National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-26

route ulfCcty opposite lnat leaulnB 10 inc
pyramid Of Choluta. Returning southwark
toward Aplzaeo by a branch Of the Mexican
railroad, We leave the cars at small station
called Santa Ana and finish the journey by
tramway.
Tlascala, which IN Aztec signifies the
"1.and Of Bread,n Is that celebrated Indian
republic In the heart of the Sierra Madras
which, as early as lli0, shut out despotism
by wall rs insurmountable rs that of tho
Chinese. In the days Of the first Monte
yuma (Montezuma Ithuioamina) this plucky
little province isolated itself so completely
as to allow no dealings with surrounding
nations, and for more than century
its citizens lived without cotton, salt
or any foreign product. Their only food was
the fruit and corn they cultivated, and game
caught among the snow-capped Tlascaan
mountains; their clothing was made OF
braided osiers, woven fabrics of the century
plant, and skins of animals slain in the
chase; and the simple dignity Of their po-
litcal institutions has been the admiration
Of the learned of many lands. Cortez found
in the Tlascalans the most terrible and UNI
daunted Of all his enemies, and never could
his march to the Aztec capital have been
accomplished had he not won them
TO his cause by promising to deliver
into their hands their more ancient enemies
of Tenachtitlan, On that momentus day,
Nov. 8, 1919, when the first Europeans
entered the capital of the western world,
the entire company Of invaders numbered
not more than 1000, OF whom less than 400
were Spauiards, all the rest being dark
skinned Tlascalan warriors, aud to those
ferocious allies was mostly due the victory
on that day Of butchery aug. 10, 1921, the
"day" of st. Hippolyto, who, for that
reason, has been chosen the patron saint Of
modern Mexico) when the Aztec empire
fell, and the watery streets OF the western
Venice were choked with the corpses Of her
citizens.
In his letters to Carlos V, Cortez wrote
that he found Tlascala inclosed within
stone wall nine feet high extending from
mountain to mountain, through which he
entered between overlapping semicrcles of
solid masonry; that he was first attacked
by an army 5000 strong; next by 100000
warriors, and on the third day by 10000.
It is hardly probable that the conqueror
took time to make so accurate count in
the midst of assault and enyironed by UNI
known dangers, but II is presumed that the
story of his exploits, like those Of modern
Adventures, lost nothing In the home dis
patches. For lack OF better authority, how
ever, we are fain to accept his statements
concerning Tlaseala's ancient greatness
with the usual grain Of allowance.
THE CHRONICLES OF ooRTEz.
Cortez says Of this city that it contained
more than fifty thousand houses, and adds:
"ltis larger than Granada and much
stronger, with us many fine houses and
much larger population than had that city
at the time % its capture % There
is In Tlascala a market place in which every
day more than 10000 people are buy
ing and selling, besides many other mer-
chants scattered about the city. The market
contains great variety Of articles, both for
food and clothing; all kinds of shoes, jewels
ofgold, silver, precious stones, and orna-
ments Of feathers-all as well arranged as
can possibly be found on any public square
in the world.n II must be remembered that
these words Of praise were said Of the old
city, nearly $40 years ago, by bgot who
could see no good among "the heathen''
but their gold which he coveted. The mod
eIn Tlascala is q flat-roofed, sleepy little
burg, with population of less than 10, 900.
Three sides OF it are washed by the Zatua-
pan river, and in the center is the inevlta-
BILE plaza pleasant garden, with an an
tque fountain upon whose rim is carved
the fact that the great water-basln was
built by one of the Spanish vice kings in
1906.
NO HOTELS OR LUNCH STANDS.
There being no hotel in Tlascala's cap
ital, or indeed anywhere within the state,
the tourist will do well to bring his dinner
out from Puebla, and, unless his letters of
Recommendation expressly stipulates for
the nights entertainment he must by no
means allow the last car to escape him
which leads away from this inhospitable
community. The degenerate Tlascalans Of
to-day out-do their proud ancestors In
excessive reserve, and without strong rec
concentrations from persons high In au-
thority, 1t is almost impossible for the
stranger to buy or beg the faintest show
of hospitality, however honest may be his
countenance, or great his necessities.
Inplxily n dayig tifnn IL aniilpinnf IN k1no
the town, leaving the "City of the An
gels'' in the morning and returning thereto
ut evening.
First, the municipal palace must be Wis
tied, and within II are found treasures that
take us back, not only to those later days
when Cortez and his soldiers were honored
guests Of this very town, while Montezuma,
on his throne behind the mountains, was
quaking with fear In anticipation OF their
arrival at his capital, but to the earliest
dawn of Tlascalan history. In large
chamber Of the palace are heaps Of ancient
idols, hideous monstrosities OF stone that
served for Indian idolatry before Catholi-
cism had sacrificed millions of lives in sub
shutting wooden images.
Upon the walls are four large portraits,
bearing names which the student Of history
will at once recognize US those of Cortez's
allies after he had won TO his cause this
valient little republic. They are duly certi-
Vicente Xocotencatl, Lorenzo Mazicatzien,
Gonzalo Tlanesolatzin, and Bartolome Zit-
lalopoca, as they appeared at their Christian
baptism exactly 3T7 years ago, the Spanish
names being then prehxed to their Indian
cognomens.
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHIEF.
Beside them flutters the feathery mantle
of the first native chieftain baptized In the
new world; and upon the opposite wall
hangs the Titulo, or "T'itle Of Freedom
which in that year the Tlascalas presented
to the Spanish sovereign.
In this chamber is glass case containing
faded rag, which the uniformed
traveller is liable TO pass without notice
but nothing more historically interesting
is to be found on the continent, 1t being
the identical war-worn banner which Cortez
carried In his sanguinary march, and which
Notwithstanding repeated demands from
the general goyerment-has remained In
TlasCalan possession ever since the sublu-
cation Of the A2tecs. The silk-woyen aud
dyed centuries ago In old Castile-is now
faded to dim tea-color and torn in many
places, but still shows the arms Of Spain in
the upper corner. The bannerstaf is
gone, but the iron pike, no harder than the
heart OF him who bore It, that once topped
The proud emblem, remains to tell It's dole
full tale of greed, fanatlelsm, and murder.
Growing hill ut the outskirts of the
town stands an ancient convent, tho first
of four that were erected in New Spain by
the monks of San Francisco, as early as
1924. The ceiling is studded with golden
stars, and the cypress beams of its roof
came from those dense Tlascalan forests
that furnished timber for the celebrated
brigantines used at the siege of Mexico, all
trace of which long since disappeared, like
the builders Of those historic boats, aud the
"friars ot orders gray" with their oft-re-
peated Ave Maria Purissima.
Within the dim and moldy sanctuary no
nnisn from tho nnlnr Anrll nnn nnmnLInLn