Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-27

through the solid rock a mite ana quarter
long from the level oi the stream till it
should strike the Santa Brigade shaft. He
toiled with varying success from 1850 10
1862, when he struck marvellous bonanza.
which for the next tweve years yielded
an amount Of silver that in our day
would appear fabulous. Pain Peter be
came count so wealthy that he
furnished the people with more fables
than Crqsus OF old. II is said
that when his son the last counD
was christcned The whole party walked
from house to church, considerable dis
tance-on bars Of solid silver. His wife,
who quarrelled with the vice-queen SON
after blossoming from Mrs. TorFeros into
the Countess de Regla, desiring to pllcste
that representative OF royalty, sent her
costly olive branch IN the form OF q sitln
slipper, entirely covered with most mag
nificent diamonds. Count dc Regla invited
the King of Spain to visit hi. Mexican ter
ritores, and assured him, by way OF In
ducement, that even the hOofs Of his
Majesty's horses should touch nothing
hut InCots of silver all the way from
Vera Cruz TO the city OF Mexico; that
his ROYAL feet should not tread upon the
ground while in the new world. but
always upon payemcnts OF solid silver. and
that every room in which his Majesty
lodged should be lined with the same pre-
cious metal! All this may have been bravo
do, but certain proof OF the de- Regla wealth
is found in the fact that he loaned the King
81. O00. 600 (Which was never returncd). and
that he caused two ships OF the line OF
largest tonnage 10 be built at Havana, 81
mahogany and cedar, at his own expense,
and presented them 10 his sovereign. Du-
ring his twelve years OF prosperity he eX-
pended more than $G,000,000 in the pur-
chase OF plantations. and spent colossal
fortunes on his mines and refning-wOrkS.
He IL was who founded the celebrated
Monte de Piedad in the City OF Mexico.
one OF the most beneiicent institutions in
the world. and in the year 17lj endowed it
with 100000. The name Monte de Pie
dad means literally "Mountain Of Pity"
and was not mlsapplied, for during more
than one hundred years this national pawn
shop was sure protection to the pubic
from the ruinOus eXactiOns OF usurers,
by whom. no doubt. Peter Tcrreros hal
suffered in his days Of Obscurity. II
was sumptuouSly regulated and pro-
tected by the Government, and was
intended solely TO assist the needy
in times OF temporary embarr3ss-
mcnts by lending money. on liberal terms
and at reasonable rates OF interest, on de-
posts of iewelry, plate, merchandise, and
other movable articles. Alike in peace
and war, and through changing forms Of
government, its honor was held sacred and
its trusts unmolestcd during all the reyo-
buttons and Oyerturnings that devastated
the country. II is estimated that for u
period OF one hundred aud nine years it
afforded assistance 10 more than 200 people
daily. As early as 1896 official records
show that up TO that time it had given
aid to 2,232,Gl1 applicants. and has
distributed S3l ,674,102, besides having
given Sl52,74G in aims alone! II was
ruled by general board Of direct
ors, who received the pledges. These
articles were appraised at fair valuation.
the full amount Of which (deducting The
INTEREST," was Immediately paid 10 the
pawEer. The articles were retained six
months, during which time the owner was
allowed TO withdraw them upon reiunding
the sum advanced. If the debt was not
paid at the end OF that time the pledges
were disposed OF at public sale. and il
they brought more under the hammer thln
the original valuation. the difference was
refunded TO the owner, proceeding not
much like the business principles OF our
Chatham.street "uncles"!
THE MONTE DE- PIEDiD
occupies palace built by COrtez. opposite
the great cathedral. and i, one Of the most
interesting places at the capital. Every
species Of garment may be seen there. from
the tatcred reboso Of the lepera to the lace
mantIla OF the noble dame; from the
blanket Of the beggar TO the military cloak
and jeweled sword Of the impoverished Of
flcer. Some Of the most splendid table
services Of silver and gold | ever saw are
crowded into the plate-roOm; and a. FOR
Jewels Aladdin would have consider
ed his tabled palace poor affair
compared to the caskefs Of blazing
diamonds and every known precious
stone, for the magnifcence OF which Next
can ladies are pTOyerbial. In tho year
1880. having an available fund OF $1,000, 900
and unimpeachatle credit. the directors OF
the Monte dc Piedad determined to in
crease It's capacities for usefulness by add
ing to its pawnbroking business the opera
tons Of a banking establishment. Under
the new charter .hen obtained it was an.
thorized TO issue notes OF circulation.
called certificates, OF denominations from
81 to $1,000. These notes were issued only
from the mother bank, aad were redecma-
bic there or at any OF its branches in silver
coin. They were also receivable for Fede-
raj taxes, duties, and Tor all local i'm.
ports in the Federal district and in seye-
raj States OF the republic. The Monte
de Piedad had eight branches in the
City OF Mexico, and had recently
established others in various cities.
The amount OF its paper In cir
culation was not publicly known, as no re-
ports were published; but lis honor was
considered like that Of old C.esar's wife
till one finel morning people woke M l.;
find its doors closed and a bewildered
crowd clamoring In cain outside! Nothing
is sacred In these days which can bring
gold TO the Golfers Of the President and his
adyise-s-~not even the benefcent institu-
don which had prevented so much dis
grace and misery through century OF raw
dictionary difficulties, aud Il was utterly
ruined by demand from the Government
upon II for more money than lis treasury
contained. Ii still carries on limited
pawn business, but Is 10 crippled and i'm
~ w DI nlblt ilht tue Oil
Il" Mountain OF Pity"
Desiring to see for ourselves the famous
minss and hacienda OF the Count de Rsgla,
we recently made q pilgrimage TO that
Mecca. After q tiresome journey from the
City OF Mexico, the frst night was spent At
the hacienda OF TepenacascO, which stand,
alone in the midst OF q Wild scene, without
tree or shrub to break the monotony OF It's
desolation. Behind rise the dark noun
tains, and around 1t in every other dlrec-
ton vast plains stretch away as far az the
eve can reach. over which winds come
whistling with nothing 10 impede their
progress. In front OF the house il clear
sheet OF water-an artificial basin. deepand
square, for collecting rains. These iaellevs,
az they are called, are common IN Mexico.
where are few rivers and where machinery
for raising water IL little known. Unlike
most hsciendas, there IL no cheerful garden
at Tepenscasco, but a few flowers are strug-
Cling to live around the fountain of an
inner court. Inside, the house Is excep-
tionally handsome, with richly adorned
chapel, and a patio, which Is occ.-
sionally used rs Plaza dc Torros
for private bull.fghts. Next day we
lunched at .Jresco-at San Miguel,