Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17

the poorer pe0rIe never attempt to alter
it. Every ore goes TO the plaza in the
evening" and the result is a brilliant
scene. The city is supplied with water
from wells and springs. There is a lake
three miles away, at an elevation suthclent
te send water without forcing machinery
ItO any part Of the city. The water is ex-
eeIlent, tut no one has ever thought of
supplying the city from that source.
When the city is lighted il is lighted by
coal oil lamps swung in the centre of the
streets on wires. They are used only in
the dark and rainy season. There are
electric lights in the plaza, but they are
lighted only when the mint is running, for
the engine Of the mint runs the dynamos.
The telephone system is in use and has $50
subscribers. The city has a number Of
public baths, some Of which are very lux
uriOus; indeed, they would all be cOnsid-
cred luxurious here. They are all fed by
springs. One of them which visited has
a swimming tank 80 feet long by 20 feet
wide. 1t has gravel bottom and water
4 feet deep, which is running all the time.
There is also a shower bath. Each Oather
gets half dozen towels, one of which is
a great Turkish affair, as large as a bed
sheet, for him to wrap himself up in when
he comes out. At another of these baths
the large tank is surrounded by a luXuri-
ant display Of flowers. There are no bath
tubs in these places. Each of the bath
rooms has a tank about IS feet by 10. One
Of the baths is reserved for the Governor
Of the state and another for the Bishop.
Guadalajara is the Mexican Boston. 1t
is the seat of learning, and all the poets,
historians and philosophers live there. 1t
was formerly the headquarters of the revO-
lutiOnists. because before the building of
railways in Mexico it took two weeks to
90 from the City Of Mexico TO Guadalaja-
IA. and the TevOlutiOnists could mature
their plans without fear that the news
would reach the seat of government very
speedily.
s'S0me Of the customs of the country
amused me vastly. They always raise the
price in Mexico when you want anything
in large quantities. The Mexican Central
Road wanted a quantity Of ties, and the
contractors went to a Mexican and or
dered 10000 from him on trial. The ties
were found TO be suitable, and then they
ordered 200. Then the man doubled
. the price. They tried to argue the matter
with him, but he said that if they wanted
so much more work Of him they must pay
more. Another funny incident, which
was related to me by one of the parties
/ concerned in it, was about a Judge. His
signature was wanted on a certain paper.
/ In the ordinary course Of law six months
would have elapsed before he signed the
I paper. A great deal Of money was in
y0ived in the matter, so the interested per-
/ sons went to the Judge and made him a
proposition.
..'If you will sign this paper at once,'
I said they, wen give you $1,000, and not a
\ living soul shall ever know it,
.'NOt a living sOulT he asked.
'.NO, not One.'
! s.sWeH,' answered the Judge, make it
/ $4,000 and I shall not care a blank who
| knows it,
Goods are transported down there on
mules and bUrrOs. A mule will carry 800
! pounds and a burrO $50. You will see
\ pack trains of from 100 to $50 of them
/ winding their way through the narrow
I mountain roads, always led by a mare
with a bell on her neck. The mare gem
/ orally looks as if she could not carry more
than the bell. You seldom see a wagon,
I but when YOU do it is a twO-wheeled con-
/ Germ, with solid wheels eight or ten
/ inches thick, and is drawn by eight OF ten
I oxen, all yOked by the horns. The men
I guide them with long bamboo pole with
I a prong on the end Of it. The blowing is
I done with One-handled plOw, because the
[ farmer must have the other hand free 70
use the bamboo guide. They don't know
much about the use of implements in
I Mexico. Some kind soul sent a cargo OF
| wheelbarrOws down there. What do you
( suppose they did with themg Loaded
them up and carried them on their heads
I Every one carries a revolver in open
. sight, but no one ever uses one. The peO-
pie are excessively polite. They follow the
. old Spanish customs in this respect. In
I travelling a man never takes out a single
cigar; be always produces a box and in
yites each OF his fellOw-traYelers to take
one. He does the same with liquor OF
fruit or any other thing he may have with
him to assist in enduring the journey. In
the cities at noon every one takes off bis
hat. 1t is a religious custom. One re
[ ligiOUs custom rather upset me. was sit
ting in the plaza of Guadalajara wher
suddenly every one around me went
down on his knees. 1 was preparing to dc
the same, out of respect to the custom o.
the country, when they all arose. l asked
a friend what it meant"
Didn't you see an old wagon going by|
he asked.
Yes; what of it?'
''Weli, the Holy Ghost was in thai
wagon"
u then learned that the wagon was car
ryIng a priest with the sacrament to the
bedside of some diving man. The nationa
drink is teQuila, so called from the town
/ where it is principally made. 1t is dis
titled from the bulb of a species Of cactus
called maya. and is absolutely pure. The
Mexicaus claim that it is altogether diff
ferent from the palm-tree wine mentioned
by XenOphon, inasmuch as it is not EEK
ceedingly headachy.' l am not prepared
TO substantiate that statement"
Mr.. Wilson produced some tequila. /
smelled Ike a combination OF gin ant
Irish whisky ana Tasted a great deal lik
spplejack. 1t burned the throat like stronJ
[ French brandy and was colOrless.