chapter xi

 LOST ARTS IN MEXICO.—GOLDSMITHS' WORK IN THE TIME OF CORTEZ.—SILVER FILIGREE.—MODELLING IN WAX AND CLAY.—NATIVE TASTE FOR MUSIC.—NATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.—MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES.—THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.—SACRIFICES AMONG THE ANCIENT MEXICANS.—GLADIATORIAL STONE.—A BRAVE SOLDIER.—OBSIDIAN KNIVES AND RAZORS.—AZTEC METALLURGY.—STATUE OF THE GOD OF WAR.—SHIELD AND CLOAK OF MONTEZUMA.—AZTEC WARFARE AND DOMESTIC LIFE.—RELICS OF HIDALGO AND MAXIMILIAN.—MAX'S STATE COACH.—NATIONAL PALACE.—HALL OF THE AMBASSADORS.—MEXICAN PAINTINGS.—THE MONTE DE PIEDAD.—AN EXTENSIVE PAWN-SHOP.—LOCKING UP MEN AS SECURITY.—FORMALITIES OF THE SALESROOM.
Fine as is the artistic taste of the Indians of Mexico to-day, it is far behind that of the people whom Cortez found there. According to history and tradition, their work in the precious metals surpassed that of any of the goldsmiths of Europe; they fashioned gold and silver into the shape of plants, birds, fishes, and quadrupeds, and their imitations were marvellously correct in all their details. All this art seems to be lost, with the exception of the working of silver filigree, which still holds high rank. Cortez sent to Spain some exquisite specimens of Aztec work in gold and silver; and the cupidity of the King, impelled by the necessities of the Government, put all these precious works of Occidental art into the melting-pot, the resort of the modern burglar when he wishes to remove the trace of his depredations.
 WAX MODEL OF WATER-CARRIER.
All through their journey in Mexico the youths had been impressed with the little figures, modelled out of wax or clay, representing the various people of the country and their
[Pg 164]
 occupations. These statuettes are made by uneducated savages with hardly any tools, colored with native pigments, and baked in the sun or in primitive ovens. Water-carriers, porters, muleteers, mozos of all names and kinds, flower-sellers, beggars, street peddlers, basket-makers—all and many more are represented. The figures are generally covered with cloth tinted of the appropriate colors; but if not so tinted, the colors are wrought into the plastic material of which the figure is composed. Our young friends bought a goodly supply of these figures, and had them carefully packed for transportation. Fred thought they were fully equal in artistic design and workmanship to any of the figures they had seen in Japan, China, or India representing the trades and occupations of the far East.