Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-31

some distance up the sides, having barti-
zans, towers and parapets, and an imposing
| gateway where small entrance fee is
charged. A wide, well-kept carriage-way
| winds around and around the stony hillside
| more than half way to the summit; while
| paths, bordered by shrubs and flowers, and
steep stairs dug in the solid rock, lead to the
very apex, which is topped with an
octagonal observatory with glass roof.
| A Mighty, Natural Monument.
| All these embellishments were effected by
the late Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna, an
| eminent Chilean editor, author, orator and
statesman, who was Governor of Santiago
| for many years and one of the candidates
for the Presidency in 1876 Being a public
| spirited citizen and possessing considerable
wealth, he undertook the work of convert
| ing an unsightly mound which could not
be moved into thing of beauty and Joy
| forever. By the aid of private subscrip-
tions and using much of his own means, he
improved the natural resources of the bare
rocks by all that money could compass and
taste suggest. He designed it also as his
own posthumous monument, and now lies
buried on the side toward sunset, at the
edge of a precipiee 800 feet above the town.
Here is miniature castle frOnted by
lovely little chapel; and in q crypt of the
latter Dlackenna repOses.
Tradition tells us that the King of the un-
conquerable Araueanians had a stronghold
here centuries before the coming of white
men; and from as fil- back as the Spanish
invasion in Valdivia's time, down to a re-
cent date, it served as a fortress, command
ing the entire valley with its guns. 1t was
on Santa Lucia that the United States
Astronoisical Expedition, under Lieutenant
(HilleS 1SSON rl1ads. Ifc OhsaryatIOOS
From base to summit there are winding
walks and stairways, balconies, grottOeS,
statues, belvideres, kiosks, groves, flower
beds and vine draped arbors.
CupiGi's Favorite Little Nook.
The stairway leading to the summit is
necessarily steep and narrow, requiring
tolerably strong head and steady foot to
make the ascent but mercifully, the dizzy
heights are partially hidden by vines and
overlapping branches. Following a wind
ing path among dense shrubs and trees, the
way grows narrower, wilder and more
crooked. Here is a eTaggy grotto, within
which perpetual twilight reigns and ice
cold water drips, and one is startled to meet
the wicked eyes of horribly life-like ser
pent, its head raised as if to strike. All
along the crooked path giant geranlums are
growing. some ten feet hies with trunks
rietv, azaleas, honeysuckles, Indian pinks,
pailzies and get-me-nots-apparently
clinging to the bare rock, but in reality well
grounded in a coating of fertile soil
Ever so far above the city's din and tu-
multi is an obscure corner, which can be
reached only by zig-zag foot-paths, where
rustic seats are set under sheltering trees;
and it is safe to say that right here the
sweet sold story" which is as new to-day
as when told by the first man to the first
woman in the Garden of Eden, has been re-
peated oftener than anywhere else in Chile.
When the summit is attained, one feels well
repaid for his time and trouble by the mag
niheent prospect spread out on every side.
Directly at ones feet lies Santiago, in an
almost perfectly level plain, surrounded on
every side by the snowy Andes, and on clear
days the white cap of giant Aconcagua can
be distinctly seen. The air, blowing pure
and cool from the mountain tops, comes
laden with the fragrance of nearby flowers,
while strains of music and snatches of song
and laughter float up from below.
FANNIE 3. WARD.