Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-06-18
The Feast of Flowers.

''Viernes de Dolores" the day devoted
to ''Our Lady OF Sorrows" the annual
Feast of Flowers" and promenade on Ell
Paseo de la Viga took place recently in
the City of Mexico. This paseo or drive
is broad road on the margin of the canal
which leads TO the Indian village of Santa
Anita and up to the Floating Gardens. BY
the wav, those who have read Prescotts
beautiful description of the .''Fioatlng
| Islands," will be woefully disappointed be-
cause the square hower-beds, now station
ary and surrounded by bitches remind
one only of the dikes in Holland. Do not
fancy dusty tow-path. The boats are
poled or rowed, therefore the banks of the
canal are covered with green swaId and
bordered with graceful willows whose pen
| dent branches touch the water. On the
| numbers of canoes come down from Sante
Atlanta filled with flowers and for at least
q mile the canal looks like great parterre.
About sunrise the people begin to pour out
Of the city to promenade, drive aloDe4 the
paseo and TO purchase flowers 1t is Gus
| tonlary for all good Catholics TO place an
altar in their houses that day and adorn 1t
with flowers in honor Of Our Lady of Grief,
("Nuestra Sonora de Dolores hence the
| Flower fete. The very devout buy earlands
called ''1ower rosaries," and on their re-
turn from La Niga recite as many prayers
as there are blossoms in the chaplets. On
the brink Of the canal, just where the
flower-laden canoes land, the City Council
(-Ayun. amiento) had, as usual on that ami
versary, ordered arbors TO be erected, and
there too were stationed military bands.
In these GlCrietas one can Sit listening 10
the delightful music and see the long pro-
cession Of carriages and people on horse
back passing up and down the Paseo dc la
| Higa. Your correspondent accompanied
some English and American friends who
have recently come TO Mexico and desired
to participate in the feast Of flowers. We
left the city at O'Clock A. M, and after
ye had witnessed the arrival Of the canoe:
some Of the ladies' Of our party becoming
hungry, proposed driving back TO then
hotel and breakfas;ing. No, no" sait
Ex-Governor Pacheco, Of California 4
veto that proposition. We must have {
real Aztec breakfast Of 'a,ole, ',ortillas,
.friioles,' tamales' and chocolate / yer,
well knew the tourists would not re.isE
these dishes. but remained silent, approx
Ing Oh The GDFGIEUE Gtsa-u ~ u11uk u
with the Irdlans-a docllc, excellent peo
pie We sooa found rustic bowe
,ha,chei with green reeds Nule) ans
adorned with flowers and moss seats wer
lmprovised. because some ot the ladies %
jec;ed 10 sitting ia Turque On The peia.e
mats. We used the morning papers 70
tabie-clo,hs and our Mexican or Az.e
. breakfas, was served Three OF our part
5 whose natural appeti,es Ead been viiiaie
t by English and French cookery refused
e partase Of the rural repass and aInuse
b themselves feeding Indian children al
j, friendly dogs, who had followed us. VII
q ,amales ard ,or.ilizs. Several yoangsse'
:: crowned with vfeashs u fright red 20;
r pies gazed upon The golden ha.r and blu
! eyes Of an English hlonde-Miss l., {
Is Caliiornia - with undiSgulsed pleasur'
" probably wondering il Sic were q sa'n
II and 10 Us the g4udy dresses and sraeef'
rebozas OF the Indian u4aidens and Il