Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-02
AlisreIIancous ArtifIcs.
HOW MONTEZUMA DINED.

table, at the time Wnen OorieZ mfaooo
Mexico.
On the terraced roof ofhis palace, thirty
knights could tilt at each other, without
complaining of want ofspace. His armo-
ries were filed with weapons almost as
destructive as any to be found in any of
the arsenals of civilized Christian kings.
His granaries were furnished with pro-
visions paid by tributaries, three hundred
servants tended the beautiful birds of his
aviaries; his menageries, were the won
der and terror of beholders; and his dwarfs
were more hideous, and his ladies more
dazzling, than potantate had ever before
looked upon with contempt or admiration.
His palace within and without was
marvel of Aztec art. 1t was surrounded
by gardens, glad with fountains and gay
flowers. One thousand ladies shared the
retirement of this splendid locality, with
a master more glittering than anything BY
which he environed,-who changed his
apparel four times daily, never putting on
again a garment he had once worn, and
who, eating off and drinking from gold,
Except on state occasions, when his table
was covered with services of Cholulan
porcelain) never used a second time the
vessels which had once ministered to the
indulgence of his appetite.
1t is said enthusiastically of his cooks,
that he had thirty different ways of pre-
pairing meat,-a poor boast perhaps, COM
pared with that of the Partisan chiefs,
who have six hundred and eighty-five
ways to dress eggs! Three hundred
dishes were daily set before the monarch,
and such as were required to be kept hot
at the table were in heated earthen
stands made for that purpose. And it is
even asserted, that this autocrat occasion
ally killed time before dinner by watching
the cook of his viands, a practice in
which, accordingto Peter Pindar, that
honest old English king used to indulge,
who dined off boiled mutton at two, and
to whom the funniest sight in the world
was the clown in the pantomine swallow.
ing carrots.
The ordinary dishes of Montezums
consisted of very dainty fare; namely
domestic fowls, geese, partridges, quails
venisou, Indian hogs, pigeons, hares, rab
bits, and other productions of his country
including-it is alleged By some and de
MED by others-some very choice daiTy
fed baby when this choice article happen
to be in season In cold weather enor
nous torches. that flung forth not onl,
light but warmth and aromatic odors, len
additional splendor to the scene, and t
temper at once the glare and the heat
screens with deliciously droll device
upon them, framed in gold, were place
before the brilliant flames.
The sovereign sat, ike his links, ais,
protected by screen. He was not
barbarous as most Of Christian kings q
France, who fed in public; nor was h
personally attended ike them by awk
ward Ganymedes of middle age. Fou
Hebes stood by the low thorns and tabl
of their master, and, these poured va
ter on his hands, and offered him th
napkin, white as driven snow, OF as til
cloth on which the four hundred dish,
stood waiting his attention. Women 4;
fair presented him with bread; but eve
these fair ministers retire few step
when his sacred majesty addressed hin
self TO the common process Of eatin
Then a number of ancient but spright
mobiles took their place. With the
Moutezuna conversed, and when he vi
particularly pleased with a sage observi
ton or asprightly remark, a plate of pu
ding bestowed by the royal hand ma
one individual happy, and all his fello,
bitterly jealous The pudding, or whs
ever the dish might be, was eaten in
lent reverence; and while an Aztec Ell
peror was at meat, no one In the pala
dared, at the peril of his life, speak abo-
his breath. Moatezuma is described
being but moderate eater, but fond
fruit, and indulging, with eonstraint up
his appetite, in certain drinks which we
of a stimulating quality, such as are fou
In countries where civilization and luxu
are at their highest.
"One thing, I forgot, and no wondel
he says Benal Diax, to mention IN
ght place, and that is, during the time Nc
ded tezuma was at dinner, two very beautii
at women were busily employed maxi
sep- small cakes, with eggs and other thin
ID mixed therein. These were delicate
on white, and when made they present
it'll them to him On plates covered with n
.sti- kins. Also, another kind Of bread v
ae- brought him On long leaves, and plates
me- cakes resembling waters. After he l