Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-08

Perhaps there are some who do
not realize what an advantage it
is to a city to have an attractive
railway station. To those worthy
citizens of Albuquerque who have
not thought of 1t before. let them
get busy at once and congratulate
themselves and the community on
having one that is at once a beau
tiful specimen of unique architec-
ture and an agreeable surprise TO
the weary traveller after he has
ridden through so many miles OF
dusty desert.
1t being one of the Duke City's
typical sunshiny days, let us stroll
down to said station, see what it
looks like along about 1880. when
the trains are coming in, and note
how the newcomers and travellers
stepping Off the coaches to inhale a
sample of the climate seem to like
it.
1t is still a few minutes before
train time and we almost have the
place to ourselves, SO let us take
our time and give the place tho
"once over" Coming in by the
way of Central avenue and First
street, one enters a pleasant. grassy
courtyard with walks leading up
to a rambling. two-story, mission
style building, topped with red
tile roof-the Alvarado hotel.
Passing through the courtyard We
enter a long. deep, cool-looking
veranda lined with rocking chairs
inviting one, especially if he is %
'1unger," to sit and rest and watch
the folks and the autos passing on
Central avenue.
A Picturesque Spot.
Having resisted this temptation
we step down into another, smaller
courtyard that has q splashing
fountain in the center, and then en-
ter long arcade leading to the
Indian building and the ticket Of
flee. the balustrades between the
arches facing the railway tracks
furnishing q convenient resting
place for loungers--and 'lungers'
Here are congregated n motley
crew consisting, If We judge from
appearances, of sun Drowned
ranchers, miners, Mexicans with
wide brimmed sombreros and
fancy horsehair hatbands. and
snappily attired. impatient-looking
travelling statesmen. Passing up
the Indian building for the pres
ent. we proceed to the ticket office,
inspect the blackboard to see II the
trains are on time. and the good
looking girl with the big traVellnB
bag inside the waiting room. we
feel like offering to help her with
the bag, but she stares colby, so
we desist. ,.
A long, mellow whistle sounds
at the north end of the railroad
yards, and presently the California
| limited rolls in and business be-
gins to pick up. In a moment the
wide, brick promenade that eX-
tends in front of the station and
the hotel, is densely populated
observe, joyfully. the young new
lyweds, the fat lady, pompous por--
ters, tired tourists, sophisticated
salesman, papa taking snapshots
of the kids. the lordly conductors,
all of whom seem tickled to death
| to get out and stretch themselves
rand get a breath of air and sun
shine tout where the west begins.
| Compromising on Phones.
Mingling with the crowd, we
| stroll UP the promenade, pass the
news and fruit stand unflinchingly,
and turn in at the walk leading to
the arcade and the Indian build
ling, Here, on each side, furnishing
considerable local color, are the
picturesquely attired squaws squat
ting on the pavement and holding
lout their wares. Being already sur
feited with pottery, bows and ar
Irows, turquoise necklaces, silver
rings and bracelets, we buy a
handful of pinon nuts and pro-
coed on into the Indian building.
Anyone who fails to visit this
wonderful collection of articles OF
Indian art and industry, has missed
one of the fipest exhibits of the
kind in the country. Here are sci
forth in gorgeous display relics OF
prehistoric days dug from ancient
pueblos, carved and painted to-
TENS, a canoe, trophies of war and
the chase, spears, shields, bows and
larroWs, pottery, beautifully pol
ished samples of petrified wood
rugs and blankets, a room filled
with furniture from an old Span
ish mission, and other objects OF
art, religion and industry toe
numerous to mention. Here also
one may see the Indian and his
family as he lives at home; the
squaws and the children busily
preparing wool and weaving blan-
kets, the old brave himself actual
" at work at a small furnace
making silver ornaments.
All too soon the visitor buys his
postcards and his souvenirs, and