Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-01-28
Castle Of ChapuIlepec.

CaStle OF Cnapulfepec.
MEXICO CRY, Mexico, Dec. 29.-
Sitting In the shadow of this historic
"Moctezuma Tree | greet my friends
of Mexico, Missouri. While my daugh-
ter, Katerine,is making some sketches
around this grand old historic Castle
/ will send my "Happy New Year' to
the friends at home. Before this
reaches you the Christmas days will
have passed and we will enter upon the
year 1904 We much missed the happy
family reunion in our dear old Mis-
souri, home, but we four have had
merry Christmas away down here In
old Mexico. We all hung up our stock
ings and Santa Claus did not forget us.
We reached here after delightful
trip on the morning OF the 2lst Of
Dec. shall not attempt to describe
the sights and scenes we enjoyed en-
route, only to say you just ought to
have seen Mrs. Hinde and Katherine
in the Custom House while the officers
were going through their trunks and
grips. Their assumed air Of perfect
Indifference, while utter despair was
pictured on their countenance, was a
picture for the artist. But not one
cent of custom did we have to pay
We were fortunate In approaching the
city from the north just before sun
rise which gave us magnificent view
Of Poppcatapetl and Ixtaccihuait. IT
was beautiful beyond description.
Sometimes the snow that covered the
top Of Popo seemed 90 miles away,
high up In the clouds, and sometimes
seemed 20 come right up out of the sea
within stones throw, and below our
own level, strange optical illusion.
Mr.. and Mrs Burkhead met us at the
depot and cordially welcomed us to
their nice and comfortable home, near
the central and best part of the city
Here we are In easy reach of all the
places of interest, and from the top of
our fat rooted house, where l frequent
ly resort, can see all over the city,
and far out into the valley beyond.
This Castle Of Chapuetepec, from
whence write you, is one of the first
places the visitor wishes to see. The
name means the Chill Of the Grass
hopper" The hill is solid mass Of
porphyry rising about 200 feet above
the valley. The great Castle built
upon this rock Is the home President
Dias, and legendary history tells US
that here the Palace of Moctezuma
stood. 1t was once an island in lake
Texcocco, but is fully four miles from
the present shore. The Aztecs, who
gave it the name 1t now has, occupied
1t in 1879, and built temple on it a
few years later. Macmillan made
large additions TO the Palace and made
it his residence during his shortlreign.
This old "Moctezy Cypress,n under
whose shade l began to write, is a
majestic old tree which could, IL she
could speak, tell wonderful tales OF
prehistoric times. There are scores
Of these grand old trees scattered
around the Castle grounds. Katherine
having finished her sketch of the old
tree, / shift my position now to the
beautiful monument erected In MEM
ory Of the brave young Mexicans who
fell on this spot September 13, 1S47,
when Gen. Winfield Scott and his
gallant men stormed the Castle and
captured the city. While a feint was
being made on the other side a body OF
brave Americans, from the spot where
we are sitting, clambered up the steep
rocky heights and captured the citadel
OF Chapultepec, which led to the Inn
mediate surrender of the city Of Mex.
leo, and the establishing of the claim
for which the war was waged.
To stand here and look upon these
rocky heights 1t seems feat utterly
impossible. But here. we are on the
heights by a circuitous and much
easier route than the one taken by the
chivalrous American soldiers. Having
no permit we cannot enter the Castle,
but will spend the time looking at the
beautiful flower gardens and the grand
old cypress trees. What magnificent
view we have from this point, taking
In the city and sweeping around the
entire valley. Up here is the West
Point of Mexico, and soldiers are to be
seen at every turn. And there, half
way down the hill side, in one Of the
beautiful garden spots, stands Presi-
dent Diaz giving directions to his
gardner. We cannot fail to recognize
him from his pictures. What a grand
old man be is, and how much does the
Republic of Mexico owe to this man,
who with firm hand has guided Its
destiny for so many years. A few days
lago, driving on the Pasio, I had point
ed out to me the Minister of Finance,
who it is thought will succeed Diaz as
President of the Republic. May he
prove to be as wise, and firm, and just
as President Portirio Dlaz. Within
the ten days that we have been here
have visited number of noted places
Of interest in the city, and have made
several pleasant side trips in the
suburban villages. Sometime may
tell the readers OF the LEDGER OF my
visit to Guadalupe, San Angel, NochS
Trisle Arbol, Hill Of the Star, La
Vega, Cuernavaca and other places
We had a splendid trip yesterday
nearly the full length Of La Vega
1.-THE grand cana) by San Anita, Ixta
calico, and on to Ixtapalapo and mad,
the ascent OF the chill of the STAR" {
very sacred place 10 the Indians, ant
from the top Of which we had thl
finest view that cam be had Of thl
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