Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-07-20
Jhe freeman.
Mexico.

lends pnchantment." To a certain extent
this is true. both in regard to distance oi
space and of time. Deeds which, if done
in our own country, would seem common
place. become tinged with romance when
on ,cled in far away lands. We lose our
interest in the present in admiring the
moss grown, ivy-wreathed ruins of the
past. Distance seems to throw AN indis
tinct halo like the ancient aureole arounC
the portraits of the saints, over that which
/, f;u removed by space and time. And
this may be one great reason why Ameri'
cans are willing to make almost any sacri'
fee to visit the distant countries oI
Greece, Rome and Palestine, and essay
81 feeble endeavorS to visit the various
rarts Of our own land, the magnificent
aities within our borders or the adjacent
countries.
Bishop Haven said: 1--WE know more
of Bismarck than of cur next-hluck neigh
nors, of Paris than of many an American
town. This law is verified by our knowl-
edge, or our ignorance rather, of our
nearest national neighbor, Mexico" This
is lamentaby true; and it is high time
that Americans had better knowledge OF
the fascinating legends, the historic tales,
tn magnificent ruins and the sculptured
mrrbles us well MS the real history, the
living cities and the boundless resources
of their own continent. 1t is high time
that our eyes were opened so that, like the
servant Of Elisha, We may behold the
wonders around us.
Save the United Stares there is no coun-
try ON the American continent which pos
se,srs equal attractions OF every kind with
Our next door neighbor," Mexico. Less
than II hundred hours voyage from New
time, and with but Il trife more expense,
phan California. Having history running
back to the carly mlthoIogc ages. pos
se,Sing ruins and monuments by which
her history may be traced with tolerable
accuracy, endowed with every variety of
climate and soil yielding everything
delightful and useful, with scenery unsur.
passed on the globe, Mexico offers rich
inducements to the tourist who seeks
health, pleasure or instruction.
The Mexico of to-day is somewhat
larger than the Mexico of the Aztec since
the territory was enlarged by the conquests
of Cortes and his lieutenants. 1t now
extends over sixteen degrees of latitude,
and from the great gulf to the ocean.
Lying in both tropc and temperate zones,
having its surface broken by mountain
ranges and solitary volcanoes among
which are picturesque lakes and rivers,
having vast lowlands, plains and table
lands it forms an interesting study. Even
the mountains alone would render visit
well worth while. For sublimity they
surpass even the far famed Alps of Switz.
erand; in hight they exceed any of the
dizzy peaks of Europe. Orizaba, standing
near the sea, seems like a silent sentinel
towering in solitary grandeur, and keeping
eternal watch over the restless waters A
recent writer says THE stage road from
Orizaba is the grandest have ever trav
eed. 1t is smooth and pleasant of itself
. The way is nearly straight
very level, and lined on each side. at the
distance of a mile or two, with success
sion of cliff. They stand out of the valley
as sharp as if lifted up in frame work by
human hands. Their origin is clearly
volcanic. They are two tc
four thousand feet high, should say at ;
passing glance. The pass il
without parallel in any spot of Europe
or America for its symmetry and grand
eur. Interlachen has taller mountains
but not so perfect a valley. For scor'
Of miles you never leave these mountain
walls. Like the sphinx-lned pathway II
Theban temples. they seem to guard th
road to the distant capital"
But the two most celebrated mountain
of Mexico are Popocatapetl and Iztacci
huMl. These stand like watch dogs a
the entrance to the valley of Mexico
The former is called 1.-The hill tina
smokes" the latter 1.-The white woman.
In Cortes time Popocatapetl was active
now it is silent
Legends innumerable are extant cor
cerning these lofty mountains. One wa
that they were man and wife. Thus tn
snow-crowned summit could indicate th
peaceful nature of Iztaccihuatl, while tn
fiery eruptions revealed the more turbr
lent temperament of her spouse. Anothe
WAS that the peaks were the abode
departed spirits and the hollow mute
ings of Popocatapetl were the groans
wicked rulers in torment
The city Of Mexico lies in the centre
vast valley surrounded by chain
mountains and cliffs. Upon this vale
are spread out lakes, dazzling in the
beauty Of reflected sunbeams, and ei
chanting in their loveliness of surroun
ngs, like gems set IN Il coronal. Some
these lakes are higher than the city. al
are kept within their borders. like the 81
around Holland, by costly dykes.
When the SpaniardS first saw the vall'
OF Mexico they could not restrain the
expressions of delight as the fairy, e
chanted scene lay open before them. Loi
and eagerly they gazed, exclaiming.
their wonder and ecstasy: "Hts the pro,
Ised tdnd;' and Prescott says that, ev
now, when SO sad change has come ov
The scene; when the stately forests ha
been laid low, and the soil, unshelter
from the fierce radiance of tropical ST.
Is in many places abandoned to sterilit
where the waters have retired, leaving
broad and ghastly margin white with t
lncruslation of salts, while the cities a
hamets on their borders have moulder
into ruins-even now that desolati