The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-04-04
For the Democratic Advocate.
Ancient Mexico and the Montezumas

Ancient mexico ana Inc MOuGSzuu1aS
Everything now relating to Mexico, since
the Mexican Central Railroad is completed
from Elpas del Norte to the city, is now
assuming unusual interest; and since the
commencement of the unhappy war be-
tween that country and our own-all are de-
sirious of learning something that was never
thought of before OF cared about. Your
readers have doubtless heard something
about the Halls of the Montezumas." As
some may not be aware of the splendor of
the Mexican court under these monarchs,
I must give a chapter on that golden pc
Rod in the history of Mexico-then and
now an outline of that history.
Montezuma H. assembled the Mexican
throne in 1902, at the age of twenty-three,
before Mexico had been discovered by Eu-
ropeans. lie died in June, 1920, in the
forty-second year of his age, Of wounds in
ficted by the Spanish discoveries whom he
had invited to his royal palace. Historians
agree in admiring his character
On ascending the throne, not content
with the spacious residence Of his father,
he erected another, much more magnif-
,lNnt frnntinm ON the ,1In@a - dfOf the
long one, and would have to embrace events
in Turkey and Egypt for years back
"-l"''1 - lsentI
rTr-T Zone
of the historians informs us, the space COW
cred byits terraced roof might have afforded
ample room for thirty knights to run their
courses in a regular tourney. His fathers
palace, although not so high, was 50 extern
siye that the visitors were too much IA
ticued in wandering through the apart
ments. ever to see the whole of it. The
palaces were built of red stone, ornamented
with marble, the arms of the Montezuma
family Can eagle bearing a tiger in his
talons) being sculptured over the main en-
trance. Crystal fountains, fed by great
reservoirs on the neighboring hills, played
in the vast halls and gardens, and supplied
water to hundreds of marble baths in the
interior of the palaces. Crowds of mobiles
and tributary chieftains were continually
sauntering through the halls, or lettering
aWay their hours in attendance on the
court. Rich carvings in wood adorned the
ceilings, beautiful mats of palm-leaf covered
the floors. The walls were hung with cot
ton richly stained, the skins of wild ami
mails OF gorgeous draperies of feathered
work, wrought in imitation of birds, insects
and flowers, in glowing radiance of colors.
Clouds of incense from golden censors diff
fused Intoxicating odors through splendid
apartments occupied by the nine hundred
and eighty wives and five thousand slaves
of Montezuma.
He encouraged science and learning, and
public schools were established Throughout
the greater part of his empire. The City
of Mexico, in his day, numbered twice as
MANY inhabitants as at present, and one
thousand men were daily employed in wa
tering and sweeping the streets, keeping
them so clean that man could traverse
the whole city with as little danger of soil
inc his feet as his hands. a carefuLpollct
guarded the city. Extensive arsenals
granaries, warehouses, an avlary Tor The
most beautiful birds, menageries, houses
for reptiles and serpents, collection OF
human monsters, fish-ponds built OF marble
and museums and public libraries, all OF
the most extensive scale, added their attrac
tons to the great city of the Aztecs. Cor
oeous temples-in which human victims
were sacrificed, and their blood baked int
bread. or, their bodies dressed for food t.
be devoured by the people at religious tes
tiyals-reared their pyramidal affairs allow
the highest edifces. Thousands OF thei
brother men were thus sacrificed annually
The temple of Maxtili, their war god, wa
so constructed that its great alarm-g gong
sounded to BATTLE reused the valley To-
three leagues around, and called three hun
dred thousand armed Aztecs to the imme
date relief of their monarch. So vast wa
the collection of birds of prey, in building
devoted to them, that five hundred turkeys
the cheapest meat in Mexico, were allowe'
for their daily consumption.
The summer residence of the monarch
on the hill Of Chapultepec, overlooking tn
city, was surrounded by gardens Of severa
miles in extent, and here were preserved
until the middle of the last century, tB'
statues of the emperor and his father
The great cypress trees, under which tn
Aztec sovereign and his associates one
held their moonlight revels, still shade tn
royaI gardens. Some of them, fifty feet i
circumference, are several thousand year
old. but are yet as green as in the days Q
Montezuma, whose ashes, or those of hi
ancestors, rendered sacred in the eyes
the native Mexicans the hill of Chapulte
pec Natural decay and waning popula
ton now mark the seat of power Of tn
great Montezumas.
The shepherds in those days were In
d;ans from Mexico, and there are grea
MANY Indians still living in Mexico. The
are to a considerable extent, in state Q
barbarisrn. There is a great similarity DC
tween all the Indian tribes on this contl