Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-24
IN THE HOT WATER
William Alden Smith Writes OF
Mexican Baths.
Ne SEES MEXICO AS she is
Ard Gives His Impression Of This Egyp-
tan Land OF AEnerica-Homss and
Habits of s.he Mexicans.

L&~@AAA43B hcaAiIr hss AOLtf HreIs
crowned with perpetual snow, high
into the AR, to the balmy, fertile valley
nesting IN the more favored bat less
striking location below. We have
shared the generous hospitality of the
rali.oad guild in every state trsversed
and seen much 10 edify. enhghten and
Instruct. California certainly abounds
IN resources calculated 10 satisfy tae
most greedy, with a climate suited 10
The most fastidsous taste and prosperity
enough 10 make 10 thoroughly enloys-
bic. But u remains for Mexico to sup
ply the traveller with novelties OF the
most crimson hue" and from the mo-
ment Manager Heads car, ISL" was
attached 10 the Central Mexican rail
road aud We entered this Egypt OF the
new world, 10 the present time the
lttracuon- have increased in novelty
and wonder. After A ride OF three
lays and nights from Pasa Del Norte
sc landed at the famous fnining city
OF ZOcoteCosand leaving our ear pro-
reeded on an inclined railway 10
he neighboring city of Guadalupe,
trails alsd monasterles which have
Gitnstood the elements and the
evere trials OF revolution upon revolu-
Ion for over three hundred and nifty
Years. still retaining the attractiveness
ma substantial architecture and rich
Interior that characterized the efforts
,f Is spanish founders, with altar rail-
ngs and Interior trimmings OF gold.
BEAUTIFULLY set of on foundations OF
olld cnyx-
Worship Withia the shrine.
Huge IRON doors with grated bars
seep the worshlpers from the richer
apartments. excepI on feast days, when
quiekened spIrii of generosity Is ex-
,eeted to ANIMATE the devotee who falls
'ull length st its golden base, and in
'everish supplleatlon seeks consolation
rom the in4ninate figures OF saint
francis and toe Patron Saint Guada-
upe. While we were there many over
,urdened souls cTept on their knees
rom the street TO the sanctuary, and
With facial evidence of great pain
soursd out their burden to the god of
heir hearts, their swarthy faces aud
great black eyes literally bsthed in ex-
,ectant devotion, the vast majority
With scarcely clothing enough
a. cover their bodies, "sombre-
'o'' and ''zerope" with the
,ver-present revolver and sword,
hey looked formidable enough outside
ne temple. but within were sppa-
emily most humble believers IN divine
vii. The streets OF Guadalupe are
8arYow. the buildings low adobe
fractures with thick walls and grated
windows. giving TO the buildings the
appearance ef workhouscs or prisons.
ending some cfedence TO the story OF
he Montana man. who passing the
house OF n Mexican merchant aud see-
ny woman seated within IN evident
ned ltatlon handed her dollar note
aging, Take this $40; | have been
acre myself"
Foiicsmep Can Be Found.
No city - too poor TO have its public
plaza and from these places military
sspds discourse delightful music at
almost every hour OF the day. Flowers
bloom tie whOle year through. In the
center Of san Marcus plaza hugh
fountain supplies great BASIN with
water from which the picturesque
water carrier with gourd in hand fills iis
sarthen bucket and delivers the fiuld
on Der shoulders about the CITY. earn
lng, perhaps. thirty cents for
her hard days labor. Soldiers
and policemen seem 20 an Oh
server to constitute = large part OF the
Metican popuiltloh. aud their presence
at Tsilrosd stations and in public places
dTt SEED n gay attire, with rife. sword
and revolver. are not calculated to Iui-
press a stranger with confidence IN the
stability Of tner republic. But wheu
We are reminded that the so,disry IL
largely made up OF criminals, bandItti
who arc sentenced by courts 90 service
nl the army, itls perhaps we'll to maze
their service "a conspicuous as possible.
The uniform of the Mexican policeman
az ~e have seen u - certainly striking.
white cap. biBs overcost, white trou-
sers and Darefosted. he presents = pic
tpre not calculated 20 excite the envy
CT the Broadway squad. However.
you eau always had a Mexican police
man after DARK. "a the regulations re-
quire hlm % carry a lantern, and while
standing the light must De placed in
the middle of the street 10 Indicate the
officers Whereabouts.
Scenes About IN. Raths.
We left Guadalupe the following day
for Argues Cslientes. from which point
l decided % give the readers of TINS
HrRAHn the benefit OF our strange eS-
per,ence The hot water baths Of
tslSnwe0d springs. OF which | have
heretofore written were both novel and
sniaystlr But the hot water baths of
Auxaos Cslientes discount anything
previously experienced. The hot water
CUISINES out OF the mountains into =
huge pool hot enough to boil an egg,
ana : them separated into different
pools called private and public baths
The latter - ditch running clear
scross the city about three feet wide
ard I'VE feet deep. In this ditch. con-
ssrurtsd bv the municipality. the vast
majority OF the people IN TINS city OF
twenty thousand inhsbItsnts promiscu-
onSlv batnr in the warm water, aud
Frosr, IA o'clurk n the morning until
rs he sfternaon Hundreds of people.
oen. women ard children, can Be
sern Al this whoiescme pssnne, and
tie trees aud bushes 90 TIRE banks are
Et<rsilv covered with white attire.
-hich = FIRST Washed and hug up 20
dry N thu sun before the bath Begins,
end 10 aud down the ditch little chsE.
dren by the sore are pl&yfuiiy running
about. while their only enitd
spparri - beng washed or Dry
rig m the sue. Baths n thls
ditch are the free gift Of the nauni-
sipal sathoritfes 70 is people; the
eitch tFAvcrscs the center Of TIE elty,
starting trcsn thegrasiroad staten. and
- inttzcriminsse u-. - the people If
tcth s~xrs = tne rrssls - eastsna 80