Evening star., 1895-02-02
CASTLE OF CHAPU l. T E E G

of the country. Every inducement is Offer
ed TO foreign capitalists. There are many
Americans in Mexico. some of them rep
resenting large investments, and they all
praise DiaZ and hope for his continuance in
cfiice. President Diaz has comparatively
modest home of his OWE in the city, but
fis residence as president. which he occu-
pies nearly all the year. is at the Castle of
Chapultepec, place known in school his
tories because it here one of the
fiercest fights of the war of 1S4I took place.
Chapultepec is rocky and precipitous hill
rising out of the plain, at the edge OF the
city, just at the end of the famous Paseo
de Id Reforma, the broad and splendid
avenue laid out by Maximilian and inherit
ed from the empire by the republic The
bill is crowned by the palace and castle.
| together with the building and inclosurc
| in which is located the national military
school, or Mexican West Point.
Spreading around the hill is spacious
park, adorned with many giant cypress
trees, beneath which winds beautiful
driveway, one of the favorte resorts of the
fashionable and wealthy people of the cap
ital At the foot of the hill on the city side
| is a fine marble memorial. on which is en-
graved the names of the cadets who fell in
battle at the Stormng of Chapultepec. The
| palace, which stands where once stood an
Aztec temple. overlooking the city, is low
building, Pompeian in style, with courts,
| terraces and arcades.
This is usually the summer residence of
| the president, put he has resided there this
winter because he can secure more privacy
there than he could at his own home in
the city. The grounds of the palace are
closed to the public at o'clock, and
military guard, stationed at the gate, pro-
tects the palace from intrusion. This is
long established custom, and, of course,
gives no offense. AT the presidents city
house, however, he was obliged TO admit
callers at night or offend them.
The president does not have reg Ilar
fn, Iio nd 10
who have to see him on business must
cultivate the virtue of patience. Appoint
ments are made days in advance. The ex-
planaton for this made to me by promi-
nent government official is somewhat sin
gular. 1t is not because the president is
exclusive. 1t is because the customs of the
country are such that he cannot stop
man from talking or cut short an inter-
view. When a man gets admission to the
president the president is obliged to listen
to all he has to say or else give mortal
offense. AS a consequence, the president
is unable to see more than three or four
persons during the hours he can give to
interviews. 1 know of one young Mexican
congressman who has been waiting in the
city for over a week merely to have an
interview with the president.
At n Social Reception.
Mrs. Diaz is quite famous for her beauty
and much liked for her vivacfous and cor
dial manners. She is much younger than
old. She has a neat figure, Spanish face,
with well-cut features and dresses in sim
pie but excellent taste. She is the daughter
of Romero Rubio, the secretary of the in
terror, and one of the ric hest men IN Mex
leo. i saw the president and MIS- Diaz
and Mrs. Diaz's unmarried sister, young
woman also remarkable for beauty, at q
private reception few evenings ago. or
course the president and his wife We're
the central figures of the gathering, but
they bore themselves in a most unassum-
ing manner, chatting easily and pleasantly
with the guests.
Mrs. Diaz speaks English quite nuently.
When they took their leave the president
shook hands all around, and Mrs. Diaz,
following Il pretty Mexican fashion, kissed
each of her. lady friends twice, first on
one cheek and then on the other. The
only evidence of the presence OF a person
of unusual prominence was a nle OF mount
ed guards drawn up in front OF the mousse
The Mexicans have martial spirit, put
the ordinary Mexican soldier, as seen even
about the national palace, is not an lnspir-
ing object He is all or half Indian, as a
rule. He is somewhat understood, ana is
ragged and dirty. OFTEN he Is bareiooted
or wears only sandals made of rawhlde
and bound to the soles of his feet by
leathern thongs. Those on guard at the
palace and around other public offices
usually wear shoes, and look as though
they had been partially cleaned for this
duty. There is a big barrack in the rear OF
and attached to the national palace, which,
by the way, is q long. rambling building,
occupying all one side Of the Plaza de
ArTnas and accommodating the principal
departnlents and offices of the federal gov
ernment.
A visit to the barracks AZ most any
time will show crowd of very untidy-loOk
ing soldiers. Their garments need patch
ing as well as cleaning. At meal times
there will be a throng of women at the big
gateway. bringing baskets of provisions
The Mexican army has eomHlisSariat.
The common soldier is paid twenty-five
cents a day. and he gets his pay every
day. When he gets his silver quarter, such
Is his suspicious nature, he bites it to see