rs, housed beneath mural
paintings and frescoes that would have been the pride of a European
palace. Came American occupation; and San Xavier was--not restored--but
redeemed. It was completely cleaned out and taken over by the church as
a Mission for the Indians.

To-day, no one worships in San Xavier but the little Indian scholars.
Look at the drawings of Christ, of the Virgin, of the Wise Men! Look at
the dreams of faith wrought into the aged and beautiful walls!
Frankly--let us be brutally frank and truthful, was it all worth while?
Wouldn't Kino have done better to have continued to grace the courts of
Bavaria?

In the old days, Pima and Papago roped their wives as in a hunt, and if
the fancy prompted, abused them to death. On the walls of San Xavier is
the Annunciation to the Virgin, another view of birth and womanhood. In
the old days, the Indians killed a child at birth, if they didn't want
it. On the walls of San Xavier are pictured the wise men adoring a
Child. Spanish rings and trusts wanted little slaves of industry as
American rings and trusts want them to-day. Behold a Christ upon the
walls setting free the slaves! Was it all worth while? It depends on
your point of view and what you want. Though the winds of the seven
heavens blew through San Xavier for seventy years and bats habited the
frescoed arches, it stands to-day as it stood two centuries ago, a thing
unearthly, of visions and dreams; pointing the way, not to gain, but to
goodness; making for a little space of time on a little space of Desert
earth what a peaceful heaven life might be.

THE END

End of Project Gutenberg's Through Our Unknown Southwest, by Agnes C. Laut

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