Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-01-08
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
CITY OF MERIDA, GULF or MEXICO, I

Dec. 0iu, ioous
DR.. Editor-Dear Sir-Before leaving
epherdstewn, short time since, L
made promise to you and other OF my
friends that [ would drop you an occa-
sional letter. l suppose it is generally
known in the community by this time,
that l am on my way 10 Mexico, ana III
these letters propose TO give an account
of my wanderings for the next six
10 return and take up my abode i'll Shop
herdstown for the rest OF my days. But
/ Iaust az the outset give timely warning,
that you are not 70 expect the polished
letters Of an experienced writer and
traveller, nor the studied communications
OF ole WHO has started out with the'set
purpose of seeing and reporting the
sights. manner and customs OF other
lands and people. All that can hope to
afford your readers will be the hurried
chances of an inexperienced young man
who has endeayOred TO combine business
and pleasure in order to see something OF
the world. With this understanding l
will proceed to give you an account OF
that part OF my "trip which lies between
Shcphcrdstown and Vera Cruz.
Upon the chilly morning of the 23rd of
November bid adieu to Shepherdstown
and took the train for New York via
Hagcrstown, Harrisburg and Philadel-
phia. As there is nothing novel about
this paIt of my trip / shall pass ii by with
slight mention. But it would not be out
Of place here to congratulate our people
upon their increasing facilities of travel
and communication with the rest OF the
world. Many in our old town must re-
member well when trip TO New York
was an extensive journey. Now 1t IS
matter of only few hours travel, leaving
ShepherdstOwn in the morning we alight
from the cars at New York in the even
ing. When l reached New York met
the rest of the party whom l accompany
TO Mexico. In few hours on Wednes-
day morning our temporal affairs were
arranged and we were notified by the
gentleman who has charge of the party
that our passage to Vera Cruz had been
secured upon the steamship City of Merl-
ia, which would leave New York harbor
at 3 o'clock that afternoon. This arrange
ment gave us short time TO look at the
City, but of course few hours in New
York and a walk down Broadway would
hardly justify al attempt to give young
mans impression of the city, yet saw
enough to have convinced the most skep.
teal that there are more things III New
York than arc dreamed of in Shepherds
town. A stranger with his visual organs
unimpaircd could hardly failto notice
with interest the Elevated Railway, the
endless throng Of people on the side
walks hurrying along with such business
like expedition. Then the wagons and
vehicles in the streets, conveying every
imaginable kind of merchandise, and the
whole thing summed up is but the dch-
milton of the one small wOrd-business.
ASH passed along Broadway it was my
pleasure 10 find ShepherdstOwn repre-
seutcd In the busy crowd. The first Ia
miliar face that greeted me was our for
mer fellow-townsman Mr.. Will Fayman,
and a few minutes later Recognized the
genial countenance of our friend Col.
Boteler.
At o'clock our party were on board
the City of Merida and about 4 O'Clock
steamed out of New York harbor, and
were soon sailing the Ocean blue. Every
thing went along smoothly and happily
until we got we'll out into the Ocean when
the valiant passengers began to fall.
Some of course who were accustomed to
travelling by sea, and few others who
were making their first attempt escaped,
but the unpleasant, insinuating up and
down pitch of the vessel soon introduced
the rest Of us to that repulsive travelling
companion called sea-sicknesS. For the
first few days out Of New York the
weather was rainy and disagreeable, but
with this exception the officers Of the
vessel assured me that we have had most
prosperous and easy voyage. On Thurs
day night we passed around Cape Hat
tcras which was decidedly the toughest
part of our voyage. The ship rolled and
tossed, and TO one inexperienced at sea
the sensations both physical and mental
were | confess rather peculiar. But
from this on down along the coast OF the
Southern States we could not have wish
ed for more delightful weather. We pass
Ell along the coast Of Florida with land
plainly In view for many miles. The
second day after starting we cast aside
our overcoats and it was not long before
we found it necessary TO give up our
notions Of winter which had set In at
home and apply ourselves 10 the study OF
the art Of keeping cool. Early upon the
morning Of the 29th we reached HAVANA
and steamed into It's harbor protected by
It's ancient looking Notifications and al
most completely surrounded by hills.
We had seen the green foliage of the trees
along the coast of Florida, but only In
the distance, but now we had before US q
scene which contrasted very strongly
with the leafIcss trees and snow covered
earth which We had left few days before
at home. In q few moments after we
had come TO anchor the Custom House Of
Ecers came on board, and then followed
hotel drummers and men soliciting pas
sengers for the shore. Such jabbering
set it has never been my privilege to
hear before. They would come up 70 us
and give vent 10 a stream Of words which
struck me might have been measured
with rule or yard stick and VIC as
sheen before her shearer Is dumb, so we
opened not our mouths. After the Gus
tOm-house officers lad gone ashore par
tr Of us made visit to the town Of Ha-
wanna, and spent about three hours eI-
ploring It's mysteries. The towns one Of
considerable size, we saw some handsome
buildings but a great many more very
curious ones. But my attention was
chiefly attracted BY the inhabitants OF
whom there were quito variety, Natives,
Negroes, Cinnamon and Americans. The
weather was such as we have In June,
and they were dressed In very light cloth
ing, some dramatically and some IL struck
me rather scanty. Nearly every one we
met bad segsr or cigarette in hand: The
streets are narrow and paved with flat
stones, with here and there very good
attempt at public square. The side
walks are between two and three feet
wide. The chief means Of locoPotlon
about the city consists In the most lum-
bersome carriages drawn by small horses.
A..
lean after looking at the vehicle and then
at the insignificant horse is surprised at
the rapidity with which they travel.
Most Of our party were smokers, and
having fortunately met An American who
lived In the place and could speak spanish