Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-15
BONE Department.
AMERICAN LETTERS, NO. 10.
MORE ABOUT MEXICO.
Ell PAso, TEXAS, Feb. l, 1889

Ell PAso, TEXAS, Feb. l, 1899.
This is the most beautiful place in the
world. If you don't think so, take a trip |
of 2600 miles in Mexico and end it here.
You can think of no encomiums too great
to pronounce on the American city that
rescues you from the utter discomfort, if
not more, of the Mexican trip. But bet |
ter than all you strike again American
civilization.
We left Mexico City Tuesday night at 10
minutes past 8. But to go back. Monday
morning took an excursion ticket to Or
izaba, ISL miles from Mexico, and return.
This is on the road to Vera Cruz and with
in about so miles of that city. had been
told repeatedly that it presented view
of the finest scenery to be seen in Mexico.
For long way it led us through fields of
the maguey plant, from which pulque,
the national drink Of the Mexicans, is
manufactured. This is harmless and
said to be healthful beverage, resem-
bling somewhat sour milk. 1t keeps but
a short time. The manufacture of it is
very profitable. The value of it taken
over this road, am told, is $1,000 day.
The plant looks like the century plant,
and grows with great luxuriance. But
the first view we had, as we left the City
of Mexico, was of the mountains which
included the highest, both snow-covered,
Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl. These
were summing themselves in the east.
Mr.. Popocatepetl has rounded top and
is 1882 feet above the sea. Ixtaccihuatl
has several points, and is II, 060 feet high.
We could see also the different ranges of
mountains that enclose the valley of Mex
leo. One more of these to the west is
quite high, but doesn't reach the snow
line. Nearly all of them have bare
look. We also went along by the lagoons
or lakes near the city. These have an
extensive surface, but little depth. There
was nothing to me especially attractive
in the whole, although the morning was
exceptionally fine. Later we came in
sight, at our left, of the high peak of Or
iZaba, 1886 feet. This is a cone-shaped
mountain, the second in height in Mexico.
Its top is so much preoccuped with the
clouds that we did not get full chance
to see it. But the white sides showed I'M
der the draping the long streaks of bare
rocks that notched into the snow. We
had dinner at the height of land just
before descending towards Vera Cruz
Here, too, clouds overlook us and COW
!, cred the whole scenery, so that we saw
but little in our descent of nearly 1000
feet to Orizaba.
: Orizaba is a small Mexican place, ro
/; manticaly placed among the coast range
of mountains. Its climate is quite warm
oranges, sugar and coffee all being raised
in the vicinity. An American from st
Louis with two nieces and young mar
from San Antonio, Texas, stopped of
with me, and afterwards appeared at the
kept by German and his wife, who both
spoke English readily. Rooms were
= mostly occupied and our American party
went to the other hotel, where they found
better, but held by the German cooking
and found it excellent, There was here
b. temporarlly,a young mana native of Ban
!. gor, Me. Having lung trouble he wen
r to the Sandwich Islands in 1875 and lveC
\. there till 1881, when he came to CalifOr
: MIA and afterwards moved to Mexico. He
l. had married in Mexico, and had now {
coffee plantation on the western coast
that was valued at Sl50,000. He thought
= the Sandwich Islands better place fol
lung difficulty than Mexico, but had beer
able to get along comfortably well here
) which he could not do at San Francisco
Mr.. Jameson, who was rather an extr'
well appearing Yankee, said his fathe
was killed in the war,a Union officer, an(
that he had brother, professor in al
= Iowa college. There were, too, at thu
hotel an American missionary and hi
wife, and quite a stalwart German tour
, list and wife from Chicago. The morn
=. ing was clearing to cheer us all. Th
a. Mexicano who drove me to the hotel wa
~, ~ on hand to take me back to the depot
This railroad from Vera Cruz to the Cit,
r. of Mexico was the first one in Mexic
: and built by an English company. 1t i
4 wonderful piece of engineering wher
it rises the mountains.
: At Orizaba are the machine shops AM
N very neat little depot of brick. yer
English, you know. The cars and ell
gnes, too, were made in England. Tn
young ladies from San Antonio were o
hand, and went back part way. had
=, very pleasant chat with the uncle, VIII
was familiar with most of the easter
d summer resorts. The young ladies ha
nj all that readiness of movement which b'
OF longs to the American girl. One of thei
nd ;;. ,l III; Tha, tho,
by ndu exquisite Rolu HAT. iheh 'iiSi