The Washington critic., 1888-04-14
pnrls, lhe gIft Of senaf AntonIo e.

NNtllilk hliNN VI ANGiAlViiIit NItNlIVs
In the morning the drive is usually
through the Grove of Chapultepec,
and is taken at n brisk pace, for its
own sake. In the afternoon IL is a
slow, formal performance, taken for
the sake of seeing and being seen, and
as the Paseo leads directly to
Chapultepec, we will next visit
that very interesting palace, for
such il is in fact, as well as
in name. 1t was built by the Viceroy
Galvez. 1t was occupied by Maxi
milan, and has since been renovated
as a Mexican white house. 1t is an
immense building, in which are large
halls and galleries decorated and
around which are marble paved ter
races, commanding one of the most
magnificent views in the world, the
beautiful valley of Mexico, with its
city and lakes, and, for background
in the east the snow-capped volca-
noes-tinged ut evening with ruddy
reflection and overhung by great
masses of crimsoned clouds. Upon the
terraces are flower gardens, and at the
eastern base of the hill, reached by
u winding-terraced drive, is large
flower garden, in which is an
artificial lake. Inclosing the entire
base of the hill is a strip Of wood
land that, on the western front,
broadens out into the noble park. In
the park are great Expresses covered
with Spanish moss. One of these
giants is 40 feet high and forty-six
feet around the'trunk. Moutezuma's
bath is in the park and is now used
by the water-works to supply the
city.
The National Military College occu-
pies large building on the lower
terrace of the palace. The system of
training pursued is similar to that of
West Point. There are about 325
cadets at this college.
THE LEGEND OF THE "MALINcuE."
On the road, in front of the en-
trance to the Tivoli del Eliseo, is the
place known TO this day as "The
Leap of Alvarado,' where that
chieftain saved his life, not by
his bravery, but by his agility. At
the extremity of the old causeway is
the village of Popotla (the place of
the brooms), and here is the "Arbol
de In Noche Triste" (the tree of the
dismal night, beneath which Cortez
sat him down and wept ON the night
of the terrible retreat from Mex.
leo, July l, 1920. The tree,
gigantic cypress identical with
those in the park of Chapultepec,
flourished in perfect health, until q
few years ago u fire was kindled
beneath it by fanatic, which seri-
ously burned its trunk. Since then
several Of its upper branches have
iron railing, and a most Jealous
policeman. Further on is Tacuba,
where another large cypress exists,
and where Cortez encamped.
Following eastward for nearly
mile, we come to an old monastery,
where there is pond of sweet water,
beside which is ruined aqueduct.
Here the legend-lover can hear the
story of how in this pond as in q
palace of crystal, lives for half of
each day the Malinche-the other
half of her day being spent in the
spring of Chapultepec. But, whereas
at Chapultepec she is benign spirit,
here she is spirit of much malignity.
With asong of infinite sweetness she
lures to the pond unwary passers-by,
and, once beside the pond, her
extraordinary beauty completes the
unhappy conquest that her wickedly
sweet voice has begun. 1t is most
dangerous to pass near this place in
the very early morning or in the
evening, for ut these times her siren
song is heard. Whoever hears this
song, unless he would forever disap-
pear from the living, must close his
ears and with all possible speed
hasten away. Should he not take
these heroic measures for self-preser-
vation, he will feel soft languor
creeping over him, dulling his
senses, yet filling him with in
effable delight; slowly but ire
the pond, and when he reaches it and
there sees beckoning to him the beau
tiful Malinche he surely will cast him
self into the clear depths and never
more be known among men. The
old Indian who tells this story posi-.
bly, will add, telling it close to the
ear of the listener in manner most
confidential, that in the depths of the
pond lie hidden the treasures con
cealed by Guatimotzin, the hiding
| place of which, even under the crue
torture to which Cortez subjected him,
he refused to reveal.
TACUBAYA
Tacubaya is one of the most charm
ing places near the city; here are stu
ated many beautiful private resi-
dences, amid exquisite Enclosures
half garden, half park, belonging tt
rich citizens of Mexico, who com(
here for recreation and rest. In the
western part Of the town is the Arbo
Benidito, "the blessed tree" Legent
says that long while ago, one no
day in summer, holy priest pauseC
beneath this tree, and in its coo
shade became rested and refreshed
Therefore he went away comforted
he turned and blessed the tree anC
bade it evermore be green, anC
straightway there gushed out from
among its roots most sweet anC
copious spring. Those who doubt thii
legend must reconcile with theil
doubt the facts that the tree is al
ways green, and that the spring con
tinues to flow.
| GUADALUPE
is the hottest shrine in Mexico. Ii
primitive times an Aztec divinity
Tonantzin ("the Mother Of Gods'') wa
worshiped at the shrine, where. tn,
Capilla del Cerrito of Guadalupe nov
stands, and is the scene of the tradi
tion of 1881, according to which al
apparition appeared to the Indiai
Juan Diego, who was on his way Il
hear mass in the Church Of Santiago
Tlaltelolco on the morning of Decem
ber 8. 1881. AS he neared the hill