davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
TIE War Cop WHICH The AZTEcS WOR SHIPPED

alive 10 the archaeological possibilities OF
their own country. They are anxious to
have it explored. and have given con
ceSsions to foreigners to do much OF the
work Not a few have been given TO
Americans connected with the Smith
sonian Institution and our societies of
archaeology and they have made great
discoveries The MeXicanS themselves
have done a great deal. Their work be-
gan with a vicerOy who lived more than
a hundred years ago He ordered that
all the relics dug up In Mexico city
should be sent to the university and from
there they came TO the National Museum
MaXimillian was also interested in such
Investigations and Diaz encouraged them
There is no doubt but that great many
interesting things still lie under the
Mexican capital. Every time new sewer
is dug a great foundation eXcavated
something new is discovered. ! have be-
fore me a print made by Mr.. Waite. the
american photographer. of a great stone
tiger which was unearthed a year or so
ago and he tells me that he frequently
makes pictures of similar objects which
come from the drainage and sewer exca-
yatons. The sacrificial stone was found
buried near the southwest corner of the
cathedral and the Aztec calender stone.
which is also in the museum. was origi-
nally found under the earth in the great
plaza. When it was taken up the Arch
bishop of Mexico feared that 1t might be
worshiped by the Indians, and he ordered
that it be buried again. Later Oh il was
again eXcavated and cemented onto the
base OF one of the cathedral towers,
where it remained until twenty-seven
years ago. at which time it was removed
to the museum
This calendar stone gives some idea OF
the advanced civilization possessed by the
Aztecs 1t was used as sun dial ana
calendar. and the hieroglyphcs upon it
are supposed to represent the years,
months and days The archeologists
disagree as to the exact meaning OF some
of the idiographs, but certain figures are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Initials Cut in Trees.

TT is of course, a senselesS or thought
! less thing to cut ones name or initials
in the bark of trees. but it is a thing
which many youths have done time out
of mind and will continue to do while
young men love penknives and trees en-
dure 1t is mildly interesting thing to
read these old scars on trees and in an
idle hour to reflect on the thoughts that
We're in the minds of the carvers. For
obvious reasons the man who wants to
express himself in this way and per-
petuate his name or initials on trees
selects the beech. The tree seems to in
vite such confidence. All through Rock
Creek Park one may note trees Scared
with initials, hearts and more initials and
then some more hearts, many of them
cut there before the upper valley of Rock
creek was converted into park, but when
it was playground and picnic place for
the people of the District, Just the same.
On the left side of the horse path
which leads down from the hill on which
the klingle house stands to the rocky lit
tie stream a few hundred yards south of
Pierce mill are some beech trees with old
knife scars One is ''N. l.. II. s.. 1851. >
or it may he 1861 Then there is date
May 30, ~ which appears among a
tumble of old cuts. You may read the
initials e. p 1851 There is one old
scar which appears TO be .'1S:i:; = but this
is scarcely possible. though the tree is an
old one. On these trees are some new
scars showing the initials s. H., &c. w.
and ''E L."
There is cluster Of beeches under
which are rustic benches and a stone
table near the margin of Rock creek in
the open field south Of Pierce mill
There is an old scar. Mark Twain on
one of the trees. Close by this cutting
is j. O. Wood. 1870 Round about one
may read r. D. 1893. J. f., B. r. :"
and "A. H. 1906
1t seems mpertnent even 10 think of
the happy love thoughts that have filled
young and ardent minds under the shade
Of these old but still romantic trees.
The second beech on the left, where
KIineie road. after passing down the hill
from Park road. enters the north end of
the Zoo. is cut with cross bones and
signed Baltimore Glass ~ II. j." and
II. h." -
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
ENGRAVING
ON SIDE OF
|SDEOFSTo1E
TIE GREAT CALENDAR STONE WHICH
WE1GHs EfTY Tons. AZTEC CALENDAR BELOW

ing back into the past the cruelties per
petrated by the rebels of today in some
of the mountain districts are not strange
The stories have not been published in
the American papers, but they come from
reliable sources In one case for in
stance. some brigands, having captured
their enemy, stripped him to the skin
tied him to a tree and then shot at him
again and again. They We're careful of
their aim SO as to wound but not kill
After the man was cut almost to pieces
by the bullets he was taken down and
his legs being tied by ropes to two diff
ferent horses. he was torn apart That
was the work Of the half-breed de-
scendants of the Aztecs.
The full blooded Aztecs of four CEN
turtles ago had tortures equally cruel, and
their most famous sacrifice was typical of
them. This occurred once every year.
when the most handsome youth that could
be found was the victim. 1t was neces-
sary that he should be physically perfect,
and the pr csts who made the selection
insisted on his being without blemish and
In possession of all the graces of youth.
He was chosen year prior to the sacr-
fee and from that time until his death
he lived like a prince. He was wined and
dined and had four of the most beautiful
girls in the land as his mistresses. He
the great young man of his time, and
with music and feasting upon fowery
beds of ease he rode gayly to his DOOM
When the final day came he said good
bye to his sweethearts, and. decorated
with flowers, took his place on this sacri-
fetal stone. Then the priests dressed in
red. drove their knives into his breast and
pulled out his heart. They held ii aloft
before the eyes of the multitude and they
fell on their knees and shouted out their
alteration. Later on the body was cut
into pieces and distributed to the more
favored of the people, who cooked and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
THE SAcRIFIcLAL STONE, UPONWHIcH 10000
WERE. KILLED In ONE DAY.

served it on their dining tables the It'd
bit of the year.
Prescott is my authority that this was
the only kind of cannibalism that was
practiced by the Aztecs. and he says that
the cannbal feasts were served up in
royal style. The cooking was done by the
best of the culinary artists, and men and
women came together to discuss the hor-
rible menu.
Human sacrifices began in Mexico two
or three hundred years before the Span
ia ards landed, and at the time of the CON
quest 1t has been estimated that the an
nual sacrifices were about 10000. III ad-
dition to the Teocali in Mexico City. there
were pyramids and mounds i'll different
parts of the country and sacrifices in
creased in number whenever drought,
plaques OF other calamities came.
The idol in whose honor much of the
sacrificing took place was the god OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

war and of bloodshed, whose chief rep
resentaton is here in the National Mu-
scum. This is a block of stone nine feet
in height covered with carving. 1t rep
resents a squatty figure with a great fiat
head, out of the top of which peeps two
cylindrical eyes. above four little horns
which serve as the noses The mouth Is
large and the head rests without d neck
ON the shoulders This statue stood not
far from the sacritcial stone when Cor
teZ, in company with King Montezuma,
first saw it. 1t was then covered with
gold and studded with jewels. Golden
serpents were wound about its waist.
and necklace of human heads and
hearts, life-size. made of gold and sill
yer encircled the neck. Before it a pan
of incense was burning. and in this pan
the hearts of three human beings were
roasting. After the Spaniards had con
auered, they tore off the gold silver and
Jewels. They threw down the statue
and it was years later that ii was brought
forth as an archaeological relic.
The Mexicans of today are thoroughly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

northeast corner of X and 10Th streets,
the point where Connecticut avenue cuts
across those streets.
Specimens of the purple Powered vine
may be seen in the grounds of the Brit
ish embassy and the house 1901 III street.
which is between the Hay and Norcofan
houses.
OF course this is not meant TO be a
complete review of the wistarias that
grow in the capital. The gorgeous bios
SONS of this vine may be seen at this
season in many places about the city
and the suburbs. The vine is native
of the orient. and received the name by
which Americans know it from the gen
tleman who brought about its introduc-
ton into this country-a DIR. Wistar OF
Philadelphia. 1t has often been written
of as "wisteria. and it has been said
and as often denied that it took its name
from Wister. q gentleman by the name
of Wister. who was related to- Wister the
writer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

the bloody times of the past. nave just
come from the National Museum, where
I have photographed the sacrihcial stone
which was in use when CorteZ came. and
which was one OF the bloodiest shrines
upon the earth.
| say bloody shrine. and mean H.
This stone. SO small that 1t would not
fill tile parlor of fiat renting for SD d
month. has been the site Of more battles
than any other spot of its SIZE IN the
world. Upon it have flowed streams of
blood greater than those of the recent
war between Bulgaria and Turkey, and
AL the deaths of the present revolution
here arc nothing in comparison with
those who have died on this block or
granite Ii was upon it that the Span
iards saw the AZtecs Kill their captured
brothers. The fight between the Spanlaros
and the Mexicans was at its height when
Cortez saw the Aztec priests lead the
Spanish captives up the steps OF the
mighty mound which stood Just above
where this stone now rests and lay them
upon it. preparatory TO cutting out their
hearts The captives We're stripped to
their waists and Cortez could tell them
by the contrast OF their white SKINS
against those of their copper-colored
masters The Spaniards' heads were
adorned with feathers, and they were
made TO dance as they went up. As soon
a they were stripped. their naked bodies
were idlU upon ills SlOHt Heu 1diic d
fash of the knife and a moment later the
priests held up their bloody hearts and
thew them TO that horrid idol. the Aztec
God of war. which you may see here
against the wall in this same museum.
The archeologists are now working on
the history of these ancient times. They
are finding new tablets bearing hero
gIyphics and the exploration is going on
among the ruined cities as far south as
Guatemala. I have already written of
the work our archaeological society is
doing at Quirigua. That relates to the
Nayans. The AZtecs came later and we
Lave better Information as to them.
Their records show that 1900 captives
were killed on this sacrificial stone in one
day That was shortly before Columbus
discovered America The prisoners were
selected ny lot, and they formed process
sion about two miles long In one of the
buildings near the Teocai, the great
altar Of the Aztecs, the Spaniards with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
More Lions.

A \lA1AL statues as outside decorations
for houses seem to multiply when
YOU look for them. and they always seem
10 be coming into view in places where
YOU had hitherto overlooked them.
In front of the big four-storN yellow
brick house AT the northwest corner III
10th and r streets. next door south of
Foundry Church are two white lions. Ap-
parently they have just left the covered
porch and are strolling down the walk
which leads from the front door 10 the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
The japanese Cherry Trees.

r. HE japanese cherry trees last
j week added their beauty Ia a long
stretch Of the west drive of Potomac
Park. They We're in flower In the ca Sc
Of some specimens the infiorescence was
rich. dense and hearty. In the ease Of
few or the trees the bloom was aenemic.
4 very large percentage Of The trees are
thrifty and fiourishins. 4 few have died
and TWO have been broken. but "a
vicissitudes In arboreal life run these
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

thought to correspond with the Year y. u
li19 and others show that the ancient
Indians knew how to adjust their festivals
by the movements of the heavenly bodies.
They We're able to fix tn length OF the
tropical year even better than the philoso-
pliers of antiquity, and they had means OF
settling the hours Of the day with pre-
cision and the times of the solstices and
equinoXeS.
This calendar stone originally weighed
about fifty tons, and the records SHOW
that it came from over the mountains. a
distance of many leagues The Aztecs
had neither horses nor oxen, and II must
have been carried by men.
This museum shows that the Aztecs
had higher civilization than is generaliy
supposed They had their own literature
the most of which was destroyed by TIE
Spaniards. They used picture writings
and much of their science and customs
We're committed to manuscript, many ioiis
of such manuscripts having been bufni
by the Spaniards. They knew how u
make paper. and they used cotton cloth
ing They had fairs for the encourage
ment of trade and agriculture, ana they
were expert workers in metal. Some ol
the articles carried TO Spain by Corte5
were vessels of gold. silver and copper
and among them some silver basins Sc
big that they could not be enclrcied by
the arms of man They made dyes
like the Tyrian purple and they WoN.
cloth out of the fur of rabbits
The records show that the Aztecs All
at tables using silver and gold plates
and that they had chatting dishes to keel
their meats warm. They had napkins
and finger bowls and they smoked ciga
rettes after dinner They had good cooks
and ate all kinds of vegetables. fruits
and meats. MonteZuma had fish brought
to him from the ocean over the noun
tains a distance of ND miles, by fasi
runners and the Spaniards say that the
markets of the capital contained dnmes-
tic poultry. game from The mountains
fish from the lakes. fruits of the tenn
perate and tropical zones and also green
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Where They Send Out Seeds.

"THAr is The place where they
send out seeds.
many Washington guides use in de
scribinS 10 tourists The wonders Of
the Department of Agriculture, THIS
infurma ion is given through a mega
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

ME\ICO CITY
ENICO might be
called a land of
blood. 1t was SO
in the DAYS of the
Aztecs. 1t was So
many times during
the days Of the
Spaniards. and 1t
has been so during
these terrible days
of Madero and
Huerta. In this
letter ! write or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

w + u j. preserved
bit of the northern
line of the civil war
defenses of Wash
ingt on may be
found ON the crest
OF a deeply wooded
hill, in Rock Creek
Park. where one
may look far down
through the trees
and catch glimpses
OF the boisterous
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

phone by the conductor of the rubber
neck wagon to his patrons as they
pass in front of the old red brick ad-
ministration building. Officials and
clerks within hearing of this brief de-
scription often throw down their pens
Tor. for the sake of pleasantly. should
1t be their neWSpapers.) and take on
look of disgust and injured pride. For
so many thousands of strangers to be
given the information or to get the
impression that the feature Of work
for which the great Department of
Agriculture has made itself famous or
notorious is the sending out OF seeds
is monstrous. One of the humiliating
the tourists appear TO like it. They
look with the proper awe-stricken
stare and seem to be greatly impressed
with the department where they send
out seeds"
Il wish you would write a piece for
the paper" said a high functionary of
the department, "and correct the alto
Rether too prevalent notion that the
main objects and the main usefulness
of this department are concerned with
sending out seed.
Il have talked to some of these rubber
neck conductors. / have urged them to
enlighten the pilgrims for whose instruc-
ton they are responsible, upon the vast
work of this department in relation to
meteorology, animal industry, animal
fusbandry, plant industry, forestry
chemistry. soils. entomology, biology
publications. statistics, public roads and
the like.
Il have recommended these guides to
acquaint their patrons with some of the
valuable work being done by the bio
chemc pathological and geological divl
sons. by the plant Psychologists and physi-
ologists and the pomologists, by the sol
psychologists, the dendrologists. the
microchemical experts, the sharps in emo
logical chemistry, by the asrostologists
the workers in solar radiation aSrlcultu-
raj technology. taXonomic Investigations
silviculture. silVics, synthetic products
pharma Geological work. insecticides. fungi
cides and all that. | have tried to make
these gentlemen understand that seed dis
trfbution is only a branch OF the wort
of the bureau of plant industry and that
the entire depa rtment is not maintained
for and is not engaged in sending ou
seeds
However when the rubberneck Wagon
goes by on its next trip the conductor
bellows through the masaphone: This Is
" here they send out seeds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

and that when against Earlys advance
the guns of Fort Stevens, with those of
Fort De Russy on the left and of Fort
Slocum on the right We're engaged. the
battery in question was occupied by
trops hastily drawn from the Quarter
master Corps in and around Washington.
lie had never heard that light artillery
had actually occupied this position.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

creek. bordered by a strip VI SidS
phalt which is Beach drive. Standing on
the parapet of this oiden work one can
survey the country to the northeast anu
the view is excellent up a ravlne through
which flows a stream having It's source
near where the 7th street road crosses
no District line 1t flows through what,
al the time of the building of this Work,
were lands owned by the Carberrys, by
1. Pillins and by property holders whose
James are shown on an old map as Hoyie
and Burnett.
II was for the command of this little
valley that this work was erected. Be
tween Fort de Russy and Fort Stevens
were some dead spaces. spaces that could
not be seen from the guns of those earth-
works. To sweep these spaces minor
works were constructed, called batteries.
because they were either occupied or 10
be occupied in case of need BY field guns
Two of these were named Battery
kingsbury'' and Battery Sill. Between
these and somewhat south of a line con-
meeting them was constructed a battery
TO " hich no name was gwen. 80 Tar as
he records go, and also the memory OF
such persons as the Rambler consulted,
th!s minor earthwork never had name.
After leaving the junction Of Broad
branch and Rock creek YOU climb the
heights TO the main hurdle field OF the
park II TIE upper end OF this field dirt
lad DIVORCES eastRardN This is the
Ross road Follow il until It makes us
ana! bend before descending ~ the valley
- Eocs creek. near the junction Of the
Morrow and Military roads. Above YOU
IN the left you MAY see the paIapet oil
tte old battery with six clearly defined
embrssures. The work is upgrown with
nine and oak II + sequestered plac,
no automobiles and but few hoIsemer
passing that way
Below in a green clearing is a yellow
ram house. which was occupied for sev
enieen wears and until two weeks ago SN
David DooleX. The PARK authorities meat
10 remove F45S house To the heights for
merIy occupied by the Carpenter and Jet
farms nov Camp Good VIII. Mr.. DooieN
removed from the shadow OF TINS bat
tery il nov living in one OF the SINAI
frame houses in The parade al Fort ST.
yens He told the Rambler that the
less battery Wa> constructed OF tht
land OF Louis i. Shoemaker, the elder
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
u ARBARITIES of the

D ARBARITIES of the
l. Present Revolution Com
pared With Those of the
Past - Cannibalism in the
Days of Montezuma and
How the Victims Were
Served Up With Sauce and
Spices-A Stone on Which
Thousands Died-The Aztec
God of War-Queer Features
of Aztec Science and Civiliza-
tion-A Look at Their Mar
kets-An Indian Emperor
Who Wrote Like Marcus
Aurelius on Life and Death.
Copyrighted 1915 by Frank G. Carpeutrr.'
C1r-rc STouaance Of The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Horse on a Garage.

A HORSE on eafag. is one Of tie things
a YOU NAV see on the east side Of %
lumbia road near kalorama. IT is not
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
IL III II III III II II II II n II 4. II M IN

Vegetables The market stalls Il ere doc
GRATED wnh flowers and the market
throng vas 50 great thar II u,uallN NUM-
hered about antssa 1uffez SAYS fh,. null
titud. Was three times as great ~ that
of thu market II Salamanca. ans also
that the cloths. tar, str etc. made him
think 81 the silk markets - Granada
enc part u tin market Mas assigned
t. tic goldsmith another - -, peddi
ami others I" i'"tt'iN ana ihr sellers of
copper dha "hs3htat. ~ y hhh ~" ft1"i
and mirrors werc made facre ~"f" ai-o
drug shops pspef shoES snd places sol-
ms o'ahh "uo@s 81" "apo
" i = nov. there are PERHAPS t-"E-
ua ~ The descendants " these peoi,la
,ba.anpot reaa - ,,t{.e Tbe, 80 ,n.,a
49,, - s
h'NtiS - N'od "''' - 80
ana their future i one - Tie III PfeR-
lens Of Mexico. There i 40 doabt. how
ever bar that theR late ratusaf abUtGN.
fa,- me greatest men ~ modern MEXICO
nav, had more ~ loss Indian blood n
heir VEINS President .ItaF.X Mas Att In
dian ami President niax Rad Indian an
ttstors The records SaoN that some of
TN. ancient Indian emperorS Nrote pa-
.trN and philosophy and there j. one.
NeAahualcoNatl whose utterances make
mhicb nr s,.e IN, Aztaes ana H. reyoi4.
fionlZed the l8NS ana Coy ethii}fNA 80
Mexico during hls irish- heic i = aGo
sai4oh ", ny - cl,a't ,
mo tsnrlish II reminds nnn ~ ina
verse IN EecicsiastcS Nlii l.. which
reads
.fheI commended Mlrtn. auSe =
man hath no better thing ander the sGn
than TO eat drink and 70 De merry
This il the way the ancient Aztec puts
IL:
Danish care II there are bounds -
pleasure. the SaddeSf lie must also nave
an end. Then weave the rhaplef Of How
sing thy songs IN the praise OF the
all-powerful God. for the glory of ~"
world soon fadeth. Rejoice ~ the green
freshness OF thA spring. Tor the das viii
come when thou shalt sigh Tor thtSr %!
in vain: when the scepter shall pass from
thy har& ~ tie sons OF thy mobiles
dric- the dregs - distress Yet. the re
membrane Of the Just snail not pass
away from the nations aud tie good thou
hast done shall ever be held ia honor
The goods Of this life. it gluri,.s and
riches. are but lent to Us Its substance
is but an illuaorN shadow. and the thing~
Then gather the flowers from thy "a
dens To bind round thy brons and SEX.
the JOYS Of today
This same man ike tht Asaeuians -
,ba tinle IF 81 Paul erected 4 tempt. IL
~ -, -, - s.r, !.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04

copyrighted. 1915 by Frank e. Carpeutrr.'
Ipeci,l Core spondence Of The Star.