Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-07
Jay Gould Said to Have Purchased
Chapultepee, Mexico, for Seven
Million Dollars.
GI0ries OF the Landscape Which Sur
round the Ancient Castle in
Mexico.
Here is Seen 0np of the Most Magnifi-
cent Pleasures Ways in the
World.

purchased the palace of Chapulapec,
Mexico, fer residence, comes at a time
when it is known that the nature of his
chronic malady-exhaustion of the nerv-
Gus system-demands an even and mild
climate and pure air, together with free
dom from contact with irritating cares,
and surroundings calculated to give de,
light to the mind a well as rest to the
body. When it was first reported more
than year ago that Mr.. Gould was nego-
tiating with the Mexican government for
Chapu!tepec, little credit was paid to
what seemed senseless gossip. The Mexi-
cans, like all the mixed races Of the CONT
nent, cling with curious pride to their
strangely contradictory traditions. That
tree marks a fatal catastrophe in their
national history does not make it less
estlmable i'll their eyes, provided the
catastrophe were sublime. That a palace
cnntsins the cave in which a Montezuma
hid for time before capture ended in
ignominious death, it became still later
official residence and imperial court of the
Austrian invader and has since served as
country house of the president Of the re-
pullc, might seem TO render its walls
grotesquely curious more than sacred to
national worship. But they hold the hill
of Chapultepec alone the less dear because
its steep sides witnessed the victory Of the
North American soldiers over the bravest
of their commanders; and on one side of
declivity they have inscribed in monu-
mental form the names of all who fell in
that gallant fight for Mexico or were
captured by the victors, For these
reasons, and still more practically because
a wing has been added that serves as the
national military school, it seemed in
credible that Mexico would consent TO
part with the palace of Chapultepec any
more than we with the White House or
any OF the national buildings at ance use
full and nationalized otherwise bv tradi-
ton.
But if sentimental in so many respects
the Mexican of our time is also practical.
Ten millions of people with seven great
languages; the mass of those outside the
large towns still in paganism as well as in
absolute illiteracy; its sea trade hampered,
except IN one region, by lack of harbors,
and its internal growth delayed by scanty
industry on which to lay taxes, while man
ufactures, that might flourish throughout
the fertile table lands fail Of growth for
want of water and of transportation
government of Diaz, who is a practical
man, will take money wherever it is to be
had; and if Jay Gould is ready to pay
s7,000,0C for the palace of Cnaputepec
he will undoubtedly get it. President Diaz
would not undertake to consummate the
transaction without the concurrence of
congress. To do so would indeed be
usurping authority he does not possess.
The constitution of Mexico is largely mod
eled on our own end the powers of the ex-
ecutive are strictly defined. But the ad-
ministration of Diaz is known to control
easily a majority of the two houses OF
congress and If he has resolved on securing
this vast sum for national purposes Jay
Gould will become owner and occupier of
Ole of the most beautiful structrI es in the
world, set like jewel on the summit of a
hill that commands landscape unsur-
passed in loveliness In any quarter of the
globe.
Of late years enormous Impressions con-
corning Mexico have been yielding to cor
receive reports of fair-minded travellers.
The border ruffian or the lazy peon of the
southwestern frontier have too long sup
piled American imagination with purely
fanciful type Of Mexican. That there are
in Mexico schools older than any in the
northern half Of the continent, that its
great cities are adorned with beautiful
buildings, enriched with fine churches, en-
hvened by brilliant and cultivated society
and hunanized by many institutions that
care for each class of afflicted humanity,
would seem a few years ago romancing,
but it is all true. There is scarcely an idea
familiar to advancing civilization that has
not been anticipated in these ancient
citits or has found Judgment in them.
But while this is true another state of facts
is also true; The government type in
Mexico, political and social, is one extreme
of its clinical development. The sub
ordinate type, hereditary legatee OF sloth,
patience, gentleness, simplicity, indiffer-
ence is another. They may have the re-
lative ratio of one to a thousand. The
modern Mexico, not altogether free from
fantastic suggestion of lingering baroaric
splender and savagery, is always to be
seen framed like a fine fancy portrait amid
group of natural creatures, all but nude,
copper-colored; as liable, one would think.
to fall on their knees and worship fire Or
sun or reptile or cactus, as their pagan
ancestors of how many thousands of years
ago? The modern type is accustomed to
all the elegancies, all the delicacies, all the
subtilties of civilization. The ancient at
his feet sits in the market place and
pounds corn, as did the natives that stared
at the Spaniards nearly four hundred years
ago.
In no other Of the tropical countries of
COM lnent is this antithesls so acute, so
univ rsal. In no other can the beauty of
nature, the persistence of barbarism, the
strain after artificial society and the pres
ervatiop Of primitive nature in man, as In
the forest, the wales, the mountains, the
modes of life, the social structure or want
of it be found in contrast ESQ striking, so
pictorial or so bewildering. If Jay Gould
wants variety he should 60 to Mexico. If
he wants gentle stimulation ne should go
TO Mexico. If he wants to behold ''tne
most ancient of days." SHOWS shroudiug
volcanic peaks, he should go to Mexico.
If he wants flowers more gorgeous tina"
globe he should go to Mexico. If he wants
the dullest notes In everything about him
he should go to Mexico If he yearns foi
piety, he will find it in Mexico. If he
prefer open skepticism, he should go to
MeAICo II ART HtllPHiS HlIH uc VIII UUu
fine pictures in the national gallery. L
music rests he will hear it on stringed in
struments and In human voice as he never
heard it elsewhere. VIII he mount a sad
die? No where outside Arabia are tier
such horses, 81 ca riders. Will be drive?
From the palace of Chapultepec to to he
plaza of the city he will traverse one of the
most magnificent pleasure ways in TIE
world, as broad as the Chamrs Eiysees,
and three miles long. Will he white arch
ed aqueducts remIndful of the oldest forms
Of city architecture? He will find them
In Mexico within range of the open prom
pnadas of Channlfanac VIII he GRAY