Its walls had echoed the noise of many a bloody siege and
hidden many an execution and assassination. From this building the old
Spanish cavaliers Onate and Vicente de Salivar and Penalosa set out on
their explorations. From it issued the order to execute forty-eight
Pueblo prisoners upon the plaza in front. Governor Armijo had here
penned his defiance to General Kearney, who shortly afterward nailed
upon the flagpole the Stars and Stripes. The famous novel "Ben Hur" was
written in one of these historic rooms.
But the twentieth century had leaned across the bridge of time to shake
hands with the sixteenth. A new statehouse had been built after the
fashion of new Western commonwealths, and the old Palace was now given
over to curio stores and offices. Everywhere the new era compromised
with the old. He passed the office of the lawyer he had come to consult,
and upon one side of the sign ran the legend:
+---------------------------------+
| Despacho |
| de |
| Thomas M. Fitt, Licendiado. |
+---------------------------------+
Upon the other he read an English translation:
+---------------------------------+
| Law Office |
| of |
| Thomas M. Fitt, Attorney.
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