The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-26
A Picturesque Vacation Land Miss Martha Corr of This City Writes in De- scriptive Fashion of the Noted Shrine of the
 Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico

CGpUdClSS. 4Ilcy IcpIcSClGcu CAlC yearnings and the hopes of the good souls who knelt in this Sacred retreat seeking aid from Our Lady of Guadalupe -.
 Indians In Majority
 After disrniSsing my guide I retired to a rear seat in the main church and watched the people as they entered. Indians formed the greater number of the worshippers. The men were attired in the regu- lation cotton cloth outfit and the women's dress was marked by the dark blue reboza which serves for more than a head covering. By giving it a certain twist a cradle is formed for the baby which the mother usually carries with her to the church or to the market. All were barefooted. They did not walk up the tiled floor but approached the holy shrine on pended knees. They brought no gifts such as their conquerors did. Some carried love- ly bouquets of flowers which they laid tenderly on the steps border ing the silver altar railing, con- verting them into brilliant bank of gardenias, pansies, tuberroses and hibiscus. noticed one person who bore a striking resemblance to Laurence Olivier, the screen star. His offering was a large bouquet of galdioli which he held lovingly on his left arm while his eyes were raised to the miracle picture in an ecstasy of prayer. What an inspira- tion he would have been for a can- vass of Murillo, the painter of Heaven!' .. After observing the deep piety of these simple people was sure that not one taper enfolded a prayer for earthly gain. To them the beautiful gold and silver em- bellished shrine was foretaste of heaven and they only prayed that they might be worthy to enter Gods House and Presence at the end of their mortal existence. ....
 "The bells of Guadalupe aa- nounced the hour of noon. I de- parted from the Shrine of the Vir- gin leaving my prayer-laden candle to cast it's soft radiance in the shadowy corner of the Healing Room.
 Mexico is a combination of many cultures and of many countries :. Mexico offers a wonderful and in- structive vacation land for the peo- pie who desire to visit foreign coun- tries for within its borders you may enjoy many of the attractions that lure people abroad.
 Famous Institutions
 ''The University of Mexico founded 1 1t the command of Charles V of 1 Spain about four hundred years ago is equal to many of the European universities which invite students from all over the world to attend their summer courses. It presents wide diversity of studies in its sum- mer school which is attended by many American teachers and stud- erts.
 "If you wish to taste the flavor of Venice you can simply take trip to Xochimilco, short distance from Mexico City. Here you may behold beautiful tapestry of human life and flowers spread out before you with a background even more allur- ing than the famous Grand Canal of Venice :. In company with a number of university summer school attendants I visited this fairyland on a Sunday afternoon 8. Awaiting our arrival at the Floating Gardens were canopied barges decorated with flowers .. The barges were poled a. long the silent and dreamy waters by Aztec Indians, remnants of the highly civilized tribe who ruled Mexico in pre-Cortes days. We glided lazily in and out among the lavisly flower-covered islands. h. dian women in small boats passed us frequently offering for a small sum large punches of various flowers -. At 3:30 the usual daily summer shower occurred. The rain fell in tor rents for about ten minutes .. all accepted the incident as one of the unique features of this very unique place. Soon the sun again burst forth in all its splendor. The willows looked green and fresh and the flow CTS nodded as if they were deligh- ted at receiving such a generous drink of water"