The daily gazette., 1883-02-07
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faves.
especial correspondence Of the Caxette.i
CETx or MEXICO, MEXICO, Jan. 20. 1883.
--In attempting 10 say something about the
Mexican Capital, scarcely know whore 70
begin. see so much around me to interest,
everything TO me new, strange and wonder
full. To say that this Ia beautiful place,
would scarcely do it justice. Tie natural
scenery itself Is grand beyond the powers Of
description, and ifthere were no buildings or
| any great works of mechanism TO enliven
nature on this high plain, the scene
would still be one which once seen Is
ever remembered. Imagine q city
built ON q high plan as level as any
floor, thousands Of feet above the sen and
/ apparently shut out from the rest of the
| world by high mountains towering above on
every aide. 80 great is their breadth that
you do not take into consideration their
altitude, and as you stand looking al the
snowy crests Of Popocaiepetl and the Yelled
/ Lady, one forgets all else for the time being,
while thrill Of amazement creepe over you
that cannot be resisted. The city is COM
pletely surrounded by high walls. No one
can come into the place except through the
gates, and all baggage, merchandise,
/ ETC., Is Inspected before an entrance
| Is permitted. The gates are closed at 10 D.
| m, after which time an individual has at
least to be known by the officers before he
can gain admittance. The place Is well
protected by an efficient police force uni
| formed like soldiers. At night there Is one
| stationed on every street corner and lantern
| Is placed in the middle of the street TO de-
note his presence. Every body goes armed
and there is no effort made to conceal a
weapon. Taking a turn about the
city last Sunday, visited the Oldest
and principal Cathedrals, the city
buildings, the market places and the
hotels. The city is regularly laid out, In
fact, In this respect, 1t is the most perfect
city have ever seen. The streets all turn
at right angles, except In the central por-
tions where they are quite narrow, which
| seems to be the custom of all cities of warm
climates. The houses Cat least all that /
have seen) are of stone, brick or clay. The
fronts OF most of the dwelling houses look
like merely walls, very rough and crude,
| appearing to foreigner as though they were
as yet unfinished. Those in the same square
are generally of the same height, and differ
very little from one another, although they
although they may have been built az widely
| different periods. There Is a noticeable
scarcity OF windows In the houses in Mexico.
There are hardly more than one to three TO
house and these, without exception are
heavily barred In the same way as those of
prison. Indeed the very first thought on
entering Mexico is that the people are either
all thieves or eut-throats or perhaps mix
ture of both. In part, the first impression
Is almost correct. A company of soldiers
ride in special car on every train that leaves
or enters the city. This the government
provides for the protection OF railroad
| travellers and railroad property. II Is prob
ably the cheapest in the long run, for the
government Is responsible TO railroads for
the lawlessness of its subjects. But to 90
back TO the houses. Although the houses
ON the outside appear like prisons with their
grated windows snd heavy double doors
just like those of barn or stable, vet all
this is no evidence of the scene within. Open
door from the street, even Of one of the
meanest looking dwellings, and you win no
doubt see fountain surrounded by a
garden OF such flowers and plants that
would make a stole smile with delight.
And in those owned by the higher classes
the gardens, the shaded walks aud shrlbery
are magnificent But remember all this Is
strictly private. 1t is only in happening TO
pass along when a door is open that one
sees these sights, for as a rule the doors are
nearly always kept closed. This strikes me
as being extremely selfish, though at the
same time it says that in this respect ut
least the people are nothing for outward
show. The people are not at a loss, how
ever, for a want of shady retreats, parks,
etc. You have perhaps heard Of the
great Alemado. II is an immense
square in the heart of the
city where there are more plants, flowers
and everything most inviting for a rest or
promenade as one could wish to see
have read somewhere OF this place and of it
being dangerous spot at night for the |
pedestrian. Well, stumbled on to it the |
very first night was here, and after having /
passed through 1t caught the name which /
had nor In going about its winding walks. |
Then it was that trembled, don't know
why, for both myself and companion were
well armed. have since learned that there
is no fear Of being molested as the police,
OF whom ! have spoken, offer the best |
protection. There seems to be three dis /
tinct classes Of people here. The merchants |
and men Of wealth generally are Spaniards, |
as intelligent and enlightened as the same |
class In Europe or America, and are dressed |
In much the same fashions. Then there are |
what | call the Aexieans proper, who are |
small merchants or mechanics. They wear |
short Jackets, tight troWsers and hats of i'm |
mense proportions, called sombreros. For |
an over garment, a shawl, usually of the |
brightest eplo is worn, and is wrapped |
around the body and neck In such a way |
that 1t does not extend below the |
waist. With this class the sombreTo |
is the principal feature of their attire |
A Mexican would almost starye himself TO |
possess . ine horse and fine hat, and the /
extravaganza displayed In the decorating of /
horse and hat is interesting to behold. |
The Poems are the lowest class In Mexico, /
and they would be the lowest and meanest |
In any other country, civilized or otherwise.
The American Indian or the worse class of q |
negro to be found in the Southern States
are models of cleanliness and intelligence
compared to these wretches. They wear no
clothes to speak of and are the fithiest,
LATEST and most worthless specimens of
humanity that have ever seen. They live
in huts hardly larger thaR dog house, 1
made of square blocks OF mud. They can
live on less than It takes to keep good size
dog, and Chinaman's fare would be high
living 70 them.
There are now several thousands of
Americans in this city. Little Delaware
herself has six representatives here. The
climate is everything that could be wished
for, and while you are in the middle of 1
your winter we are having the incest kind |
of spring weather. CHARLES.
To Start New Paper.
Cecil News.