Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-03-03

hio uSpdiuuiC' Inc lUNclJ uUuc vi
Miramar, the Castle upon the Adri-
attic, was to be exchanged for that Of
Chapultepec on the "Hill of the
grasshopper." They had heard much
Of the lovely climate, rare vegetation,
flowers and birds and mountain seem
cry of Mexico and now they we're to
exchange the mere prospects OF empire
that awaited them in Europe for the
certainty upon which they should i'm
mediately enter in the land OF the
Montezumas. Having received the
blessings Of the Pope and the pledge
Of protection from the Emperor of
France, they bid adleu to loving
friends, embarked on the good ship
Novaro and sailed away amid the
booming OF cannon and the huzzas of
loved ones on the shore. In imagina-
tion have gone along with this hap
py royal pair over the Atlantic and
tried to read their thoughts and listen
to their words as they talked OF the
past and looked into the glowing
futurel Could there have been any
premonition of the impending sad
fate that awaited them across the
sea? How cruel seems the fate that
was leading them to certain destruc-
toin. How little did they suppose that
they were sailing-the one to death
by the bullets on "the hill OF the
bells,n at Querretero; and the other
to the doom Of hopeless Insanity Con-
scious Of their own integrity, and a
desire to be a blessing to the people
over whom they were called to rule,
they were in blissful ignorance of the
fact that was awaiting them over the
sea, an accumulation of three hun
dren years of unavenged wrongs to be
met and settled. Reared as they had
been amid the environments OF roy
atty and taught to believe that they
were born for dominion and empire it
is not in our heart to blame them as
they were now dreaming of empire
that was coming to them SO soon In
the land of the Aztecs; but rather in
profound sympathy do we pity them
as we so fully realize that they are to
be the victims of the righteous indig-
nation of those wronged Aztecs.
Landing at Vera Crux in May, 1864,
they were most enthusiastically well
coined with booming cannon, shouts
Of the people, and most profuse dis
play Of flowers; and all along the jour
ney to the Capitol, by way of Cordoba
and Orizaba and Pueblo, over which
Cortez, and later Scott, had fought
their way, Macmillan and Corlotta
passed under arches Of tropical tlow-
ers, poppies, camelias, heliotropes,
calla lilies; and their magnificent
carriage was scarcely allowed to
touch the earth, but ran over orchids
OF every color plucked from the
tropical trees OF the country.
Reaching the City of Mexico the en-
thusiastic reception was beyond all
bounds and unprecedented in a city
accustomed to splendid pageants and
demonstrations. The star of the Re
publican generals, Juarez, Dias, Esco-
bado and Gonzales seemed suddenly to
60 down and they became the petty
leaders Of starving banditti. Alas,
how fickle is public opinion. These
four names are now the greatest names
in Mexico. Macmillan and Corlotta,
settled In their chosen home, set hon.
esty TO work t0organize a permanent
government, and In every way
possible TO contribute to the we'll
fare of the people. have already re-
ferred to the work and homes OF Cor.
lotta, both at Chapultepec and Cuern-
avacca. No one ever comes to Mexico
that does not visit the Castle Chapul.
tepec, and drive along the PaseO, and
in doing 50 the name OF poor Corlotta
is on every lip. The drive is in three
blocks Of my home, and it is deligh. .