Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-14
TRIP TO MEXICO.
A vrReYxrAx IN TIE LAND OF THE
MoNTyzUMAa
Sesss Of First Inpressions-rh Country
and -Bnll-Fights, Theatres,
aud circusss- Beautiful
Flowers, Etc.
rcorr..poaooncs OF The Richmond DisOs'co.l
CRY OF MRxrco. March 90, 1889.

Cry OF Mexico, March 90, 1889.
Take the Piedmont Airline from
Richmond any afternoon at $40, and II
Won make through connections all the
way--that "tf" means much-~you may
stand in tine balls OF the MontezumRs on
The 9Th dsy following, having time en-
route 20 get glimpses OF several hours
esob Of Atlanta, New Orleans. and San
Antonio. At Laredo, Tex, you bid
farewell 20 "the land of the free and
home OF tho brave" Here all bag
cage is opened and examined by the
Mexican customs officials, who. by the
way, are perhaps tho most polite ofhcers
in the world.
The Observation-Disclosures Mexico we
are whirled over tho Mexican NATIONAL
railroad through country devoid OF spe-
cial attractions, mainly waste OF desert
covered with cactus and mesquite. ms
last il a bush something like the Vir-
ginia chinauepin in appearance. though
frequently much larger. tits as prolific
and destructive OF other crops as the
"wire-erass, which is such q source OF
ANNOYANCE to our old friend, Colonel
Tom Whitehead.
Monterey. considerable city, which
is noted among other attractions for ITS
springs, which rival the famed Hot
Springs of Arkansas, is passed
in the night. An early breakfast
at Saltillo Baptist headquarters)
and we are on the road again.
Passing many lovely hacic,UCtdS branches
the "Gringo" would say we reach
Cstorce soon after noon. In the
eSop Of twenty minutes the places struck
this scribe as being mainly important rs
the dinner station. San Luis Potosi is
reached before sunset, and even from
the railroad one can see that 1t Is o city
of considerable size and beauty. Next
morning the traveller who has any APP
probation for the grand and beautiful
in nature will arise early, for the scenery
now is simply sublime. The train,
drawn by two heavy engines. winds ITS
way around, between. and over majestic
blue mountains For miles ve ascend
one OF the heaviest grades on the
Western Continent while mean time the
eve is feeding on the beauties OF the
country beneath. Villages and cities
are seen far down the clifside
gardens, orchards, and pulque fields,
which appear to DO painted poy
come mastsr-artiSt on mammoth
canvas. One Mexican sunrise would
we'll repay the lover Of the beautiful for
his long journey, At every station are
dozens OF native vendors Of oranges
which even our own Florida cannot ex-
cel-pulque, "chillicOncarnie, &c. BE-
fore dinser we reach the City OF Mexico.
Volumes might be written on this great
CITY. but "a few brief and scattering
scintillstions as George Wild would
sav-mus: suffice for the present.
The visitor from the States ID perhaps
first struck with the absence OF chm
news. the lowness OF the houses, and the
inter absence OF timber in their con-
struction. The hotels and private resi-
depces almost invariably have Bastile-
like appearance. Few are more than
three stories high, and the front is invs-
riably prison-hke. When inside, how
ever, the scene changes; the interior Is
built around square courts, which are
filled with tropical flowers and shrub
berry. 4 census Just completed gives
the city population of over 400, 700.
The streets are so named and numbered
that il is almost impossible for a stranger
TO find his way without chart or guide.
The streets are not named and
numbered from end to end as with us,
but the name changes with every block
or go, and the numbering begins afresh,
For instance, Francisco (the Broadway
OF Mexicol has at least one dozen names
between the Alameda and the Palace OF
Cortez, q distance OF sbout one mile.
The Pasco Tor boulevard OF Reform }
is the great drive of the city, and leads
TO the magnificent park OF Chapultepec.
From 5 TO 7 p. NJ. it is crowded with
carriages and equestrians, and travellers
say IL affords one Of the finest spectacles
of this hemisphere. Here Is the great
bronze equestrian statue OF Charles ~.
This is the largest casting OF art in sin
gle piece in the world, weighing A, OOO
pounds. A little further on a magnih-
cent statue of Columbus, which was de-
signed by the French sculptor Cordier,
and presented TO tho city by Senior An
tonic Escandon, and several other beau
tiful works of art. Three great bull
fighting rings, the finest baths OF the
city, and many other attractions to the
tourist and native combine 10 make the
Pasco attractive. In all the PLACES
(souares) flowers which with us require
the most careful attention are in ful
bloom all the year around. Borders o.
gersniums from three TO eight feet higt
areseen along many walks sand plots, while
the delicate perfume of the jessamine IL
its greatest height of perfection IS borne
on every breeze. Sunday IS the great
day for popular amusements. Day be
fore Yesterday there were three bull
fights and At the circus aud theatres there
were three performances. The climate
is peculiar one, and il "made 4
order" could scarcely be improved upon
While even way down in old Var
ginny" people are shIvering over grea
fires We are RECALLING in temperature o
from so TO So in the daytime, while 10
the children OF colder chimes light over
coats and blankets are In demand ate
nightfall. Few cities of the world sr
so well pohced. A blue coat may b
seen on every corner and in large mum
bers about the entrances to theatres ant
other pubic places. The pulque-shop
are required t. close at $50 2. Nj. Tn
number of tourists here from the State
has been very large in the last FEY
months, and the hotels show new al
rivals every day. The Mexicano is read
for him, aud vendors of lottery-tickets
curios, and lazzaroni of all sorts an
sizes are to be met at every step. Z
the peculisrities Of the people, some
the national characteristics, &C., 1 wi
tell you in my next. NIL.