Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1889 — MEXICO’S WHITE HOUSE. [ARTICLE]

MEXICO’S WHITE HOUSE.

Tho Magnificent Pile of Marble That Maximilian Once Occupied. President Diaz has moved his official residence out to the castle of Chapultepee, says a Mexico letter to the Omaha Bee, which becomes once more —for the first time since the unlucky Maximilian and his charming wife lived there—the “white house” ol Mexico. Chapuitepec is one of the loveliest spots imaginable. It u unique in itself as well as in its name —“The Hill of the Grasshopper." ■ Montezuma made his summer-house here, and an underground passage still in exisfence was made, by his direction, to a point in the valley below, so that the Aztec chieftain could go tod come as he pleased. Under the old cypress trees in the park the conqueror Cortez pitched his tent after the celebrated “Noche Triste,” or night of sorrow, when the Aztecs fell upon the Spaniards_and massacred them. Here Maximilian and the unfortunate Charlott,a made lovo as they promenaded the magnificent marble terraces which were built by order of the “Austrian grand duke.” Here the Amerieau army fought a bloody but decisive bat-tle-one which has made the queer word Chapuitepec familiar to America* ears. - Imagine a park of 1,000 acres, covered with a dense growth of cypress, many of the trees 500 or 600 years old. The gray Spanish moss festooned from limb to limb adds to the 'picturesqueness of (he scene. In the center of this park—which is surrounded by massive walls on three sides, the old aqueduct forming the barrier on the fourthrises a precipitous mound, if such a term will express the idea. This mound is composed principally of rock, and is probably 200 feet in height. There is but one road to the top, the summit being inaccessible except by this single route. Upon the very apex stands the castle, completely covering the space, so that no matter from which direction you look there is a sheer deseent ol nearly 100 feet. The castle was buill in sections and presents no singular fealfiro of architecture, exueqft a peculiar double staircase that seems to have no supports. When Maximilian first saw thostaircase he remarked to the architect that he would not trust his own weight upon it, whereupon the designer, with his majesty’s permission, brought a regiment of soldiers and marched- them up and down the stairway ten abreast, thus demonstrating its strength. This staircase is the only one of its kind in existence and is built of white marble and brass The terraces at Chapuitepec are one of the sights of Mexico. They arc floored with white marble, with brasi balustrades, and lighted by electricity. The upper terrace extends the entire distance around the castle and is twen-ty-four feet broad. Lovely little flower gardens aro located at frequent intervals, and here are blooming geraniums, fuchsias, heliotrope, and mignonette, making the air rich with perfume and adding to the brightness of the scene. The furnishing of the castle for the reception of President Diaz lias been very el borate. The private apartments are in the northwest wing. Each room is frescoed appropriately. The chess-room has a chess-board in the center of the ceiling, with the bishops, king?, and queens in a merry dance abr tit it, tkerpa wns furn ish mg 1 appropriate music from the four corners ol the •oora. The private reception parlor t the president’s wife is “done up” in -ink silk with plush and brocade hangings to match. Every wait in the entire suite of rooms is covered with silk brocade instead of paper. The bedroom occupied by the president and his wife was decorated and furnished at an expense of *30,000. The diningroom has a seating capacity that it limbed to thirty persons. The magnificent solid silver that once belonged to the Emperor Maximilian', is to be but tlier 'China and glassware artT not in keeping with the royal magnificence of the silver; one of the soup tureens requires four men to carry it when filled.