Tombstone epitaph., 1891-07-26
RICH AND POOR,
interesting Letter From the "Bcauti-
 ful" City Ci COlima,
sPEcIAL coRREsroNpENcE.
CoLIMA, EstAdo de Colima,


 July l4, 1891
 ED. PRosPEcrOR We took the thA train at ManzaniIlo, which runs tri-weekly to ColiIna city, the capital of Colinla, on June 23d. This railruad is a narrow gauge, bus the track and rolling stock are not It is a very pleasant ride from the sea to the capi. tai and the scenery at this time of the year, Is grand. We passed great herds of the fattest cattle l have seen for years, and they remain so the year around. We dashed through groves or cocoa trees, through groves oi wild plum trees, by coffee and sugar plant ations, W. ld Hines. banana and plan tain, rice and corn fields. Some of the corn had been harvested few weeks preyioIs, some just being gath cred and some just peeping through the soil.
 We caught glimpses of villas almost hidden among the palm trees and tropical plants, and crossed the great iron bridge which spans the river oi Arnerila, flowing to waste into the sea instead oi being turned upon the val ley through which it runs.
 Anything can be grown here sugar, coffee, rice, corn, cocoa, India rubber snd indigo.
 On all sides the county is green. Towering plants and trees make beautiful contrast to the carpet of green as far as eye can reach. Beyond the city are great ranges of mOuntaIn", and to the north arises ths old Nulca- no de Colima, whose crown, l2,OJO feet above the sea, Is often capped with snow.
 COlima has a population ot about 3O,OOu people, probably 90 per eut Indian blood. -t is surrounded by orchards and groves. Tons ol the finest times and oranges go tU waste every year. They attach no cOI- mer- cial value Co them whatever. CUlIma like ali cities. has its rich anu its poor, but the latter is vastly in prepOnder- ence. There has been a great deal written and talked about "COlima the beautiful" and thigh life in the troP- ics." Here you see every phase of 1t. IL is like all Mexican cities Of note. laid out iD light angled streets aSd macadsmized with cobb!e stone and kept very clean.
 Two line rivers run through the town. There are many attractive stores also cathedrals, one of which was built before the Conquest and shows it's atiqui,ity by grim walls covered by shrubs and vines protrud- ing from rents in the walls.
 T ,e governor kindly loaned he a book from his immense library entitled "0ur Sister Republic" written by Col. Albert : Evans who accompanied d Hon. Wm. H Steward on his tour oi Mexico in 1869. They arrived in this city on Oct. II, 1869 from San Fran cisco. Mr. Evans speaks in glOwing terms of their reception aLd subse- quent banquet here, and the luxury oi the county, the happiness of its people, etc, but am afraid his eyes deceived him.
 Today being Sunday, We had the "honor" of seeing the high priest gO by in his sumptious carriage, and no ti.ed that it was exclusively the poor people who kneIt down with hat in hand and arms extended till his highness passed by.
 We entered the old church and looked at the high priest and his at tendants with their rich and dazzling robes, and the golden images, and she iridescent light flooding the altar all tine sweat and blood Of the laboTer. Then we glanced at the kneeling de- voted mass Of poor wretehes each con- tributidg lew coppers ths. ought to have gone for some sIck cbild at home. Our heart went out in pity for them It looked such nockery.
 c. W. b.CLASE.