Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-17
MEXICAN LETTER
View Of the Beautiful Valley as One APP
proaches the Capital CitY-Life
in the City.
The Defective Drainage of the City-The Land
OF Flowers, Birds and Nusic-Costumes
of the Men and Women,
I the Gazette.

Special correspondence OF the Gazette.
Cry OF MEAIco, Aug. l2.-The City of Mex
leo, which at the time of the Spanish conquest
was called Tenochtitlan, lies in beautiful and
fertile valley of the same name The Mexican
Central railroad reaches the city early in the
morning, and if anyone coming by that route
will rise at early dawn and take their stand on
the rear of the Pullman, they will be amply re-
paid for their early rising. Mountains of great
heights enclose the valley, still covered with
the mornings mist, and glimpse of far off
Popocatepetl, towering 1882 feet above sea
level is obtained. There are fields OF the
a drink called puIque, is made.
This drink is greatly relished by the
lower classes of Mexicans, and it is a common
sight to see them lying in the hot MONDAY sun
on the plazas or any other public places
COMPLETELY INTOXICATED
from the effects OF that drink; They recommend
it to foreigners as very good to aid digestion,
but the aste and smell is horrid, and it takes
one OF the Mexican specie to drink it. Another
hedges o! organ cactus, so called on account OF
the music they make the wind sways them to
and fro. Flowers of every hue abound, but it
would require too much space at present to de-
scribe them. A fair view of the city with its
many towers is obtained, for this is cou ntry OF
churches. and some are remarkable for the cost
Illness of their decorations.
The city changes its appearance when reached,
for most all its buildings have an oldlOok and not
much architecture about them. The streets
badly paved, with the exception of three or
four, and the pavements of tn cannot be ex-
celled. One redeeming feature. the streets are
and in 3 few years their rough pavements will
have disappeared. Electric lights are found
throughou u the city, but the system is very de-
fective, and some nights only few are to
be found
The police force is excellent, polite and
obliging to extremes, giving all desirable in
fnF mo ffFFlx In n hn n haa
great fear of the police. and if in
tEnt ,u they try to cheat YOU 3 thing
can have the chance, threaten them with the
police and they'll not forget the threats soon.
The drainage of the city, il su CHI it can be
called, is very defective, in the last years tb sy
much healthier, but much needs to be done. If
it was not for its high altitude and delightful
climate, the worst Of epidemics would rage for
the lower class is
OF THE FILTHIEsT KIND
and typhoid fever is always raging among them.
But with these few exceptions it is one of the
most ENJOYABLE and delightful OF cities. # is
the land of flowers, birds and music, the most
delightful parks and promerades, where on
best can be enjoyed by the poor and rich, for
here sill love music. One will hear beggar
very often whistiing or singing air from
some great opera. Their garb needs descrip-
ton. OF course it is understood that the upper
class cannot be surpassed for refinement and
elegance. OF them will not speak at present,
made but few alterations in their costume
SINCE THE DAY OF ADAM
The women wind piece OF tow sack around
their waist once or twice, il barely reaches to
the knees, then another piece with hole cut in
the middle through which they pass their heads
1t leaves their sides and arms bare
going through the principal streets
and see the elegant people shrink from them
for they are carriers of little animals not at ali
desirable. The men dress little better than
the women. They must all have a zerape, a
kind of blanket or shawl worn over the should
ers, thrown in knightly fashion with the fringe
and tasseled end over the left shoulder. Next is
the sombrero, which all try TO possess. A Mexi-
can will go barefooted and wear cotton trousers,
but
A zERAPE AND soMBRERo
he must have. All the women servants will
have their tapalo or rebose, a kind of shcwI that
they wear over their heads, one of the end 5 GEN
traffic among them is the tortifla. 1t is sim
ply corn meal, which the women crack and
pound until il is quite fine. Then they mix it
with water and pal it in their hands until it ac-
quires the desired shape. Then it is cooked and
sold cent apiece. 1t Is perfectly tasteless by
itself, but when arranged with a sauce made
from chilli colorado, it is passable Their
tamales are mixture of meal and a kind of
Jelly made from the fruit of the cactus known in
Texas as the pric ky pear. 1t is
OTHER HoRRID DISH,
and liable to make one very sick. One must be
very careful in what they eat. for here every
thing is sold and there are fruits which are very
dangerous. Fruits that one knows nothing Of
are best left alone, for the Mexicans will not
fail to say they delicious, and ask YOU
four times their value. The mango is recon-
tits the fruit mostly eaten BY the
nation. meal is not eaten without mangoes
and at this season they are very abund ant and
cheap. Strawberries abound all the year round
and their size Is enormous. They are sold all
through the city in pretty little baskets but an
other thing to look for before buying, is whether
the basket is not
ALL LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM,
FOR very often you think You We made a remark
able bargain, and when you investigate your
basket does not contain more than a dozen or
two of the berries.
They are peculiar in their gait; it is kind of
q slow trot; nothing stops them. An anus
ing incident the other day: A lady
and gentleman were walking arm in
arm. A Mexican coming at his slow
rot, did not deem IL Necessary to go around.
he simply stopped and passed between them.
lhey were foreigners, and look of amaEement
was depicted on their couutenaacas Their
strength for such small stature is remarkable
They take the place of drays. Four men will
carry piano on their shoulders, while the cap
-aln' as they call him, goes along to see that
nothing IS injured and to receive the paw. They
never tail to ask you for a little extra nav to
ouy then pulque, or lottery ticket anothe.
5Ae"' H"isance III 'hls country. MARIE L.