Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-01-28
A LEGEND OF MEXICO
The Mermaid MaIinCha and Her
Haunted Springs.
LURE or THE WATER SPRITE.
To See This Tabled Custodian Of the
Royal Jewels Of the Ancient Aztees
Is to Die and Help the Siren Guard
the Hidden Treasures.

Malincle, or MallutZe, Us Solne VI
the old Mexican writer's spell 1t. Is the
water sprite, the mermaid, who lives
in two famous springs in Mexico that
are said to be connected by natural
underground waterways.
She is invisible to all except those
who never return to tel! the tale. yet
1t is easy to see her. they say.
In the daytime Malinche lives in the
little spring bed pool just within the
iron gates of Chapultepec. Here she Is
sweet spirit, always wooing the
passerby with the music Of her gentle
voice
At nighttime she Is miles away
and her voice Is wicked and mournful
1t will add interest TO this legend OF
the Malinche If the traveller when he
starts out to visit Chapultepec for the
first time will pause at the Cuauhte
moe statue in the second glorieta or
the Pnseo and take Il long look at IT,
not only because 1t Is noble work OF
art. but because this Indian hero was
the last ruler of his race, the Aztecs,
and in the final struggle called Ma
linche to his aid.
bronze relief In the base Of the
pedestal on which the statue stands
shows the chief being tortured to com,
pei him to reveal the hiding place OF
the wealth of his kingdom. Cuauhte'
moc's stoicaI bearing rebukes the com
plainings Of his comrade, whose feet
are also roasting over the slow fire III
the brasero beneath them, and when
he at last cries out in anguish Cuauh
temoc reproves him. For shame.
faint heart. Do you think am taking
my pleasure In my bath that you ap
peal to me?"
The magnificent old cypress trees
that surround the rock of Chaputepec
on slightly lower level than the
spring were old before the conquest.
and among them Cuauhtemoc and his
plumed and painted warriors guided
their canoes to the enchanted spring
when they came to qucnch their bat
l
old trees, Cuauhtemoc climbed the
rocks and from the heights watched
the maneuvers Of his enemies on the
lakes Close by the storicd spring
stands the monarch Of them all. Mon
tezuma's tree. 1t is awe inspiring to
follow with the eye its rugged bole W
over the growth Of centuries and try
to measure with the mind the history
that has been enacted beneath its wav-
ing boughs Perhaps the magic spring
at its feet caused 1t to grow higher
and more majestic than its fellows
Here In its shade MonteZuma sat and
wept when he foresAw his downfall
Here Cuauhtemoc vowed that II he
could not overcome the Spaniard he
would give the Aztec treasure to Ma,
linche.
She overheard him make this vow
and whispered from the fringcd brink
of the mirroring water that she would
receive the trust at the spring of ATT
capotZaco. three or four miles away
This town. whose name looks so un
sounds 50 smooth when uttered by n
Mexican. has a little suburb. Zanco.
Dinca. that has been made famous by
Malinches spring. 1t is here that Ma
linche loses the sweet nature by viii h
she Is known at Chapultepec and be
comes wicked spirit. The legend re,
lates that she grew savage because
she was set to guard the treasure that
Cuauhtemoc secretly conveyed to her
when the hour Of despair had arrived
for his people. though another trndi
ton says that he selected that hiding
place because Of her wild and brave
spirit.
However that may be, 1t was there
that he carried the royal jewels Of the
AZtecs and much gold and silver when
he knew that lie was about to be de-
feated by Cortes. Calling up the Ma.
lnche, he gave all into her keeping
and then went to his doom Down
deep into the hidden grottocs of her
home Malinche dragged the boarded
treasures.
y
chambers and by many tortuous wind
ings reach either spring. The walls Of
rock crystal and chacedony have been
polished and worn into fantaSti"
shapes by the running water There
are long, narrow shelves ON which the
Iactites that catch long strings of pearls
and emcra.ds and hold them swaying
In the winds of the caves,
Glowworms and electric fishes light
the fairy scene, and the water makes
constant music, but the Malnche Is
not happy. If you go near the pool at
Zancopinca you will hear her voice
lamenting, and often in the nighttime
1t may he heard afar off. If the un.
wary traveller pauses to listen he will
hear cries of distress and anger and
sad meanings that attract him to their
relief. He will come nearer and near
err to the spring and bending dow
that his ear may be close, he will hear
troubled waters rushing among hid
den rocks. When his face is above the
pool pair Of white arms will rise NJ
out of the water and clasp him about
the neck. He is never seen again. HI
has gone to help the siren guard the
treasure of Cuauhtemoc.-Ma Wor
raj Hudson In Mexican Herald.
Nature Is lavish In the production o1
everything but great men.- Hubbard