Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-22

and photographed the boys as they
tramped.
The Convent of San Francisco.
We take carriage and drive to the Con-
vent OF San Francisco. Here are the ruins
OF mighty church and monastery which i'll
their prime must have been OF great beauty.
The entrance 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 a courtyard
and thence go on to the body OF the church.
This is one mass of ruins, but the Indians
have made homes in the walls, and they
have carpenter shops and blacksmith shops
where the monks once muttered their pray
ers. Right over the arched door is a beau
tiful statue OF the Madonna and in the
inches OF the church front IA statues OF
saints. The decoration within is wonderful
" beautiful. but there are trees now grow
ing in the main hall and moss and bushes
cover the walls Right i'll the main body OF
the building the Indians have erected an
oven, where they cook on the site Of the
ancient confesSionals.
There is only one part OF the old church
which is still intact This is little sacristy
at tile left 81 the main entrance where mass
is regularly said This sacristy has what
suppose arc many Of the ornaments OF the
old church is walls are covered with cary
ings oil paintings and statues painted with
gold. : statue Of Christ. with q cross on his
back stands III front OF the altar. 1t is robed
in purple. embroidered with gold and bands
OF gold lace. At the right, protected by bars
OF IRON is a recess in the wall which is said
to contain the body OF a famous priest, who
was SO noted for his friendship for the poor
that # he found sick man on the street he
would put hint on his back and carry him to
the hospital There are numerous wax
image. hung to the walls OF this grating
are Of the Madonna. and others are OF
legs and arms sent III BY the sick, who hope
TO be cured. There are candles burning in
front OF this recess Some OF the oil paint
.ines from the old church are beautiful, as
are also Two benches of mosaic wood inlaid
with ivory.
The Church OF San Francisco was built in
the shape OF a cross, with central hall, and
a smaller hall eros, lis 4 right angles.
Just over the cross were three domes each
as big as tie largest circus tent Two OF
these donles arc still intact, but the central
one has been destroyed by the earthquake,
and that part is rooted alone by the sky.
.fhesnes have climbed up the walls and en-
tered the dome, and long lanas hang down
into the church. 1t is row l+0 wears since
these buildings were destroyed and its ruins
are practically unknown If they were Sit
uated near Nesuvius instead OF near the Vol
cano dc Aqua, they would ne one OF the
wonders OF the world. and would be men
toned III every guide book.
A Monastery Owned by Americans.
My.neNt visit was to a Michigan institu-
ton This vas the College and Monastery
Of Recollection the estate Of which has been
bought BY Grand Rapids people and turned
into coffee plantation. | am told that they
have also about 5000 acres on the sides Of
the Volcano de Aqua and they expect TO
plant this to corn.
The ruins OF Recollection are about 800
Years old. They are among the largest OF
the ancient capital. covering several acres.
The walls are from two to four feet i'll thick
ness. but. notwithstanding that, the earth
quakes reduced them to ruins.
The buildings were erected as a n1onas-
terry and college, but the monastery is now
hides found mill for grinding tallow
much like one OF the old tan bark mills which
we're formerly common III the United States