The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-06-29
AN INVASION OF MEXICO.
The Paseo-Doing in Mexico as Mexi.
cans Do-A "Field" Day-Fable
and Fact-Sermons in Stones
pictures-A Bull-hght, Etc.

Leading from the base of Chapultepet
to the outskirts of the city, is a beau
tiful drive called the Paseo de Ia
Reforn'a. It is wide, paved, bordered
on either side by giant eucalyptai
trees and relieved, here and there, by
bronze and marble statues. 1t is the
only handsome carriage drive near the
city, and here every evening, between
G and o'clock may be found the beau.
ty and the chivalry of Mexico, the
"e-light" of the town as Judge Still.
well would say, driving back and
forth in elegant turn-outs, to see and
to be seen. The ladies are dressed in
their finest, the men ditto and the
scene is picturesque and beautiful. 1t
would ssem to be the last place where
soldiers are needed. And yet here
they are, mounted dragons, fully
armed, stationed in couples a hundred
yards or SO apart, On either side of the
road way, This is Republic and the
administration of President Diaz is a
stable one-for it rests on a sword that
is never sheathed and never out OF
sight.
~
While in the City of Mexico, we
were the guests, to a certain limited
extent, Of the Mexican Press Club.
Representatives of the Club met us
when we arrived and really tried tC
show us some courtesies. Among
other things they thought to do u.
honor by sending US to drive on the
Paseo one evening at the fashionable
hour. We were told to be at our cars
at 5 o'clock at which time carriages
with the compliments of the Press
Club. would call for us. There was &
great flutter of preparation, particular
ly among the ladies. Trunks were
|overhauled and elegant dresses
brought along for just such an emery
ency, were donned and arranged will
many careful touch. For the Nation
al honor was at stake, you see. 1t haC
been duly announced in all the paper.
that the party of distinguished
American journalists" were to driye OF
the Paseo that evening, and all Mexi
co would doubtless be there ready t,
judge all America by the appearance
we presented. 1t was really an inter
national occasion. Ready at last, W.
stepped out to take our carriages
Shades of Montezuma! What doe.
this mean? We expected elegant oper
barOuches, and here are a lot of so
cent-an-hour hacks! Hacks that looh
as if they might have been brought
in by the Spanish invaders 800 years
ago. Horses that must have strayed
away from the American army wher
it left the country in us. Drivers who
are only not brigands because they are
too old and lazy. It WAS pitiful
sight! Some of us tainted. Some OF
US rather awkwardly excused our.
selves to the gentlemanly member OF
the Press Club (poor Senior Pastor!)
who was in attendance, and went up
town to shift for ourselves. Some of us
took what was offered and were thank
full. These latter some-of-us, We're a
melancholy crowd when the other
some-of-us who had secured decent
carriages met them on the Paseo an
hour later. Rose Field. of the X. c.
Times, is jolly enough fellow ordin-
arily. But shall never forget the look
of hopeless desolation that sat on his
face that day, as seated in Spanish
invasion hack to which We're attached
a consumptive horse and cast-off
army mule, he went whirling down
the Paseo on a dead-waIk. Even
Christopher Columbus, standing there
in stone. dropped tear at the sight.
The kindness of the Mexican Press
Club will never be forgotten.
Nv
Another of the suburban places of
interest, is the Church of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, on a steep hill foug or five
miles north of the city. The story goes