The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-28

Albuqueraus. n. n. Aug. ss'
this and other New Mexican tow
the people are rapidly wakenfns
the tact that in their strange anS
beautiful country they have = com-'
mercial asset. They now perceive
that the historic past, the pictur-
esque present and the wonders OF
nature are things which can be
sold. like wool, beef and beans.
New Mexico has been . little late
in making this discovery. Colorado
found out long ago that there is
more gold in the tourist pocket
than ever was in Cripple Creek. and
that enterprising state now has
long list of hotels of the eight-dol-
lar-a-day-and-up variety. New
Mexico has fully as much to oner
in the way Of scenery and amuse-
ment. but almost nothing in the
way of first-class accommodations.
However, a new spirit is abroad IN
the land. The New Mexican IL be-
ginning to realize that when the
fastener comes out to rough it IN
the wilds, he likes to camp in a
room and bath, and that il you
charge him less than IS q day he Is
unhappy. Prominent citizens are
putting their heads and their funds
together; enthusiastic p0w-wows
are being held in chambers OF COM
merce. 1t may be confidently pre-
dicted that the unmistakable tour
list hotel, with its broad piazzas and
lofty prices, will soon be a feature
of the southwestern scene.
All Of which is an irrivelent pre-
lude to the state that there is, on
picturesque phase of New Mexican
life about which her citizens are
reticent. The Navajos and the Pu-
eblos, the horned toads and the
mountains, the sunshine and the
scenery are all brought to the at
tention of the visitor with craft and
JUNCTION. But little or nothing is
said about the Hermanos Peni-
tentes. Picturesque they undoubt-
eddy are, and thrilling to look upon
but no sightseeing parties are or
ganized to witness their rites. Fol-
some reason, slightly obscure, the
New Mexicans persist in regarding
the penitentes as disgrace. Last
year a certain magazine published a
letter saying, among other things
| that were untrue, that the ,peni-
tentes were a dominant influence in
politics; and an inordinate amount
of excitement, eliminating in a
threat Of prosecution from the gov.
ernor, was the immediate result in
New Mexico.
A Medieval Remnant.
What, then, are these Penitent
Brothers, whose piety is regarded
as a scandal? The penitent broth
ers, or Hermanos Penitentes, are a
religious fraternity, long since out
lawed by the church, the members
of which practice self-whipping
cruciflxion, and other physical tor
ture as a penance for their sins
The practice originated in the mid
die ages in Spain. when it was in
good standing with the churcha. II
was brought to this country by the
Spanish conquerers. 1t appears, al
though nothing definite can be
learned of the matter, that some
sort of flagellant society existed
Eamong the Indians here. From the
mingling Of these two sects, one
Christian, and one pagan, among
the poems of mixed Indian anl
Spanish blood. sprang the present
organization Z the Hermanos Peni
tentes.
At one time nearly all the ma
tives of peon blood were member:
of its chapter. Gradually its mem
bership has declined, giving wa!
before the enlightenment that ha!
come with railways and public
schools. The Mexican of the youngel
generation. educated in publi'
school. is often an p--and-cominl
young fellow He is very likely al
automobile mechanic or a lawyer
There is no danger that he will
: have his back slashed with a chip
ped flint and belabored with a dis
ciplina for the glory of God. Henc
the tendency, is for the chapter
steadily to decline in membership
dwindling to a few old-timers VIII
lash their backs but feebly and de
plore the changing times. Thus W
are told by one man who is wei
posted that there are still four o
five chapters in the Rio Grande val
ley near Albuquerque, but none Q
them has more than II or Is mem
bers. On the other hand in a Ger
t tain mountain town far from a rail
5 road, where the life of the native
: goes on much as it did a hundre
Years ago, we are told that 500 PEN
ltentes were seen not long ago in
single procession. 1t is probably
fair statement of the case to sa