Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-02-03
A LEGEND OF MEXICO
The Mermaid MaIinche and Hel
Haunted Springs.
LURE or THE WATER SPRIrE.
To See This Fabled Custodian Of the
Royal Jewels oF the Ancient Aztces
Is 70 Die and tielp the Siren Guard
the Hidden Treasures.

A0AAuNAt. VI MtithllCs Us SoHit VI
the old Mexican writer's spell IL. is the
water spritc. the mermaid. who lives
I'm two famous springs in Mexico that
are said to be connected 10y natural
underground waterways.
she is invisible 10 all except those
who never return to ter the tale. yet
10 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.
aud her voice is wicked and mournful.
lt will add interest TO this legend OF
the Malinche If the traveller when he
starts out 10 visit Chapnltepec for the
first time viii pause at the Cuauhte-
moe statue i'm the second glorieta OF
the Paseo and take long look at 1t,
not only because it is 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
liuche TO his aid.
\ bronze relief i'm the base of the
pedestal ca which the statue stands
shows the chief being tortured to COM
pei him 10 reveal the hiding place of
the wealth Of his kingdom Cuauhte-
noes stoicu bearing rebukes the com
plaiuings OF his comrade. whose feet
are also roasting over the slow Ere in
the braseTo beneath them. and when
be nj last cries out in anguish Cuauh-
tcmoc reproves him. For shame,
faint heart DO you think am taking
my pleasure in my bath that you APP
peal 10 meE"
The magnificent old cypress trees
that surround the rock of Chapultepec
on slightly lower level than the
spring were old before the conquest.
and among them Cuauhtemoc and his
plumod ana painted warriors guided
their canoes TO the enchanted spring
when they came to Quench their bat
tie thirst Protected by these brave
old trees. Cuauhtcmoc climbed the
rocks and from the heights watched
the maneuvcrs Of his enemies on the
stands the monarch Of them all. Mon
tezuma's tree. Ii is awe inspiring 10
follow with the eye fits rugged bole up
over the growth Of centuries and try
10 measure with the mind the history
that has been enacted beneath its wav-
Ing boughs Perhaps the magic spring
ut It's feet caused 1t 10 grow higher
and more majestic than it's fellows.
Here i'm its shade Montezuma sat and
wcpt when he foresaw bis downfall.
Here Cuauhtemoc vowed that II he
could not overcome the Spaniard he
would give the Aztec treasure TO Ma
llnchc
She overheard him make this VOW
and whispered from the fringed brink
oc the mirroring water that she would
receive the trust at the spring of Atz-
capotzalcO. three or four miles away.
This town, whose name looks so I'M
pronounceable TO the strangers. but
sounds SO smooth when uttered by a
Mexican. has little suburb. Zanco-
pinca. that has been made famous by
Malinche's spring. IL Is here that Ma
linche loses the sweet nature by which
she IS known at Chapultepec and be-
comes n 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 tradi-
ton says that he selected that hiding
place because OF her wild and brave
spirit
However that may be, II 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
and then went to his doom. Down
deep into the hidden groJtoes of heI
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 beer
polished and worn into fantastic
shapes by the running water. There
are long. narrow shelves on which the
treasure is strewn and glittering sta
lactites that catch long strings of pearl.
and emeralds and hold them swayina
/ in the winds OF the caves
Glowworms and electric fishes light
the fairy scene. and the water make
constant music, but the Malinche Is
not happy. II you go near the pool al
Zancopinca you will hear her voice
lamenting, and often in the nighttim,
1t may be 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 10 theii
relief. He Will come nearer and near
er 70 the spring and, bending dOwI
that his ear may be close, he will heal
troubled waters rushing among hid
den rocks. When his face is above tn,
pool Il pair OF white arms will rise VI
out of the water and clasp him abou
/ the neck. lie is never seen again. IL
has gone 10 help the siren guard TN,
treasure Of Cuauhtemoc-M Mary Wor
raj Hudson in Mexican Herald.
Nature is lavish in the production n
everything bur great men.-Hubbard