The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-07
Mexican Mnrvcls.


RIENCEs IN THE LAND OF THE ANCIENT
AzTEcs-THE PEOPLE AND THEIR HABITS
WONDERFUL RoADS-A FIGHTING "DoRG."
IChicsgo Times,l
Colonel Fred. Grant chatied freely with a
party OF friends yesterday at military head
quarters about his recent wundeIings in
Cuba and Mexico. He spoke particularly
OF the last-named country. The Mexicans
desire more railroads, he said, and are
willing TO grant subsidies which would pay
for the cost OF their construction; but the
question OF extending aid to lines of rail con-
Meeting that country with the United States
| is regarded by them as being If political
nature, and such projects excite some OPP
position. The railroad connecting Vera
Cruz with the City Of Mexico is an achieve.
meDt OF the finest engineering skill. Loco
| motives weighing seventy tons are used for
hauling the cars between the two points.
The average running time is about twenty
miles per hour, but this can be increased
! to a speed OF thirty or thirty-five miles when
occasion demands il. The charge for
transporting a ton OF iron from Vera Cruz
to the City OF Mexico is $50. The finest,
| hardest, smoothest wagOD-way in The world
runs between these two cities. Its width is
such as to admit Of four teams travelling
abreast, and the road bed is pavement the
entire distance. 1t is centuries old, and the
cost Of building it and maintaining 1t
has been Sl50,000,000. Colonel Grant
ssid that the national roads in Mexico are
| like macadam. There are several beautiful
drives in the City OF Mexico and its enyi-
ronments. Some OF the private residences
are marvels Of architecture and superbly
furnished. The women in the better circles
OF Mexican society are generally good look
ing. while many are very beautiful. They
get their fashions from Paris, the same as
American women. The Mexican pOpulace,
when brought together in vast assembages,
are as orderly and decorous as any people
under the sun. The theatres in the city OF
Mexico are very fine. The National il equal
TO the New York or Philadelphia Acadia
mics OF Music.
Diaz, the Colonel said, Is apparently the
most popular man in Mexico. He is an In
dian, and does not speak English, but his
address and manners are polished and
pleasing. A volunteer soldiery million
strong could be mustered on short order,
but TIE nation is not well enough of fnan-
cially 10 equip and maintain such an army
for any great length Of time. The govern
ing element OF the country, politically,
financially, and socially. is composed Of
100000 people, who have good Spanish
blood courslng In their veins. There
is great deal Of wealth in the coun-
try. Labor is very cheap. Men work
for from twelve and half to twenty
five cents per day and board themselves. A
man can subsist there at an expense OF four
or five cents per day. In rural districts are
many hdcienddS Of vast dimensions. The
owners and their workmen, often number
ing several hundreds, occupy cluster Oi
dwellings, which are always walled IN fol
protection against attack. The men are paid
for their labor, and are free TO seek employ
ment of other owners, and yet they stick &c
one hacienda as if they were slaves, sub
ject to the behest Of master.
Colonel Grant attended two bull-fghtS
one of which had been planned out OF com
pliment to his father; but General Gran
declined attendance, as he did not believe
in that sort OF amusement. The Colone
said that the sport was exciting, II II dit
seem a little barbarous. dozen Dolse'
were disembowelled, and their ilder'
pitched headloDg to the ground, one ielioW
being gored to death. roll OF money was
fastened to one horn OF bull, ana ANYBODY
WAS permitted to attempt its capture; bu
, no one proved dexterous enough to snatcl
the prize, while all narrowly escaped being
impaed on one horn of the dilemma.
A dog OF a peculiar breed and striking
appearance was presented to General ant
Mrs. Sheridan. 1t is a savage little quad
ruped, and would attack an elephant or
Bengal tiger. On The steamer on the way
over from Vera Cruz 1t pursued bug into
one Of General Sheridan's unoccuplet
shoes, and got fast down in the front enc
OF the shoe. This statement doesn't war
rant the inference that the Lieutenant'Gen
eral Of the army wears such prod'gion
shoe. The fact is that the dog is about TN
size of a two-days' old kitten.