The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-20
The Last Revolution in Mexico.

The City OF Mexico is said to cOmpre-
bend the entire Republic of Mexico, for
within its limits the traveller sees all the
distinguishing elements of a vast and an
cient nation. 1t stands in an Oval-shaped
valley, whose greatest diameter is about
forty-five miles. Few cities of the same
size can rival it as regards magni6cence
of aspect. The streets are straight and
rectangular, the buildings lofty and mas
sive, flaming with painted coatings of
yellow, pink, pale-green, or a blended
mixture of all three. With plentiful
distribution of green foliage and the
warmth of an unclouded sun, the pre-
sumable gaudiness is toned down to
harmonious though ecceutric setting. The
strangeness of the landscape is heightened
by the appearance of the Poems, from
whose countenance the glow of cheer
seems to have faded with the Aztec en-
pire itself; never an expression of pleas
ure, and but seldom an approach to
smile, appear upon their faces.
The chief object of interest in the city
is the magnificent cathedral and the ad-
joining Sagrario, or leading parish
church. The former occupies the site of
the old Aztec pyramid and its temple. 1t
was begun in 1858, but was not COM
pleted until about 1850. Nothing could
be more snowy than the articles within
the venerable building used in religious
ceremonies; solid silver crosses, images
of the Virgin in pure gold and silver,
with crown and sun flashing with precious
stones, and saints arrayed in robes, the
least rustling Of which produces the most
dazzling scintillations, besides vast
collection of gold and silver plate, the
value of which must be many millions of
dollars. The foundations Of the cathe-
dral are composed of the ruins of the
Aztec capital, of the very temples and
gods. Scarcely an excavation is made in
this neighborhood that does not develop
immense remains of the ancient capital.
The old proverb that 1--WE build on others
ruin" is here most singularly exemplitied.
From one of the towers, higher by
many feet than the steeple of Trinity
Church on Broadway, the traveller gazes
upon a wide stretch of plain, wholly
girdled by mountains. Eastward glim-
mers the broad expanse of Lake Texcoco !:
southwark ripples the calm waters of the
LAGOS de Chdlco and XOchimilcO, parted
by q tiny barrier of land; westward,
Chapultepec's shaggy crag rises from the
ground and in the north the white walls
of Gaudaloupe Cathedral reflect the glar
ing rays of the sun. The burning
mountain" Popocatepetl, and the white
woman" Ixtaccihuatl, lift their snowy
SUBMITS above all their gigantic COM
panions. From this point of obser-
walton the route travelled by the army OF
Cortez, with many localities of historic
interest, may be traced clearly.
The Plaza Major, upon the northern
side of which the cathedral stands, is the
grand square Of the city, measuring two
hundred and seventy yards in length and
two hundred in width. Along the east
ern side extends the two-story Pdldcio
del Go6serno. This building affords &C.
commodations for all the Government
Offices, for the chambers of Congress,
for the Presidents apartments, small
barrack-roo and a guard-house. 1t was
built in 1893 on the spot where Cortez
had constructed a palace for himself, and
which, up to 1892, when it was destroyed
BY fire, served as q residence for the
Viceroys.
In it is preserved the celebrated Maxi
milan carriage, which cost the late En-
peror $4,000. The drapery is Of the
heaviest damask and silk, and the fringe,
tassels and cords, of which there is u vast
profusion, are of solid gold and silver.
On the western side of the plaza is
row of houses supported by collonade,
and occupied by some Of the best mer-
chants in the city. This thoroughfare,
known Is Los Portales de Nercadsres, 10
literally packed with pedestrians through
tie entire day.
The building known - the Halls Of
lfootezuma 10 . long, narrow structure
& Chapultepec, spreading along the