friend, now / want to tell
you the story OF my people who lived
in the Grand Canyon, lived in the
underworld or something to that eff
feet though perhaps not in those ex-
act words. According to this legend,
their ancestors, they believe, once
lived in an underworld in peace. till
dlSsenSion came and trouble among
themselves. There were two kinds !
of people, the people Of one heart and |
the people of two hearts, which IL /
their way of expressing the good and /
the bad
After this trouble came, the peo- .
pie of one heart decided to come to 1
the upper world, and held a council Il
to learn how they could reach this |
other realm. Machetto, who was their 1
chief and councillor, wrought the Ulan II
Of growing a tree, so the tree was Il
planted and as it grew a sharp point II
appeared on its upper limb Finally Il
his tree with its sharp prong pierced
through the crust Of the world, and
made an opening, called keva, or
ave. Then the people Of one heart |
lnder the guidance Of their chief Il
ook their beloved katchine, (ances-
raj gods), their corn and other plant Il
leeds and their children and climbed
lmb by limb to the upper world. As |
he chief came through he stepped |
ipon great shelf of rock where you |
lee standing in the painting, the
indian woman squatted looking out |
'ver the great abyss The chief and |
his people were aWed at the sight Of 4
he canyon, its changeful waves Of
'olor, its moody gloom, its scintallat-
ne hues and gorgeously dyed towers
# craven stone, Looking at the tenn
lie of rock which Americans called
he Temple OF Isis, the chief arose
md said to his people We have II
ONE to the Land Of Tawa, which II
means the sun. And all his people II
answered How, how, yes, yes, this Il
5 the Temple Of the sun And they
their chiefs example and II
'orshipped with prayer"
This said Mr.. Rollins, "is the II
1oment Of time which l have caught
rom the story and transferred to the
anvas. This Is the young chief
lachetto looking out upon the Tenn
lie Of Tawa. But the story proceeds
s told me by the old men The chief
hid to his people that they would
trry there ana build houses. grow i
)rn by the Paisisvai, the red river
efore this, however, he told them
iat they must send a message to the
an Temple, Tawa, then the people
one heart should make peace with II
Re God. The message to be borne
as laid on oblOng stone. The mes
&c was in the form of symbols good /
III and blessing, the swastika, a ring l.
Gaming the sun, ziz gag line mean =
6 lightning or storms and a solid 4
uare notChed as a star which meant u
ouds or rain About the young j
essenger's shoulders was draped an 4
VA, blanket Of simplest weave,
Is feet were shod in moCcasins OF 4
at skin that his journey might be
re, and safe through his hair was |
aced an arrow that his Journey II
light be swift, He was expected to I
turn bearing the stone with the "
essage which means to them an as- |
rance OF peace plenty and good
H.
The messenger departed and the
ople built houses, grew corn and II
7med to be enjoying all these bless Il
IS, but the young man had not yet Il
me back. But a day came when a III
Ltchman on one of the towers, re- II
rted that there were strange men | :
,nderlng around In that country. II
airing bows and axes. And the de-
'ndants of Machetto, saying these {
re warlike people, took up their be- 7
lgings and a migration began. OH
s migration from the canyon there II z
? evidences all over the territory TO. III
Y. And often just at sunset ! have
N the old men sit upon the house-
IS in the Hopi village, some squat
&, others standing with arms folded
you see in the painting, gazing into III
vast world Of shadows and glow
pyres Of light, watching waiting III
the messenger, who they believe
] some day come back from his
g journey to lava, the Temple ogtl
sun"