Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
GLlMPSES OF MEXICO.
Cyrus @. Prlndic, tho Botanist speaks of

Cyrus @. Prlndis, tho Botanist Speaks of
Its Characteristics- How Mexicans Woo
Our Charlotte correspondent writes as
follows:
The East Charlotte Cento club held its
last meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
William Trowbridge and listened with
marked attention to a highly entertaining
but informal talk on Mexico by Cyrus G..
Prngle, the botanical traveller. He spoke on
the immense resources OF the country. say
ing, however that large districts OF the
country were unfit for cultivation owing
to the large deposits of lime. Lime is the
the one word which explains the barren
condition of a large section of the country.
These deposits form smooth beds, over
which floods of water frequently sweep
all before them. For this reason these
lime regions are constant menace 10
travellers. The rain fall in the West often
reaches a depth of 20 feet. The mountains
vary in height from 1000 to $4,000 feet above
sea level. The fertile districts are well
adapted to agriculture, but some farmers
in their haste to get rich have made the
fatal mistake. coffee instead of pota-
toes" The latter are scarce and COM
mand high price.
Owing to its high altitude, the city of
Mexico possesses climate so invigorating
and stimulating that nervous people cam
not endure ii, but have to seek a lower al
titude. To those who can 1t gives an al
most indescribable feeling of exhilaration.
The sky and landscapes are rich and pecu-
liar in color. The sun and stars shine
with q peculiar lustre. The light is white
and dazzling, making the scenery charm
ing. In many Of the forests, the air plants
attaching themselves to trees, makes
every tree trunk n flower garden.
Clinging vines with spines make 1t often
difficult getting through the forests. The
natives cut their way with n short sword
like instrument called n mechatta. The
natives 1.-Two in squalor. bed OF
braided rus hes is made to do service for
several years without cleansing. All the
furniture of the house might be taken out
at one load on a wheelbarrow
The natives possess many pleasant
traits OF character they are hospitable
and exceedingly polite. They set small
value however, upon human life If that
life stands between them, and small
amount of money They would keep
stranger for weeks free of charge, but
should they discover that he had money
they would kill him for its sake. Crosses
here and there in the mountains mark the
place where some one has been killed, and
where he has been buried by friends. The
chief executive has made the banditti bust
ness unpopular by giving the leaders large
salaries under government, more than
tnpN can get DN IODDtIy. III llllS way hiS-
,nrbers of the public peace have been
turned into public protectors Offenders
against the law are dealt with in sum-
mary manner. A man found laying OBJ
structions in the way OF railway tram
NAV be shot down by the conductor and
there is no further thought or II. From
these prompt methods OF executing the
laws, the country, Notwithstanding the
low code of morals. Is safer TO travel IN
than the United States.
Wild animals, such as the panther and
jauguar are hunted and quite easily cap
tured. Deer are plentiful and obtained
without much eXertion. Stories concering
the tarantula are mere bug-bears. Inc
botanist has placed his blanket upon the
ground with the holes OF these creatures
all around him. and yet he has never been
disturbed. He has handled them. and yet
they have never offered to bite. They cam
not Jump UP as has been represented.
When they see a person they are more
anxious to get away than to make an at
tack,
Courtship In Mexico Is emphatically
public affair. A young man begins by
Sinking at some girl at the window OF
an upper story. Sometimes she smiles in
recognition of the compliment, at other
times he has to keep on smirking and bow
Ing for several days, until she finally re-
ceives him more gracefully by smlllng'
At the next stage she comes down stairs
and he stands at the barred window, ana
talks through the bars. 1t is a common
sight to look upon lovers standing day
after day at the window talking through
the bars to the girls of their choice. The
parents notice II after a while, and make
inquiries, if satisfied with the history of
the young man. invite him in but sit care
fully between the lovers. who are never
left for a single moment alone until after
they are married.