Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-11
THE CITY OF NIENiCO.
ments-lhe Habits Of the people.


ments-i Habit, of the people.
A correspondent of the Springfield Re
pUbiicdn, writing from the Mexican capt.
tal says:
1t must be remembered that there are
no marked seasons here with us, necessi-
tating change of amusements but it is a
summer-land where fruits aud flowers
abound the whole yeai through-the alti-
tude of the capital, which in Colorado
would be above the line of eternal snow,
preserving temperature of perpetual
June This is not race given to much
active exercises, like the harder Anglo
Saxon, but Mexicans delight in the dolce
par mente of life, in stroling about in the
sunshine and listening to music, in riding
and singing and dancing, aud love-mak-
ing to the tune of guitars, and showing
themselves off daily in the Paseo and the
Zocolo. The Paseo de la Rcforma is pro-
nounced by travelled persons to be the
most beautiful drive in the world. Be
ginning at the main plaza i'll the centre of
the city, and going westward to the cas-
tie of Chapultepec, the distance is ex-
actly $50 yards. The Pa 60 proper be-
gins at the foot of San Francisco street,
the Broadway of Me leo, and the exact
line of demarkation is at the equestrian
statue of Charles ". of Spain, which,
| by the way, is the first bronze cast III the
hemisphere, II beautiful work, executed
by an Indian artist, Tolsa. The width of
the Paseo, including sidewalks, is 40
feet, and is shaded by double row OF
ash and eucalyptus trees. MAMMALIAN
laid ont this Bots and Central park. the
afternoon drive promenade of fashiona-
| bic Mexico, and his wife planned the
ZocolO opposite the great cathedral.
About , o'clock of every afternoon car
riages begin to roll alo Y the Paseo, and
the pageant continues perfect Vanity
| Fair of the youth, beauty, wealth and
elegance of Mexico-until night drops II
curtain on the scene. About sunset the
royd is at its height, the pavements
thronged with pedestrians, aud the his
toric drive one crush of carriages and
horsemen. Considering the enormous
expense Of carriages i'll this cor ltry
(Which are all imported the duties alone
on an ordinary coach being several hun
bred dollurs) one Is astonished ut the
great number, variety and elegance of
the turnouts. Mexico has long been
famed for its horses, finer collection of
which cannot be found anywhere i'll the
world than on this same Paseo any after
noon of the week. Mexican horsemen
must be seen to be appreciated. Hun
dreds Of them, with weighty spurs. sill
yer loaded sombreros, astrican, KID or
velvet jackets, tiger-skin or silver-trim-
med riding breeches, richly embroidered
land bedecked saddles, each with cutlass
at his side and huge rev lvers Ill his belt,
lgo curvetting about among the carriages
on their mettlesome steeds, staring into
the willing faces of the senoritas, rs is
the accepted method of compliment here.
But if the equestrian dandy of the cOun-
try is spectacle, his young American
mitators (and they are numerous) are in
deed sights, for they out-MeXican the
Mexlcans themselves, carrying all then
absurd fashions to the most exaggerated
!extreme. This arming oneself, Capable
lis entirely unnecessary and ridiculous,
flor mounted soldiers armed to the teetl
are stationed in couples all along the Pas
go to quell any possible disturbance
} which might arise. 1t is asserted thai
one "howling swell" here, with greater
surplus of lucre than intellect, paid 5000
for his saddle alone, not counting til,
jewelled sword which adorned it, the dia
mond- handled whip or other accoutre
ments. But the money VAS not waste,
after all, for the homesick German wb,
spent year in making it retired on thu
profits and returned jubiiantly to fathe
land.
The ladies generally dress for the Pase,
} in what we would consider full evening
l or opera costume, pale silks and satins
often even thinner material, withou
wraps, and with no co, e"ing for the head
except rarely one with lace mantilla
Round and round they drive in one di
rection, the horsemen cay orting gaily il
the other, smiling, flirting, bright eye
flashing, fans iluttering i'll jeweled fin
y gers, Everybody as is anybody" taking
/ part in the show, the sign and seal of so
4 cal distinction being set according to til
e display here made.
r Compa atively few ever think OF leay
. ing the crowded vanity fair of the frs
+ circle to extend their drive a few rods far
d ther to the famous castle of Chapultepec
e A greater contrast cannot be imagine
than between the glitter and friyolity G
t 'the passing show" ON the Paseo, and tn
! solemn silence of the historic castl
: perched upon its rocky eminence and NJ
q pnrently breeding upon past ages Til
: very air whispering among She mos
, draped Expresses surrounding 1t, is htlT
with the me uories of other days.
g The castle of to-day, which is now til
: military college or West Point Of MeXic,
e IL most familiar to Americans by reaso
n Of General SCOTS exploits. Before tha
II for over three hundred years, it was til
residence and count of the vceloys
f. Spain, and earlier was the site Of Monte
Il zuma's most magnificent palace. TIL
's grand old cypress trees surro u ding /
Z whose fame is world wide, form natur,
rs park, under whose spre aiding braDche
now hung with funeral festoons of Ion
% gray moss, producing an indescribaDl
u melancholy effect, Montezuma is said {
" have held the most royal and cruel cou
~ known to history. MAMMALIAN and Ca
lotta made the present castle their sun
q mer home, and certain rooms of it N
nj now being elegantly retitted for the fl
Of ture presidents of Mexico. the first occl
ne pants of which will be General and Mr.
e. Diaz In the garden, which Carlot
Tn loved, the most magnificent pansies
rs ever saw are growing-as large rs Il
or palm of my hand, and of indescribab
n. rich coloring-which, for her sake, Il
Id old gardener still tends with aflectiona
10 care. From the marble-paved corrido
~ surrounding the castle, where Maxim
nc liam paced full of anxious Thought. II
'e view is the most beautiful that can
-. imagined.
80 The famous valley of Mexico. the on
!, den of the world, lies at ones feet. IN
ch picture is beautiful but unutterably 3,
| Il