San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-07
Observations In Mexico.

Gya degrees south OF SIN marcoS, ioA'S'
The population II said 10 be about 10000
Int we think it is probably exaggerated
Tbe sity ia especially interesting as me-
mortal Of the past, for we doubt not 1t STANDS
to-day substantially rs it did hundred years
ago, TO say tn. least. 1t Is built in the old
snaAish Anl Mexican style, OF which San
Antonio ten years since would have afforded
=, vood illustration; indeed some OF the
streets of the latter city to-day are pretty
much identical in style with those OF Mon
,erey. The walls Of the houses are OF stone
ar adobe, one story, and with lint ROOFS
streets rather narrow, pavements made OF
rebb,es cemented over, but now SO worn AZ
20 be very bad to walk on the streets are
paved with round stones, and are eXceedlnB-
Is rough. so much SO that Mexican cart 60
inc oyerthem makes nearly as much noise rs
n train of railroad cars. The buildings are
mainly OF a better class than were seen at
San Antonio and the walls are handsomely
frescoed both within and without The
doors and windows are enclosed by frame
work of small iron bars, and without glass;
80 as to permit the freest circulation OF ar
both night and day. In the recesses OF the
windows in the evenings the fair senoritas
are won't to congregate, and they also ex-
hibit either attractive features of domestic
life, Broad gatewnys open from the streets
into spacious court yards, around which Doth
dwelling and business houses are located
These court-yarls are set with trees ana
flowers, sometimes graced with fountains,
nnd along their cool borders and secluded
walks the Mexicans are at home. 1t seems
TO Ii, this is decided improvement on the
more glaring aud public style of life In
American towns and cities. The hotel
where we stopped had once been convent;
the grounds were arranged as we have de-
scrbei. and with some old ruins superadded
made the place very pleasant and attractive.
Beautiful flowers and shrubbery graced the
scene, and parrot vociferously 'held forth
in the lingo of the handsome OF our boys
thought IL eprtBiOun ONiiohSo VA D''A"'NN'N-
that it did not speak English
Monterey is entirely closed in by grand
mountain peaks, SO that you might not sus-
pect its existence till you have fairly enter
"a it. These mountains, seen in the purple
distance and especially by moonlight, look
very much like grand thunder clouds They
nre most deceptive to strangers eye; they
look just few rods distant, while they are
IN reality many miles away. We were told
they are some 1000 feet high. We as
cended The hight in the rear of the Bishops
palace, not over one fourth or fifth the hight
of the main peaks, yet even there the view
was inexpressibly grand over the city
and country, and the air very perceptlbly
cooler. Two of the main peaks are known
as Saddle mountain and Mitre mountain
from their resemblance to the objects nam
ed. The former is a kind of landmark and
ca be recognized full twenty miles distant.
We never tired gazing at these grand peaks
during our stay, and lost sight of them on
our departure with feelings of regret.
A stream about the size of the San Pedro
az san Antonio, runs from springs In tue
city and flows through it. supplying 1t
with water similar to that of the San Mar
CO.'S. Here the women wash clothes, and
both men and women 20 in bathing of
evenings partially clad and in a decent and
orderly mauner-as much SO probably as at
the watering places of our northern cities.
The principal park of the city is one of
ia most interesting points. 1thas handsome
fountains. is laid OF in walks, rare flowers
and trees are there, among the latter orange
AMI lemon trees in bearing. One of the
fountains flows from images Of dolphins in
e. a stone basin. Carved stone seats sur
round the park on every side. A gang of
couvicts under an armed guard of soldiers
or policemen were employed in making re-
rairs about the grounds.
The cathedral near by is quite an iInpos-
ing and venerable building The floors are
laid in separate wooden panels, each indi'
eating. as we were told. a grave underneath.
The building inside was thronged with de.
voi; worship1ers or curious Observer
The market places are a very interesting
quarter Of the city. Our party there sup
piled themselves with many Mexican cum
csit'ss 10 take home. These consist for the
Ia,-t TlIt Of specimens Of pottery. baskets
TOYS etc. of their own manufacture.
veg eli fes.zrs i the absence Of
s-hi-aaevs q tie ho,s-s Yet re were A.
surei W a. American resilient, that Ii.