The Slave Sculptor — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 THE SLAVB SCULPTOR. and his court was maintained with the most regal splendor; yet the monarch thought it no disgrace to assist, personally, in the in- human service of the church. Their religion was characterized with the most cruel barbarism. In the name of their idols, the lives of men, women, and children, were freely sacrificed in the most painful and revolting manner. Even the dead, thus slaughtered, were — in supposed command of these deities — made the subject of cannibal feasts, in which all classes appeared equally interested. The stirring incidents of our sto ired during the period immediately preceding, and at the time of invasion of that em- pire by Cortez; and while we seek to interest the reader in our stery we shall present life pictures of the Aztecs as they were in the days of MonTEzuMA. Conspicuous in that portion of the capital where the nobles resid- ed, was a large palace, which stood in a thick forest of ¢ pre- senting an appearance of grandeur seldom witnessed. were cool walks, sparkling fountains, carr ree ae a ed fish. The choicest flowers bloomed on every Corridors the buildings. Balconies overlooked the ever-present park, and the turreted roof was verdant with foliage. In the year 1519, this palace was the residence of Lord Ahuitzol of age, a shrewd, intelligent man, whose presence and advice were considered of importance, and-he was therefore chosen one of Mon- tezuma’s confidential counselors. Attached to his estate, were some two hundred slaves; yet his im- mediate family consisted only of himself, one son —Teluea — an adopted daughter — Mazina — the former twenty-five, the latter twenty-one years of age. Lady Ahuitzol had been dead several years. - Mazina formerly was Ahuitzol’s slave. When about one year old she was purchased of a man who came from the eastern Though her skin at first was it had probably ored, for it soon became clear white. As she grew in form developed into exquisite proportion and ear acto betrayed unusual intelligence. She arrested the tion zuma; who, interesting himself in her behalf she ed daughter of the old nobleman. She received marked the emperor, and became a great favorite at his court. It was a lovely evening in May, of tae year named. had just disappeared behind the western mountains when Magi from the palace for a stroll through the parx. She was the costume of ladies of her rank, consisting of four skirts, differ- ing in length, and highly ornamented. Over these, was @ loose robe of gaudy fwather-work, decorated with gold work, pearls, emeralds, E i i Hf + EE comiclbdooks.com