Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-09-08

tlnkle of bell at the door of the ca
thedral sacristy, and roll of drums calling
out the guard of honor at the palace gate,
giving warning of a change of scene.
Slowl y issues a gayly-painted coach with
glass windows on all sides, drawn by spot
ted mules; priest in his vestments sits
within; band of boys walk on each side,
chanting hymn; and in a moment, a
death-llke stiffness pervades the whole
square. From the tradesman, selling his
tapes under the portals, to the the thief who
has barely time to conceal the handkerchief
In his dirty blanket, the whole crowd is
uncovered and kneeling; the host is pass
ing to the house of some dying Catholic!
The carriage turns a corner, and the
square is alive again; the tradesmen to sell,
the lepero to steal, and the lesson of death
Is forgotten forever!
Turning westward from the square, we
reached the Almeda, by very short walk
through the Gale Plateros, a street filled
with the shops of goldsmiths, watchmakers,
French halr-dressers, French cooks, French
mllllners, French carvers and gilders, and
French print-sellers; and we pass on our
way the rich convent of the Professa. or
eX-Jesuits, and the more splendid one of
the blue-rObed monks of ST. Francis. The
Alameda Is beautiful grove of forest trees,
planted on about ten acres of soft and lux
urlant soil. The wood, which is walled
and protected by gates closed every even
ing as the bells toll for 0rGci0n, is intersec-
ted with walks aud surrounded by carri-
age road. Fountains fling up their waters
where the paths cross each other, and the
ground beneath the full grown tree is filled
with flowers and shrubbery. The great
centre fountain is surmounted by gilded
figure of Liberty, and gilded lions spout
forth the water at its feet. This, and the
other smaller jets, in pleasanter and more
secluded hooks, are circled with stone seats.
1t is the fashion to come here in carriages
and on horseback every evening Except du-
ring Lent and to drive round and round
the enclosure, on the soft roads in the dense
shade, until the vesper bell-or, to draw up
III line on the side of one of the highways.
while the cavaliers pass up and down in
review, or praule away half an hour at the
coachw lndoW of some renowned belle.
But there can be nothing more delightful
than walk here during the early morning.
There is a freshness then in the air, a quiet
and pcaceluIness that are found at no other
time Of the day. The student comes with
his book; the priest from his early mass;
the nurse, with her baby; the sentimental
Miss, TO sigh for her lover, land perhaps to
see him;) the dyspeptic, to earn an appetite
for his breakfast; the monk, the lounger,
and even the laborer, stop for a moment be-
meath the refreshing shades, to take breath
for the coming day. 1t is almost Druidical
IN the solemn stiffness of It's groves, placed
in the midst of a population of 100000
Even the birds seem to have been assured,
scared from the plains, they are here in
sanctuary, and no proiane hand dares touch
them. They have consequently planted,
as if by consent of each other, distinct colo
MES III different parts Of the wood; the owl,
sitting on her branch, in one place; the
doves, making love the business of their
lives. in another; the mocking-birds making
a third spot perfect choir; and innumera-
bic sparrows and wrcns, like so many Paul
Prys, chattcring and pattcring about with an
intrusive pertness, through the domnions
of all the rest.
Directly west of the Alameda. and on the
same street. is the Paseo Nuevo, another
delightful drive of a mile in length, border
inc with paths and trees, and divided by
fountains adorned with statuary and sculp-
turc.
Passing out Of the western gate Of the
Alameda, the fashionabIcs every evening
take turn or two along this drive. On
festivals it is crowded. All the equipages
of the city must be there, and It's the mode
for every person of consideration, or who
desires consideration, to possess an equip
age. 1t is not thought "cXlctlv proper"
for lady ever TO walk, except to mass
or, sometimes, when she goes shopping
The coach, therefore, on all gala days. is
sure to appear on the Paseo with its fair
burden, dressed in the French style as for
4 dinner party or a ball. When | first ar
rived in Mexico, ii was rare to see a bon
net on such occasions; but that awkward
appendage of fashionable costume was be-
coming gradually in vogue before left.
For an hour or more il is the custom to
pass up and down the sides Of the Paseo,
hpbulti9 anu SllIiiHH AZ inc CdNdItCFS, VINO
show off their horsemanship along the CEN
ire of the road. Here the utmost luxury
and style are exhibited in the equipment Of
carriage and animals. Gold embroidery,
silver plating, and every ornament that can
add splendor to harness and livery, are
brought forth. To such an extent is the
taste for these exhibitions carried, that one
of the milionaries of Mexico appears occa-
sionally at the Paseo on saddle which
without counting the value of the rest of
his comparison cost the sum of five thou
sand dollars. It was the chef d'Gurre of
an honest German saddler who made ii.
and-retired from trade to his beloved "fa-
ther land"
On approaching this charming drive, the
whole plain Of the valley of Mexico is al
once revealed to you, without passing a
dirty suburb. On your right, is the cy-
press covered and castle-crowned Hill of
Chapultepec, formerly the site it is alleged,
of one Of Montezuma's palaces; before Won
and behind stretch two immense aqueducts
the one coming from the hills. the other
from greater distance, near Tacubava,
and screening that village as it leans against
the first slopes Of the western mountains.