Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22
CORRESPONDING
4 FROSTB IN MONTERREY

MONTEREY, MEXICO, NOV. 20, 1902
To the MINING JOURNAL.
We are now very near Monterey,
and the train moves gracefully along
through an avenue of trees in full
foliage. To the left at the foot of the
Sierra del Silla SADDLE Mountain) is
seen the ruins of the citadel of Mon
terey, where Taylor was repulsed with
such terrible loss. Only part of the
walls remains, many of the stones
having been taken away for building
purposes. There were three distinct
forts one is now used as q corral and
residence; another as vegetable gar
den the third suffered so heavily from
the cannonade that the large stones
are lying so thickly, and such great
holes are torn in the earth, that it
would hardly pay to repair it for any
thing. The cathedral is the first thing
noticed in "taking in" Monterey. 1t is
large building of Grecian architect
ure. A tower rises from each side OF
the front, which is of elegant design,
each containing four bells OF very fine
tone. The interior is marvel of
workmanship. There are seven affairs,
each having its attractions. But the
principal one which confronts you on
entering is very fine, or ''Le Grande,"
as Mexican would say. 1t is heavy
gilt and bronze work seven figures i'll
bas-relief, representing some of the
Apostles and our Lord, as a central
figure, on panels, the rich, elegant fin
ish Of which is scarcely equaled in our
finest modern work. The other affairs
are, Of course, inferior to this. One,
however, that is so much better than
its companions, ! think deserves no
tice. The whole space back Of tho
altar, about 10Xl3 feet, is covered with
q magnificent oil painting, represent
ing the Ascension. A master hand
surely did the work. Mass is being
said nearly all the time; the chant OF
the priests; the lowly uttered prayers
of penitents, who are always kneeling
or sitting on the floor before some of
the altars; the soft light given forth
by the wicks floating in oil, giving the
place, with its high-springing painted
arches, its shadowy hooks and Il heavy
odor of incense, weird appearance,
and which visitor may easily imagine
himself living in the fourteenth or
fifteenth century.
The main plaza is of az much, and
to many is of far greater importance
than tho Cathedral, which fronts on
one side of it, for in the evening when
Americans are thinking of retiring,
the city turns its people out doors to
recreate, and they seek the pla2as for
q promenade. The ladies walk around
in one direction, the gentlemen the
opposite, the better, | presume, TO OBJ
serve each other. These people GER
tainly enjoy this short period, for they
stroll through the softly-lighted walks,
meath the foliage of dropping branches,
the water falling from the fountains
in different parts of the place, plash-
ing gently as it falls on leaves and
flowers. / tell you, it is romantic, to
say the least, and any one who could
60 there and not feel softer and better
for going is an anchorite.
There are other plazas in different
parts of the city, but none Of them are
frequented much and are very poorly
kept. One of these latter, circular
plaza with eight long stone benches,
capable Of seating easily 400 persons,
has much better surroundings than
the main plaza, and in the curved out
lines of walks and flower plats show
evidences Of having been beautiful
place.
The cemeteries, or "Campos Santos
as they are called, are situated in the
western part of the city, and to
stranger are novel sight. The
graves are nearly all marked with
crosses painted red, blue, black, white,
sometimes mixture of two or three
colors, and wreathes of bright colored
artificial flowers, with long, gaudy-
hued streamers Of ribbon floating to