El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-28

Some of the carved wood of Moorish
design has been kept and not a few of
the doors are quaint and antique. Many
of them have door knockers of iron,
sllber and brass and some have a lat
tlee work over the windows which re-
minds one of the MOOrs- There is still
plaza in the center of the city, upon
winch stand the government buildings
and the ruined cathedral. The houses
are painted all the colOrs of the rain
bow They stand close to the streets
and are entered by great doors, which
are sometimes heavily barred.
From the Top of the Cathedral.
But come with me and let US take a
look at the. ruins ! have met here
who has charge of the old church of
La MERGED. He is in American who is
doing missionary work among the peO-
pie of his faith in Central America. and
ne has provided a guide for US in the
person of a Grand Rapids boy who has
come here for his health. The boys
name is Lawrence Henner. He speaks
spanish and he can show us about.
We go to the plaza, and entering the
cathedral wind our way around and
around up the narrow, dark steps OF
mighty roof of the structure. 1t is
formed by IA great domes, which make
one think Of the buildings of Egypt.
Back of these is the court now in
ruins, the walls and roof having been
torn away and only the great columns
with their carved capitals still intact.
This building covers over an acre and
1t was 1ull of Worshipers when we had
only log churches.
The view from the roof is magnifi-
cent. We can see how the city lies in q
circular nest in the mountains Outside
the DaSin IS covered with coffee plan
tatlons and within the buildings have
patlos whose gardens and orchards
make the setting beautifully green. It
Is town built in a forest and garden
with these mighty ruins out of the
green.
Just next the cathedral is the old
university. We enter the court, which
IS surrounded by arcades where walked
the students Of 200 years ago. A part
OF the building is now used as a college
and IN the court the schoolbOys were
drilling. The teacher with two whips
in his hands, is directing the marching
tramped.
Convent of San Francisco.
We take a carriage and drive to the
Convent of San Francisco. Here are the
ruins of a mighty church and mon
Sastery which in their prime must have
gates had statues of marble and above
them are the coats of arms of the
king of Spain. We pass in through
great pillars beautifully carved enter
court yard and thence go on to the
body of the church. This is one mass
or ruins, but the indians have made
homes in the walls, and they have car
penter shops and blacksmit shops
where the monks once muttered their
prayers. Right over the arched door is
a beautiful statue Of the Madonna. and ;
in the inches on the church front are
IA statues of saints The decoration
within is wonderfully beautiful, but
there are trees now growing in the
main hall and moss and bushes cover
the walls Right in the main body of
the building the indians have erected |
an oven, where they cook, on the site
Of the ancient eonfessionals.
Ihere IS only one part of the old !
church which is still intact. This is !
little sacristy at the left of the main /
entrance, where mass is regularly said. /
This sacristy has what I suppose are /
many of the ornaments of the old |
church. Its walls are covered with