St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-12-28
BINGHAM'S DRUG STORE.
Life in Mexico.
From Northampton Gazette.
NI.,, hy,,, 81

MEXICO, OCT. u, 1853.
The city of Mexico, 5000 feet above
the sea level, is situated in the center
of an immense plain, entirely sur
rounded by high mountains; this plain
being to Il certain extent IL world by
itself, very few of the people having
seen the other side of the mountain
for previous to the building of the
railroads they travelled very little.
The city is very well laid t. in the
center being IA large open square called
the Plaza de Armas, on one side of
which is the immense cathedral, stand
ing on the site of the ancient Aztec
temple which was overturned by
Cortes. On another side, is the Ma
tiOnal Palace, Il very large building
built also by the Spaniards. This
building, though only two stories high,
covers much ground. 1t contains all
the offices pertaining to the govern
ment of the republic the post office,
national museum, fire department ana
barracks for Il regiment of soldiers,
with il large court yard for drill
ground. The other sides are occupied
10y buildings used for the police head
quarters, general stores and restaur-
ants. In the center of this Plaza, is a
small park called the ZOcalO, laid out
in short paths winding among flowers
and shrubbery, and containing large
music stand where fine military bands
play, morning, afternoon and evening,
on Sundays, and every other evening
during the week. This Plaza is the
center of the city, from which the
streets run in direct line, one being
able on looking down any of them, to
see the mountains far beyond. The
city being so high, the air is very thin
and transparent, owing to which, the
surrounding hills, though being some
% miles distant, seem to be not over
four or five. This rarefaction of the
air is not so troublesome as one would
suppose. You are told by the "knOw-
ing ones" who come on the steamer
with You that it will be found difficult
to breathe, there not being air enough,
but few are troubled, and then only
on either walking fast, or going up
many stairs.
Whatever may he said against this
country is cOunterbalanced by its eli
mate, which is delightful, being even
in temperature the entire year, with
cool nights, and moderately warm
DAYS. 1t is never hot, yet in the win
ter months there is occasionally IA cold
night. This of course applies to the
| high lands, for in the lower country
the. heat is terrific, with much yellow
fever during the summer months
| The wear is divided into the wet and
| dry seasons, the latter extending from
| November to June of the next year
and Oh windy days the dust blows in
! clouds, sometimes so thick that you
can see nothing around You. But the
| daVs are perfect, not cloud to bt
seen all day, while the sun gives just
enough heat to make the air comfort
able. The rest of the year it rains
every day for about an hour or two il
the afternoon, though few minutes
before the sun was shining from ;
clOudless sky. Sometimes this shower
is very heavy; then the principa
streets are flooded, owing to the poo
drainage of the city, and unlucky il
the person caught out III the street
for he is at the mercy of the - Carga
d0res," or Poems, whom you ar,
obliged to hire to take you across tn,
street on their backs, or 20 some dis
tance around. For any one havin:
the time, the latter is the most prefer
able, for the Poems are treacherOu
people. They will agree to take yOu
across the street for a real, U2tc,
then. when in the middle of the pond
Won must either pay IA much large
price or be dropped into the water
The water will also rise to the entran
ces of the stores, obliging the clerk
to stand there with brOOms and buck
cts to keep the water out. This, how
ever, does not often happen, and onl
when the shower comes down all IA
once. The water subsidies general
before evening, leaving the streets i
Il bad condition, which remain so dur
ing the season; yet this season o
many accounts is the best. THE air j
clearer and fresher, making the morn
ings fine for riding. Flowers are i
: bloom here during the entire veal
; and not only are very handsome, bu
b cheap. On one side of the cathedra
{ is the flower market. the flowers he
! ing brought there 10y the Indians, VIII
J. show great taste in their arrangement
= They will sell for most any price yo
r will give. and for two dollars You ca
get bouquet measuring some thre
feet across and made of the choicest {
flowers.
Tropical fruits are to be had here ;
all times of the year, but each fru
has its season, so that you do not til
of them. There is not much grown
i the city, but in the lower lands, ;
E Orizaba and CordOra, there is fru
, enough to supply the whole countr.
: ILa nrIncinnl frmits are the nI.in nu