Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-11-23
MTsCELLAMEOUS READING.
THE CITY OF MEXICO.


,:me-while our army is at the gates or
,.i,bin the walls Of the city Of Nexico-to
,.v before our readers the following graph
and interesting description or the far
fmed CITY oftnn Aztecs. It IS from Brantz
Nayer's fine book on "Mexico as it was
and as it isl Long as il Is, il viii be
5und singlIlarly wei written:
at was the middle Of November. but
there was a NJ az mildncss in the Amos
nhere. The sky was of that deep ultra
marine blue peculiar to elevated regions.
AZ | ranged my eye down the street from
nv balcony, the town was alive with
teeniing population; the windows Of the
houses stood open; fair women atrollcd
bomcward from mass old monks shulllcd
along in their robes; the butcher urging
along his ass with its pcripatetic stall
hung around with various meats: freshly
!eaved flowers and trees III tine court, ards
Of which ] caught a glimpse through the
open portals and IN the balance loun4cd
the early riser, enjoying a cigar after their
cup Of chocolate. Ii was "a lively and
beautiful scene, worthy the pencil Of that
master painter Of cities, CanaIctti, VINO
would have delighted in the remarkable
transparency and purity Of the Amos
phere, through which the distant Hills, some
twenty miles oil, seemed but barrier at
the end Of the street.
The plan Of the city Of Mexico is pre-
ciselv that Of a chccllcrboard, with a great
variety Of squares. Straight streets cross
ing each other at right angles, and at in
teryals. The houses are painted = .t,i gay
colors-hght blue, iann and gr N, MGR
spcrced with pure white, taat remains
long unstaincd in the dry atmosphere.
The view Of all these from Inc elevated
tower Of the cathedral o. which soon re-
paired after my arrival ia the c1piiatl pre-
scnts a mass Of dones, End fiat rooted
dwelling s,lreqIcniiy cOFclod, kc hanging
gardens. with flowers and foliage. Beyond
the gates (Which YOU would scarcely lainh
bounded population 81 -aG 900 tn
vast plain str tched out on eYlryhside -
the mountains, traycrsad ia some places
by long lines of acuUcducts. sweeping il
the city from the hits. ans ia otIcra N,th
lakes. cultivation. and beautiful urovgs,
until the distance IS closed by volcanoes.
whose SHOWS rest against the blue sky,
uncovered al this season by a single
cloud
Below is the great square otthc Plaza
a large paved arca--tronted Oh thc north
nv the cathedral, on the east rs the Ma
tlonal Palace, (tha residence OF tho frcsi-
dcnt) To the south Of which AGAIN H. tln
Museum. aud Il stone cdiGes renattls. haiI.
in tasteful stYl, for market 'Fhasorrel
stone of this was laid after ! arrived Ill
Mexico, and before loft the baildnr was
nearly completed. Until that tIar tho
fruits. flowers aud yag. tables. and aosi at
the necessarCs OF tho t9bl =. ha been sold
on that spot in shamhias and booths built
OF bamhoos and rcna4 sheltered from t4a
rain and sun hy lhdrned roofs IN Tao
south western corner Of the square tho
Parlan. an unSightly building (trcctad.
believe. since the volutionl ssrcatv mars
the effect Of the Plazt. II is au~eiuI cS-
Enlistment, however. as il affords Iqryn
revenue to the municipality, ana is til.
great bazaar, where cvery articlnr auis. h.
Tor the dress of tie MaNcans made Or g.
maic. may be purchased AT reasonahl.
prices. On the pavement which rgrn-
round st numbers ot coach mon. " chose
stands are in the nai1bborhood, and
crowds Of women Nth ready made hoes.
Not The Least curious. however. ;,ncrr
the nulttude Win which the side walk are
generally tarunged. are about d. i
'.cvangt lists. or LETT r writer's whose, pa,t
Is always OH the curb-stane Of sha cf.f -ru
front OF the Pariau. ! hu" Iuy ink Is
placed beside them. 4 board rests across
their knees. a pile Of different coloroI n7-
per. (most Of which is either cut Valentino
fashion. or fotri>hed Over and adorned
with pen and ink ornamcntsl is pIac, 4 ou
u. and on stool before him. Sis some
aisconsolate looking damsel or hort bro
Ken lover. pouring ont passion which tbc
scribe puts II becomin" Phraseology.
It's an important trade; and more ,nor7-
ey Is made in MEXICO by this PROXY ma
king love. than perhaps anywhere else.
on can have ..dccNaration'' Tor ono
rial Seeding letter for medic: and
upbraIdIng cplStie. fol Of darrcrs. iral-
ousy, love. and tenderness. tIeayirc thc
unfortunate recipient in avery distracted
state Of mindl done upon aziira pansr.
besPrin>lcd with hearts and doves. tar the
II diculous price Of % cents,
4 West Of the Parian. and all around tho
southern and western sides of fha Plaza.
or those portions 1T ii which ar> mast d.
roetlv occupied hy tho cathedral AMI Ma
honal Palace, run the arch nortale similar
% the arcades Of Bologna. pbes. are
filled with gay shops. pcdlor<. caias. old
clothes. toys. flowers. vendors. sweet meats
boobstals. cutters. CURIOSITY hunters. an
,iquities. (veritablc and douhtlii.) and the
usual crowd of loungers and qu:9nuaes
Here the last reN olution. or the probability
OF new ones Is III continual discussion by
knots OF ldIcrS Above stairs. IN some of
me dwellings, are gambling houses. rs for
merry IN the PalaiS Royal with which the
scehe mere presented does not I'll course.
vie IN taste or splendor
Opposite TO the southern cl4a ST ,Ge
Parian Is the Casa Municipal or Town
Hall, in the lower story of which Il The
lonja. t,he Exchange of the merchants If
MeXico) 4 noble room
The cathedral occupies space Of 800
feet front. The main altar is not erected