88 A NATURAL IS T IN MEXIC 0. 



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and purchase tickets, thus adding their mite to the iniquitous 

 business. 



The City of Mexico is famous for its large number of 

 scientific, literary, and charitable institutions, its many 

 primary and advanced schools, and its well-appointed hos- 

 pitals. The national palace covers the whole eastern side 

 of the Plaza Major, and has a frontage of nearly or quite 

 seven hundred feet; it occupies tlie site of the ancient 

 palace of Montezuma. The present building was erected 

 in 1693. The palace is two stories in height, and has a 

 tower over the central doorway. It contains the suite of 

 rooms belonging to the President, and those belonging to 

 the various departments of state. The Hall of Ambassadors 

 is interesting on account of the collection of life-size por- 

 traits of Mexican rulers, most of whom were either exiled or 

 executed as traitors. Here also is a good portrait of 

 Washington, and a battle-piece, b}^ a native artist, repre- 

 senting the battle of Puebla, where the French were so 

 completely defeated. An apartment known as Maximilian's 

 room is shown to the visitor, situated in the corner of the 

 palace, having two windows, one overlooking the plaza, and 

 the other the public market. The Hall of Iturbide, hung in 

 rfch crimson .damask, displaying the eagle and serpent, the 

 arms of Mexico, is also shown. In the rear of the palace are the 

 General Post-office and the National Museum. In the patio 

 of the palace a small botanical garden is maintained, which 

 contains many domestic and exotic trees and plants, several 

 of which are very rare and curious. The rare and extra- 

 ordinary plant, Cheirostevioti plaiajiifoliinn, is shown in the 

 garden. This remarkable curiosity is called the hand-tree, 

 and is covered with bright scarlet flowers, almost exactly in 

 the shape of the human hand. But three specimens of this 

 plant are known to exist in Mexico. 



In the rear of the national palace is the Academy of 



