Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-03-10
MORE GOOD LETTERS
FROM DIR. SCOTT

The oldest seat of government is
| the City Of Holy Faith, in Spanish
words, Santa Fe. 1t was founded in
| 1909. Recently there has been un-
covered here the ruins of an Indian
city, centuries before the Spaniards
The plaza is the end Of the old
trail. marked by stone. Two old
stage coaches are preserved, one of
which was held up in Ration Pass,
when three were killed and $4,000
| changed hands. The palace OF the
governors housed Spanish, then In
dian, Spanish again, Mexican and
Lew Wallace here finished ben
| Hur," in 1881, and his chair and
room are precious relics. The Con-
federate flag waved here for a brief
season too. The oldest house in the
states is here, built by Indians be
fore the white man came. The old
est Catholic, and the Oldest Prot
estant church in the state are here.
l am sure you would like Santa
its stores, shops, it's people, archi-
lecture and atmosphere are so diff
ferent. Artists seeking local color
are here by the score. An art col
ony fourishes here. The native In
dian is everywhere to be seen, max,
ing and selling pottery and woven
goods. Some looms are a hundred
you come to love, the Indian pottery
is charming and artistic, the bril-
liant rugs fascinating.
We learned much about the cult,
savage and ignorant, called "Fen~
itentes.' Annually at Lent, they
form professions, reading, singing,
carrying huge crosses, and infiictin;s
the body with whips. Sometimes
they end with a real cruciflxion.
as in the case of a photographer,
whose pictures were rescued but
never published. They are angry
with visitors Sometimes the victim
is taken down when unconscious on
the cross. Their churches are small.
crude, without windows, and are
called maradas, and their sad
from thighbones, and when a victim
dies he is buried face downward, Or
standing up. The cult of Flagellants
has spread over many states near,
and into Old Mexico, but it's center
is very near Santa Fe. The local
church discourages it's practices.
Not all has been sunny in the
Sunshine State of New Mexico
Governor Bent, the first American
son and Billy the Kid, and other
outlaws made life interesting. Here
is notice posted up in Las Vegas,
80 miles from Santa Fe, dated Mar.
"a, 1882: Notice to thieves, thugs,
fakirs and buncO steerers; among
whom are j. ]. Harlan, alias Off
Wheeler; Saw Dust Charlie, VIM.
Hedges; Billy the Kid, Billee Null
len; Little Jack, the Gutter; Pock-
n p1y cd
If found within the limits of this
city after ten p. M, you will be in
vited to grand neck-tie party, the
expense of which will be borne by
100 substantial citizens.
Among the artists here is one of
the noblest, Miss Duane Van Vech-
| ten, whose new mansion home and
studio was thrown open to u.s.. with
a hearty welcome, characteristic Of
the great wide west. This home
planned in the most artistic fashion,
will cost half million dollars, and
has been building for ten years. 1t
is close to Taos and nestles close to
the foothills of the Sangre de Chris
| to (BlOOd of Christ) mountains,
whose sunset tints add color to the
many beauties of this vivid color
state Of New Mexico.
Americas Greatest Wonderland
No one who has seen it will dis
pute the statement, that the Grand
Canyon is the worlds greatest
natural wonder. One can only sug-
gest but not describe this breath
taking, awe-inspiring phenomenon.
1t Just bursts upon you as an earth
quake does, and leaves you stunned
and speechless. You never recover
from 1t, live as long as you may.
We were prepared for it, however,
because we saw the canyon of the
Little Colorado, an hour before,
with it's tremendous eroded depths,
and also the Painted Desert, with
| its glowing cOlOrs. The sight OF
these two was enough for one day.
Artists have found 80 distinct col