Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-23

land. The cold storms which sweep over the
bleak hills Of northern ATTITUDES, stripping vege-
tatlon of its verdure, and external nature of its
charms, compel those who are driven to their
homes to find enjoyment in social intercourse
and the commingng of hearts and thus the
freezing winds kindle and fan the warm flames
of affection. 1t is always in what is called an
uncongenial cline that the treasures of the mind
and the heart most luxuriantly thrive Where
the mind is uncultivated rarely does one meet
with deep and lasting emotions. There may be
the flash of impetuous passion, but seldom, if
ever, he deep flow of strong and unntterable
love, And consequently an unintellectual peo-
pie know not where to look for 10y, but to thea
tres, and dancing rooms and gaming tables-it
IS perhaps their misfortune more than their fault
How cherries must that life be where HOME
means nothing but house-a place to cat and
sleep in, and to escape from as constantly and
IperseyeringIy as possible. There are palaces
and houses and novels in Mexico, but very few
HOMES.
There is hardly anything more marvellous in
the history Of the human mind, than the nhu-
ence acquired by the Romish priesthood over
the population of Catholic countries limo part
OF the world is the influence of the Romsh
priests more powerful than in Mexico 1t is in
deed strange and yet not an uncommon spec
tacle to see band Of soldiers carrying through
the streets priest in a state of brutal intoxica-
ton, whom they have rescued from the mire, and
tenderly cherished him under the influence of
religious awe and veneraton The office of a
priest is, in the public eye, so exalted that the
imperlectlons Of the man, who for the time hap
/ Do tn
some of the higher order of the clergy who give
evidences of sincerity and piety, to which it
would seem that no person of ordinary intelli-
gence could be blind. The lower order of the
clergy do not even pretend to decency of char
acter, and no one claims it for them
After Cortez had taken possession of the city
of Mexico, three hundred years ago, his army
rapidly melted away under the influence of dis
ease and the sword until at last but thirteen
bundled men were left to keep possession of the
capital. The MeXicans, exasperated by the cru.
city with which their conquerors had treated
them, and seeing their weakness, rose against
the Spaniards. For several days and nights the
battle ragged with unidentified fury, and the
sIaugh on both sides was dreadful AT lengtI
CortoZ, leaving nine hundred of his men dead III
the streets, succeeded in reaching the top of
bill few miles from the city, with but four hun
dred survivors. The ght in which Cortez eff
:, ected this sanguinary retreat is still familiar tC
every Mexican as the n0chc hiSte or woful night
, While OH this hill Corez found in the knapsacl
ola soldier, mutilated alabaster doll, abou
eight inches high eyeless and noseless Awar,
of the fanatacism of his soldiers, this shrewC
warrior exhibited the doll as an image of thu
l,,l =:
heaven, and that she had promised to secure t.
them victory. Animated by this assurance thu
little band cut their way out from their Difficult
ties, and Cortez soon again invaded and con
CURED Mexico. On the top of the hill he imme
dlately erected chapel, in which he placed tn
, miraculous image. And there the noseess dol
now is-and there it has been for three hundre,
years, with wax tapers incessently burning be
fore it, and maids of honor in constant atten
dence Dgni6ed with the name of Our Ind
of Remedies the child's plaything is now, an
for three hundred years has been, an object Q
yeneration and of alteration to all Mexico. TIL
jewels and wardrobe worn by this image are es
tmated to be worth more than million of do
y lars. Our Lady rejolcCs III petticoats of d
monds, pearls, and emeraIds. When any pest
lence is in the city, as soon as it begins to abat
Oar Lady of Remedies is carried to the infeC
= ted quarter in solemn procession, and the graz
u ual disappearance of the disease is of course a
. tributed to her agency, The anniversary of til
T. presentation of this image to Cortez is the mo-
: celebrated religious festival observed in Mexic
y A concourse of a hundred thousand people al
- usually assembled round the chapel on this occ
. sion. And to express doubt, in any part
! Mexico, respecting the celestial origin of 'Ol
" Lady of Remedies aud the efficacy of her int
! cesson, would be regarded as blasphemy.