Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-25
WITH THE MEXICANS.

WITH THE MEX1CANS.
The City Of Mexico is what Paris
is to France, being the seat of gov
ernmcnt. the center of Il rapidly
growing railroad system. the mart of
commerce and the abode of nearly all
the wealthy land owners of the re
public. Life and property are per-
fectly safe. though L one day saw a
large knife taken from under the
cloak Of cOuntryman when he was
searched at TIE city gates. Police are
stationed about 100 yards apart all
ever the city. They are well-dresse1,
and paid 81 per day. There are sew
eral things which strike stranger
favorably in the streets of tie city.
The people move about politely with
out crushing or crowding. Ladies
and children can return from the
theaters. cafes, OF the Zocalo. at late
hours of night without molestation or
such otlenses as might cross their
path in London; and what has been
accomplished in a city of 100000 in
habitants is Icing extended to the
neighboring cities and country dis
tricts, with every prospect of soon
rendering all pats of the country as
safe to travel i'll by day or night as in
the City of Mexico itself. The Mex
lean world keeps early hours Choc-
olate about A. NJ; a heavy square
meal" called almuerzo, it may be
breakfast. luncheon or dinner, be-
tween II and 2; in the evening, choc-
olate ices, or some light refreshment,
followed by the opera, theaters, or,
what to me was far more preferable,
an excellent band of music in the
gardens of the Plaza. The hotel and
boarding house accommodation of the
city is barely sufficient for the pref.
ent influx Of American visitors; anil
should a gentleman desire to visit
the city with his wife and family it
would be well to secure rooms before
hand by telegram or letter. The
Mexican hotels are for lodging only.
and your meals must be eaten at the
restaurant attached, or elsewhere, as
fancy may dictate. The street called
San Francisco street, prolonged by
Los Plateros, nearly mile in length,
and running from the Plaza Mayor
to the beautiful gardens of the Ala
media is, from its position and excel
lent shops, the most attractive and
fashionable street in the city. The
new street of the Cinco de Mayo,
from the TeatrO Nacional to the ca
thedral, is partly under construction.
1t will be a noble street when com
pleted and the avenue Of trees con-
tinued its whole length; but, unless
it is lined with shops, it will not com
pete, from a business point of view,
with San Francisco street, which is
the great thoroughfare of the city.
The shops have perky, Partisan ap-
pearance, not that of the palatial es-
Establishments on the boulevards, but
rather that of the third-class streets
of Paris. The city swarms with sol
diers, and the sound of the trumpet
call startles the ear at all hours of the
day and in the most unexpected
places. The soldiers are generally
seen walking about loosely in large
groups, under the charge Of an officer
or of the sergeant-this for fear of
their absconding. They are soldierly
little men and fairly well dressed
But the rural guard carries off the
palm. These men are fine, smart fel-
lows, and wear picturesque uniform
of soft buff leather, scarlet silk neck
tie and sash, gray felt sombrero, rich
ly laced with silver, gauntlet gloves
and high buff boots, with spurs-the
rowels as large as cheese plates car
bine. revolvers and sword. Their
horses are highly bred, and so ex-
quisitely trained that they obey the
pressure of the knee, the rein being
seldom, if ever used.-O Our Core
spondent