Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-15
An Interesting Letter.

An Interesting Letter.
Tho venerable editor Of the New York
Erening Post, who has been spending the
winter where the degrees Of latitude are
represented by the lower numerals, writes
to that paper from the city Of Mexico,
March 10th, the following interesting letter
One of the first visits | made to the
country surrounding the city Of Mexico
was to Chepultepec, rocky mount rising
from the midst of a plain west OF the
town. A grove Of expresses and other
trees shades its eastern slope, and hither
the kings of Mexico before the conquest
are said to have resorted for recreation.
One of the expresses yet bears the name
ot Moctezuma 5 Tree, and even before his
time must nave seen several generations of
the Aztec monarchs We measured it aud
found it thirty-seven feetand four inches iu
clrcumterence-thei largest tree that ever
saw IN any part OF the world. Il Is yet
in full vigor, and Will outlast many gene
ratlons OF men yet to come. | looked INTO
its broad extent Of branches hung with
gray, thread-like moses clinging to them
like mist, and thought OF the dim antiquity
which dweIt there, and Of the unwr .tteu
histories, both sorrowfu and pleasant,
bound up in the long life OF that silent
tree.
1t was a holiday, AMI there were several
parties Of pleasure in these ancient shades.
In one part was a family group at pic
nlc IN another q guitar was tlukllng, ami
two or three couples dancing; in another
were young man ana woman withdrawn
from the rest-most likely lovers-engaged
IN such talk as lovers use. | climbed with
my companions TO the top of the hill.
where Is palace, which had been fitted
up by Macmillan Tor his own resi- .dence,
but in which the poor fellow during his
short and most unhappy reign could be
scarcely said to have ever resided Ii
stands in the midst Of garden, where
the air Is sweetened all the year with
snrubs in bloom. Near it, on the espIan-
ade, the Mexican gentleman who accom-
panied Us pointed out what at first seemed
10 Us a deep well-a circular opening in
the ground-waled up with stones appar-
entity hewn. TINS" he said, belongs |
TO the time OF the Aztecs 1t commun Gates
with cavern below, having its issue on !
the west SIDE Of the hill, SO that it forms |
an underground passage"
The view from the top OF ChepuItepec /
is very fine. The Mex.clns are fond Of |
a saying ascrbed to Humboldt |
that 1t Is the finest view in the world, to /
which | should not agree. for there are 1
iner in the neighborhood Of OrIzIba But I
it was very striking as saw 1.-THE great /
valley of Mexico stretching away on every /
side, the city with its spires, the green .
fields artIiclally watered, the brown pa,s /
-ure lands, the great glimmeriug lakes, the /
-ows ami groups of trees in full leaf that I
mark the place of the floating gardens,
and finally the circle Of mountains enclos-
ng al Beyond these in clear weather
he snowy peaks Of the two great and now
silent volcanoes OF Popocatapetl and k
-accihuatl are seen rising to an immense
height Near at hand and in full sight is
he building called the Molina del Rev or
Kings Mill. around which was fought the
bloody battle OF that name. Just before the
Of the United States troops, into
the city in the late war with Mexico. With
-lG udiIdLANt VI Audk W dI BClOEG nun, one
may stand on Cheput32ec and trace the
progress Of the American armies step by
step as they drew near the capital which
was to fall into their hands
On the slope of Chepultepec we passed
1 eopious spring, forty feet in depth, and
50 clear that the bottom seems almost close
10 the eye. A rapid stream rushes from
It and IS received in a stately aqueduct,
which carries it off to the city of Mexico
On its tall arches, resembling those which
cross the Roman Campagna. Looking to
the south you can see another and longer
lqueduct, which strides across the plain,
bringing water from more distant point.
Lower down on the slope OF the hill
pushes from the ground another spring, no
ess copious, which supplies commodious
paths, public and private, and then flows
N to irrigate the fields, marking It's course
,y tracts of verIure. Leaving these be
lind us we followed the road little dis
anee to the village of Tacubaya, situated
IN ground somewhat elevated above the
)lain, and noted for its beautiful country
eats, the property of opulent families in
he city. We entered and wandered over
me of these-the Escandon estate, as it is
,alled, from the name Of the family own
ng it. 1t was perfect labyrinth of walks
among fruit trees and towering shrubs.
The walks twining through the grove are
neglected, to be sure. Here
Ind there were towering over the palms
he fruit trees. A spacious mansion stood
n the midst of an ample flower garden.
+" Is not the family there ? " | asked.
NO." was the answer, the family is
afer in town. The members sometimes come
'ut to visit this place in the daytime and
'eturn by daylight, but they never venture
% remain here over night. They might
,e robbed, or perhaps kidnapped and made
o pay a heavy ransom"
/ looked round on the orange trees
lropping their fruit and on the neglected
walks where the weeds were beginning to
make their appearance. and, beautiful as
he place was, did not much wonder that
t was not more carefully tended by those
Who were to enjoy its beauty only by
or in constant fear of visit
rom banditti