The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-18

Joins the Chenampas or former floating gardens the
Paseo de la Vga, public drive fequened by the 6taa
monde both in coach and on horseback during the sea
of Lent Scarcely afternoon passes at that period
OF the year. that the observer will not lind the canal COW
cred with gay boat loads of Indians, passing homeward
from market dancing, singing, laughing, STUNNING the
guitar, and crowned with wreaths of poppies do not
know the origin of the of wearing the fogetfu
flower but both healthier and more poetic oblivion
than that resored to by many folks in other ands alter
day OF toll
Turning once more westward, we again reach the
great square
The departure OF the President from the palace has at
iracted crowd The adjoining make ever hlied win
people, pours forth lis multudes in the square
First, there the aguador, waiercarTer with his
two earthcn Jars--one suspended by ieatnefn pei
thrown round his forehead and resting on his Dack anu
the other suspended from the back OF ms head In 'front.' OF
him, preserving the equilibrium. -
Next there is the Indian with huge coop OF chckens
and turkeys or a crate of earthenware or pannler OF
oranges, borne his back like the aguadors jar ihen
woman, with peas, or ducks, or sh from Tue lakes
another with potatoes another drives along poor s,uhea
ass laden with radshes and onions; and all the members
of this motley crowd crying their wares and merchan
disc at the top OF their voices. 1t is a Babel.
Amid the thrOng treads EDWARDS, with step majestic,
the queenly Spanish woman; BY her side is friar, and
hard by couple OF priests IN then graceful black cloaks
and shovel hats
In the shadow of pillar OF the portales sneaks mis-
cradle looking wretch, wrapped in his taered blanket
lepeo, porter beggar tef the occasion Offers and
he takes the advantage of the latter empoymentin this
moment of excitement to ease an unsupcious stranger
OF his handkerchief
tinke OF bell the door OF the cathedral sacristy,
and roll of drums calling out the guard OF honor at the
palace gate give warning OF change OF scene.
Slowly issues gayly panted coach with glass win
dows on all Sides drawn by spotted mules; priest in
his vestments sits withn band OF boys walk on each
side, chanting hymn; and in moment, a deathIke
stiffness pervades the whole square. From the trades
man. selling his tapes under the porales, to the thief
who has barely time to conceal the handkerchief In hs
dirty blanket the whole crowd is uncovered and knee
o as' the host is passing TO the mouse Of some aSns '
The carriage turns corner, and the square is alive
again the tradesman to SELL the lepero to sea and the
lesson OF death is forgotten forever!
Turning westward from the square, we reachedthe Ala
media, by very short walk through the Gale Pateros,
street filled with the shops of godsmiths, wachmakers
French hair-dresses, French cooks, French mlners,
French and gders and French and
we pass on our way the rich convent OF the Poiess or
ex-esuits and the splendid OF the blue-robed
monks of st. Francis The Alameda is beautiful grove
of forest trees planted about ten acres of soft and lux
uriant SOIL The wood, which is walled and protected
by gates closed every evening the bells toll for
clOn, nterseced with walks and surrounded by
rage road. Fountains fling up their waters where the
paths each other and the ground beneath the tu
grown tree is filled with flowers and shrubbery. The
great centre fountain is sumounted by gded figure OF
Liberty and glded lions spout forth the water at ITS feet
This, and the other smaller JETS pIeasaner and more
secluded hooks, crcled with seats 1t is the
fashion to here carriages and horseback every
evening, Except during Lent) and to drive round and
round the enclosure the soft roads the dense shade
until the vesper bellor, to draw up in line on the side
of of the highways, while the cavaliers pass up and
down in review, prattle away half an hour at the
coach window OF some renowned belle.
But there be nothing more delightful than walk
here during the early morning; There is freshness
then in the air quiet and peacetuness that are found at
no other time of the day. The student with his
book the priest from his early mass the nurse, with her
baby the sentimental miss, to sigh for her lover (and
perhaps tG see him the dyspepc to earn an appetite for
borer stop for moment beneath the refreshing shades
to take breath for the coming day is almost Drudca
in the solemn stiffness of groves placed in the midst
of a of
birds seem to have been assured, scared IRON the
palms. they here in sanctuary, and profane hand
dares touch them They have consequently planted,
if by consent of each other, distinct colonies in different
Prte of the wood tire uwi sitting he, branch, ~ one
in another; the hooking birds making third spot per-
feet choir and nnumerable sparrows and wrens, like
many Paul Pys, chaerng and pattering about with an
intrusive pertness through the dOmnions of all the
Directly west OF the Alameda and on the same street,
is the Paseo Nuevo another delightful drive of mile
in length, bordered with paths and trees and divided by
fountains adorned with stauary and sculpture.
Passing out of the western gate of The Alameda, the
tashonables every evening take turn two along this
drive, Onfestivas il is crowded. All the equpages OF
the city must be there and ii the mode for every person
OF consideration who desires consideration possess
equipage. 1t is not thought exactly proper for
lady ever to walk except to nassor. sometimes, when
days. appear the Paseo with its fair burden,
dressed in the French style for dinner party ball
When first arrived in Mexico, it was rare to see bon
net on such occasons but that awkward appcndage of
fashionable costume was becoming gradually in vogue
before left.
For an hour or more it is the custom to pass up and
down the sides of the Paseo noddng and smiling at the
cavaliers, who show off their horsemanshp along the
centre OF the road. Here the utmost luxury and
style exhibited in the equipment of carriage and ami
mails. Gold embroidery, silver plating, and every orna
ment that add splendor to harness and livery are
brought forth To such extent is the for these
exhibitions carried that of the mionaires of Mex
leo appears occasionally at the Paseo on a saddle which
without counting the value of the rest of his caparson
cost the sum of five thousand dollars. 1t the chef
dGurre of an honest German sadder who made it, and
retired from trade to his beloved ' father land"
On approaching this charming drive, the whole plain
of the valley Of Mexico revealed to you with
out passing dirty suburb On your right is the cypress
covered and castle crowned hill of Chapuepec formerly
the site il is alleged, of of Monezmas palaces; be-
fore you and behind stretch two immense aqueducts-
the coming from the hills, the other from greater
distance Iacubaya, and screening that village as it
leans against the first slopes of the western mountains
last rosy rays of sunset are resting.
The gay throng dsperse, the moon rises from be-
hind the mountains, pouring food of clear light bright
the day in other lands, the tranquil landscape
The moonlight of Mexico is marvelousy beautiful
That city, you remember 1900 feet above the sea- and
nearly that number of feet closer to the than we
are the atmosphere, consequently raried, and
he light comes, as IT were, pure and peucd from hea-
ven; you seem able to touch the stars, so brilliantly near
do they stand relieved against the back ground of an
intensely blue sky. Strong on such nights in Mexico
when saw the sharp lines OF the tower and temple come
boldly out with shape, and color almost as bright
yet softer than at MONDAY, have often been tempted to
say that the moonlight you get home (much as it is the
theme of poets and overs) but secondhand stuff COM
pared with that of Mexico
And with the climates. Between the sea- shore at
('ruy and bp