The Red Cloud chief., 1886-02-05
PASO DEL NORTE.
Sketch Of the Quaint Old Town-Its
COmely I.asses-The Resident
American. =

Americans.
A qnaint old town is Pas0 del NOrte,
in Chihuahua, and quite an important
one. The trees are planted thickly
along the sides of the streets and grape
vines are seen at every step. In the
proper season there is no end to the
amount of grapes produced. and the
wine OF this region is famous through
out the length and breadth of the land.
Silvcr-skinned onions are raised here,
which are so pleasant and mild that they
are highly priced by travellers and from
ticrsmcn. They have the name Of being
the best onions i'm the world.
Along the bottoms bordering on the
Rio Grandc an immense amOunt of land
has been placed under cultivation by
means OF irrigating bitches. and almost
everything necessary for the human
family in the shape OF fruit and vege-
tables is raised without much difficulty.
The Mcxicans are masters of irrigation,
and well know how to use the water in
the bitches. The adobe houses arc hid
den among the fruit trees and grape
vines, and for twenty miles along the
course of the river the settlements con-
tinuc almost like 4 continuous town. The
men are thrifty and respectable. and the
women comcly and polite; some of the
young ladies are very pretty and their
picturesque Mexican styles look winning
enough. There is IN air of thrift and
wcll-doing here which is satisfying in
the highest degree and merits admira-
ton.
The white houses are cool in summer
and warm in winter. and look inviting
enough with their long halls and shady
sitting-rooms. In the evenings the
moonlight rests on the scene like .
dream of %faiiyland. and one ceases to
wonder at the passionate fondncss the
natives havc fOr-thcir favored land. In
oldcn times u few Americans driftel in
and never left il again. taking unto
themselves wives and rearing larocmd-i
respectable families. A few wears ago
II was 2 Cat journey to this place. and
&s&i who had been to Pasc del NOrte
hast something to brag of. The settle
ments in New Mexico were much in adj
vance of those in chihuahua, especially
those near the river. though Paso del
Norte can claim an age which is most
respectable, and carries us back to the
tI1IlC " tEC Va .'ItHh. ~ ~ /
have good farms do not. rs a general
thing, care much about politics. and for
this reason probably the people here
abOuts never cut much Of a figure in the
history IF the country. They were con-
tent literally to live under the shade Of
their own vines and fig trees, and let
vain glory and pomp pass quietly by.
Still. when Macmillan was emperor of
Mexico. the good old President Juarez
found a home and friends here. and
went forth from here to drive the hated
scion of the house of Hapsburg Off the
face Of the earth. How gratifying il
must be to those who befricndcd him to
look pack on those scenes. and think
how much they did toward keeping
alive the fires of republicanism. until
the monarchisis were driven out and
banished forcvcrmore! The house
where Juarcz lived was pointed out, and
the owner seemed proud of the fac: that
he had given him shelter.
The old church i'm the plaza is quite
\ curiosity in its way. and we'll worth =
visit. 1t was built man.. many years
ago. and is in a fair state of preScrva-
tion. though some repairs would help
it very much. The beams which stretch
across the church and support the roof
are deliberately carved, the designs be-
ing beautiful. a great deal of labor
was expended on these huge blackwell
nut beams, but it was probably a labor
Of love performed by pious hand and
gave employment To many of the priests
and monks. Like many of the old
churches small pieces of wood are laid
from beam TO beam on the roof, the
whole being covered with = thick coat
ing of cement. There are some pasSa-
bly, good pictures inside. but none
which would create a profound impress
sion. The walls are massive n strong,
and made of adobeS which have been
hardened by the sunshine of a century.
The church is situated on the main
plaza and the priests reside close by.
Many tablets on the ground in front Of
the church show where the former in
hab!tants have found q final resting
place. II once peaceful and ~consecratcd.
There arc steps Leading To the roof from
vbenco . beautiful view can be OBJ
tained OF the winding course of the river
and the various objects of interest round
about. The streets Of the town are in
full view and tortuOus enough to war
rant the belief that the town had taken
its own course about buikding up with
out the service of . Surveyor.
Back of the church is the arena
where the bull-6ghts are held. and at
the proper season Of the year curious
festivals take place for the benefit of all
concerned. The -matadors. or bull
fighters have considerable local reputa-
tioo, lot unlike that Of certain baseball
players II our land. They dress fantas-
tically aud are quite expert in avoiding
the hoens of the bull. while teasing him
to the utmost aud exciting his ire in
every possible way. The Spaniards and
their descendants are passionately fond
of this socalled sport which seems very
cruz 70 othcr nations
Tc roo1b near the town are good.
with the exception Of those near the ir-
rigasing ditc6eS which 4 muddy and
There is considerable trade with
the interior of the country, and the rail-
road does a fair business, which is O
the increase.
Hero msy occasionally Be seen . Mex