The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-02-13
A Mexico Lett er from 6. A. Long.
Mexico CITY. Feb. /. 10,

Mexico City, Feb. 1, 1902.
Editor REPORTERS:
Leaving Jiminez south we roll on
over desert wastes, through mountain
passes, across mesas and nearly all lower
lands covered with wondrous growth
of giant cacti. Have seen enough cacti
to cover Decatur county foot deep
and have plenty to spare. A great and
wierd panorama and over 1000 miles
across.
The approach to the city is dotted
here and there with ancient ruins many
of historic interest. From the depot we
are jostled over cobble stones for few
crooked streets and then glide out on
asphalt into the lovely San Francisco
Gale past the great equestrian statute
of Carlos Nv and statuary of noted per-
sonages and gods of ancient mythology.
We pass the Almeda gardens with tropi.
cal vegetation, its superb drives and
lovely fountains and statuary. The
Puenta, San Francisco, Avenida, Juasez
and Gale Patorie to the Zocalo, park,
are mem orable for centuries as the scene
OF many atrocities for on this spot and
the Locallicite adjoining on the north
there has been more human blood spill
ed than any other spot on earth.
Facing the Zoculo with its giant tower
stands the great Cathedral over 200 feet
high. The pictures you see gives one a
good idea of the exterior but little OF
the interior. The Cathedral is nest OF
churches in one; but the main one OF
the ten is in the center and is of more
interest because of greater size and OF
costly altar furnishings and the two
great organs. Four court houses placed
on top of each other would not touch
the interior vault nor the sides of the
unanimous audience chamber. The
pipe organs are l79 feet high and wide
proportionately, the largest in the
world. The largest pipe would easily
reach across Main street. These deer
voluminous tones easily fill the vast
rooms.
On the east of the Zocalo stretching
entirely across the square is the National
Palace-an entire block. Has more the
appearance of soldiers barracks than 8
palace. The three entrances are always
guarded by soldiers who usually know
your business before you enter. The
building has large patio around which
are the various offices of the different
departments. The moso takes your
card to an under officer on the south
side of patio who conducts you up
stairs and across the patio to the outer
waiting room where you wait few min.
utes. Then you enter the inner aisle
chamber where after few convention.
alities admitttance is given to the Presi.
dent Diaz's room. He is an old man OF
soldierly bearing and is perfect gen.
tleman.
After visiting Sir Powell Clayton, the
American Ambassador, who kindly gave
us s'entrees' we spin away to Chapul.
tepec, the White House Of Mexico.
1t is where Gen. Scott assaulted the
Mexican army and don't see how he
ever carried it but he did.
Chapultepec is lone peak near
1000 feet high and is approached by
fine drives between which are miniature
lakes with swans and fancy water fowls
darting and chatterlng.
You climb steep and winding drive
if. you have sufficient health, up and uE
and on until you arrive at level square
in front of massive buildings patrolcc
by soldiers; then another to the righ
where we present credentials and pas
to the palace proper. The first objec
to descriptive or cameras sufficient t.
say, however, that on all sides art
works Of art and the many chamber
are superbly fitted. :
The descent from The castle is by an
other winding drive and encircles til,
base of Cbapultepec. The avenues ar
graded on all sides by tropicle vegeta
ton and immense trees 30 to 60 feet il
circumference and the tops l dom
know where stand about.
The legend says Juan Diego, al
Indian whose home was in Volpetla.
was on passing the bill of Tepeyac con
fronta1 nv q heantiful ladv surroundef