Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-07-17
Virginia, Thursday July III 1918
Rediseovering A Dead Nation.

Rediscovering A Dead Nation.
Ithas long been known that the great
ruins in Mexico were built by mysteri-
Gus race that inhabited the land long be-
fore the Aztecs, or their conquerorS, the
Spaniards. When Cortez and his priests
burned the Aztec library, they destroyed,
il has been supposed, the last OF the for
gotten race. According to the New York
Tribune, however, Prof. Ramon Mena
has recently discovered key to the Sc
cret that enables him 10 reveal unich OF
the history of this strange people.
Most of the great ruins of Mexico are
covered with inscriptions and carvings
which until recently were totally unde-
cipherable. One day, while exploring
the ruins of XochicaIco, Professor Ramon
discovered stone that bore double
carving. On one side was the original,
done by the men who built the temple;
on the other side. cut by some Aztec
priest, was translation of this carving,
in the picture-writing OF the Nahuatl
tongue of the Aztecs, language partly
known today. Working with this key,
Professor Mena has been able to decipher
the carvings that adon the walls OF the
ruins.
The facts that he gathered are briefly
these: About five thousand years ago
race, light of skin, prominent OF nose,
high OF forehead, and numbering at least
100000 people, dwelt in Mexico.
They had five great cities, Militia, Palen-
que, Chichen-Itza, one ofunknown name
on the Gull OF California, and Xochicalco.
From the name OF the last, which means
"The House OF the Yellow King" il ap-
pears that this was the capital OF the EN-
pire.
The carvings revealed, too, the story
OF young man OF unknown origin who
possessed a thorough knowlede OF build
ing. He travelled through Mexico, teach
ing the mason's art, and supervising in
in each city the building OF temple.
Then he disappeared, saying he would
return to teach them more after they had
thoroughly mastered the art OF masonry.
He was called Quetzalcoatl, on account
OF the mark of feathered serpent that ne
carved on every stone OF every temple.
This signature is significant in that it
proves that all these scattered ruins were
built by the same tribe and designed by
the same master mind.
The memory of Quetzalcoatl and his
promise to return still survived among
the Aztecs in the sixteenth century, for
when Cortez landed with his troops, the
air-skinned Spaniard was hailed as the
lost leader of the forgotten tribe. Cortez,
by his cruelty, quickly diSillusioned them.
In the Nahuatl tongue the name OF the
dead race was Quiche, but it is not known
what they called themselves in their own
language. No more is il known whence
this race came. On the walls OF Xochi-
calico, Quetzalcoatl has left a portrait OF
himself. The face is strong and fearless,
The brow high, and the eyes are turned
toward the west. Other figures appear
that seem to be Buddhas, yet they wear
on their heads the curving horns that are
usually associated in the Orient with
images OF Vishnu. Everything points, as
far as the carvings can reveal, 10 the
Oriental origin OF the architect if not OF
the face itself.
What became of the Quiches is as puz-
zling as their origin. There is some
evidence that the downfall began with the
departure OF the mysterious Quetzalcoatl.
II is certain that war did not end the ma
tons existence, for no bones OF defend
ing armies are found about the ruins. On
the other hand, large number OF bones
found in the crumbling houses suggest
that pestilence may have been the de-
stroyer. There are traces in the ruins,
too, OF earthquakes and Of floods.
Another thing that puzzles Professor
Mena is the manner in which these peo-
pie moved huge blocks Of stone and
hoisted them up to the high walls. II is
forty-five miles from Xochicalco to the
nearest quarry, and many Of these blocks
weigh over ten tons. As yet, no traces
OF machinery have been found.