Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-02-02

downfall of Maximillian, when all
of their church property in the coun-
try was confiscated by the govern
ment. Every cathedral in Mexico is
now government porperty, and car
be converted to other uses by the
government if "the powers that be"
see fit to do so, but such hold has
the church upon the hearts of the
people that it yet dominates the gov
eminent to great extent.
Vendors of every imaginable kind
OF merchandise ply their trades in the
streets. You can buy anything you
want ON the streets except newspa-
pers. On the second day after our
arrival few boys were to be seen
around the hotels with the "Two Re.
publics,' daily paper printed in
English, and which devoted much
space to the doings of our party while
there.
There is no tax levied on real estate
in Mexico. All of their revenues are
raised by tariff taxation and internal
revenue stamps. For every sale of
merchandise over given amount
(ten dollars we were infOrmed) bill
must be made out and a revenue
stamp attached. If you buy a Sleep
ing car ticket it is plastered over with
stamps. Their tariff taxation is very
burdensome.
Men are seen carrying upon their
backs burdens that would load down
a horse, and many droves of little
burros are seen passing through the
streets loaded with wood, charcoal,
country produce, etc. They rarely
ever have brides on, but are driven
along in droves like a lot of hogs or
sheep.
In our stay of something over three
days in the city we only had time for
hasty glance at the people and their
many peculiar customs. One could
spend as many months there and find
something new and interesting every
day. There are many places of great
interest which we did not have time
to see at all. 1t was with much re-
luctance that we took our departure
on the Friday following our arrival
Tuesday. A dozen or more of the
party remained to witness the bull
fights and Presidents Inauguration on
Sunday. The special train bearing
the greater part of the excursionists
left the city in two sections at 9 and
10 o'clock respectively Friday morn.
ing, This scribe took the regular
passenger train at 4:3O Friday after
noon, overlook the excursion train
and changed to it at Saltillo about
dark Saturday evening. Sometime
before day on Sunday morning we
reached
MONTEREY,
where our train was side tracked, and
we waited with much Impotence the
coming of daylight. AS soon as it
was light enough to see how to move
around we took street cars at the de-
pot and were driven to Topo Chico
Hot Springs, distant about four miles.
The water has temperature of some
thing over 100 degrees and is not un.
pleasant to drink, as it does not nau-
seate. The supply seems inexhausti.
BILE, and after the cold ride in open
cars the bath was very comforting.
Returning to the city we were met
at the depot by brass band and es-
corted to the Hidalgo hotel, where a
most excellent breakfast was served.
After this there was reception at
the Board of Trade rooms, where elo-
quence and champagne flowed freely
for an hour. For all the entertain
ment at Monterrey the Association is
indebted to Mr.. Jules A. Randle, q
former citizen of the United States,
who ewns and operates all of the
street car lines of the city, and is also
one of the proprietors of Topo Chico
Hot Springs. A more genial gentle
man we never met, and his princely
hospitality to the Association of edit
ors was certainly most heartily APP
preciated and enjoyed.
Leaving Monterey about IL o'clock
in the morning, we reached the bor-
der at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and
as we crossed the Rio Grande into the
United States joyous shout went up
, throughout the entire train.
At Laredo, Texas, we were recciv.
ed by committee Of citizens and
, again banquetted in royal manner
at the Commercial Hotel. We did
4 ~.