Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-06

the most productive | ever saw, aud
we'll irrigated with streams. We saw
the maguey, Spanish dagger and prick.
ley pear growing to be large trees,
forming dense forests, then the larger
groves of pecan, fig and huisash trees,
gether with the lantanas, and vari-
oUs other bright and be utiful flowers,
made it tie most beautiful country.
The mountain scenery, too, was the
grandest / ever bebeld-very rugged,
and perfectly barren not growth of
any description. The railroad is not
allowed to run closer than kilometre
to any Mexican town. At the railroad
there would be little station, and half
a mile away at the foot OF the noun
tains, We could see the little town Of
four or five Thousand inhabitants, nes-
tied in the beautiful pecan groves. We
were told that some of these towns
-Bustamante, Lampasas, Villaldama,
Sslinas-were beautiful places, with
handsome houses, broad streets and
city like parks aud plazas. At every
little village there were offered for
sale figs, grapes, peaches. oranges, etc.
We are at the Monterey Hotel. The
most striking and odd feature of Mon
terey is the architecture of the houses.
The residences, shops, stores and sa-
looms are all mixed up together; ell, as
it were. forming one large house. The
houses are all of stone -one story
built on the narrow streets, with the
gardens behind, surrounded by high
stone walls. The Windows and doors
even of residences, without a single
exception, have iron bars across them,
without glass. AT first thought that
they must be prisons. The floors are
all stone, and often very rough. Only
the very wealthiest classes have car
pets. The houses are all built witt.
cOnrt in the center and in these courts
are generally the most beautiful of
AOweis. We have been going every
hour since arriving here.
Have not been in the
hotel q moment except at night and to
meals. We visited the famous Hot
Spring, and General GuerFog old resi-
dence, which is house built in the TOP
Of large pecan tree, So feet from the
ground. Then the old Bishops pail
ace, Whers the Mexican troops were
stationed when GENERALIZATION, Worth
and Butler beseiged and captured the
town. The palace is 300 years old.
1t is now occupied by the Mexican
troops-part of the standing army.
| counted twelve of the old guns that
the Americans had used, lying on the
side of the mountain whore they had
been thrown by the Mexicans, We
we're cautioned to say nothing about
Taylor or the guns, for the Mexicans
are quite sensitive and become very
indignant at the mention of Taylor. or
any incident of the war with the
United States, Then we saw the old
walls of the cathedral where the Mex,
leans took refuge when the Americans
captured and drove them from the
Bishops palace. There are eleven
temples in the city which have been
erected to different virgins and saints,
We visited several Of these yesterday,
and found them great curiosities. The
buildings are massive pieces of stone
masonry, but the inside decorations
are strange and ridiculous. The new
cathedral ia the most massive and Gle
CANT building ever saw. We attended
mass yesterday evening. The women
all wore black sbawls on their heads
and sat upon the stone floor, there
being no chairs or peWs in the eathe.
dral.
Yesterday morning | called upon an
American lady-Miss Toland-who is
boarding in Mexican family, study
ing the language. | introduced nv.
self and told her | had heard of her;
that she was an American and spoke
Spanish, She seemed glad to see me,
and introduced me according to Mex
lean etiquette to the young ladies Of
the house-Mexicsns. She then went
with US in the carriage over the CITY
and was such an aid to us, for she
knew the city we'll. We did intend
going to Saltillo, but the road is not
finished that far, aud the stage is full
for the next two trips. The distance
$40 miles, right over and through the
mountains, very rough and som shines
dangerous. | don't think that | shall
go. DR.. Spohn, of Corpus Christi, and
wife and guests, came to Monterey
yesterday in special car. They are
going to visit cave, which il said to
be greater wonder than the Nam
moth Cave, Of Kentucky, and is %
miles south OF Monterey. He in,
ylted us to join his party and go to
the cave, and | suppose we will 40. |
hope to spend Sunday aaxt In Laredo
and will be there several days. With
love to all, JAMES H. ATLEE.