The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-29
IMPRESSIONS Of MEXICO.
Notes of a Winter Trip in the Big
Republic to the South
of Us.
The Clime Not Tropical in Janu-
airy as Many Are Wont
to Believe.

Compared with the Cuban Capltal-Tid
ness Of the Thoroughfares-The
. 49, Popularity of Diaz.
ANY one who comes to the City of Mexic
In January, expecting to find a tropics
CLINE, will be disappointed, but he will b
pretty sure to find a delightful variety c
winter weather. The middle of the da
and the afternoon are warm but not hot
about like a mild. clear October day in tn
latitude of New York. At night it grow
cool, but hardly chilly enough for an over
coat. In the early morning the air i
sharp, but soon softens as the sun get
high. There is nothing tropical abou
this. but we must remember that the gen
eral level of the Mexican plateau is highe;
than the tops of the White mountains, ane
altitude has quite rs much to do az latitude
with the temperature of the weather.
To one coming almost directly from Ha'
vana to the City of Mexico from the Span
ish colonial metropolis to the independent
Spanish American capitalize contrast Is
striking in other respects as we'll rs II
climate. The native element of the popu-
lation here is very largely of the alb
original stock, and differs widely in APP
penrauce from that of Cuba. While there
is n good deal Of untidiness Of person Sna
dress and many signs OF poverty, there Is
by no means the same hopeless and IN
different squalor. The people are more
svsrthy and show strong Indian character
istics, but they look far healthier and more
vigorous than those of Havana; they are
more brisk and alert in their movements,
and they do not in the city, except fer q too
numerous class Of beggars, generally about
churches-appear lazy. The tobacco habit
is very general, but the smoking is not in
cessant as in Havana. and sppears hardly
more characteristic of the place than OF
some cities in the United States. Ths ped
ding of Lottery tickets is Z but no
more SO than in New Orleans, and nothing
like SO all-psrvading and persistent as In
Havana. On the whole the people seem
active and busy and fairly thrifty and we'll
to-do, They are, however, said to be I'M
enterprising and slow. in business matters
This skill and activity in business affairs, as
we'll as the capital is largely foreign.
what az UfSt SiIlhCS ell * AhSoey
perhace, is the well-ordered condition of
the CITY. The principal streets are we'll
nayed. and in all parts the streets are we'll
kent. In cleanliness they are In striking
contrast with those of the very best cities
in the United States, far cleaner. for IN
stance, than those of Boston. There are
many cobblestone pavements, and they are
Il good deal worn and IN places quits ah-
even. but they are cleaned nevertheless.
The,e are two public squares of considera-
BE size, the Plaza Mayor, known as the
.Zocalo. and the Alameda, and these are
we'll kept.
Out from the Alameda to ~Chapultepec is
a drive " miles long, called the Paseo,
which is finer in its way than anything in
smooth and hard. between shaded walks,
and at intervals there are circles, called
clorietas, for monuments. Each of these
is 400 fest in diameter and encircled with
stone benches, and the monument is placed
in the center. Already there are in place
the great equestrian statue of Carlos w.,
the fine monument to Columbus, and the
Guatimotzian monument, and q memorial
to Juarez is to occupy another circle. Along
the sides of the Paseo the patriots and
heroes of Mexico are we'll represented in
bronze statues.
We were told that the beauty and fashion
of Mexico promenade in the Alameda while
the band played, from IL O'Clock till one on
Sunday, and that in the afternoon from
three to five they drove or the Paseo. We
saw this vaunted show, says a writer in the
New York Times, but it was commonplace
and disappointing-nothlng compared with
the Mall and East Drive in Contra! park on
a fine Sunday afternoon III October or May.
The most conspicuous feature of the prom
enads was the lines OF nnoonscioasly inn
pudent men who stood staring at the pass
ers by. On the drive there was a good deal
of fummcry of the mounted police in mill
tary uniforms and armed with military
weapons, ranged along the line, but a nota-
BILE absence of fine teamso or anything like a
concourse of carriages of any kind.
Not only are tho streets and public
grounds we'll kept, but there is an air of
good order everywhere. The police ara
rather understood and scrubby-looking,
Notwithstanding the atfectation of q mill
tary aspect, but they are said to be efficient.
1t is probably because they have little to do,
There is a fire department, but it is praoti-
cally invisible and seems to hava nothing
to do blu to keep its apparatus in order.
city may be due in part to the
fact that it is the seat of the federal gov
eminent and its administration, though
nominally directed by Il popular
body, called the ayuntamiento, is domi-
mated by the national power. There is lit
tie to indicate the actual presence of tho
national government outside of what is
called i'll u~nrcpublican fashion the pal
nee" exceDt the frequent appearance of
military uniforms on very unmllitary-looE-
ing men. The palace itself is IL shabby
stone structure, more like a big warehouse,
and is guarded and paruded about TO an
unnecessary extent by soldiers.
There is some political stir already, in
view of the approaching expiration Of the
third Second consecntivs) term of Pres!-
dent Diaz, and the movement is altogether
III favor of his reelection. Intelligent
classes everywhere admit that his enlipht-
ensd and progressive policy has contrib
utsd greatly to tho advancement of Mex
100. and they are In favor of its cont!nu-
snce and extension. DiaZ has the suppDrt
OF the business men and of those Interested
IN CAPITAL. enterprise and industry this eide
OF the llo GIande, and apparently OF the
whole population that is not in ignorant
Eubservlency to tho priesthoo /, which
knows that material progress IL destructive
OF Its power over tho people. There il no
sign of opposition hero, and all rumors of
revolution and trouble ceased at the Dor
DER. From the moment Eagle Pass was
reached Cara sunk in public report to Che
position OF I'M outlaw who's object was
plumber, supported only by tie lawIesg and
oiscontented Ill the border states, As n
IeVolutlohlst or T. representative of rcyolu-
tlonlsts. he appeared to be regarded wltL
contempt, though no doubt Il sharp eve is
Kept upon his movements and upon al! at.
tempts to turn him to political account.
Whl1e there IS a busy Appearance about
thA fsaafr yp IA ~, "a -