The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-10
PAso DEL NORTE.
sketch of the Quaint Old Town-Its
Colnely Issses-Fhe Resident
Anerieauz.


vines are seen ut 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
ont the length and breadth of the land.
onions are raised here,
which are so pleasant and mild that they
are highly priced by travellers and IRON
tiersmen. They have the name of being
the best onions in the world.
Along the bottoms bordering on the
Rio Grande an immense amount Of land
has been placed under cultivation bv
means of irrigating bitches, and almost
everything necessary for the human
family in the shape of fruit and yege-
tables is raised without much difficulty.
The Mexicans are masters of irrigation.
and we'll know how TO use the water IN
the bitches. The adobe houses ara hid
den among the fruit trees and grape
vines, and for twenty miles along the
course of the river the settlements CON
tinue almost ike a continuous town. The
men are thrifty and respectable, and the
women comely and polite; some Of the
Young ladies are very pretty and their
picturesque Mexican styles look winning
enough. There is an air of thrift and
velI-doing here which Is satisfying in
the highest degree and merits admira-
ton.
The Whine houses are cool in summer
and warm in winter. and look inviting
enough with their long halls and shady
sittinC-rooms. In the evenings the
moonlight rests on the scene ike 4
dream of fairyland, and one ceases TO
wonder at the passionate funduu~s the
natives have for their favored land. In
olden times n few Americans drittcd in
and never left it again, taking unto
themselves wives and rearing large and
respectable families. A few wears AGO
it was great journey 70 this place, and
man who had been 10 Paso del Nor.e
had something TO brag Of. The settle
ments in New Mexico were much In ad-
vance of those in Chihuahua, especially
those near the river. though Pas0 del
| Norte can claim an age which j. most
| respectable, and carries Us back 10 the
| time of the viceroys Of Spain. Men who
| have good farms do not, as 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 OF the country. They were con-
| tent literally TO live under the shade Of
their own vines and liz 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 10 drive the hated
scion of the house of Hapsburg of the
face of the earth. How gratifying II
must be to those who bcfriended him TO
| look back on those scenes. and think
how much they did toward keeping
alive the fires of repuhlicauism. until
the monarchists were driven out and
banished forevermorei The house
where Juarez lived was pointed out, and
the owner seemed proud OF the fact that
he had given him shelter.
The old church in the plaza is quite
a curiosity in lis way, and wei worth a
visit. 1t was built many. many wears
ago. and is in a fair state OF FreSerYa-
ton, though some repair, would help
it very much. The beams which stretch
across the church and support the root
are deliberately carved. the designs be-
ing beautiful. a great deal OF labor
was expended on these huge blackwell
nut beams. but il was probably labor
| of love performed by pious hand aud
/ gave employment 10 many of the priests
and monks. Like many of the old
/ churches small pieces OF wood are laid
I from beam TO beam on the roof, the
| whole being covered with thick coat
I ing of cement. There are some pAssa-
/ bly, good pictures inside, but none
| which would create a profound impress
sion. The walls are massive and 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
habitants have found a final resting
place, at once peaceful and cOHsecrated
/ There are steps leading To the roof from
whence a beautiful view can be OBJ
tanned 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 building mp with
out the service of a surveyor.
Back of the church is the arena
where the bull-fghts 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-
ton, not unlike that of certain baseball
players in our land. They dress idutas-
ticallv and are quite expert in avoiding
the horns OF the bull, while teasing HIM
to the utmost and exciting his ire in
every possible way. The Spaniards and
their descendants are pa-sionately fond
OF this so-called sport, which seems very
cruel to other nations.
The roads near the town are good,
with the exception of those near the ir-
rigating bitches, which are muddy and
rough. There IS considerable trade with
the interior of the country. and the rail-
road does a fair business. which is on
the increase.
Here may occasionally be seen q Mex
lean beau in all his tinery. and really be
is picturesque object He is mounted
on hlgh-mettled horse, gro0mud TO the
last degree Of nicely, and has a saddle
heavily ornamcnted with silver a horse
hair bride, with delicate reins. and
rosettes in the brow-band His hat is a
thing to be admired trimmed as it is
with silver. His jacket is Of the finest
texture. and his shirt Is white as can be
made his trousers are bult0ued down
along the outer seam, showing bis
White drawers beneath, and be has 81
par Of huge silver spurs on. How his
horse does curvet and prauce, especially
when near the house his Sweetheart
lives in. He Is altogether very hand
some fellow,
His sweetheart watches for him near
heavily grated window, and when he
passes by gives him look which shows
that all Is right, and he Is perfectly hap
Ply. He passes and repasse. dozen
times, flying up and down the street as
If he had been shot out OF gun while
endeayoring TO witch the world with
noble horsemanship.' There is 81 crown
OF people to admire him, and lac enjoys
his exercise as well as "a man can.
The fronts of the houses makes 8 con
| tinuous wall along the street. broken
only by doors, or windows hayng thics
| and heavy shutters. These houses do
not have as much furniture rs Is cou
mon IN our country, and what ther. is
OF It Is by no means Of rs good 81 s-f1aIitv.
the Aexicans having no: yst lelaed TO
cram their houses as full Of al kinds Of
SUN as TO make it almost impossi bic 10
! get about IN them. Gradually. however,
they VIII come to it when the females
become better acquainted with their
American sisters. So far az the writer
| knows, the Mexicans make the best
chocolate Of any people in the world,
the only drawback being that they do
not give you enough of il. and in some
OF the houses here mentioned thew have
the secret OF making chocolate in per
lection little cinnamon adds 70 its
navor. and they get the exact quantity
In SO as to leave nothing TO be desired.