New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-26

their own language for the sake of securing as-
sstance in English, visitor ought not TO expert
ence serious difficulty in acquiring Spanish in the
course of two or three months. The strSents not
only understand the grammar OF both longuages,
but they also have more correct pronunciation
of their own tongue than is ordinarily heard in
Mexico The Spanish which Is spoken Dy
majority of the Americans now III the country,
and especially by the railway contingent, Is Vile
both in form and in sound. AS good spanish as
can be heard in Mexico is spoken al the unlYer-
sity and any American who Will settle down IN
this lovely old town for few months VIII not
ony make rapid progress in learning the language,
but he will also have an AndaluSlan accent Whlch
will he recognized in Spain
Under Spanish domination there was neither
higher nor lower education in Mexico outside
ecclesiastical schools, and in these very niue thas
was of practical utility was allowed 10 ne taught
During the last twenty years great progress mas
been made in popular education. Free SchoOlS
have been opened in every town Of any lmpor-
tance and these have been released from ecciesi-
astical control The Church nj the same time mas
displayed marked energy in charging Ms edu1i-
t;onal facilities apparently being unwilling 10 ne
oustrippcd by the State in this campaign OF popu-
lar enlightenment. There are probably t'I'VVO
nunis in the primary schools supported by the
Nation States and municipalities; ana tneIe arc
perhaps 100000 more IN churcn anu cndItS
schools. With total populatlon OF l%'oVOVVo-
n high estmale-this is far from being sausage
tory exhibit: but il marks great advance upon
the condition Of illitcm@y prevailing en Ee on
ago. The school appropriations aSsrs@ ~ Al
rSotion of President Daz has been identified
with this educational policy PROGRESS ID .cIy
slow. but tho country Is not Sia&nal,hS ~ - ;tb
Far twenty years after the disastrous war WIN
tho United St?tps. Slowly and iap0NousE, ne
mixed races in the towns and Villages Will III, ~
taught T. read and to think for themselves. Iheh
onooiIinc Ignorance. II is in this direction that
progress unerrngly lies in Mexico TO leSS 'Ial Ill
Brazil. r.. Ant r7r,,,isb &,
IorroIC rpplqcing French rs the first foreign IAN
mace 70 be learned in the schools &nd COLLEGES
Travelling rs have recently done III 'poltn A III
ica and Cuba as well rs IN MeNlco' nav 1ecn
IMPRESSED with the contrast IN this respect Many
times when have put questions IN The SteetS 10
sLo,l,corerc and police officers. the answers 10
MY Spanish have come IN GEAR, ti q
FnrliSh such rs is never hc1ri IN the GounIIcs VI
tho e;outh from natives. MpNlcaH chlflrcu arc
learning English in the schools ana 'nelI %
are picking il up whenever tney HdHe q O,u'', -
learn n new word. There IS VERY eIon4 Prl.
ldica in the country again>t the INCOMING noi'.c
Of Americans, but the natives are let i H. :"
sneak English they have never m1s'eIcu 49,, IN
Tbis f.: ono Of many signs showing That tarus OF
NO tariffs reciprocity reciprocity the Chltt9
States and Mexico are destined to nave closeI alu
moro harmonious relations with each other III ol'o
future than in the past
Norclia is best known as having the champion
,iiitor,. bon1 of the country but thus Is an uIl,
n,~t,in and trausitorv distinction when muslcA
rlvaIrcS are intense and every town PIht -
sounds nightly with national musl: plaScu miGSn
Il
haoutifnl cothedralS The foundation dates pacN
IN las i'm Tzint2UntZan. bat there were sqccssIsc
removals during the next forty years 10 eS0uIlIG
and NalIadolid-noW MOrella Inc hTsJ cdOnculati
vas q tiuv structure, now known as La tTuz, oHu
in a balf-runed state. The present structure , VIZ
berun in 1910 and completed IN ll4f' NhIiio
the affairs have been returnshed anu ule WHY
interior has been Tegilded ana freShened, ttlo
los, entailed by the coniiscatlon OF nearly c2oVoUo
worth of silver and other ornaments by the UOv-
eminent has not been made good, ana richness
is lacking The sacristy. however, Is very pcIuL-
full and there is much fine carving IN lIe cu f:
Tho to,yers are finely ErOpOruOned ana tne ene'e
of the exterior is symmetrical and imposing. mere
are several other handsome churches III the ~so"l,
bpt this rank, among the most prcteAslOuS ID
Neyico In general terms II Is safe 10 arlrih
that i'm excellence Of archltcctura ueslgh anu az
richness Of interior decoration there are d0Zeh
churches in Mexico surprising any caIheurl III
South America that can be named. lhere nav
or may not be more piety here. but certainly
there is better art s,,,;.
Another Distinguishing characteristic OF Morela
is it's charming pleasure grounds. In aIdllloh 70
tho ploZas on each side of the cathedral there IS
an alameda at the eastern end OF the town wher94
a LONG stone cauSeWay, with broad parepcts and
benches is shaded with trees. This cauSeWay IS
Snanned bv an aqueduct, and it is a delightful
nloce for outdoor music. Since | have Ventured
to comparr the ecclesiastical architecture O. Mex
leo with that Of South America, l may 90 'rther
and add that with the exception OF Rlo IN DIaIu
and Santiago i'm Chill there are no cities IN me
far south possessing such artistic plazaS ana
aIomedas rs are seen in this Aztec land ana GER
tainlV there is no music heard there equal 10 thao
of thp military bands here In the original
Aztec blood there must have been sts'lh OF
passion for decorative effects and music Span
ish regularity and landscape gardening have leic
their impress upon Mexican cities, but the superior
taste shown in the arranG~~ent and MAINTENANCE
Of the plazas and alamedas is the hentage OF
ancient native CIVILIZATION l. y. T.