The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19

An Interior ntEioan Town Auay W ~
the Mountains
But Almost Under the Shadow OF civil
Ilzatlon.
1 Primitive People and Customs.

found San Luis Potosi TO be In many
WAYS one Of the most remarkable and in
terestIDg cities In this republic. IL Is nes-
tied here away In the mountains, in the
midst of very fertile valley, nearly three
| hundred miles away from any water
transportation. Every article at present
consumed or to be manufactured here is
brought here In carts or Cd the backs OF
natives and mules-in many instances
distance of scores of miles. A thriving
population Is found here enjoying all the
comforts OF any city in Mexico, and with
many of the luxuries OF the cities of the
United States. Street railways assist in To-
comotion, and at night the plaza and pub.
lie buildings are brilliantly illuminated
with electric lights. Cathedrals abound
here, as in all Mexican cities or towns. San
Luis is one OF the most pronounced
Catholic cities in the whole republic.
Probably at no other city in the
whole country will you note more of the
old church spirit alive than here. You
will note the fact the moment you arrive
here. AS is well known, during the palmy
days, when the church was all-powertul in
this country, the ringing OF the bells in the
great stone towers OF the churches was to
the godly resource OF perpetual delight,
but to the ungodly, or nonC Catholic ele-
ment. il was q nuisance of the most pro-
nounced kind. When old Juarez, with his
on-banded, anti church government,
came into power this bell-ringing nuisance
was done away with by law in most OF the
cities. San Luis Potosi, however, sill
clings to the old habit. and. as conse-
quence, the stranger is greeted with the
most Internal "clang! claug! bang bang!' OF
iron-mouthed bells, from early morning
till late at night; nay, l cannot except any |
part of the day or night from the preve-
ience of the nuisance, as the bells are rung |
with equal pertinacity and clamor every
fifteen minutes, as well near the hour OF
midnight as at the time OF midday. |
The natives down here are used TO |
the disturbance and don't mind itmuch, but
a stranger in the place, especially if he
is stopping at hotel close by one of the old |
cathedrals, will be kept awake hall the
night by the strange, unearthly din. The
leading cathedrals, ETC., are called the La
MERGED, San Augustin, San Francisco, San |
Juan de Dios, Sanctuary OF Guadalupe ana
the Religious hospital. The colleges OF
Lerretto and San Nicolas will compare |
fayorably with many institutions of like |
character in the United States. The parks |
and plazas are not excelled anywhere in |
the republic. The principal plaza, known |
as the plaza Hidalgo," is surrounded by |
the cathedral. city hall Hotel San LUIS
and other large buildings. This plaza is
not so large in area as some OF the Others
but it is filled with the choicest flowers.
and rendered perfect bower of tropical |
beauty. In the center is a statue of Pedro |
Hidalgo, "the Washington of Mexico" the |
man who first proclaimed TIE independence |
of Mexico from Spain on the 10th OF Sep |
TENDER, 1910. And you all have read the
story of this gallant patriot, poor priest
in the heart of the mountains but man
of wonderful ability as q leader and
orga izer. He saw the oppression
which the old country, through its ennis
saries here and debauched priesthood,
was atflictihg the people with. He cast
aside his clerical robes, renounced the order
to which he belonged, and, placing himself
at the head of the revolutionary forces,
threw all of his energies into the task OF
fighting the oppressors of the people. Long
and savage waged the war-now it looked
as though the struggling patriots would
gain the day; anon they were overpowered
and mercilessly mastered. At last the
valiant Hidalgo was captured by the foreign
invaders, and his head was severed from his
body with the least possible delay. 1t was
placed in a prominent position, there to re-
main long time, as warning of the fate
that would overtake any other rash patriot
who felt like leading his countrymen in
| their struggle for freedom from old Spain.
But the memory OF Hidalgo is green in the
hearts of all true lovers nj Mexico, and his
| statue is to be found in all cities. while
| full-lenB Inquire duOTHS lue wits VI VuS
government palace, in the shape OF mag
niticent oil painting.
The largest.szed plaza in San Luis is the
Alameda" 1t is a beautiful place, almost
equal in magnificence to the one just re-
ferred to. Around it runs magnificent
driveway, which every afternoon is
thronged with gay equipages. The streets
of this city are narrow and run at right an
giles. The buildings as rule are two and
three stories in height, built of stone, and
ornamented. Residences and business
houses are interspersed throughout the
city. Large stocks OF dry goods, groceries,
boots and shoes, hardware, etc, can be seen
displayed in the principal stores, and the
whole city is neat and clean, denoting a
reign of prosperity. The police system is
admirable. You note the guardians OF the
peace on every principal street corner,
armed with club and reyolver-ever on the
watch and ever ready with civil answer to
any question which you may wish to pro-
pound. All strangers in the, city are ac-
counted for daily.-[Cor. Cleveland Herald.
Both Lydia Z. Pinkham's Vegetable
COMPOUND and Blood Purifier are prepared
at 233 and 235 Western Avenue, Lynn,
Mass, Price oi either, 81. Six bottles for
SIS. Send by mail in the form OF bills, or OF
| Iozenges, on receipt of price, 81 per bottle
for either. Mrs. Pinkham freely answers