The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948 Page: 196
406 p. : ill., ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Maria, the beautiful outcast who lived alone, apart from the
town, is the poignant story of a victim of rather cruel circum-
stances. The little professor from Michoacan, Porfirio Diaz Aah,
brings a dash of learning to the village and is revered and re-
spected for his knowledge. Through all the stories the old eagle
witch, Tia Magdalena, wends a rather tortuous way; half pagan
and half Christian, she symbolizes the semi-Christianity of large
numbers of Mexican Indians.
Mexican Village is no deep psychology study of present Mexi-
co, but Miss Niggli uses her stories as a means for pointing out
the deep respect the villager has for the voice of authority, for
learning, and for the Church. The marriage customs, the super-
stitions, and mode of economic livelihood also are woven into
the scenes at various times. The atmosphere and flavor of a
typical small village are constantly with the reader.
While the major portion of the book is both credible and
readable, Miss Niggli apparently had difficulty in drawing her
series to a conclusion. The final story, in which the mystery
surrounding Bob Webster is cleared, taxes the credulity of the
reader, gives the impression of melodramatic romance, and adds
nothing. It is unfortunate that her work ended on such a weak
note.
CHARLES C. CUMBERLAND
Princeton Universityg96
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948, periodical, 1948; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101119/m1/238/?rotate=90: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.