San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-05

| some 10 the people ana the Danditu
was eventually overcome by Roeli de
Varejon. and at his request it was
named lie Gran Ciudad de Lerma.
That name continues to this day,
though it is some time applied deri-
sively. 1t is pretty, quaint city, and
has some fine, old churches and other
buildings.
En- route from Lernia we catch a
glimpse of ,Cerro del Senior (the noun
tain of the Lord. This was at one
time a famous sacred place and the
object of many pilgrimages, but its
glories have passed away.
Nearing Toluca we have a view of
the fine valley between Lerma and
Toluca, in which the crops are small
and much burned up, something I'M
usually for this fertile valley. The
| famous extinct volcano of Xmantecal
| is seen in the distance. At the top is
lake, in the centre of the lake a
whirlpool. Usually the mountain crest
has considerable snow. This year it
has little and this, the Indians say,
augurs a drouth.
On we go and at last reach Toluca.
| This is the capital of the state of Mex
! leo. 1t is 5000 feet high, nearly 1000
| feet higher than this city, but being
ON the borders of the terra (allientel
the hot lands-it is considerably
warmer. 1t is one of the Oldest cities
of Mexico. Its site was included in
the grant to CorteZ and it was settled
| in 1863 Soon after it became a tower,
and in 1877 ii was made city. In
1881 it was declared the capital of the
state of Mexico.
On alighting from the train all took
the street car and were driven down
the Gale de Independence to the
Plaza Mayor(great plaza, in the heart
of the city. Theway lay through an
avenue of trees, passed the statue
erected by the state in 1851 to the me-
DRY of Padre Hedalgo and Abarole
Allende and AldanO, who first declar-
ed the independence of Mexico, and
who were executed for so doing. Mo
ayles, another patriot, has statue In
the Plaza Rivas Palaclas.
The Plaza Mayor is not large one.
1t is Just about the size of your Alamo
plaza, but it is better laid out, orna-
mented with statuary and fountains,
and has good supply of comfortable
iron seats.
AS it was Sunday morning a mill
tary band was in the band stand in
the center the plaza and played some
fine selections in a most artistic way
to the apparent delight of the crowd
assembled. Mexico differs from us
1t utilizes its bands, when not other
wise, for the amusement of the PEG
pie, and they get something for theil
money. In San Antonio you are taxed
to keep the band and have to pay t
get the music, unless you go out t.
the Post and hear it on the parade
: ground.
All around the plaza are the execu
tive buildings, which are very fine
: There also is the sight of the ole
Parish church. The first church, prob
ably of wood, was erected in 1856, ant
in the sixteenth century it was sup
planted by stone edifice. To thi,
was added the famous chapel Tercel
Orded. These were raised in 1874, ant
some years ago a magnificent cathed
raj was begun. 1t is grand and mas
sive in design, and when completed
will be one of the finest modern ca
thedrals In Mexico, but when that viii
lbe God only knows. Its progress
nNsible-ls even slower than that o
Rayd, county's court house, or tn
Sam AntsSio sewerage system. Nea
by are fwe~old and handsom
churches-the Church~of vera cru
and that of Neustra SenSa aei oa ga,
men, in which is peculiar pc..eav
organ, the first made in Mexico, antf
fine painting of 1.-THE Virgin and til
Dead Christ. 1.-Two miles distant is til
celebrated church of Nuestra Senior
de Tecajic In it is a remarkable pi,
ture, ''The Assumption of the Virgin,
painted on rough canvas, much re
sembling that used for the miracu
lous portrait of "Our Lady of tn
Guadalupe" The former picture
much venerated by the Indians an,
has the credit of having worked sew
eral miracles.
Toluca is thriving city, having owe
1000 inhabitants, mainly Mexican ant
mostly of Indian descent. 1t has tw,
: theaters and fine bull fight ring. ]
does considerable manufacturing ant
Z trading, and is famous for its butter
cheese and beer. For production o.
: the latter they have a first-class brew
!, cry, conducted by Germans, and TIT
! beer is excellent 1t is used mainly il
this city and has materially reduced
the importation of American beers. L
has not affected the imports of Eng
| lish ales and porters, as these are USED
t largely and are popular in the English
and American colonies. There is q
fine market here, converted from al
: exposition building, and here delicious
fruits, vegetables and other things are
sold very cheap. The streets are
well arranged, and considerable bust
ness is done here, but the bulk of the
population seems to be Of that low, ig
norant of the type of those
across San Antonio's infamous San
Pedro district, and live all the week
on the harvest of their Saturday beg
ging.
But time was up and had to go to
! Tho dannf tn catch tho FRO IN, hnp,a