The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-04-15
PEN PICTURES
Across the Border Into Mexico,


any other disease, hence the people
keep their mouths covered. The night
temperature is about 50 degrees and
the day about 20.
The beautiful castle of Chapultepec
should be seen. There is probably nc
sight in the world to equal that from
It's walls on a clear day. The city.
valley and lakes lie at ones feet, and
the snow clad mountains, Popocate-
petl and Ixtaccihuatel, are in the
southwest. am almost ready to wor-
ship Mount lxtaccihuatel, which in
tepreted means the white Woman. -
and which is the most beautiful thing
in nature in Mexico, if not in the world.
Bring a kodak, as this is the land of
picture writing. Montezuma starte d
the taking Of pictures; some of his can
be seen in the national museum.
Bring a Spanish dictionary if YOU
don't speak the language. Often Ger
man or French is spoken where Eng
lish is not. English is now being
taught in tho public schools. Street
cars 20 everywhere, and hacks in the
city are cheap. Second class are as
goci as first, and only - cents in sill
yer per hour. Some hackmen speak
French as well as English. See the
grand old cypress at Tacuba, where
Cortez wept July /, 1920, on "Noche
Triste,' when the Spaniards were
driven out of the city. The guide
books don't mention it, but to Inc this
spot is further interesting, as it is the
only record of when and where Cortez
wept He never wept when he tor
tured that splendid king and successor
TO MOnteZuma-the noble GuatemOZin
in order to make him confess where
the Aztec treasure was hidden. Alas
and alas. how much bloodshed and
torture has this world seen for gold
and religion. Rivers of blood ran here
during the inquistiOn. We hear moth
ing of COrtez having wept when he
drowned his wife in his courtyard well.
She had come over from Cuba to see
what kept him out so late at night.
She found him with the beautiful
Indian, LA Marina" who was then
uppermost in his affections. Rider
Raggard, in his recent book, Monte
zuma's Daughter" evidently gets in
SrNira + nr, from I a Nor;ro
The wonderful lava flow near the
city, called the Pedregal, is a great
sight The finest thing in the national
museum to me is the "Pelenke Cross. -
The ancient Aztecs knew of the cross
and designated the four corners of the
earth by it. Vera Cruz means the
true cross, which the Spaniards erect
ed when the native symbol was
thrown down. The beautiful church
of st. John the Baptist at Coyoacan
was built by Cortez in front of his
suburban villa. Tradition doesn't
say whether or not the church was
erected to the memory of his beloved
wife. One will see in this church, as
in others in Mexico, many strange and
crucified Christs. Here is one even
darker than the Indian; brought down
probably to the savage understand
ing. | dislike to have continually
thrust before me these bloody tor
tured Christs, and prefer to think of
Him with little children in his arms,
love, tenderness and sunshine around
him
At the Virgin of Guadalupe church,
which is second in Importance to the
great cathedral, you will see no cruel
fix or image of Christ. A remarkable
legend gave birth to this church. On
the rocky hillside an Indian, Juan
Diego, was said to have seen the Vir-
gin. BY a miracle the image was
painted on his blanket. Here we see
the blanket and the beautiful paint
ing, and over it is a golden crown
studded with priceless gems.
Even in the sacred precincts of the
churches, beggarS and the sellers OF
lottery tickets will follow one and
wear out ones patience. Our war of
1847 is nothing to be proud Of, hence
it is best dropped from the converse
ton. Let us talk of how we helped
drive out the French and Macmillan,
and OF the 100000 conscience
money paid by US. Let us talk of the
railroads we have built and what we
are doing to develop the country. Let
us talk of our strong arm, ever ready
to help Mexico to freedom and good
government Don't look for much
love to Americans from the clerical
party. Their eyes some day will be
opened, and they will see that it is
freedom that makes the world and an
enlightened religion grow.
In Mexico you learn to love and
honor corn. Corn is king. Corn is
the country's god; it is their diamond.
Corn has strengthened the nations
heart beats. Corn has made the ma
lions brayyu and muscle Corn is for