Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-04-09
Jay Gould Said to Have Purchased
Chapultepec, Mexico, for Seven
Million Dollars.
GlOries of the Landscape Which Sur
round the Ancient Castle 10
Mexico.
Here is Seen One of the Most Magnifi-
cent Pleasures Ways in the
World.

purchased the palace Of ChapulJipec,
Mexico, fer a residence, comes at a time
when it is known that the nature of his
chronic malady-exhaustio of the ner7
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 a year ago that Mr. Gould was nego.
tiating with the Mexican government for
Chapu.tepec, little credit vas 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
a tree marks fatal catastrophe in their
national history does not make it less
catastrophe were sublime. That a palace
cnntsins the cave in which a Monte yuma
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 pres dent of the re.
pulIc, might seem to render its walls
giotesquely curious more than sacred to
national worship. But they hold the hill
of ChapultcpcC 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
deciylty they have inscribed in monu-
mental form the names of all who fell in
that gallant f 2ht fer Mexico or were
captured by the victors For these
reasons, and still more practically becau Sc
a wing has been added that serves es 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 nationalizad otherwise by 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 we'll as in
absolute illteracy; its sea trade hampered,
except in one region, by lack of harbors.
and It's internal growth delayed by scanty
industry on which to lay taxes, while man
ufactures, that might flourish throughout
the fertile table lands tail of growth for
want Of water and of transportation-the
government OF Diaz, who is a practical
man, will re money wherever il is to be
had; and it Jay Gould is ready to pay
81 900 600 for the palace of Claputepec
he will undoubtedly get it, President Dlaz
would not undertake to Consummate the
transaction without the concurrence of
congress. To do so would indeed be
usurpIng authority he does not possess.
Tue constitution of M axico is largely mod
eled on cur owa END the powers Of the ex-
ecuhve are strictly d fined. But the ad-
ministration of Diaz is known 10 control
easily a majority of the two hcuses OF
congress and If be has resolved on securing
this vast sum for national purposes Jay
Gould will b. come owner and occupier of
ole of the most beautiful structures in the
world, set like a jewel on the summit of a
hill that commands a landscape unsur-
passed In lOvelness In any quarter of the
globe.
or late ve5r3 enormous Impressions con.
corning Mexico have been Yielding to cor
rective reports of fdlr-minded travellers.
The border rufiian OF 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 ia the
northern half Of the continent, that its
great cities are adorned with beautiful
buildings, enriched with fine churches, en-
livened by brilliant and cultivated society
and humanized by many Institutions that
care for each class of afflicted humanity.
would seem few years ago romancing,
but IL Is all true. There is scarcely an idea
fam lar to advancing civilization that has
not been anticipated in these ancient
cities 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, inditfer
euCe is another They may have the re.
lative rate of one 10 a thousand The
modern Mexico, not altogether free FROM
fantastic suggestion Of lingering bsrbaric
splender and savdgery, Is always to be
seen framed like a fine fancy portrait amid
a group of natural creatures, all but nude,
cOppar-colored; as liable, ono would think,
TO fall on their knees and worship Ere or
sun or reptile or cactus, rs tneiI pagan
ancestors of how many thousands Of years
agoY The modern tyne is accustomed 10
an the egauCies, all the dehCacies. all the
.ubtities of civilization. The ancient at
his feet sits in the market place and
poands corn, as did the natives that stared
al the SpaniJds nearly four hundred years
ago.
In no other o. the tropical countries Of
continent is this antlhesis 80 acute. So
univ rsal. In no other can the beauty OF
nature. the pers's tence Of barU4rism, the
strain after artificial society ana the pres,
ervati0u Of primitive nature In man, as In
the forest, the wales. the mountains the
modes OF life, thu social structure or want
az it lie found in coatrss so striking. 80
pictorial or 80 bswil1e-ing. II Jay Gould
wants variety he should 20 to Mexico Il
he wants gentle stimulation he should 90
10 Mexico. II be wants to behold "tue
most ancient Of days, SHOWS shr0u3inR
volcanic peaks, he should 80 to Mexico
II he wants flowers more gorgeous than
any ne ever saw IN any other part Of the
globe he should 20 10 Mexico. II be wants
the dullest notes IN everything about him,
be should 20 to Mexico III he Yearns for
piety, be will find it in Mexico Ii h6
prefer open skepticisn, he should 10 20