Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-18
Mexico's White House.
THE MAGNIFICENT PILE OF MARBLE THAT
MAMMALIAN ONCE OCCUPIED.
TOmaha Bee

| loUldId btCl
President Diaz has moved his official
residence out to the Castle of Chapultepec,
Which becomes once mOre-for the first
time since the unlucky Macmillan and his
charming wife lived there-the ''White
House of Mexico. Chapultepec is one
OF the loveliest spots imaginable. 1t is
unique in itself, as well as in its name
THE Hill of the Grasshopper.''
M0ntezuma made his summer house here
and an underground passage still in exist
ence, was made. by his direction, to point
Chieftain could go and come as he pleased
| Under the old cypress trees in the park the
conqueror CorteZ pitched his tent after the
celebrated 'Noche Triste.' or night of sor-
row, when the Aztecs fell upon the Span
iards and massacred them. Here Maxi
milan and the unfortunate Carlotta made
love as they promenaded the magnificent
of the austrian Grand Duke" Here the
American army fought bloody but de-
cisive battle-one which has made the
queer word Chapultepec familiar to Anne
rican ears. One might relate numberless
historical incidents connected with the
spot which abOundS in memories, if space
permitted, but the space itself demands
some description.
Imagine park of 1000 of acres, covered
with dense growth of cypress, many of
the trees 800 OF 600 years old. The gray
Spanish moss festooned from limb to limb
adds to the picturesqueness of the scene. In
the center of this park-which is surround
ed by massive walls on three sides, the old
aqueduct forming the barrier on the fourth
rises precipitous mound, if such term
will express the idea. The mound is COM
| posed principally of rock, and is probably
200 feet in height. There is but one road
to the top. the summit being inaccessible,
except by this single route.
| Upon the very apex stands the castle,
| completely covering the space, SO that no
matter from which direction you look
there is a sheer descent of nearly 100 feet.
The castle was built in sections and pres
ents no singular feature of architecture,
except peculiar double staircase that
seems to have no support When MaXimi-
liam first saw the staircase he remarked to
the architect that he would not trust its
own weight upon it; Whereupon the design
er, with His Majesty's permission, brought
a regiment OF soldiers and marched them
up and down the stairway ten abreast,
thus demonstrating its strength. This stair
case is the only one of its kind in existence,
and is built of white marble and brass.
The terraces at Chapultepec are one of
the sights of Mexico: They are floored
and lighted by electricity. The upper ter
race extends The entire distance around the
castle and is tWenty-fOur feet broad. Love-
| ly little flower gardens are located at fire.
quent intervals, and here are blooming ge-
raniums, fuchsias, heliotrope, and migo-
nette, making the air rich with perfume
and adding to the brightness of the scene.
The furnishing of the castle for the re-
ception of President Diaz has been very
elaborate. The private apartments are in
the northwest wing, Each room is fres-
coed appropriately. The chess room has a
chess board in the center of the ceiling,
with the bishops, kings and queens in a
merry dance about it, the pawns furnish
ing appropriate music from the four cor
nerS of the room.
The private reception parlor of the Pres
ident's wife is 'done up in pink silk, with
plush and brocade hangings to match.
Every wall i'll the entire suit OF rooms is
covered with silk brocade instead Of paper
The bedroom occupied by the President
and his wife was decorated and furnished
at an expense of ,0OO The dining room
has a sitting capacity that is limited to
thirty persons. The magnificent solid silver
that once belonged to the Emperor Maxi
milan is to be used, but the china and
| glassware are not in keeping with the
royal magniticence of the silver; one of
the soup tureenS requires four men to carry
it when filled.
President Diaz is greatly loved by his
lolloWelS, anu ne Will dOuDUless make the
Castle of Chapultepec quite Us brilliant as
it was in the days when the Austrian and
Empress Carlotta drove their eight gray
horses and golden state chariot up the hill
and made the castle ring from alcove to
| gallery, from garrison to the entrance
gates with gayety. Nine Diaz is a most
brilliant woman and can entertain royalty,
should she take the notion. All Mexico
has its eyes upon her, and it remains with
her to add UNNECESSARILY to the gayeties of
the Capital.