36 
Lummis gives us a little interest- 
ing history regarding these Indians, 
and the part that Catholic supersti- 
tion had in their early lives. It all 
came about over an old Spanish 
painting—a picture that hangs to- 
day in the Indian church in Acomo 
—a square of dim canvas that wealth 
could not buy. 
A white headed old man at La- 
guna remembered something of the 
story and the famous law suit which 
was taken into the white men’s 
courts, and from his _ recollections 
and Chas. Lummis’ story | give a 
brief outline. 
Nearly three hundred years ago, a 
Catholic priest founded a mission at 
Acomo and when he dedicated the 
little mud chapel that he built with 
his own hands, he hung therein a 
Spanish painting of some saint. 
To the unlearned Indians this pie- 
ture became an object of veneration, 
and they believed that good fortune 
would ever come to them with its 
possession, and generation after gen- 
eration it was treasured. 
Many years later drought and 
famine afflicted Laguna. Their ecat- 
tle starved and the crops failed, 
while but twenty miles away Acomo 
prospered. 
Then the head men of Laguna vis- 
ited Acomo and asked to be loaned 
the picture until bad luck could be 
driven from their lands. 
Acomo let them take the paint- 
ing, and it is said that as soon as it 
was hung on the walls of their 
church, the rains descended and 
prosperity returned, and so great 
was their faith in the painting that 
they refused to return it. Then war 
was threatened. After much parly- 
ing Acomo agreed to let the matter 
be decided by lot, and an Indian girl 
drew the ballots from a box. For- 
tune failed Acomo and the great pic- 
ture was taken back to its first home. 
But the next night, an armed band 
from Laguna broke open the chapel 
at Acomo and carried away the sa- 
cred picture. Acomo was raging. 
War was inevitable. But the paris! 
priest counseled peace, and begged 
the Indians to submit the case to the 
white man’s justice. He prevailed 
and an action was brought in the 
district court of New Mexico, and 
Judge Benedict heard and decided 
the case in favor of Acomo. 
When the court’s decision was 
given, Acomo went after the picture, 
armed and expecting trouble. Half 
way to Laguna they found the paint- 
ing by the side of the trail, and to 
this day the Indians believe that the 
picture made the trip alone and was 
on its way to its rightful home when 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
they met it. 
And this is one of the many inter- 
esting stories and legends of the 
interesting and unknown southwest 
—one of the little stories of the life 
of these simple-minded village In- 
dians—of a people that live the sim- 
ple life today as they lived it when 
America was their own country—of 
a people who can not change. 
Next week I will clean up the 
little odds and ends of a note book 
and close until next year the des- 
criptive letters. And next year I 
hope to tell you of new places and 
odd corners that you know but little 
of—and try to make interesting an- 
other series of letters. 
to Have One Day OFF IN 
FIFTEEN: 
The following enactment was 
signed by the governor on March 28, 
thus giving the police of the towns 
POLICE 
and cities of the Conumonwealth (ex- 
cept Boston), one day’s vacation in 
every fifteen days, which days, of 
course, will probably be taken by 
most officers all at one period, or two 
periods during the year. The law 
follows: 
“Be it enacted by the Senate and 
[louse of Representatives in Gen- 
eral Court assembled, and by the 
authority of the same, as follows: 
Section 1. Members of the police 
department of every city and town 
which shall accept this act as here- 
inafter provided, except the city of 
Boston, shall be excused from duty 
for one day out of every fifteen days, 
without loss of pay. ‘The time and the 
manner of excusing members of 
lice departments from duty in accord- 
ance with the provisions of this act, 
shall be determined by the chief, sup- 
erintendent or other office or board 
at the head of the police department. 
A member so excused shall be ex- 
empt from duty and from attendance 
at a police station or other place, but 
otherwise shall be subject to all laws, 
rules and regulations, relating to mem- 
bers of the department to which he 
belongs. 
“Section 2. The chief, superin- 
tendent or other officer or board at 
any city or town, except the bead of 
the Police Department of the city of 
Boston, shail have authority, in case 
of any public emergency, or of any 
police in that city or tow n, to prevent 
any member of the department fron 
unusual demand for the services of 
the taking the day off herein provided 
for at the time when he is entitled 
thereto, or at the time assigned there- 
for provided that such day shall be 
granted to him as soon thereafter as 
practicable. -In no case -shall the 
number of such days off be less than 
twenty-four in each calendar year, 
and they shall be in addition to any 
annual vacation now or hereafter al- 
lowed to members of the said depart- 
ments, and such annual vacation shall 
not be diminished on account of the 
days off herein provided for. 
section 3. This ~@et 'shall “tales 
effect in any city upon its acceptance 
by the Mayor and City Council 
er corresponding board of such 
city, and in any town upon its accep- 
tance by the selectmen of such town.” 
VICTOR VICTROLA 
VICTOR TALKING MACHINES 
Edison Phonographs, Records and 
Supplies 
Complete Stock Carried at all times. 
Kxpert repairing at the lowest prices our guarantee 
with every sale. 
With our quiet and homelike rooms we can give you 
the attention that you wish. 
Salem Talking Machine Co. 
27 Central St. - 
Tel. 1067 
SALEM, MASS. 
(15) 
