St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-04-22

able In all their furniture eACcpt SHC
beds. These are simply thin cotton
mattress laid on very hard board six
feet long by three feet wide. Those
who dwell at Hotel Iturbide know just
what the "soft side of plank" is. The
pillows are made of lumpy cotton and
are more uncomfortable even than the
beds. Nothing but clear conscience
and great WEAKNESS will give rest I'M
der, or over such conditions.
The first day of sightseeing took in
the cathedral, the museum and the art
gallery. The museum contains many
things of absorbing interest to the
scholar and historian, and some things
of interest to the most ordinary mortal.
These include the arms, devices, uten-
sils, ornaments, idols, etc., relating to
the ancient Mexican-the Aztec and
Toltec. Among these the Aztec "Cal-
endar Stone" is preserved by which
this ancient people computed time.
Also the "Sacriicial Stone" on which
thousands upon thousands of hu-
man victims have been slaughter
ed. This latter is huge cir
cular stone-looking like an i'm
mense old-fashioned Burr milestone
some nine feet in diameter and three
feet in thickness. On its circumfer-
ence are carved figures in groups of
ho
of the conquered-the victor hold
ing the vanquished by the hair,
and the latter holding bunch of
inverted arrows. The top of the stone
is fiat with a cup-shaped cavity in the
centre which will hold some eight or
ten quarts. From this cup a channel
some two inches deep is cut to the out
er rim. The victims were taken upon
this stone and held over this central
cavity by four men-One lat each limb
while the executiOner cut out the
heart with knife made of flint. 1t is
said that these executiOners became so
expert that they often performed this
horrible deed at one stroke. The
blood of these victims, who were gen.
orally prisoners of war and sacrifices
to the sun-god, filled the deep cavity
in this huge stone and then run out
the channel and down it's side. The
thoughts that crowd through ones
mind as he contemplates this piece of
granite may perhaps be imagined.
In other parts of the museum are
idols, vases, implements, ETC., of the
early period Of both Aztec and TOltec.
These images are hideOus enough and
the implements are rude enough to
have been made as long ago as is
claimed.
The art gallery is a more agreeable
place to visit. 1t is filled with fine
paintings, some quite ancient and
some by late Mexican and Spanish
masters. This collection was a sur
prise, as it is not generally known that
the Mexicans excel in art of this kind /;
but assurances were not wanting by
those who have given paintingsa study
on two continents, that nothing
equal in merit can be found by Ameri-
can artists, and that they compare fa-
vorably with art in Europe. The
paintings were largely historical and
biblical.
The second day of sightseeing took
in Chapultepec-a name on every
Americans lips nearly 40 years ago.
This is a rocky eminence rising out of
the plain some two miles west of the
heart of the city. A fine broad and
smooth avenue leads to it from the
city, and it's summit is reached by
winding road like that at Mt. Royal,
Montreal, only on a smaller scale, as
Chapultepec is scarcely 200 feet above
the level plain. This rocky eminence
is claimed to have been MOntezuma's
home when all abOut where the city
now stands was either lake or swamp.
At the time of the war between the
United States and Mexico it was for
tilted place in which was a military
school similar to West Point. 1t was
the key to the city which it command
ed, and was carried by assault by the
American troops under Gen. Pillow,
Sept. ID, 1847, at a sacrifice of many
lives on both sides. Americans now
living who opposed this war will be
interested to know that Gen. Grant,
who was then a lieutenant and active
participant in several battles and was
promoted for bravery, in his late
memoirs characterizes the war as "un-
hOly"-"one of the most unjust ever
waged by stronger against weaker
nation"
The road at the base of Chapultepec
winds about amid immense cypress
trees, some of them IL or Is feet in
diameter, and said to be the emily trees
of the kind in this valley, the others
having been destroyed by the Invader
Cortes. On reaching the hight, large
and substantial stone buildings are
found in which is still the military
school and headquarters for the troops.
Above these buildings and on still
higher terrace is the Mexican White
House. This palace was built by Max
imilian, though the Inflated man did
not live to complete it. 1t is now COM
pleted and nearly furnished ready for
occupancy. This is palace in reality.
Overlooking the city and entire valley
from mountain range to mountain