Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-01-26
MEXICO AGAIN.

ana around the Clty Oh Mexico tnere
is no grander or more beautiful spot
than Chepultepec. 1t is distant
about two miles from the city limits
proper, and the avenue leading to it
would be credit to any city upon
the globe. Chepultepec, Chill of the
Grasshopper," is to Mexico what the
White House is to the us. only it is
more in the nature of a residence for
the President, all the governmental
offices and real seat of government
being in the National palace in the
city. The palace at Chepultepec is
occupied by the President as a resi-
dence about five months during the
year, we were informed. 1t was used
centuries ago as the palace of the
Montezumas, (they spell it Monte
yuma in MeXico), and was also occu-
pied by Maximillian during his brief
reign, by whom it was considerably
improved. One frequently hears it
spoken of as "MaXimillian's CASTLE"
The park surrounding it embraces
many acres, and is adelightfully pleas
ing combination offorest and flower
garden. 1t has may grand old cy-
press trees. festOOned in Spanish
moss. The palace, or castle, occupies
the summit of a hill which rises alb
ruptiy from the center of the other
wise perfectly level park, and is more
than hundred feet in height. \
large spring Of pure, clear water
flows out from the base Of this hill.
Any Of the old Mexican veterans
who were uncamped around Chepul-
tepec will remember this spring well,
as it was a favOrite bathing place for
them. Back in the days of the Mon
tezuma the city was supplied with
water brought through an acqueduct
from the snOW-capped mountains, but
now this spring at Chepultepec is the
source of the city's water supply. 1t
is pumped into the acqueduct by en-
gines located at the spring. This old
acqueduct is a picturesque affair, but
in comparison with modern systems
of water works would be considered
a monumental piece of folly. The
hill upon which the palace is built,
rising as it does abruptly up in an
open plain, is a peculiar freak of ma
ture, but the whole country is sue
cession of surprises, both in its natur-
al phases and its people. But for its
gigantic proportions and natural rock
formations it might be supposed that
it was of mans origin. From the roof
of the palace one gets a magnificent
view of the snow-capped mountains
in one direction, and the great lakes
in another.
AS we do not attempt to stick very
close to the text in these articles, this
is a good place to diverge and say a
few words of these lakes. How many
there are we do not know, but sever
al at least, and they all have long,
hard names to spell and pronounce,
The only view we had of them was
from Chepultepec, and they looked
like vast bodies Ofcalm waters. We
were informed that their surface are
some feet above the city of Mexico
and fears have been entertained fol
many years of their breaking theil
banks and overlooking the city
From what we could gather, work i;
now in progress on tunnel through
the mountains to drain them. The
city will also get fine system O
drainage through this channel. The
water of the lakes is so impregnated
with soda and vegetable matter as t.
be unfit for use of any kind.
But coming back to Chepultepec
there is a garden on the roof of th'
palace, in which trees from six t.
eight inches in diameter are growing
Many rare and beautiful plants arr
to be seen. The guide books tell u
there is one plant there which pro
duces flower that very much re
sembles the human hand, but W.
didn't see it. The pansies, daisies
etc, don't take on any Mexican pc
culiaritieS, but look just like ours
The interior of the palace is a laba
rynth of elegant and gorgeOusly fur
nished apartments. Much of the fur
niture and silverware placed there b,
MAMMALIAN yet remains. The elab
crate writing desk of the Presiden
and other furniture shown ut tn
New Orleans exposition are there
The walls and ceilings in some of tn
rooms are finiahed in leather, other
i'm silk or satin, with life-size figure