Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-02-02

family walk to mass together. Dc
casionally one meets bevy of these
Spanish and Mexican beauties, with
raven hair and midnight eyes, as
they slowly promenade round the
arbors OF the Zocalo, each attended
by a stern-visaged duenna.
Here on the border of the Zocalo.
stands the Cathedral, the most mas
sive and magnificent building in
the city. Its many dones and
towrets rise prominent before the
eye when one views the city from
any point de vantage. Inside, in its
bewildering courts and passages,
are numerous shrines and relics,
with candles always burnins.
Every one removes his hat on enter
ing, and kneels for moment upon
the floor. The odor of incense is
heavy upon the air. In the cornices
and upon the ceiling there still re-
main traces of the rich gliding,
which was once very beautiful, and
contained, it is said, millions of
dollars worth of gold. Into one of
its walls, outside, is set the old
Aztec Calendar, a gigantic circle of
hieroglyphics, curiously carved up
Oh a massive brown stone, and
which has never been deciphered.
1t is assumed to be Zodiacal calen-
dar.
A few squares, or streets-for each
street." by the Mexican system,
extends from one cross street to the
next-to the west, Is the alameda.
This is dark, shady park, thickly
grown with great trees which lap
their boughs overhead. Seats are
scattered here and there in the dense
shade; the walks and drives are
broad and smooth. This is the great
park of the city. Many extensive
improvements have been made in
the public streets and parks within
the past two years, and are still in
progress. 1t is very probable that
in five years Mexico will be one of
the most beautiful cities in the
world.
The amusements of the city are
not remarkable for variety, though
their quality is excellent, in all
cases. The Mexicans are good crit
les, and applaud or hiss respectively
anything that pleases or displeases
their taste. They frequently have
a good circus, which remains sever
al months, open every day and
every night. On Sundays and hol-
idays, bull-fights take place mile
or two in the suburbs. and these are
of the most approved and bloody
kind. Within a few years Jockey
Club has been organized, and has
taken fast hold upon the fancy of
the people. The Typical Mexican
is on horseback. With their hardy
little 6roncos, gorgeous trappings.
and picturesque costume, they dash
over ground at an appalling pace,
and their horses are trained to stop
short in their tracks at a touch. l
have seen an American. a splendid
horseman, shoot forward from his
saddle most unceremoniously, upon
the occasion of his first ride in Mex
leo. They guide their horses alto
gether by the touch of the reins up
ON his neck.
Opera constitutes the chief of the
amusements of the city. Every
year they have some of the best
French and italian opera troupes,
while two or three native compa-
mics give Spanish opera, and trans
lations from foreign works, for the
benefit of the more illiterate Next
cans. The opera is patronized uni
versalIy; they have no drama.
Nearly every Mexican gentleman
understands and speaks French of
late great many learn English.
There have been a number of Ger
man and French emigrants and
business men who have made Mex
leo their home, and are now con-
trolling most of the principal indus
tries. The MeXicans seem to regard
Frenchmen as their nearest allies
Germans and Englishmen are treat
ed very well. l think Americans
are looked upon with considerable
suspicion, and frequently dislike is
openly shown them. In many
towns of the interior Americans
have literally to fight their way; in
Monterey, g few months ago, the
American consul, for no earthly
reason save that he was the Amer
lean consul, was dragged from his
house and severely beaten, and the
house was left half-demOlished, with
no windows or furniture. q be-
lieve Secretary of State Frelinghuy-
sen received an alleged apology for
this from the Mexican Government,
which said that the mob was unau-
thorize1 by ii. Of course our Secre-
tary was satisfied with this, as he
would have been satisfied had none
been vouchsafed.)
The poor MeXicans have been in
terviewed by many enterprising
Yankees, to their lasting remem-
brance. But it takes sharp man
to cheat a Mexican. They are the
shrewdest, most unprincipled ira
ders conceivable. This is evident
in the largest and the smallest trans
actions. In buying any article, the
same little drama is enacted for
instance:
"How much ?"
"Eight dollars, noble patron"
"Bah ! / will give two"
"Ah, sir, the Holy Virgin hears
you. 1t cost me six dollars, and you j
may take it for that"
"No, no. Here are two dollars
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