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Show Mexico's Superb Cathedral. The Cathedral of Mexico was begun In 1573; but so marshy was the land that after 50 years of work, the wall was only 200 feet above ground, although al-though the Spaniards had , used the stones of the Aztec temple as their foundation. Two hundred years were necessary to complete the sacristy and chapel, for the cathedral is over 400 feet long; with height of 179 feet, not counting the tower, which measures 240 feet. Its magnificence of altar furnishings, with lamp before the sanctuary reputed to have cost $S0.-000, $S0.-000, glittering with jewels; its dark cream walls and 14 chapels, suggest that Croesus rather than Cortez was the master builder. The architecture, in the main, is of Gothic, with a lavish use of Doric and Corinthian pilasters. Here are buried the remains of Itur-bide Itur-bide the first emperor of Mexico, and also the head of the good padre, Hidalgo, who, in his own far away province, first rung his church bell to summon the people to overthrow Spanish rule in Mexico. Not always did this skull rest In the bosom of the church, for when Hidalgo was killed battling for liberty, the Spaa iards hung his head on iron hooks, still to be seen, on the prison walla a't Guanajuata. |