The Washington critic., 1888-04-07

stone, often painted in brilliant col
ors and having a balcony before every
window The city is lavishly sup
piled with public squares, which are
adorned with flowers, shady trees and
benches. Bands are in attendance
every evening.
HOTELS.
first stop. of course, after q long
trip of 60 hours from III Paso, was at
the Hotel Yturbide, one of the oldest
and the largest in the city, originally
the Palace of the Emperor Yturbide,
and deriving its name from that fact
There the traveller can be refreshed
with a good dinner, either in French
or Mexican style. The new Hotel
del Jardin promises to be one of the
pleasantest in the city, as it is cer-
tainly the most picturesque. 1t is
built around two sides of the old
garden Of San Francisco, and in itself
is q portion Of the old convent. There
are many other good hotels in the
city, but in order TO obtain genuine
Mexican food, it will be necessary to
go to one of the Mexican fondas. The
best of these is the Fonda de la Re-
forma, about midway Of the Gale de
Oftega, where delicious Mexican
dishes are served at short notice.
THE FLOWER MARKET
in the garden west of the Cathedral
is continuance of the custom Of
selling flowers in the public markets
that was established in Mexico befor
the time of the Conquest. Here is I
handsome pavilion of iron and glass
where Indians bring for sale, every
day, great quantities of all manner Of
lovely flowers. The portals are the
arcades, through which the sidewalks
pass, the spaces near the curb,
between the pillars OF the arches,
being occupied by venders Of second
hand books and all manner Of bric-a-
brac. Baskets of pottery, toys and
other native products are hawked
about the streets, and one can make
for q few reals Q2t cents) quite a col
lection of Mexican curios.
THE NATIONAL PALACE. .
When the lots of partition of the
city were drawn by the Spanish con-
querois the site now occupied by the
National Palace fell to Cortez. Upon
il stood the then recently erected
Palace of Montezuma, described by
the early chroniclers as "Monte-
znma's New House" Cortez caused
TO be built here large low house,
capped by four flanking towers. The
property was confirmed to him by a
royal order of July &, 1920, and he
and his heirs continued i'll possession
of it until the year 1862, when it was
bought by the Crown and set apart as
the vicc-royal residence. The primi
tive building was destroyed in the
great riots of 1862, i'll which year the
present palace was begun. Since
that time additions have been made
to il as occasion has required
until now, the building is the largest
in the city. 1t occupies the entire
eastern side of the Plaza Major, hay,
ing a frontage of 675 feet. In the
palace are the following named de-
partments of the Federal Govern.
ment: Presidency, State, Treasury,
Army, Interior, Public Works, also
the Senate and Postoflice, and the As
Economical and Meteorological OBJ
servatories, while two large barracks
afford ample accommodations for sew
eral regiments. The principal court
is large and of handsome construction
as also is the Court of the Presidency
The Hall of the Ambassadors is also
very large. In it is a notable collec
ton of full-length portraits OF
the prominent leaders Of the
revolt against Spain, and of othel
celebrities, the work of leading MeXi
can artists. Historically, the nor,
notable of these portraits are those o.
Hidalgo, Yturbide, Morelos, Mata
moras and Washington, together Will
Presidents Arista and Juarez. In one
of the galleries of the Presidency is d
fine allegorical picture, ''The Con
stitution, by Petronllle Monrey {
modern Mexican painter of higf
standing. A botanical garden, witt
rare plants amongst them the hand
tree, so called on account of its singu
lar flowers, adjoins the building. Th'
block is 600 feet square.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
The building in which the Nationa
Library is housed was once tn
Church of San Augustine. 1t is mas
sive and of magnificent proportions
and both inside and out its architect
ural features are very fine. 1t con
tains upwards Of 100000 volumes
many very ancient--and is composed
mainly of books which were removed
from the libraries of the several mon
asteries, in accordance with the op
erations of the Laws Of Reform. l
has also. notwithstanding its recen
foundation, Il considerable collection
of standard and current works il
Spanish, French, English and Ger
man, and collection which is in
creased annually by judicious pun
chases. There are several othe
Libraries of importance in the city,
THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
had small beginning in school Q
engraving, established in the mint b
royal order given by Charles III
March Is, 1879, although the parcr
art school of Mexico is supposed I
have been founded as early as l52;
In September, 1901, the classes wer
removed from the cranped quarter
in the mint to the building formerl
occupied by the Hospital del Amor d
Dios. In this building, much enlarge
and improved, the academy still re
mains. For many years the academ
struggled for existence and was close
in 1871, but by a decree Of DecembC
10, 1S4S, the academy was pelmitte
to receive the annual proceeds of
lottery, with which the buildings pr
viously rented were purchased niue
Improved, and formally reopene
January 6, lS47,