The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-30
MYTHS OF OLD MEXICO.
Not All of the History of That Country
Is to he Taken without salt.

From the Two Republics.
The Two Republics would be pleased
TO satisfy the laudable curiosity OF a
reader in Puebla who wants to know
something about the population of an
cient Mexico and Montezuma's treas
ure.
We are unable TO do so, however.
with regard to either question. AS to
the former question. there is a variety
of opinions. Foreigners, who speak
and read the English language have
usually taken Prescott's word for IL,
and Prescott has undoubtedly given a
very greatly exaggerated word paint
ing of the situation that existed prior
TO and at the time OF the conquest.
The early Spanish chroniclers were also
given to flights of Imagination not val
liable for historical purposes, and the
ccnauistadores delighted IN mention
ing the names of emperors, princes and
such, which undoubtedly magnifed the
Importance OF their W accomplish
ments.
Ignacio AItamirano, who gave
the subject profound study, is OF the
impression thai the City of Mexico at
the time OF the arrival OF Cortez con-
sisted Of nothing but rude huts inc
n population of about 100000 people.
The Two Republics is inclined to &C
cept Mr.. Altamirano's statement. Few
men in the republic were in a better
position 10 get at the facts, and none
have been more conscientious In their
Investigations. While IL may spoil some
very beautiful fiction, facts compel US
to the belief that the Aztec people were
very far from being the magnincen,
semi-babarous people that they nave
been represented. Montezuma. who Is
spoken OF as the great emperor OF
the Axtecs. Is said TO have frequently
appeared at court in undress UNIFORM
and to have eaten his meals at very
irregular hours out of a huge pot that
always stood over the fire.
VIVA, the races were that preceded
the Aztecs might be another question.
hut as for the Aztecs themselves. there
is little reliable information to warrant
us in saying that they were much ABOVE
the plane of hundreds Of other tribes
that populated Mexico generations ago.
or for that matter. still form numeri-
caiIy h greater part of our popula
ton.
AS for Montezuma's treasure. that
Is something of a myth. One good priest
who was connected with the first occu-
nation OF Mexico stated. upon seeing
n parcel OF gold in an Aztec establish
ment which stood on the present site
of the Monte Piedad. that II appeared
70 be more gold than he had thought
was 10 be found in the whole world.
This statement Is usually taken with
rocksalt by historians. There was un-
doubtedly gold here. and considerable
cold in those poor times. During the
retreat OF the noche trieste the Span
iards lost most OF their W-gotten gains
and later. when Cortez returned to the
city, his gold was not discovered. The
assumption was Immediately jumped
at that u was hidden. and the assump-
ton NAV have been perfectly correct
Montezuma's treasure" has beer
handed down to US as n collective
name for all the ~valuebles which the
Standards were unable 10 locate. There
are stiIl some people who devoutly be
lieve that IL exists. but there are others
WIN waste little time I'm the thought.