Weekly Arizona citizen., 1880-11-06
CITY OF MEXICO.
How They Live in the Capital City of Our Neighbor-Their Habits and Customs as Compared With Amer can DweIIers in Cities.
Quill. in san Francisco Buuetin.J


 f When we landed at Vera Cruz anC f had our baggage inspected, we sup
 posed our troubles with the Custom s House were over. Not so. Before , reaching the city, when the transfer , agent came around soliciting the le- livery of our baggage, we not only had to give him our checks, but our
 keys, also, for everything had to be ' inspected again. We reached the City
 of Mexico little after dark. We
 got an excellent carriage to take us to
 the hotel at the rate of fifty cents an
 hour for one or four persons. Think
 of that, you in San Francisco in the
 same line of business As we rolled
 along the broad and well-lighted
 streets on our way to the hotel, and observed the character of the build
 ings, it was easy te see that we were
 in place of DO little importance, and
 although tired and desirOus of rest,
 we could but wish for the morrow to
 come m order that we might feast our
 eyes upon the city of which We had
 heard and read so much, and which
 is so closely connected with many inn
 portant events of history. We are l now quartered at the Hotel IturbIde.
 SO called from the fact that il was the l former residence of the unfortunate | Emperor of that name. Although
 not the Palace nor the Occidental nor
 the Lick, it is a good hotel, and one
 which even the most fastidious Amer
 ican can make himself comfortable.
 Our first impressions of the City of
 Mexico were, as at Vera Cruz, favnr- able. Its inhabitants at present num- |
 Der about 250, 900, its buildings, pub- | lie and private, are large and in good l repair, the streets are kept remarka. | bly, clean and it stores are large, at- | tractive and apparently do good bus mess. l noticed one thing in which the City of Mexico forms no excep- ton to the rule, and that is, that the retail dry good stores and millinery establishments appear to be as well patronized by female customers as is the case in New York or San Fran CISCO. I have no doubt that the hus- bands and fathers here have as large bills 10 pay as the same unfortunate beings with us, who need not consid- CT themselves alone in this respect. MeXicans live differently from us. They take their coffee early in the a substantial meal, which you may call breakfast or dinner, about p. m., and then a lighter meal n the evening. Mexico retires early. At 10 ?. m, with the exception of m occasional carriage and the shrill ny of the night police, scarcely q ound is to be heard. During the day he fashionable thoroughfares are crowded; vehicles of every descrip- ion roll through the streets, and the Mexican on horseback (where he IS nore at home than anywhere else, I lad in the handsome and peculiar costume used when such exercise is aken, all combine to give 8 more lively appearance to IhIs famous city.
 have noticed a great want of really eantiful among the many women I ave met on the streets. I have made nquiry about it, and have been told y those well informed that in the 'ity of Mexico there is great de- clancy in this respect. IL IS said | hat for beautiful women the State of l onora carries of the palm over all ne other States of Mexico. This may c useful information for our single len residing in Arizona near the lexican border, and valuable and greeable for the young ladies of Her loslllo, Magdalena and Altar, Tn the tate aforesaid; let them all profit by ]. From close observation, l am atisfied that it would be almost i'm |, ossible to throw stone in any of the 4 streets without hitting llher a soldier (nOt private, but an O thcer) or lottery ticket seller. The .tter class are nuisance-worse II yen than beggars. have not heard anyone drawing prize in these 'tterles. An, I'm mistakenl I have.
 heard of one lucky individual tj rawing two thousand dollars, but Unfortunately for him the same num- er Tn the same lottery was held by lother party, consequently neither IS received the money, and will not ltll 1t IS determined which is the snulne and which tue counterfeit cket. Here IS another example of e uncertainty of lotteries, and N arning to those who desire to &C., lmulate wealth too rapidly. There n e several very beautiful public uares or plazas in this city. On R lndays they are great places of re- ~ Tt Tor all classes, for fine military nd Tn each gives the population an 'portunity of listening tC really fine usic, gratis. Upon the whole, the " oi Mexico is very attractive ace; in the dry season it must be usually so. Now, we can depend 'on a thunder storm, accompanied th heavy showers nearly every af- noon. When railroad communica- n IS established between the United ates, so that passengers can go safe fir, and quickly, there can be aO doubt this city becoming a great place of rr 'ort. Now, winters sea voyage . d an English tirst-class railway 'rlage on one side, and the dili- nee and highwaymen on the other. ru event strangers from coming here VI less compelled to. There is no lot that the government, no matter lch party may be in power, is de- Ious of making the capital an at ctive place, both to residents and eigners' but the impoverished con- lon Of the Treasury prevents im- vement upon an extended scale. ne may make change When " olutions cease, and the money they be used for purposes of peace in- ske Id of those of war, the city of Mex wo, can soon be made one of the most utiful and attractive in the world. Bol'
 can but hope that this time will She, be long deferred.