The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-09-11
NEWS AND NOTES
TENS of Interest Gathered by Gait
casian Representative.

The daintiest brochure entitled The
| legend of Votan has come to our table
| from the author, Mr.. Henry E. Cham
5ers of New Orleans, well known as
| the writer of a series of histories, short
stories and poetry The mechanical
work of this pretty booklet is most ar
tistic, and is credit to the Reilly lay
lor Company of New Orleans, where
| the book was made. Each pages bear an
! ILLUSTRATION in colors, the sofest of reds
and browns being used on cream paper.
Votan we are told was the tutelary gen
Jus of the coffee growing region of
southern Mexico and Central America.
According to Mendieta, Spanish writ
er, the people had three reasons for the
great love, reverence and devotion with
which they regarded Votan. First, he
taught them the silversmith's art. Sec
ond, he desired no sacrifice of blood,
man or animal, but delighted in offer
ings of fruit, flowers and perfumes.
Third, he prohibited and forbade all
war and violence
The religious cult established by him
was exceedingly gentle in precept and
teaching. 1t incuIcated love of virtue
and adherence of all evil and hurt.
The narratives of Votan's travels is
pictured upon walls of temples now in
ruins. 1t is believed that he himself
placed the inscriptions thereon. In a
sense he was therefore Americas earli-
est historian and chronicler
The story tells us that Votans last
days were spent at Palenque, and that
when his end drew nigh, he did not die
as ordinary mortals do. He descended
into the Temple of Darkness through
a subterranean passage, he was per-
mitted to penetrate to the root of
heaven. This Temple of Darkness
whose awe inspiring ruins still stands
ion the banks of the Huehuetan river IS
the most remarkable monument of Vo-
tan extant. Here in secret chambers
were kept the religious records and sa-
cred annals of the Tzendals under the
charge of old men called tlapianes or
guardians. From records and evidence
given, it is certain" says the author,
that some wonderful stranger visited
our shores in prehistoric times and that
his spirit was felt and his genius mani
Tested 1ouo after his death
Our tribute of admiration therefore
goes out to Votan, trtelary spirit of the
! Tzendals and hero-god of Central
American mythology Jupiter of the
ancient pantheon conceived in that land
which now gives to the world, owing to
peculiar climate and soil conditions, the
most exquisite coffee grown. 2
s. THE PLAY GROUNDS BENEFIT
The car ride Friday night for the ben
eft of the play grounds was a great
financial and social success. From sc
to 9 o'clock every electric car was
turned over by the Traction Company
! to the ladies of the Civic League and
their friends who collected the fares
: and made merry as they sped through
the city pausing brifly to take on passen-
gers at the crossing. Every car had its
chaperones and beVy of pretty girls tc
collect fares and there was just enough
friendly rivalry to give zest and inter
est to the contests. The city was ablaze
with many hundred lights.
, There was a sound of revelry by night
For Belgium's capital had gathered
, there
Her beauty and her chivalry"
From the bacony of the temple of jus
tice" the band played, and about on the
velvet sward many too weary to joir
the moving throng lay restfully and lis
tened Children, like white winged
night moths fitted here and there anc
above all was the sound of happy voice:
laughing and talking. This late summer
festival was delightful success enjoyed
by hundreds.
THE BANNER CAR,
Parkview No. 81 flying flags fore anc
aft with Mrs. Bryan Ards and Mrs
Jack Ingersoll in charge was the win
ming car. When receipts were all turned
{ in and counted No 81 had to its credi
$3o.4I. Others came close to if and al
, held a good purse. The charming lad,
, conductors were Miss Mary Belle Nc
Kellar, Miss Lily Furman, Miss Matti,
Hearn, the Misses Withheld, Miss Luc,
j and Bessie Johnson.
THE HUTCHINSON PRIZE.
Il The beautiful fan generously present
, ed by Hutchinson Brothers fel to tn
!. car whose receipts were largest. whicl