Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-12-29
the sidewalks, however, being much

about the average. There are occa-
sional exceptions, however, where
both street and sidewalk are broad
and roomy. In the matter of public
squares and parks Mexican cities
generally are far ahead of American
cities. The capital city has num-
Der of them which are very inviting
places of resort. They are called
plazas, and some of them are simply
open squares, without trees or foliage,
while others have trees, flowers,
fountains, and numerous tropical
plants, with beautiful walks winding
through them. The Mayor Plaza in
the city of Mexico contains several
acres. On one side Is the cathedral,
on another the national palace, on
the third the municipal palace, and
the fourth blocks of business houses.
About half of the Plaza is in a park
or garden, while the other is open
and is used as parade ground by the
military every morning. A band
plays in the park every evening, and
the Mexicans congregate there in
great numbers for gossip and pleas
ure.
The population of tho entire repub-
lie of Mexico is estimated at .about
100000, of this number probably
eight millions are the native Mexican
Indians, while the other two millions
are of mixed and Spanish blood.
These latter are as a rule enlightened
and educated people, and of course
control the nation. The country
has an immense standing army, made
up almost entirely of natives. A
popular form of punishment for a
criminal there is to sentence him to
from four to ten years service in the
army. Their youthful criminals,
however, are sent to house of
correction, which has a technical
school in connection with it. This
would be good example for the
states of this country to follow.
There are 22O0 men on the police
force ofthe city OF Mexico. Six hun
! dred are on duty at time, and they
are relieved every four hours. A
policeman stands in the center OF
! every prominent street crossing. AT
night he places his lantern in the
, center of the crossing, and if the
, weather is bad he stands in the
shelter of a neighboring door. The
!, population of the city is placed at
100000.
The hotels and all residences Of
any pretensions are built with an
open court in the center, with balloon.
les around for every floor. These
courts and the surrounding balconies
usually contain large quantities Of
flowers and tropical plants, and
frequently fountains. Many of them
have entrances sufficiently large tc
admit carriages.
Rather mistaken impression
prevails in this country as to the
climate of Mexico. True it is land
of what might properly be termed
perpetual summer. Flowers bloom
from one years end to another, and
Jack Frost is unknown, but owing
to the great altitude of the city, more
than seven thousand feet above the
sea, the nights are very cool, and
heavy overcoat is necessary to ones
comfort if out of doors, and a blanket
or two will be needed at night. Nc
chimneys, fire-places, CRATES, or Other
provisions for heating the buildings
are to be seen, but there is no doubt
that the buildings would be vastly
more comfortable if they had heating
apparatus. Many Of the buildings are
always damp and cold. From theil
very construction it is impossible fol
them TO be otherwise. We were told
, that in the rainy seasons many of the
, streets are submerged to the depth Of
ofseveral inches for days and weeks
at time. The natives don't seem
I to suffer any Inconvenience from the
, cold, however, and many of them &C
very thinly clad. 1t is said that the
, thermometer never registers below
| 50 nor above 20 degrees in the city.
, The typical Mexican dress is fast
disappearing among the inhabitants
, of the cities, and the majority Of
them now dress as Americans do
except as regards their tile. They
cling to the Mexican hat, and will
! its silver cord, tassel, and Othel
ornaments it is frequently quite ar
, elaborate affair. H...
The snow capped mountains arr
$ certainly most Beautiful objects t.
ma 4 ~