Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-06-26

end, slowly pursued their route to the great
city market. All along the shores OF the
canal were the hastily erected jaeals of the
natives, and from the apertures in their
males, fermenting pulque, zempoaltxochitl
and ato1e de leche.
Scattered among the numerous tamaleras,
from time to time, were encountered small
charcoal fires, built on the ground, over
which hung huge pots Of aromatic coffee and
these, cool-looking painted jars full of vari-
ous drinks made from the pulp of the tama- |
rind and the lime-leaved sage, tall earthep- |
ware receptacles of CHA, orohata and many |
beverages peculiar to the Mexican Indians.
The flower display in the alameda del paseo |
was somewhat difficult to describe. The |
huge central fountain was converted into
pyramidal bouquet of fantastically arranged
flowers; the outer portion of the rim, of a
semi elliptical figure, being covered with
green moss and clinging orchids, jasmine,
tulips and many varieties of rare exotics.
The fete began at five o'clock in the morning
with the arrival of the Indians with their
loads of sweet-smelling flowers from the va
rious gardens which dot the valley of Mexi-
co. The central circle had been previously
covered with an awning, as had also the
paths convergipg into 1t. From six q. m. till
twelve the walks were crowded with lovely
Spanish Mexican girls, dressed in butterfly
costumes, and the elite of the city, listened
to the music Of the Seventh regiment band
that occupied the grand band stand to the
left of the fountain.
One may travel the world over and never
meet with such display of flowers as can
be seen on the streets of Mexico every day in
the year, whether it be flower festival or
not. Long before Horticulture had been prac.
| ticed in other counties Of the world Mexico
| had made it an art, and it has never been
lost during the lapse OF the centuries.
| In many houses in the city affairs were
erected, surrounded by burning tapers, the
inmates of the houses where they were erect
ed offering refreshing drinks to the friends
| of the family who visited them on this par
ticulsr day. At an early hour the solemn
| tones of the various cathedral bells rang and
| echoed across the terraced roofs of the ruined
| temples of the Aztecs, filing the air with a
strange, wild melody, and as the sun threw
its mellow rays across the surrounding
mountain peaks flags were raised. to the
breeze, beautiful flowers and handsome wo-
| men filed the picturesque balconies that
overhang the Streets, and the populace
thronged through the thoroughfares like on
| the memorable night of June 80, 1521, when
Cortez and Father Olmedo, the valiant Als
varsdo, and the dashing Malinehs, aecompa-
MED by the hotly pressed band Of daring
Spaniards, retreated down the San Cosme
causeway, pursued by the enrsged horde of
| .Aztees. sr-ss .s,e *. rs-*s..s -t
In the evening the zocalo and the alameda
were packed. Surrounding the latter place
hideous Indian hags sat cross-legged on the
ground by their store of fragrant flowers,
and as they shouted their wares under the
lurid glare of the aickering torchlight they
presented an unearthly appearance, and re-
minded one of the incantation scene In
"Maebeth." In the alameda, under the
grand old forest trees festooned with swing.
ing Spanish noss, hung thousands of fancy
colored Chinese lanterns, and at every step
electric lamps shed wave OF light upon the
whole. All the beauty of Mexico was out In
force, and such collection of silks and jew.
:: | els is rarely seen. The Mexican charro in his
suit of silver -bespsngled buckskin walked
arm in arm with his sehorita, on who's
head, black as the plumes of the raven
wing, rested the seductive mantilla. Th
naughty Spanish dame, in whose veins flow
J the blue blood of old CASTLE, brushes tn
J primitive clothing of the Aztec squaw, aH'
outside of the glitterins throng, across tn
smooth paeeo, fash and twinkle the lights o
hundreds of gay turnouts. The America
tourists who crowd the capital at this writin
are silent and admiring spectators OF thl
/, lovely scene.
During this flower festival many strang
flowers are collected from among the dee
Q cnasms and hidden fastnesses of the mouT
+ tains, and many varieties may be seen that
| during the rest of the year, are never er
| countered, even in the central flower mai
/ | kets of the city.
One fower in particular that is brought i
. in great quantities by the Iadians is a small
r yellow, rose like bud called by them zem
4 poatzuchilt. have never seen this exotic
{ any other but tropical countries, and neve
remember to have met with even one I
); them in any collection of flowers in the Un
:. ted States. 1t has a peculiar siokly swe
odor, and when once encountered the r.
:. membrance of the faint perfume rarely leav
II one. This flower, for some strange reasol
:. is regarded by the superstitious Indians
~ the ''emblem of sadness" and on one or tv
occasions only during the entire year can
be purchased on the streets of the capita
- In size and shape the bud much resembl
y the tuberose of the north, the petals being
e the same gummy consistency, but OF gla
3 ing yellow color.
1t Much mention Of this flower Is made
'e the legendary history of the Aztecs, and it
a said that from It's glossy petals Is extracted
: poison so subtle and powerful that whe
once administered to q person it does n
kill, but stealthily steals away the reasonir
powers and renders the victim an imbeci
N until the vengeance of the person who a.
ministers 1t ia satisfied; then another potit
of poison belonging to tbs same category
.. given the sufferer and reason returns agal
:. 1t is said that while under the influence
u the extract of this rose one is seized with {
1T uncomfortable desire to jump from son
N giddy height, and many are the roment
le tales told around the Mexican home circle
=. recreant lovers who have been given seer
1T potions by the hands of jealous sencrita
ut and have ended their mad existence by lea
le ing into the smoking crater of Popoeatepei