Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09

| to him. A fellow passenger bought hali
dozen oranges and paid for them. He gave
me one, and in lew moments the young
merchant was clamoring al me for pay for
that orange. A policeman who chanced to
| be witness to the purchase said something
to the young Arab that lowered his tempera-
ture, otherwise should have given him an
| American nickel in admiration of the pro-
family could not understand. Then the
boy would have got mad sure enough.
While we tarried at San Luis the bells of
a neighboring church rang, or rather beat
out, the vesper chimes. I could see the
bells; they seemed to be strung on a shaft in
the beliry and the shaft was turned by a
crank. I recognized them as bells, not
from the sounds they emitted, but because
they were in belfry. The train started on,
and still within the sound of these bells, on
the other side of the road, we saw a mixed
crowd of men, women and children enjoy
ing cock fight. did not blame them; the
clamor would have made even Mexican
enjoy something else.
IN THE MINING REGIONS.
The evening shadows begin to close in
upon us again, but before darkness sets in
we can see that the country is assuming a
more thrifty condition. The cultivated
fields are becoming more numerous and the
stained walls of haciendas more frequent,
with, it would seem, always chapel. Be-
sides being in a rich agricultural district,
San Luis, as it is affectionately abbreviated
by those engaged there, is the center of
promising mining industry, and as mining
is always promising, no doubt San Luis will
appear active, if not really so. During the
night we pass through number of towns,
we are told, and in the morning we awake
in the beautiful valley of Toluca and enjoy
another meal with delicious chocolate.
From this city to the City of Mexico, some
40 and odd miles, the country is verify a
garden, notwithstanding we climb
and cross mountain range and
reach an elevation of over 10,OO0
feet This is like railroading at home with,
less ruggedness In the landscapes. Winding
dp the pass, when the train has fairly
achieved half the distance, one may look
down into the valley, its further rim en-
veloped in dainty gray mist, with lakes
here and there flashing in rays OF silver.
Wooded bits, in many shades of green, vary
the gold of the cultivated fields, and the
momentary glimpse makes one regret that
railroad officials deem it so essential to be
on time. heard the lady from Massachu-
sets avow:
"We shall come out here and spend q
week, at least"
She would not mind 'getting off here in
the night" now that she has knowledge
of the daylight magnifcence. The taste has
so whetted her appetite for full meal that
she realizes possible, nay, probable, happi'
ness outside of her beloved Massachusetts,.
Then, when we have reached the summit
and another valley is opened to us, surpass-
ing, it would seem. the one we have left.
the felicity of the lady makes everyone else
in the car as blissful as herself We soon
catch sight of the mountain brook, and from
this crystal line the hills slope gradually,
and it would seem that every foot of mother
earth here has been caressed by the
hand of the patient toiler. The mount
ain sides are resolved into a maze
of terraces, the maguey plant -four
ishes, and is made to do duty as borders
about the reddish fields; it appears in rows,
or is allowed to flourish at its own inclina-
ton. Perched upon hillside is vill'ge,
with chapel, of course; a little further
down is another; still the chapel dominates
every other wall. The vicinity lays claim
to historic interest, and, indeed, from here to
the sea, the country is one with history
more prolific in horrors than any other por-
ton of the broad continent. Even before
the advent of the Cross it was sad enough,
if the Spanish chroniclers are to be believed;
but sorrow was intensified under the en-
blem that was supposed to introduce peace
on earth and good will, if tithe of the
modern historians tale is true.
L. B. FRANCE.