The Opelousas courier., 1895-06-22
Mexico.

MeAlcah cnrrency-receiyinp S1 Ge e"
each ". 5. dollar-ani Wa NAV Stat, -
I'ght here that our Mexican doIIar sia.' ia ~
puichasing power in Mexico ahnn
eIial . 70 the U. s. dollar here. a fac
s;ins ;inen may serve as a pointer to m,
anne. an;.o trends 10 the discussion non
iS"eg ai,oag th's Country from center f.
~, AS our journey between Houston and
thso hu ea.y OF Mexico occupied nearl,
onr % pu1iy' punys ana nights, the passengers on
W, oen Ie,Lman sleeper had the opportu.
ad ,;t, ~ oecohlng pretty we'll acquaint-
JOKES and "reminiscences of 1ha "santia tne
R}n from South CaroliDan and "n,
h,l'ehu, the captain, the smoker was
hepC pretty lively during the entire trim
NoGwlthstanding that Mexico lies
almost wholly within the tropics. and
near the equator, the climate is ~.
most eq uable in the world, and owing
20 tne nigh attitudes on the ronta nf
the Mexican Central r. r. the ravs of
trop'cal sun are tempered by cooling
oreezes blowing over snow-cannai
mountains, mitigating many Of tile dis
comforts Of travel.
we Will not attempt a description of
the many points Of interest and his
Ioflcai note we passed on our tourney.
Out the city Of Queretaro deserves
more than passing notice. It was
mere that the ili-fated Macmillan was
captured and executed June 10, 1867,
atons with Generals Miramun and
MeJ'a' Just IN the northern limits Of the
Guy; Ihe place of execution is marked
Dy thfee little crosses of stone. Quere-
taro occupies prominent place in
Mexlco's history. 1t was made a citv
as early as 1866. by decree of PhiIip ~
OF Spain. 1t was here the ratification
OF the treaty Of peace between the u. s.
ana Mexico took place in 194S, and il
mas nRured more or less in the later
wars and revolutions till the town is
Iuil OF Warlike "reminiscences. The
story OF poor CarlOtta" is one Of the
most sorr0wful, and had its saddest
feature at Queretaro. The city lies to
the eastward of the track, and a good
view may be had from passing trains;
and just after leaving the city going
south the track passes under tile auue-
duct OF the city's water supply, which
Is nearly five miles long, and the tallest
arch Is nearly hundred feet high.
The water comes from the mountains,
passing through tunnel, over the
aqueduct. and is distributed through
t1o city ny IOuuIhtUS.
Lacatecas, where we laid over one
day, presented quite metropolitan ap-
pearance, some of the buildings reach
ing three and four stories. The State
and Municipal palaces are imposing
above the average in Mexico. The
church of Nuestra Sonora tle la Ascun-
clon. will, its tiled dome and interior
Df white ana gold, once owned fOunt
t-A hat MI r.
IS probable that the oldest Presbyterian
church building in the world or rather
Lhe oldest church building used by
Presbyterians, is at Zacatecas; it was
Dnce the Catholic church of San Angus |
in, now devoted to Protestant uses. |
But it is at GuadalOupe that is situated |
,ne of the most interesting churches
II this country of churches, about six |
niles from the city. In front Of the
church is pretty park Of roses, well
zept. The grand old church with its
lied dome is worthy of all the journey
% see. The main altar has life-size |
igures representing the crucifxion.
Behind there is canvas painting repre-
eDting the biIl of Calvary, with the
Jews and Roman soldiery IN the middle
,ack ground. These, with the figures
n front, produce a very startling effect.
The church is filled with people
,neeling at the various affairs and con-
essionals at all times. On the right of
he church is the old art gallery. filled
giti, hundreds of curious paintings
the lives aud temptations
f the saints-some of them going very
much into detail. One fine picture of
liant and cherub, at the head Ut the
taircase is finely executed, and seems
be the work OF master hand. IHe
iapattd, or chapel, is more recent ad-
Itlon to the OLD chuich' tue silt OF
laldeD lady OF great wealth, lew
ears ago, and cost many thousanus Q.
Ollars. Inc noOr IS lniald Win marc
'Oods q oIHe!ent co'oIs. esup1ip
ltar is fich I'D I, ldlnks, w SILVER anu gou,
e AK nRures. SIN ahu .sat.h. l,H.ans.pss.
.iIe altar ran y on onyx anu soHd SILVER.
ne walls are Hne'y iresGoeai aic"er 4.'; ~
dome MY Leee aouse .,s .no a n"n, a,,. -, nas
all new OuG - st'ie hhese cnapei ~
lexico.
It was here that we had our flrst en-
pnnter with the national Mexican nul-
lnce-the street 1eggar. Uur party con- !
sting oil Capt. MauriD, MIR. "A. MOresl,
[r. g. R. Kirchner, u young business
lan from San Antonio (and most
greeable c0nspdgnOn de VOydge), and the
ritter, had reached within few blocks
the church when we were accosted by
couple OF small beggars with . most
athletic story Tin Spanisll) and re-
aest for Aims. Some OF our party
ere disposed 10 comply, but We ad-
ised against it, knowing full well |
lat it would be the signal for general
nsinught by the fraternity which /
opeared to be quite numerous on our i