Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-13

.larre collection Of Aztec relics
PrSniucnt among these are the zodiac
and scientific stones, both of which
have often bsen deliberately described.
The palace contains one other curiosity
steam fire engine. 1t is seldom
used, as al the buildings are Of stone
and iroa, and a hre is therefore out OF
the question. In this regard, Mr.
johnson mentions that during his stay
Of one week in the city, $50 permits
fer new buildings were given, All Of
stone two stories and sometimes three
stories high. Houses are built in the
hollow square, With carriage
nav loaiing 70 the COURTYARD, about
which runs randall with the doors
ana windows Of the dwelling opening
upou Il. At night the street gate
opening upon the carriage way is
closed and closely guarded, Tor
fear Of thieves, no one being
admitted until hegives = satisfactory
account Of himself The police regu
ktiO0S however, are seemingly good
They wear q uniform Of blue, with
while covering over their hats and
shoes apistOl sud billy, and st night
they have 3 lantern, which is placed
in the center Of the space at the inter
section Of al streets For derileetion
Of duty = policeman Is sent TO the
military fortress and becomes 3 sol
der. The military parades in the
Grand Plaza every evening. aud when
about to retire 3 block OF wood Is
placed upon the knapsaek Of each
soldier as ration Of fuel for the follow
Ing t~Eenty-fouF hours
A macadamiEsd drive called the
Pase0, four miles long and 800 feet
broad, leads from the grand square 70.
Chapaltepee. Broad walks and flower
beds are arranged on either side Of
this arroE-like highway, in the center.
Of which are a number Of splendid
statues, among them Colon on q pedes
tai, with a priest at each Of the four
corners, holding an article, emblemat-
ical Of the industry be is supposed TO
have introduced into Mexico. Another
is a magnificent equestrian statue Of
Charles V. in bronze. Chapultepec,
a grand old historic pile, is about TO
beconyerted into a cadet school, after
the fashion Of West Point.
An s~equeduct, built under the old.
Spanish regime, supplies the city with
water. Ii IS pure, for it comes from
the everlasting snow beds which cap
the tops Of the adjacent mountains.
Surface and tile drainage is discharged
by means Of an acqueduct cut a dis
lance of five miles through a noun
tain.
The street car system is perfect.
Two sets of ears are provided, one for
the lower aud one for the higher class,
the fare for the former being three and
a half cents and for the latter six
cents. The tracks are smooth as a
floor and the carr Of the latest pat
tern-all Of them manufactured in
New York. The modern bell punch.
is extensively used.
The peOas-lower class are for the
most part miserable, filthy and utterly
devoid of all the nobler sentiments of
mankind. The women 20 barefoot
and the men wear sandals, both alike
tOiling day in aud day out without the
shadow Of a hope or desire to become
anything other than what they are.
Mr. johnson exhibited three models,
each about six inches high, represent
ing as many types Of these miserable
people. One is the jugmaker, with a
huge basket on his back, about which
are tied with strings numerous pieces.
Of erOckery. A water carrier has a
huge jar suspended upon his back by a
leather strap stretched across his
forehead, while in front hangs a water
bottle, suspended 10 like manner from
a strap resting across the back Of his
head. He is licensed by the govern
ment, and delivers water to persons
whose premises are not connected
with the pipes leading from the
aqueduct. He wears a jacket Of
leather with pants of blue striped
goods, this being the uniform required
by the government. A fish woman
carries in her hand a basket Of fish,
while a baby is swung, BY means of a
shawl, upon her back. This shawl, or
serape, as it is called, is an indispensa-
bic article Of dress with both male
and female. The laborer carries it
always about him, often to his annoy
anee, no matter what employment he
may be engaged in. As an illustration
OF the tenacity with which these poems
cling to ancient customs, Mr. johnson
recites that it was for a long time i'm
possible to induce the men employed
TO remove dirt by the railroad 10 use a
wheelbarrOw. They preferred remov.
ing It upon their backs, and when al
last forced to use the barrow insisted
upon llltingit bodily instead of wheel
ing itaway as intended. The ordiuar,
laborer receives one real, or l2l cents
per day. The principal food of tn,
lower classes is %frijola, a large bear
which takes the place Of the potato
They live in adobe houses without tn,
ordinary comforts oflifs. Their chic
drink is pulque, a non intoxicatinl
} beverage made Of the cactus plant
r 10 such an extent is this carried tina
the Vera Cruz railroad provide
special trains for its transportatioI
from the haciendas or farm,
t 1t is shipped in hogsheads and after
wards carried about in pig skins,whic'
d when filled give them a realistic an
u pearance. Pulque shops in the cities q
= Mexico are more numerous than bee
saloons elsewhere.
e The higher classes are the mopeye
y people, who live in the most Rorpeou
$ style. Their houses are richly decor,
{ ted and their persons equipped in A
e the latest agOnies of fashion. tn
men wear black cloth and silk hat
c tho women black silk. Young,
women occasionally wear colore
!, dresses but always OF silk. While n
former have refused to reject u
d sombrero or huge straw hat, the ladi,
e with commendable taste refuse TO e,
change the graceful lace maptilla +,
the wonderful hat or bonnet Of the
more fashionable sisters. No Mexic;
It lady appears upon the street withol
an escort. The manner Of courtingI
d to say the least, unique. When
d young mar meets a lady upon II
street or elsewhere, TO whom he tax
d a fancy or desires 10 marry. he asoe