The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21


the attention Of a large part OF the
civilized world at present were it not
overshadowod by the terrible European
war.
What is best for the poems and mixed
races Of low Representatives. to lift
them up, as Porfrio Diaz would have
done, or kill them off, as Huerta and
Villa and Zapata have done-time will
determine. Meanwhile II is interesting
to reflect that the degraded Mexican
population has been made so by being
~subjugated to a civilization other than
IT'S own. The Aztecs as Cortez found
them were a highly civilized people.
An interesting account of their mode
OF life and social 'ustoms Is contained
in the History of Mexico by Hubert
Howe Bancroft. which has recently
been published by the Bancroft Com
pany.
To define exactly the limits Of the
Aztec empire is difficult. says the au-
thor, for its boundaries were con-
stantly changing as various tribes
were brought under Mexican rule or
by successful revolt threw off the yoke.
Not restricting IT to its original seat
in the Valley Of Mexico, nor including
all the nations which at one time or
another were compelled by the fortune
of war to pay tribute, II may be said
to have extended ove the territory
comprised in the .present States of
Mexico, southern Vera Cruz and Guer-
zero. or all the nations that occupied
this territory most of them, as ! have
said. were Of one blood and language
with their masters and all possessed
in greater or less degree the Nahua
culture. OF many of the nations occu-
plying the vast region of which the
Valley of Mexico is the centre moth
ing is known except their names and
their resemblance, near or remote. to
the AZtecs.
Soon after the opening of the six
teenth century a desperate struggle
was imminent, in which the Aztecs.
pitted against all central Mexico.
would have grasped the prize of i'm.
perial power or been crushed by q
coalition of many nations. 1t was at
this ~juncture that Cortes appeared and
after hiding the foes Of Montezuma to
triumph fastened on them In turn the
shackles OF European despotlsm.
The principal palace in the city Of
Mexico consisted Of an irregular pile
OF low buildings of vast extent and
constructed of huge blocks of porous
stone cemented with mortar The
buildings were so arranged that they
enclosed three great plazas or public
squares, in one of which a fountain
was necessarily playing. Twenty large
doors opened on the squares and on
the streets, yer them being s%culptured
the coat Of arms Of the kings of Mex
leo. an eagle grasping in his talons a
jaguar. In the interior were halls OF
an immense size. and II is said that
one of them was large enough to con.
tain 1000 persons. while on the terrace
that formed its roof thirty men on
horseback could be drilled in the spear
exercise. Splendid suites Of apartments
were retained for the kings Of Tezcuco
and Tlacopan with their followers, and
for the ministers and counsellors, the
great lords and their suites, who con-
stantly resided at the capital. There
were also more than 100 smaller rooms
and the same number OF marble baths.
and there were chambers for the pri-
vate attendants OF the King, whose
name was legion. In the vicinity of
the palace buildings, or forming part
VI them, were TIE dTIIlOIN. tnt GRAM
aries. ~storehouses, menageries and
aviaries.
Many Of the walls and floors were
faced with polished slabs of marble,
porphyry. Jasper, obsidian n white
tecali, a stone resembling %alabaster.
Lofty columns Of the same material
supported balconies and porticos. OF
which every corner was filled with
wondrous carvings or grotesquely
sculptured heads. The beams and
castings were of cedar, cypress
and other valuable woods. profusely
carved and put together without nails.
The roofs Of the palace buildings
formed a suite Of terraces, from which
was obtained a magnificent view of the
entire city. Mats, Curiously wrought
n OF exquisite finish. were spread
over the marble floors, and the tapes
try which draped the walls and the
curtains that hung before the windows
were OF a fabric remarkable for its
delicate texture, elegant designs and
brilliant colors. Throughout the halls
and corridors 1000 golden censers, in
which burned precious spices and per-
fumes, diffused a subtle odor,
The palace Of the King Of Tezcuco
surpassed in many respects even that
of the MonteZumas. Forming n collec-
ton of buildings which contained not
only the royal residence, but also the
public offices and courts of law, it eX-
extended from east to west ,235 yards
and from north to south 97s yards,
Around II was a wal strongly ce-
mented and built on a foundation of
hard mortar, three times the height OF
a mans stature on the southern and
eastern sides, and five times that
height on the north and west. Around
the inner courtyard We're the halls OF
justice, and in its centre was a tennis
ground; on the west side We're the
apartments of the King, all admirably
arranged, and more than 800 in num-
Der. Here also were storehouses for
tribute and splendid suites of apart
ments reserved for the kings of Mex
leo and TlaCopan, opening into the
royal pleasure gardens, where there
were walks artistically laid out among
the dark foliage, sparkling fountains,
and shady groves of cedar and cypress
ponds well stocked with fish, extensive
menageries, and aviaries filed with
birds of every hue and species,