The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-05-24

,pccSion Of lnelr ROTk. NO American
lady would allow an entire stranger to
nose around her kitchen purely for the
purpose of criticising Not much. First
: dirty looking fellow came around with
chunks of dry bread and placed one at
each plate. After awhile beef ana pota-
toes were brought on the same plate. the
latter well saturated with onion Juice.
Then We had eggs. The tea was good;
coffee and chocolate likewise. so
some of the hungry folks said.
The only comment we Will offer on
the breakfast which cost 81 per head is
that il was little better than We ex.
pectcd, and was slight improvement
over the one we had at FL Paso. After
breakfast there was q general hand
shaking among friends. We not only
met Gov. Anthony, but our old fellow
citizens Major e. P. Bancroft and wife,
and w. p. Montgomery, formerly of the
Santa Fe road, whose family is still IN
Emporia. The Bancrofts and Mr..
Montgomery are we'll pleased with the
country, and are doing well. The
Major has an Office opposite the plaza,
and they ara comfortably located. Our
people will be pleased 20 learn that he |
is dong well in business. He gave US |
great deal of interesting information |
about Mexico, being thoroughly posted |
as TO its resources. The population of |
the city is about $4,000. 1000 of which
are Americans Mines and stock ranch
es are extensively owned by citizens at
Chihuahua. South and southwest of
the city IS the Conchos and other val
legs which are rich wheat, corn and
cotton lands. The land is owned in
large bodies, but is leased in small
farms Of five and ten acres. Two crops
9 season are produced in many in
stances. Major Bancroft says Americans
| are beginning to fluid out that IL don't
do TO make tun of Mexican modes of
mining. They have spent fortunes in
trying to develop mines out of which
the Mexicsns make money not quite SO
rapidly but more surely. He says also
that burrO transportation h the thing
for that mountainous region, and the
cheapest transportation In the world.
Seventy Eve car loads OF mining machin-
cry had been unloaded at chihuahua in
the last fifty days. He informs US that
the dry season ends the last of this
month or the first of June, and that the
rains last about three months and that
the dry plains become as green AS the
| prairies of Kansas.
Governor Anthony lives pleasantly ON
the outskirts of the city on the Alameda
drive. He has a pleasant home
| with flower and fruit
| garden, and beautiful surround
ings. He seems thoroughly enlisted in
working for the best interest of Chihua-
hus. just as he was in helping to build
up the best interests of Kansas so long
as he was among us. We were pleased
as well as little surprised to learn
| from him of the strides that had been
| made in the direction OF crushing out
the ignorance and superstition which
has been the foundation of the Catholic
church in that country. where it has
done so much injury TO the people for
centuries. The revolution seems COM
plete AND the good results are seen on
all hands. The church is stripped of its
power. $4,000 to 5000 are being spent
monthly In that city for schools. The
Catholic marriage is not recognized,
and the church dignitaries are not even
allowed to appear in public in their
distinctive robes. and toggery. The
| Mexicans are eager to learn the English
language and to adopt American ways
and manners. There seems complete
| change and foreigners who know how
with the utmost hospitality, and kind
ness. The principal points of interest
| in Chihuahua are the Cathedral, the
mint, the prison, the market, the casino,
the drives, and the plaza. These were
all visited by our party, and the people
not only afforded every facility, but took
great pains in giving all Information IN
their power. Americans were at hand to
act as interpreters, and few of our
party had a smattering Of Spanish. The
city of chihuahua was founded in 1904,
and is the capital of the state of Chi
huahus. 1t lies in the valley of the
Conchos river, stream of pure, clear
water. It Is laid off regularly, with
payed streets and sidewalks, which are
kept clean by being swept evevy few
mornings and the dust carried away.
Nearly all the houses are of adobe
although the public buildings and some
of the dwellings are of stone-and one
story high, and are built in the usual
Mexican style, around square or court
called "placita." The city is supplied
with water from springs that pour out of
q mountain side. 1t is conveyed to the
| City in 9 stone acqueduct, which was
built 1874 years ago. and seems as good
as ever. The plaza Is thFonged day and
night with people. There are beautiful
shrubs and trees, and large fountain
that flows constantly. It is fitted with
walks and seats, and around 1t is broad
walk. The evening we left at 7:3o p.
m, a good band was discussing de-
lightful music, and the plaza was
thronged with people. 1t was by far the
handsomest spot we saw in all our 5000
mile journey. The cathedral is a fine
structure, and cost $750,OOO. There
must have been come big steals when it
was erected because We are OF the Opin.
ion $4,000 would put up q finer build
ing in Kansas. 1t contains few seats, as
was the case with all the old churches
we visited. The devotees assemble and
worship IN q squatting or sitting po-
sition upon the naked door. The build
| ing was commenced in 1888 but was not
finished till 1S49, being over one hum
| dred years in building. At the time
| Maxmillion invaded Mexico he sat a can.
non on the hiil near by and knocked one
of the towers down Ind made q hole
! in the bell. The tower was rebuilt
The habits of the people of Chihushue
are peculiar In fact we saw widely
different, but rapidly declining civili-
cation there. They are exceedingly po-
lite and hospitable. We were told that
If We would remain another day every
house In the city would be thrown open
| to US. The better class of Mexican men
and women are handsome and attract
i've, especially the ladies'. 1t is the Gus
tom of the women to appear little in
public. A young nan cannot take his
seaOrita to the opera or party, nor sit
with her in the parlor unless
attended by some member Of her fami-
". He il often seen at the windows in
the cool of the evening talking to her
through the grates, the windows being all
protected by iron bars. We never had
any experience, but we should suppose
this was not near SO satisfactory as our
national habit of swinging on the front
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