New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-24
DIAZ.
NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE PREF
DENT OF MEXICO-How THE UPPER
CLASSES LIVE

Mules YIN lHE HABITS OF THE PREN
DENT OF MEXICO-HOw THE UPPER
CLASSES LIVE.
City Of Mexico, Dec. l.-Mexlcan society has u,
dergone considerable change since the days q
the Empire and this account OF the many rev.
oIutions through which the country has passed the
accession to power Of parties hitherto obscure ana
the closer connection existing and each day becom
ing more developed between Mexico and the out.
side world The grand old families Of Imperial
times have nearly all disappeared, and their place
taken by the 'parvenu." The don and the man.
ta" have passed away, and men and fashions
Of the present day reign instead. Still Mexico In
many things. clings to the past. II yet maintains
it's old family pride and certain customs and In
many instances does not take kindly TO the trans.
ton which is slowly but surely telling upon the
nation There exists In Mexico a strong line q
demarcation between class and class. and between
natives and foreigners Society in Mexico is <.
elusive and the "entree" into II is difficult TO OBJ
tain. and when you have succeeded in enter.
ing great watchfulness and care have TO be
ercsed to retain a good footing therein. For IN
spite OF the warm welcome and efusive potenese
shown to the newly admitted, little mistake will
bring about GOODNESS and ultimate Punishment
There Is no doubt that Mexican society is hollow
and insincere although their language Is trimming
over with honeyed words and phrases. in reality
meaningless and unnecessary.
Naturally life and customs differ In every mouse.
hold yet in the home circle especially there 10
much similarity, from the Presidential Mansion
downward. always excepting the pueblo (or
poorer class. whose customs and mode OF life are
OF n different character They generally dwell IN
huts of adobe consisting of room the only light
they receive being admitted through the door.
Their food is dnvaried. viz tortillas, frijoles and
chles and their drink pulque. the old National
drink dating from Aztec times. 1t Is the Juice Of
nj
tivated and a healthy drink although II taken TO
excess highly intoxicating In the Presidents fam.
ily as in many others. the two principal meals Of
the day are almost the only occasions wien all the,
members meet. The desayuno consisting OF
small cup of chocolate black coffee. with roll
of white bread or sweet cakes, and followed by q
glass of milk Is served from to a. m, and every
one partakes at his or her own convenience About
p or 1890 o'clock, breakfast, consisting OF soup.
fried rice frjoles and usually nine other courses
are served and at or p. m. the dinner that 10
a repetition OF the above. At both these meals
wine Is the usual beverage.
In his family circl, and among his friends Pres.
dent Diaz is most amable ard courteous; but IN
his public life and toward his officials he Is firm
and relentless, much so that the title OF frea-
dent is almost obscured by that Of Military Dicta.
tor He is a man who neither drinks ror smokes.
and whose whole time Is devoted TO the discharge
of his official duties few days OF hunting in the
himself He takes the greatest interest In the de-
veopment and progress OF Mexico. and every IA
cllity is given TO strangers by him for carrying
out any new enterprise. Some IDEA OF MS
feeling toward the people may be formed from
what took place at the reception held IN the
palacio \acional on the occasion or MS
last birthday Upon the platform in the Hall OK
the Ambassadors surrounded by his generals ana
officials he had been engaged all the morning In
receiving congratulations from the Diplomatic
Body. from the members OF the Government and OF
he army Although necessarily fatlgued, the eve
ming was devoted the reception OF the peope
and OF those who were prevented from attending IN
the morning The first to be received was a depu.
tation from Oaxaca the sta In which the Presi:
dent was born. and in which his earlier LAYS hat
been spent The meeting between the President
and his old compatriots and companions "as
touching. There was 70 he seen tne a az re az
lection The old friend and companion rather man
the President was there The depItation was c Iy,'
lowed by A vast crowd OF the pueblo OF 'ne cry,
for each of whom he had a kind word ana warm
handshake. Among these was poor oid ,i ihu,s as
who had come with difficulty. bent down Win a ns
and infirmity. As he drew rear the PRESIDENT as'
scended and helped him on to the Platform, ana
him across to the place OF exit. This was all done
perfectly simple and natural ma am pa showing
During certain part Of the year the bresiden =.
the of the city and IN no wise qltereh, rp IN
the others. During the summer months ne anu ~
family take up their reslnce at rme 20, Sta hrvng
residence OF Chapultepec NJ one tine shs t ,non
place of the Aztec kings The castle Is pun. upo,.
lofy ,Sck and w d6mn ms the admiration
the visitor. Approach 10 the castle Is throug sos
a. the guar lhouse and on the other the ohcers
ROOM leading into an extensive anu 70 u,anv
here's in extent and kept In excellent order Ad.
o!ns the castle is the military s sHhSS fH V
ing nj Chapultepec II must be remembered tnat no
spends each day in the city IN ms rGoms az the
palaco Nacional transacting the business OF tne
nation He is always at his post, hard az worx,
Yet ready the stranger VINO Wou5n po
Va nj
Nacionai is situated abounds in historic memories
Where the building now stands was a one a'
Ard facing il the old Cathedral OF Mexico rears
its mighty pile the site where the ASteo
vas built The cathedral must De atpr9paaohhe. .
closely if one would form any idea q t. mas az
been considerably dwarfed through me slhhs S Hs
the rest Of city built upon marsh S ~ Is FEN m
the Renaissance style OF 9 sno which
splendid view OF the country round about can can oe
the the. Paiaclo Nacional is the Gale s Teresa IN
which is the postof,ice, and niue t,,i;ne a
npmn; relics of Aztec times demonstrating
The high state of civilization attained oy he AL.evs
and also the zeal that animated them in me NOT Nor,
thing that catches the eye the famous IsIy
carved Further on is the famous sacritcia stone
three feet high and nine feet IN Hdane secr nod
1t is also one of carvng the su6yects o ne, ,h
warriors leading away prisoners rot 'ar riy, Tor
bene the church of the Induiston N Mexico Inc
school of Medicine is built on the sire OF tne coul
and dungeons of the Inquistton Inc garro,e usr'
nv the Inouisition is yet % be seen in the museum
To the President is due the bringing tosetnsHr, OF
oil those things bearing upon the history or Mex
leo He has been accused of persscuting me
Church This is. however, incorrect line "a" into
power Of Daz ny. this law The property OF fse
religious orders and Of the churcnes Was coni %.
cotej and the buildings nationAliZed. LiDerai az
Dlaz is he dare not go against the law espeeialIy
az he IL surrounded by those who have grown ,lcn
Nv church plumber and rank the parvenus OF
the country