Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-02-06
OF MEXICO
The Mermaid Malinche and Her
Haunted Springs.
LURE OF THE WATER SPRITE.

To See This FabIed Custodian Of the
Royal Jewels Of the Ancient Axtees
Is to Die and Help the Siren Guard
the Hidden Treasures.
Mallnche, or Malintze, as some Of
the old Mexican writers 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
It 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 IL miles away,
and her voice is wicked and mournful.
1t will add interest to this legend Of
4 tAS sAaiihNhG ~ thG tA0NGtCA WhSA hS
starts cut to visit Chapultepec for the
first time will pause ut the Cuauhte-
moe statue In the second glorieta Of
the Paseo and take long look at It,
not only because II IL a 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.
| A bronze relief In the base Of the
pedestal on which the statue stands
shows the chief being tortured to CON-
pei him to reveal the hiding place Of
the wealth Of his kingdom. Cuauhte-
noes stoical bearing rebukes the com.
plainings Of his comrade. whose feet
are also roasting over the slow fire In
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 mel"
The magnificent old cypress trees
that surround the rock Of Chapultepec
on a slightly lower level than the
spring were old before the conquest,
and among them Circumference and his
plumed and painted warriors guided
their canoes to the enchanted spring
when they came to quench their bat
old trees. Cuauhtemoc climbed the
rocks and from the heights watched
the maneuvers Of his enemies on the
lakes. Close by the storled spring
stands the monarch Of them ALL Mon.
tezuma's tree. 1t Is awe inspiring to
follow with the eye its rugged bole up
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 It to grow higher
and more majestic than its fellows.
Here In its shade Montezuma sat and
wept when he foresaw bis 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 fringed brink
Of the mirroring water that she would
receive the trust ut the spring of Atz-
capotzalco. three or four miles away.
This town, whose name looks so un.
pronounceable TO the strangers, but
sounds so smooth when uttered by a
Mexican. has a little suburb. Zanco-
pinca. that has been made famous by
Malinche's spring 1t is here that Ma
linche loses the sweet nature by which
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
Circumference secretly conveyed to her
when the hour Of despair had arrived
for his people. though another tradi-
ton says that he selected that hiding
place because of her wild and brave
spirit.
However that may be, It was there
that he carried the royal jewels Of the
Aztecs and much gold and silver when
he knew that he was about to be de-
feated by Cortes. Calling up the Ma.
linche. he gave all into her keeping
uuu tucu Wtut " nin 0tOn. bVNu
deep into the hidden grottoes Of her
home Malinche dragged the boarded
treasures.
Long passageways connect these
chambers and by many tortuous wind.
ings reach either spring. The walls Of
rock crystal and chalcedony have been
polished and worn into fantastic
shapes by the running water. There
are long, narrow shelves on which the
treasure is strewn and glitterlng sta
lactites that catch long strings Of pearls
and emeralds 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 Malinche is
not happy. II you go near the pool Mt
Zancopinca you will hear her voice
lamenting, and often In the nighttime
It may be heard afar of. II the un.
| t.awnI.x s.a.soaa ~ ltetan ha will