Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-12
letter from Mexico.
N,SzANmLo, MEXICO,
Ionuul.>, 9Th 1881

= f
sal " ,,o morning of the fourth OF De-
upon am, lie far rs | was able 10 Judge,
t'",tv were not ut ~ hn'--otlnt 10
cur Fork. The noveltN IasGl life had
,o'ond an unpleasant monoteny had
"" ,., ;rs place; SO that we were glad
taHs =, exchange our sea voyage for
eh'"sar,,nd Journey of about 900 miles
III tbc Republic of Mexico. We were
aV'N- 80, travel from Ocean 10 Ocean by 4
no - Of conveyanccs, and our route
Trough some of the principal cities
~ WINS of the country. In the short
~ of ten days VIC had been satisfied
-.,h The life upon the Ocean wave ana
We anxious to reach Vera Cruz ana
lin our land journey. a great Author
I., said that il is better TO bear the Ills
49,, have than flee 10 those we know ho'
e This Ike many other truths Is con-
,r.rv 10 the ways of human nature, ou,
l.,1rc we reached Manzanilio, si,'is
,,rf on the Pacific Ocean, and the emu vi
,,gy tourney, we proved us COZ .S' ~
f., our entire satisfaction. Ihio"Sn
..uducSs of a Mexican, WHOSE "Ni lit
.ucr we had made upon INC IoSSCl, o,'A
J,.,.r,,,o ,,.as nasScd through the CUSTOM
t."07"'-,. Xcra Cruz without any delay
nh , mere formal examination.
-, V,rI cruz we were to travel 10 the
'.;tr 81 Mexico ny rail. Upon inquiry
..,,nI the train did not leave until IL
'-,.r,L> az night, and we were therefore
.,u.llcl to amuSe ourselves lii vera
~ r,T the day. The weather was hot
~ Yellow Fever being prevalent we
,.I l.,t make ourselves as familiar with
"., ,lqcr as we should have done under
,.,rr advantageous circumstances. But
,,. fnuul abundant entertainment in OBJ
CRYING thu curious IeOple, places ana
,D.rr, that came in our way and thus the
.i,.. we were waiting for the train passed
br,n pleasantly anC, probably. The rail-
nd between Vera Cruz and the City OF
yrNi"o. is the principal one in the Re-
.nuiir. and when the road which we are
t.y locating is finished, Will form the
t,...fr c0nnection-Of another inter-
o..,... railroad. As they are far behind
81. in everything else i'll this cOun-
on. 40 also 30 their railroads lack those
,...,r.u improvements which make traVcl
!. ;lr United States 50 rapid, safe ana
.o..fur.anlc. Their best ears are o1 the
....i-lt style. They are made into three
,..uIuXv,mcats, each of WHICH seat el%ht
.,,,.a.. and when the train starts they
.,. locked to the discomfort Oi any one
.,.. is accustomed TO traycl upon the ~
,.,.i...u plan. ln one respect at least we
...r, -,l,ied exactly, us our party num-
..... eight ana we had apcn 10 ourselves.
... ;Ee train started for the Guy OF
y..,ro there seemed to be a general ~
,.i..tion amoug our party to improve
r.rhGur in refreshing sleep. Even un'er
smell, difficulties this was not impossible,
..d no doubt would have been more pro-
-.Dgcd but for the varied objects OF IN
l...~t which the dawn o. day anu the
i>sag san presented for our enjoyment.
celebrated American is reported TO
l.y, said that it is worth 4 trip across the
ocean 10 visit ilarpcr's Ferry. If Tins be
i..,. then, in my humble judgement, 1t
,..g'd repay q VOYAGE round The world 10
..p-, the mountains by rail between vera
,.I. and the civ of Mexico. When we
,.,Eol out of our car We were fast APP
yrrarhiug these mountains. with almost
Inc ,irst rays Of day our eyes rested upon
mountain after mountain and peak after
...t. In whatever direction We turned
f.rsy gouic,.I mountains, Icat and small,
l..l tlccye and told their story at once,
ra..f p. some time in che past most OF them
. least had been the great chlnhcys oil
t... earth. Bat these were net the chIct
objects az the scene. Lowering far above
ne res, W.sS the peak of Orizaba with It's
~ruW-capNcd summit half c"yclopcd III
,,.r.s. Strangely, beautiful ANA I'M
i.rns,ivc was the natural scenery when
..r.ouu,icG Us. At one moment our eyes
were upon the Snowzc2ppcd mountains
.sii~icuing il. the first rays OF the sun, III
.,Iuthcr thev rested upon the luXuriant
vegetation and lowering plants oil the
valleys through which we passed.
At one time we were rcmarking upon
the peculiar and symmetrical shape Oh
SOME peak and few minutes later wotId
DC passing along the edge Of Bofanka,
lnc bottom nt which was fifteen hundred
or two thousand feet below us.
The Civ of Mexico is about 5000 feet
above tue level OF the sea and the greater
cart OF this ascent j. accomplished WAlle
pa.,inn these mountains. At some places
}; seemed almost impossible that An en-
nae could draw 4 train up such steep
.raIe. The ascent was as mach us tour
..uu live feet 10 the hundred.
IL one point we could sec the r9ad up
ON the mountain above US, at Instance
was told OF half mile, yet 1t required
seven miles of track winding around
among tie mOunlafls, 10 reach that point:
We pasSed over bridges, where mad
;,ay+hiug given away, the tram Wouid
have gone down the mountain thousands
Of lyct. Now if you will add seventeen
tunnels III 4 distance OF less than nun
Glrl miles YOU may get from this dcScrlp-
non an imperfect idea of the only rail-
road in Mexico OF any importance.
After clearing the mountains We pass
al through numerous towns and com
rar4tiveiy f.yel country. The soil had
,bc appcarance of being unproductive
and vegetation would have been scarce
bar Tor the abundance of two Mexican
plants, the Cactus and the Slagay. The
Ioracr grows in great profuSion ana at
tlins in some places 10 tho dignity OF
tree, but is practically of no value. Inc
latter is the chiefagricultural interest OF
The section of country along this railroad.
This nlant requires no cultivation. Ihcy
merely put It in the GROUND ana after 1t
las attained 4 certain size, they tap the
stalk somcwhas;dtcr the manner III which
the sugar maple sap is obtained. After
;he iuicc or sap Of the Magay fcrments 1t
sGmS an Intoxicating drink which the
Nexioans call PulQue. This together
With Lekela, a distilled liquor also made
from the leaves of a species of the Mag2y,
,Ic the NATIONAL beverage of Mexico.
As we drew near tbe City OF Mexico
The appearance of the country began to
Improve, but still on every side the view
WAS limited by mountains. We passed
within sight OF the volcanic mountain,
rouucatcpetl, which like Orizaba had Its
summit covered with snow and ice.
About seven o'clock on Sunday evening
We first saw the lights Of the City OF Mex
leo. Here we were met by those interest
,d in the railroad, who showed us every
attention We could expect, aud mace the
three days Of our stay in the City very
pleasant for US. During this time we
wandered about over the City, enjoying
its novelties and curioSities, and judging
FROM the chances and smiles of our McXi