Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-10-14
The Ancient Civilization of Mexico,


leo. Countless centuries ago it WAS
the abode of highly civilized race,
but now the once massive buildings
are fast crumbling into dust, and this
former metropolis of a people who long
ago ceased to exist will soon have fade't
into nothingneSs. Uxmal lies amidst
dense swamps, the wild and unre-
strained forest growth of ages. The
ancient city was pile Of ruins when
Columbus discovered the "new world,
and it is shrouded in the deepest mys-
terry. A few hardy explorers have
penetrated the wilderness and caught
glimpse of it, but it remained for
Professor Holmes to give a detailed
description of the wonders of the de-
serted city. Over Uxmal hangs the
spell of death. Here, as Professor
Holmes says, may be seen the walls of
enormous palaces slowly rotting away
under the unreleGting hand of time.
A mighty pyramid, with a base 24O
feet long by l60 feet wide, rises to a
height of eighty feet, and upon its
summit are the ruins of what was once
a gorgeous temple. A broad stairway
leads from the base of the pyramid to
the structure which rests upon its top.
The facade of the temple is a most or
nate piece Of composite architecture.
Among the concentrations are CO.
lossal face, twelve feet square; lair
of tigers placed together, with heads
turned outward, and groups Of devices
resembling glyps. This mammoth pile
of stone, pyramid and temple, was ex-
quisitely hewed, piece Of workman
ship of which the most skillful modern
artisans might be proud
An immense structure, fairly we'll
preserved as ruins go, is the governors
palace, of which Professor Holmes
gives most interesting description.
Nowhere on the American continent
can such another ruin be found. The
building rises majestically upon the
summit Of broad, triple terrace.
Court upon court, rows Of mighty pll-
lars, space upon space OF empty cham
bers present themselves to the view.
All are tottering before the irresistible
forces Of decay. but they bear eloquent
testimony to tho boldness and origi-
nality Of the ancient architects and
builders. From the top of a pyramid,
grander even than that which was
surmounted by t0mple, Professor
Holmes and his party were enabled TO
get view of the entire city as II lay
before them in swamp and plain. This
pyramid is 300 feet long by 200 feet
wide at its base. Its height is seventy
feet, and at the top is summit plat
form seyenty-fye feet square. From
this point the explorer conld see ruined
temples and palaces, enormous stone
buildings, once the residences Of long
forgotten lords, and the houses OF
those who were less powerful, many Of
the buildings being rooness and half
buried in the deep forest growth that
has sprung up around them. The
walls Of all the larger structures bore
evidences Of elaborate architectural
ornameLtation, indicating that IN It's
prime, numberless centuries ago, Tx
NAL was an art-loying as well az
wealthy and important city.
A sight 70 majestic and supreme,
Professor Holmes says, he has never
witnessed. II was beautiful but dreary,
for on al sides were desolation, decay
and death. But il does not require
vivid imagination to people the ancient
city again with bustling, pleasure-loy-
ing and cultivated inhabitants. The
market places il which the merchants
traded are now deserted, and the only
sound which is heard IL the roar Of the
Mexican lion. The temples and the
nunneries, the palaces Of the nobility
and the gymnasium, where the Popu-
lace copgregated to witness the sports
Of their athletics, have been in ruins
so long that even tradition does not
cay when shey were peopled. But
there The city stands, showing that
centuries before Columbus landed in
the New World" there existed here
civilization 90 old il was in the Last
stages Of decay. Il is not necessary
for us TO go to the far East in search
Of ruins, for according to Professor
Holmes, there are mysteries on this
continent which bafie US az much as
Nineveh and Babylon. Uxmal was
once a mighty city, but how long It
has been since it was in the height Of
its glory no man can tell, and we must
reckon by centuries TO form even a
faint conception Of the time which has