The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-30

stone bridges and past the long nights on
stairs which lead down from the houses that
border the banks OF the stream. Beautiful
orchids. blOOd-red peoples. and flowers M
Vulnerable. filled the mir - they were tossed
from one friend or party to the other--a ny o.
Ing greeting and salutation 10 the VIRGIN Oi
Dolores.
The swift little chalupas, or g0ndolds, OF
the Indians daried hither and thither, the
gaily-colored bunting flying from the palm
matched roof, which covered them as they
wound their way among the more modest
and heavier scOws. which. laden with cab
bages, celery. lettuce and vegetables WITHOUT
end. slowly pursued their route to the great
city market. All along the shores OF me
canal were the hastilY-erected lacals oi the
natives. and from the apertures IN Their
matched sides came the 0d0r of cooking
tamales, fermenting pulquc, zempoaltAO-
chill. and atole de leche.
Scattered among Ne numerous tamaie-
raS. from time tO time. were encoUnitfci
small charcoal fires. built on the ground.
over which hung huge pots OF aromatic
coffee and delicious chocolate. and. side by
side with these cOOl-lOOking painted jar,
fall Of various drinks made from the pulp
Of the tamarnd and the lime-ledNed sage,
tall earihenwarc rcccptacles 81 CHA, or
chata and many beverages peculiar 10 the
Mexican Indians.
The flower display in The Alameda del
PaseO was something difficult TO describe.
Ele huge central fountain was converted
into "a pyramIdal bouquet Of Enthusiastically
arranged flowers. the outer portion OF the
rim. Of a semi-elliptical figure, being cover
ID with green moss and clinging Orchids
Jasmine. tulips. and many varieties Of rare
exOtics. The fete began mt o'clock in the
morning with the arrival of the Indians with
their loads Of swcet-.melhng flowers nom
the various gardens which dot the Valley
Of Mexico. The central circle had been pre-
yiOusly covered with an awning. as had also
the paths c0nyerging into it,. From a. NJ.
till II walks were crowded with lovely
~panish-M Mexican girls, dressed in butterfly
costumes. and the elite Ofthe city listened 60
the music of the It'll 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
bee seen ON the streets Of Mexico every day
i'm the year, whether it be a flower festival
on not Long before Horticulture had been
practsed In other countries Of the world
Mexico had made IL 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 We're
erected Offering refreshing drinks % the
friends OF the family who visited them ON
this particular day. Al 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, filling the
air with a strange, wild melody, and as the
sun threw its mellow rays across the sur
r7lnding mountain peaks flags were raised
% the breeze, beautiful flowers and hand
IfIH a.. q. a.
that Oyerhaug the streets and the pOpulace
ihronged through the thorOugbfaroe Ike on
the memorable night Of June 30, 1921, when
COrtez and Father Oimedo. the valiant Ai-
yarad0. aud the dashing Malincho. accom-
panied by the hotly pressed band Of daring
~paniards. retreatmg down the san tosme
causeway, pursued by the cnraged horde of
Aztecs.
I'm the evening the Zocalo and the Ala.
media were pached. surrounding the latter
place. hide0us Indian hays sat cross-legged
ON the ground by their store Of fragrant
flowers. and as they shouted their wares
under the iurid glare Of the lickering torch
lieht. they presented an unearihly appear
aucc. and reminded one of the incarnation
scene in Macbeth. Ina the Alameda. under
the Grand old forest trees fe-tOOned with
swinging Spanish moss, hung thousands
Of fancy-cOlOred Chinese lanterns, and
at every step electric lamps sued "a
wave OF light upon the whole. AL
the beauty of Mexico Was out IN force
and such a collection OF silks and jewels is
rarely seen. The Mexican charrO IN IBIS
suit of silYer-hespangie buckskin walked
arm i'm arm with his senOrtI. on whose
head. black as the plumes Of the raven,
wing. rested the seductive mantlla. The
naughty Spanish dame, i'm whose veins flow,
the blue blood IT old CASTLE. brushes toe
primitive clothing Of the Aztec sqtlw. and
outside # the glittcrlng thf0ng, across tle
smooth paseO. flash and twinkle the lights
of hundreds of gay iuruOut-. The Amerl-
can tourists who crowd the capital no llis
writing are silent and admiring spectators
OF This lovely scene.
During this flower festival many strange
flowers are collected from among the deep
chasms and hidden Businesses o. the NOUS
tains. and many varieties may be- seen that.
during the rest OF the year. are never cu-
even IN the central markets of
the city. One Hover in particular that is
brought I'm great quantities by the in-
dams is "a small, yellow, rose-llke /
bud called by Them zempOatzuchlti. |
| have ueyen seen this exotic in any other
but tropical countries, and never
20 nave met with even one OF
them in any collection Of flowers ia the /
United States. 1t has peculiar sickly /
sweet od0r. and when once encountered the /
Of the faint perfume rarely /
leaves one. This flower for some strange /
reason. is regarded by the supcrstitiou- ln- /
dams a. the ''emblem vt Sadness and on I
one on two occasions only during the entire /
year can DO be- purchased on the streets OF
the capital. I'm size and shape the bud /
much resembles the tuberose of the North, /
the petals being of the same gummy con- 1
sistency, but OF q glaring yellow color.
Much mention Of this Hover Is made In The /
legendary history OF the Aztecs. and il is /
said that from its glossy petals is extracted |
a poison so subtle and powerful that when /
once administered 10 "a person 10 does not /
XII. but steatbily steals away the rcdsou- /
ing powers and renders the victim an inn /
beetle until the vengeance Of the person /
who administers il il satisfied; then /
another potion Of a poison belong /
ing o. the same category is given 4
the sufferer. and reason returns again. /
10 is said that while under the influence /
of the extract OF this rose one is seized 4
with AN uncomfortable desire % jump from /
some gid ly height. and many are the rC-
mantle tales told around the Mexican home /
circle of recreant lovers who have been /
given secret potiOns ny the hands Of Jeal- /
Gus sen0ritas, and have ended their mad /
existence By leaping into the smoking era /
ter Of Pop0catepetl.
social Life i'm Bulgaria.
The dNpllin0-hOu.os of the better elias, /