The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-31

Oh II m|OQdTGIlldl pdldAS buhu 1CpubiA
can capitol, we saw before us the cen
trail patio OF court. 1t is about ont
hundred feet square, surrounded by
large, heavy stone pillars, thirty feet
high, supporting on its round-headed
arches a magnificent balcony. rms
also being faced with arches produces
a very imposing aspect. Here we
were introduced to the officer OF the
day, who kindly showed us the inter
esting parts of the palace.
An opportunity was here afforded US
for seeing Maximilian's carriage OF
state, concerning the m~agnihcence OF
which so much has been said. As the
guard opened a heavily-locked door
our eyes fell upon a carriage of great
5plendor, at least ten feet high and
twenty feet long, oTnamented with rich
gildings covering all the woodwork,
figures Of cherubs, arms of Mexico,
surmeunted by heavy silver work and
eight very large panels of plate glass.
These are thick enough to defect a
rifle ball net striking it perpendicular
ly, and even then the only danger
would be from the pieces Of broken
glass. Tho inside was trimmed with
rich white damask and silver braid.
This elegant carriage, drawn along the
paseO with its prancing steeds, with
uniformed drivers, liveried footmen and
the royal parsonage clad in rich robes
Of state, was designed to impress the
lovers of parade and show.
A magnificent flight of stone stairs,
twelve feet wide, leads up from the
patio to the main rooms IN the second
story. Going up this stairway we find
the offices of the republic. The presl-
dent and the secretaries of the army
and navy have offices here. Here also
is the hall Of the senate, and above on
the roof the central meteorological OBJ
~servatory with the best telescope in
Mexico.
We passed through several ante
rooms in which were huge marble
vases, exquisite in workmanship, with
the arms of Mexico upon them. This
c~Oat-of-arms, which was also painted
on the window-shades, consists of an
eagle with extended wings sitting on a
cactus plant and contending with a
serpent. 1t is the old symbol of the
AZtecs.
We then came to the ambassadors
hall, three hundred feet long and
twenty-five wide. This ROOF is light
ed by fifty candelabra and six very
large chandeliers covered with crystal
pendants. 1t is also arranged SO as to
be capable of division into smaller
rooms by means of crimson curtains.
Mexico has sought to impress its
own history on its foreign ambassadors
by putting on the walls Of this panthe-
on the portraits of its republican he
roes. First comes Hidalgo, an insur-
gent priest, who was killed while en-
deavOrlng to secure the liberty of Mex
co. His portrait is accompanied by
that OF another priest, Morales; then
Guerreroc; Iturbide, who attempted to
become emperor; Juares, the famous
Indian president; Diaz, who is likely to
become president again next June;
Nina Arista, who was prominent in the
negotiations that brought the war with
the United States to a close, and lastly,
another priest, named Matamoras.
One American has been admitted 10
this hall-namely, Washington. In this
hall is a large painting, twenty-seyen
feet long, sho wing the battle of Puebla,
on the Cince de Mayo, when the MeXi-
cans defeated the French. 1t is to be
remembered that i'll the battle, when
the national existence was at stake,
the M~exicans, especially the Indians,
fought with more courage than ever
before. AT one side of the painting is
a bust of Gen. LargOroza, the leader OF
the Mexicans in this battle.
Thus this imposing is designed
to preserve the important facts and
factors of the history of the republic,
to immortalize its Mexican heroes, to
stimulate patriotism, and insure the
devotion of all observers to the future
welfare of the state.