Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-11-28
scENss N r4E 90 oF MENco.
Where the Modern Yankee Touches FL
bows with the Medieval Savage.

Where the Modern Yankee Touches Ell
bows with the Medieval Savage.
The street scenes of Mexico are be-
youd comparison the most instructive.
amusing and entertaining of all pos
sible experiences here, says a CITY of
Mexico letter in the San Francisco
Chronicle. To the American it is a
new world and an old world com
bined. Architecture oriental and Gus
toms European he finds associated
with Yankee street cars. electric
lights aud the finest asphalt block
pavements. Ladies arrayed in the
latest French fashions, Indian women
whose only garment is the seboso the
native dude in his skin-tight trousers
and yard-wide sombrero, the Mexican
gentleman with kid gloves. white
necktie and silk hat the half-naked
newsboy and the deformed beggar
combine to form picture and
pageant which never lacks variety and
never loses interest.
There are streets as narrow as those
of Constartinople, avenues as broad
as those of Berlin parks as beautiful
as those of Paris. stores as busy as
those of Boston. yet withal a monde
script people distinctivey aud unmis-
takabIy Mexican.
One can linger for hours in the 10
Gallo, or pleasure garden at the Plaza
Major by day or by night and find
the scene more fascinating than a
play. BY day there is the unending
procession Of over-laden doukeYs and
human beasts of burden, carving.
moving, packing everything transports
able: long lines of shOrt-coated. bread
brlmmed 'cOachmen, whose agility in
securing a fare bears no proportion to
the time Of reaching your destination;
street cars arriving and departing in
trains of from two to six cars for all
parts OF the city and suburban towns;
gay scenes about the flower market;
squads Of soldiers moving to animate
ing music, aud the eyer-yaryiug phases
OF life incident to a metropolitan
career.
BY night it is music and promenade
rest and recreation. We have no esti-
mate of the thousands who throng the
Iocalo the five nights in a week on
which there is music from the grand
stand The public seats are usually
inadequate for the sitters, and hun
dreds of chairs are rented by the hour
for a trifliug sum, varying according
to supply and demand No student of
political economy could spend three
evenings in the Zocalo or Alameda of
Mexico without becoming convinced
that good music at municipal expense
would be a profitable investment as a
police regulation in any city
There are 500 miles of streets within
the gates of the City of Mexico, and
not block upSr which something is
not offered ior sale. The Mexican
merchant whether behind the counter
or upon the crrhstone, is never impor-
tuuate but always courteous. He
never drives a bargain, but almost
always asks more than he is willing to
take. As a rule he is content with
small profits, but quick sales are no
consideration.
The prejudice against the grin
goes (Hankees). once so bitter. has
been greatly modified since the advent
OF railroads and the establishment of
truly liberal government A dozen
years ago a knowledge Of the English
language was actually an impeachment
for person desiring employment in
Mexico. To-day scores of young men
of Mexican birth and bringing up"
are proficient in its use and it is con-
sidered an accomplishment to talk
United States. Hotels and restau-
rants, a few years ago entirely indif-
ferent to American custom, now cater
to its entertainment.
There has been a notable Infusion of
business methods into the higher
grades of commerce and a quickening
of the commercial pulse in all branches
of trade.