The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-09-25
CITY OF THE ANGELS.
MEXICO.
Pueblo de los Angeles, and Its wonders
The Streets and Quaint Buildings
The Famous Cathedra1-Beau-
ties of the Altar.
JFannie g. Wards Puebla Letter

Fannie c. Wards Puebla letter.
This GCitv of the Angels" is one of the
few in modern Mexico which was not
built upon the ruins of former Aztec great
ness, but was an original idea Of the early
Spanish colonists. It's site, on the green
plain of Acayete, was formerly occupied
by few huts belonging to the Cholula
Indians, and was then, as now, environed
by productive cornfelds beyond which
miles of the American agave or century
plant stretched away to the foothills of
the Sierra Madras.
The present city is considered by many
the finest in Mexico 1t is the rival of
Guadalajara in beauty, and is second in
size to the capital, with a population of
nearly 10000 1t was founded in 1881,
and was named Puebla de los Angeles
City of the Angels, because of the tradi-
ton, still devoutly believed, that while its
cathedral was being constructed the work
was continued every night when the
Workmen slept by angels, who added as
many stones as the builders had placed by
day Since 1862 the city has been called
Puebla de ZaragoZa. in honor of the Mex
ican general who defeated the French
army here in that year.
The streets of Puebla are wider and
better paved than those of most Mexican
cities, and its two stored buildings are in
pleasant contrast with the prevailing style
of interior towns, where the narrow stony
alleys are overshadowed by the gloomy.
low-roofed casas of a bygOne age. Be-
sides the inevitable central plaza and the
great Alameda grove of elms), Puebld re-
ioices in no less than twenty six public
parks, all of which are well shaded, and
flower filled spaces, where the populace
congregate nightly. The shop fronts
and most of the houses are built
of six sided bricks, with small blue
tiles set in between. Others are a
perfect mosaic of Dutch or China tiles
upon ground work of Pompeiian red.
arranged in all manner of designs, and
having numerous placques and panels.
upon which saints are carved or painted,
let into the walls. The effect is extremely
quaint Although somewhat startling at
first to foreign eyes, one soon becomes ac-
customed to the vivid coloring. and comes
to regard our commonplace dwellings
much as a collector of ceramics looks
upon deli as compared with decorated
pottery. The finest tiles Oh The continent
are made in Puebla, and mere are no less
than dozen fabracaS for their manufact-
ure.
The famous cathedral, once one of the
richest in the world, is still the great at
traction for tourists, though much of its
pristine splendor disappeared with the de-
cadence of papal power. Standing in the
midst of majestic expresses, and sur
rounded By wide stretch of marble pave
ment one sees no evidence of the work of
shadowy hands; but, on the contrary,
everything looks as substantial as though
designed for eternity. The facade of the
northern entrance is embellished with
statues and medallions in marble, and the
mitre and keys of the pope. On the face
of the western tower is a fine old clock,
made in Madrid more than two centuries
ago.
The main entrance of the cathedral is
toward the west. and here are more stat
ues, occupying numerous inches, scores
of sculptured saints and coveys of legless
cherubim lowering around the marble slab,
which tells us that the gloomy pile was
erected n 1854 The immense marble
paved space surrounding it is inclosed
within high, spear-pointed iron fence,
whose innumerable posts of massive gran
lite are all faced by bronze casts in bas re
lief, and topped by angels with out
stretched wings Ali these bronzes were
cast by an American named Marshall, for
merly from New York city, who lived in
Mexico for many yeara
Though untold treasures in the way Of
gold, silver and precious stones were con-
iscated from this church by the anti Cath
bic regime. it is still enormously rich.
The finest collection of marbles in the
"oEIO 0uIeFS INTO It's CONSTRUCTION, not
even excepting the celebrated Tai Mahul,
IF India. Perhaps its most striking object
s the main altar. 1t was erected in 1912
BY a prelate of Puebla, and affords the
greatest display of the beautiful Mexican
onyx to be found anywhere in the repub
ic, which is famous for it. One is aston
shed by the infinite variety of tints-from
lose color to Nile green, dark yellow, and
mahogany brown Among all the most
lovely is the pure white
alabaster from the exhaust.
ess quaTries near Puebla.
A massive railing and steps of translu-
eent onyx lead toa circular platform ele
rated ten feet above the floor, beneath
which are buried the successive bishops
If Puebla. This exquisite sepulchre is
constructed entirely of the most precious
and is divided into inches and
panels, the whole covered with dome of
transparent alabaster, whose crystalline
,learness is enhanced by trimmings of
bronze and gold. From the center of
his wonderful canopy depends huge
silver lamp, which burns forever above
he illustrious dead.
The Sickness Called ''Sirocche"