The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-24

sons. 1t is one of the largest OF the
| Aztec relics, and was also resurrected
| from its Aztec tomb near the Cathedral
There are numerous idols of the Aztecs
some of the most hideous and others OF
| the most fantastic conception and con-
struction. One of the peculiarities of the
| Aztec art Is the dominant presence of the
| serpent. The head or form of the serpent
| is found almost everywhere. Some of the
| most beautiful finished works of stone
present perfectly coiled snakes, and one
of them distinctly preserves the early his
| tory of the rattlesnake, as it has fourteen
formed rattles on it's tail.
| That they were a sincerely religious
| people is shown by every monument that
remains of their work. Their bloody
| butcheries on the Sacriicial Stone were
| inspired by their religious faith. 1t was
| there that they offered their sacrifices to
the sun and the other gods they worship
ed, and they initiated the sacrifices re-
corded In the Old Testament. only offer
| ing human lives instead of the lives of
| animals.
Those who may assume that this Sacri-
| fetal Stone and its terribly sanguinary
| history fully warranted the conquest of
| Mexico by the civilization of Span need
only go a few squares from these relics
of barbarism to see the imposing home of
the inqu!sition that came with Spanish
mastery and was reared as one OF the at
tributes of the Christian faith. Here the
Inquisition wrote its most bloody and bTu-
tai records, and the little park on which
the building fronts is fifty decorated by
beautiful statue of the Indian woman who
brought to Priest Hidalgo-the father of
Mexican independence-notice that he had
been detected and would be murdered,
causing him to ring his bell for Mass in
his church at Dolores and lead his wor
shippers from their prayers TO battle for
freedom. He was the first martyr to the
freedom of Mexico, as he was defeated
and promptly executed There is now no
statue in the Republic that calls out more
patriotic devotion than that OF Hidalgo.
Between the Sacrihcial Stone of the Az
tees, with its bloody record of murder in
the name of religion, and the equally MUIR
derous record of the Inquisition, reared
and maintained under what should have
been vastly better civilization Mr.. Nc
Clure says, inclined to give the greater
extenuation to the AZtecs, as their sacri-
fees were not wholly involuntary.
Among the interesting exhibitions in the
museum may be found grouped together
the magnificent carriage of the Empress
CaTiotta, with the state carriages of the
Emperor and the state carriage OF Presi-
dent Juarez. The carriage of the Empress
looks as bright and fresh today as when
the Queen of Beauty and Personal Benefi
cence swept along the grand causeway to
Chapuitepee. Its entire surface is heavily
gilt with pure gold. as are the wheels and
every other part Of it, and its elaborate
tinishings around the top are of heavily
mounted silver. 1t is quite double the
size of the ordinary carriage. and is GER
tainly the most richly decorated and cost
ly equipage on the continent. The state
carriage of Macmillan is of exquisite man
ufacture, but much more quiet in ele-
gance and beside it the state carriage of
Juarez stands in its severe simplicity to
teach the lesson between the government
Of empire and the government Of the peo-
pie.
The history of poor Caroltta, as she is
always called even in Mexico presents one
of the most pathetic individual histories OF !
any country. Here remains the grand pal
ace of Mexican rulers. including her hus- |
band with many of its adornments Of her !
own conception and here is her equip |
age of surprising grandeur to tell the /
story of the fall from the crown OF en- |
pire to the starless midnight of sn insane /
asylum for a period of more than a gem /
Grafton.
A National PawnshOp.
One of the most unique and interesting |
institutions of Mexico is the national |
situated opposite the great Ca |
thedral and near the Grand Plaza. 1t is |
the one establishment in Mexico where |
you can deal with the absolute assurance |
that you will not be cheated. 1t was in /
stituted by the Government more than two |
centuries ago. While the individual rawn- |
shops Of the city are among the most ex-
tortionate of like establishments in any
no 10
Quoted solely in the interests of the peo-
Pile. Persons in need of money can there
pawn any article and receive for il one
third to one-half its commercial value. 1t
is carefully appraised and is held for re-
iemption for period of eight months On
the payment of a moderate interest. If
lot redeemed at the thine specified it is !
again appraised at from 20 to 80 per cent
below its intrinsic value and the price
marked upon each article. There is no
deviation from the appraised value in the
sale, but articles which remain unsold for
| certain period. are again appraised at a
over price. and that is continued until
sale is effected. 1t is an immense estab-
ishment presenting an almost infinite va
'iety of the best quality of pawned goods.
Ill of which may be bought at a much
over price than their commercial value,
md many of them as low so per cent.
hose in charge of the establishment have
10 interest whatever in deceiving or
heating the dealer, and considering the
ricks of trade in Mexico, where you are
generally expected to believe nothing frcm
anybody in a business way the national
,awnshop stands out like clean deuce in
dirty deck.
OF course, the patrons of this establish
lent are chiefly persons who have articles |
f considerable value to pawn, as the |
awnshops of the average Mexican are of |
he lowest order. and goods paTned by
hat class are not expected to be redeem
d.
From the national pawnshop it is but
title distance to the very lowest round
the ladder in the trade of the criminal
lasses.
4 LegaIized Fence Bureau. :
The thieves market, little more than
square from the national pawnshop and c
ute as close to the Grand Plaza. pre-
ants the criminal classes in all the :,
lualor of their poverty and degradation.
ike all other institutions. from the bull Il
ng and the gambling house to the h
rothel the thieves market is legaliZed h
nd the official uniformed inspector may q
e seen at every turn of this narrow and D
nuous combination of the basest strata 9
commerce. There are hundreds of per h
ms employed in the sale of the endless n
triety of cheap things which are congre- !;
tted for commerce. and they are all of
lie lowest type from a rusty spike. >,
oxen iron and brass to game ROSTERS. :
live nj NJ hnr 10 Ia