The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-01
AMONG THE MEXlUANS.
SIGHTS AND SCENES IN TIE CITY
OF MEXICO.

The Bad Compilations of All Next
cans-People Who Dwell on Curbstones.
SPECIAL Correspondence.l
CITY OF MEXICO, March THE streets in
the vicinity of the Iturbide hotel answer to
the Fifth avenue and Broadway of New
York, when compared with other parts of
the city Here one has but little annoyance
from dust. Numerous parks with plenty Of
seats afford an agreeable relief from the pre-
vailing aridity. The streets are very wide,
affording space for double track street car
lines in the center with ample room for car
riageways on either side. Instead of names
for streets each block has distinct name.
In this quarter the streets are lined with
shops, displaying in their windows the most
costly jewelry and elegant dress goods.
bonnets are never worn here One article
of female street apparel is in universal use:
a scarf three yards long, with long fringes at
the ends wound around the person, with one
end thrown backward over the left shoulder.
This garment would be very picturesque but
for its color, which is uniform indigo blue.
Cotton goods are dear, prints being twenty
cents a yard; but of woolens, in great variety
and of good quality, of home manufacture
there is plentiful supply and at moderate
prices.
The parks are numerous and we'll cared for
The leaves are carefully swept Off from the
fresh green grass In the larger parks are
numerous fountains, with large basins In
all the parks, large and small, are great num-
bers of stone benches, mostly occupied by the
poorer classes, though occasionally ladies and
gentlemen may be seen enjoying the dolce
Jar n,ente Geraniums and calas, sweet
marguerites blue violets and many other
kinds of flowers, in great profusion, fill the
air and delight the senses with their
fragrance and beauty. Many other flow
, ers, shrubs and plants are not yet IN
bloom. In the less exposed Enclosures
of the cathedral roses are blooming III
such abundance that the bushes are hardly
able to support their lovely burdens. Every
where, excepting along the streets, trees and
shrubs in great variety and Of singular
beauty, all in full leaf, afford grateful pro
lection from the rays of the tropical sun; for
though at this elevation the sensible heat is
not excessively intense, yet exposure TO the
suns rays very soon ruins the complexion and
seriously affects the health of all who have
', not become accustomed to this peculiar eli
mate. Even among the residents fine COM
plexion ia exceptional.
One effect of the rarfied atmosphere OF this
, elevated region is the fatigue occasioned by
an amount of labor or exercise which at lower
levels would occasion no discomfort. If there
were no other reason why the houses are gen.
orally of only one story, and hardly ever ex-
; coed two, sufficient cause would be found IN
! the fact that climbing Il single flight OF stairs
= exhausts the strength quite as much as
mounting to the fourth and fifth stories OF
New York residences. 1t severely taxes the
: strength of an invalid to walk these dusty
= streets.
| often visit the cathedral not alone MOI
. chiefly for devotional purposes nor to feas
y nv eyes upon its architectural magnihcence
- of which | dare not attempt description, bu
~ to regae my senses with the sight and per
. fume of the lovely flowers which abound il
u the charming little park by which ii is sur
rounded. Splendid bouquets are offered TO
u sale on every hand, such as in New Yorl
Z would sell for 81 or IS, bringing here only
. twenty five cents.
u AS general thing the streets swarm, es
- pecially at midday, with squalid and filthy
IL looking mass of humanity, whose one redeem
II ing quality is that, instead of the listless al
. of the Italian lazzaroni, every one of thes
. people appears to have something to do upol
% which he is intent, or else he is seeking EN-
Il ployment This class do not appear to Ev
in houses. Whole families may be seei
y squatted on the curbstones or in corridors
II eating their MONDAY meals Wages ar
. cheap, female domestics receiving "a or So
=, month"; and males about So; but in this eli
u = mate, and living as these people do, thei
=, ! wages seem to be quite large enough.
II l noticed with great satisfaction the entir
" absence of those numerous insects which ar
Q the ever present torment of residents of tn
lowlands in the tropics.
In Mexico there is no family breakfast
II such as we have in the states The family d
y not assemble Each one goes to the dinin
. room at convenience. You take a seat at tn
+ table, and the waiter asks your choice of col
/ fee, chocolate, milk, eggs etc The bread
,. excellent, and sweet bread or plain cake
u often served at breakfast. The first regula
. meal of the day, called the "desayono,"
taken at from IL to o'clock The course
:, :. and their order are soup, eggs prepared in
u variety Of ways, beefsteak-I have seldor
~ seen roast, but their steaks are excellent
and mush of black beans, with caulifiowe
:, and spinach, but potatoes very seldom
Ii have not seen any Irish potatoes as large a
s. hens eggs. The first / saw l mistook fo
! olives The dessert consists mostly Of dulce
and fruits but no pastry or puddings. Th
: wines are excellent.
. have had my strong desire gratifed t
- stand on the spot where Montezuma passe
,, his innocent and peaceful life until the incu
- sion of the Spaniards / could hardly kee
&c back my tears while standing there, thinkin
q of the slaughter of the Aztecs and the crue
ties inflicted upon them and their monarch b
. those ruthless invaders. | looked out frol
J, the corridor upon a scene of rare beauty. I'll
" castle of Chapultepec is built upon rock
mound of considerable eminence Besides IL
~ very extensive buildings suitable for reg
!" palace, there is tower of three stories whic
- must have been the residence Of the roy
u family. On the north and east Sides secon
= and third stories, is magnificent corridC
= connecting with garden on the third story
!, Here asked for q pensamiento-keepsak
u and was permitted to pluck it for mysel
- - The views from this tower are exceeding
. beautiful and extensive The City
II Mexico rises in this distance-two mill
and more away-'n the pure atmo
: phere, its white buildings sparklin
U in the sunlight, while the beautifl
=, Alameda park looks like a great emeral
- - set in silver. The woods Of Chapultept
" spread out on the opposite side, and the beal
US 4;e,,I .,,d b;oto-ic Lake Ia in fuIl view Son