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

If we can believe tradition the Toltec
sovereigns erected palaces no less
magnificent than those of their Aztec
successors. The sacred palace of
Quetzalcoatl contained foul principal
halls, facing the four cardinal points.
The one on the east was termed the
Hall Of Gold, being ornamented with
plates of that metal, delicately chased
and finished. The apartment lying
toward the west was named the Hall
Of Emeralds and Turquoises and It's
walls were profusely adorned with all
kinds Of precious stones The hall
facing the south was decorated with
plates Of silver md with brilliant roll
ored seashells. fitted together with re-
markable skill. The fourth hail. which
was on the north, was enclosed with
walls of red jasper, covered with cary
ings and ornamented with shells. An
other of these palaces or temples
for 1t is not clear which they were
had also four principal halls. decorated
entirely with featherwork tapestry in
yellow and blue and white and red.
The number of attendants attached
To the royal houses was very great.
Every day from sunrise until sunset
Nv u VI aipAiNN ''h - ~
idence in the capital were thronged
with mobiles who discussed in low n
the topics of the day. for it was con-
sidered di%srespectful to speak loudly
within the walls of the palace.
Az to the quantities of food prepared
for meals authorities differ; but IT
must have been enormous, for the
lowest estimate places the number OF
dishes at 800 and the highest at 5000.
They were brought into the hall by
pages of noble birth. who placed their
burdens upon the matted floor and
retired noiselessly. The monarch then
pointed out the viands OF which he
desired to partake or left the selection
to his steward. who alone was priv
LEGGED to place them upon his table.
Everything being in readiness. a
number of beautiful women entered
bearing water in oun vessels. in
which the King might wash his hands,
and towels wherewith to dry them.
Vt the same time two other women
brought him small loaves of bread
made OF the finest maize our beaten
up with eggs. This done, a woode
screen. carved and gilt. was placed be-
fore him that none might see him eat
except the five or six aged lords. who
on these occasions stood in the pres
ence of royalty. barefooted and with
bowed heads. To these. as a special
mark OF favor. the monarch OCCASION
ally sent a choice morsel from his "
plate.
During his meal the King
times amused himself with watching
the performances of his ~jugglers and
tumblers, and at other times there
was dancing, accompanied with sing
ing and music. There were always
present dwarfs and professional jest
. ers, who were allowed to speak-a lib
' erty denied to all others under PEN
atty Of death-and as one OF the privi-
leges OF their calling, to tell sharp
truths in guise Of jests.
The more solid food was followed
by pastry. sweetmeats and a variety
OF fruits. The only beverage served
at the meal was chocolate. which was
taken with a spoon finely wrought OF
gold or shell from a goblet OF the
same material. His repast concluded,
the King again washed his lands in
water brought to him as before, and
then after inhaling from a gilt and
painted pipe tne SIloht VI al SiilhNuit
of LIQUID amber and tobacco. he took
his siesta.
In addition to the host OF retainers
already mentioned there were innu-
merable m officials at
tached to the royal household, such as
buffers, stewards and cooks. treasur-
ers, secretaries, scribes. military Off
GERS, superintendent OF the royal
g~ranaries and arsenals and those m
ployed under them. Numbers Of ar
tisans were constantly engaged in re-
pairing old buildings and erecting
new ones, and a small army of jewel
lers and workers in precious metals
was maintained permanently AT the
palace for the purpose OF supplying
the King and court with their costly
The enormous expense OF
supporting the monarch's household
was betrayed by the people, who, as
will presently appear, were sorely OPP
pressed by ov~ertaxatlon. The entire
management was entrusted to a head
steward. who with the help Of his
secretaries kept minute h~ieroSlyphic
records of the royal revenue, and II
is said that at the time of he con-
quest. one Of the palace apartments
was filled with these records.
Thus did the Aztec sovereigns live,
their policy toward their subjects be-
ing To secure obedience by exciting
awe and dread, rather than by inspir-
ing love and reverence. To this end
they kept the people at a distance, by
surrounding themselves with an i'm
passable barrier Of pomp and Courtly
etiquette, and enforced submission by
cnacting laws hat made death the
penalty of the most trivial offences.
There was little in common between
the monarchs and their people, as Is
ever the case betwecn a despot and his
vassals. The good hat they wrought
by their liberality and love of justice
n the victories which they achieved
by their courage and generalshiI
doubtless won the appreciation of the
masses. On the other hand their
pride and arrogance, the heavy bur-
dens Of taxation which they imposed
and their excessive severity in inflict-
ing punishments engendered debasinp
fears. If, as the chroniclers relate,
the A2tecs were trained to look upor
their King as "A father, they mus
have regarded him as a stern father
indeed.
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