The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-03-20


queer republic that lies Southwest
of the United States. Yet the
country had centuries of history be-
fore Columbus sailed from Genoa to
discover the New World. Its climate
its traditions, its people, it's military
history, its religion, its rulers, its
customs, it's products, its cities and
its scenery interest us. 1t may be
called quaint country in many re-
spects. But few of it's people keep
up with the march of modern i'm
provement. Many customs that
prevailed in the East in Bible times
are in vogue in Mexico to day.
The water carrier with his vessel
of skin or an enormous earthen jug
is still to be seen as he goes through
the streets of the smaller cities de-
| livering his goods at un centavo Zone
cent? a gallon. The patient little
burro "a small ass with his ponder
Gus load of merchandise strapped on
his back may be seen everywhere,
even few near the capital city In
many parts of the country wagons
are unknown yet. The plows are of
that primitive pattern used centuries
ago and made entirely of wood with
a yoke of oxen to pull it. The poems
or lower class of laborers can not be
induced to use the sharp, smooth,
steel pillow of the American farmer.
He says it would poison the earth
and ruin his crop.
With all his faults the Mexican
has many virtues. To stranger
with whom he has been favorably
impressed he extends a generous
hospitality and is a firm friend, but
to an enemy implacable and seldom
loses an opportunity to show his dis
like. He lives the way his forefathers
lived and he does not want to change
his customs-it all seems good
enough for'him-and he is jealous of
any innovations that foreigners may
attempt to introduce. While for
eigners have a social influence
and an influence on the gov
eminent far out of proportion
to their numbers they can sway
the masses but little. Merchants
and professional men must depend
largely ON the custom of theMexicans
and new tangled ideas from other
countries are anything but conduc
i've to a prosperous trade in
any line of business, so the Greaser
finally has things very much his
own way.
A trip to Mexico is an education
in itself Its variety is equal to that
Of any European country one can
visit. The capital city is far toward
the southern end of the republic and
gives the tourist sights of many
hundreds of miles of the country be-
fore reaching it.
While the climate is semi-tropical
Except in the lowlands where it is
torrid) one needs to keep his winter
clothes. The sun is always bright
and warm, the mercury during the
day usually ranging from rs to 80,
but at night it is pleasant and con-
ducive to refreshing sleep.
Last month lady and two gem
tlemen of Morgantown left home for
trip to the City of Mexico. With
stops at st. Louis, Galveston, San
Antonio and a number of cities in
Mexico, with their friends to the
number of 261 they landed in the
city Is days after leaving home, on
schedule time, with four days to Wis
it the noted places and study the
metropolis of the republic.
This city was founded by the Az
tees near the year 1900 and has been
an important place ever since. 1t
has been the scene of many stirring
events. In the 10th century when
the SpaniaFds found their way into
this country they discovered here a
civilization that was unknown in
any other part Of the new world.
Here was nation Of organized ar
mics, of official administrations, a
high order Of architecture,
considerable knowledge Of agri-
culture and the mechanical
arts, a nation rich in gold and silver
and people Of gentle manners.
Upon the arrival of the special
American train that carried the ex-
cursionists, a committee Of so, led by
the American newspaper men of the
city, met the visitors and made a
speech of welcome that was fifty re-
sponded to by officers Of the associa-
tion, and a program for the visit an
nounced, when the party was distrib-
uted among the various hotels.
The first thing to do is to get the
clay of the land' as the Spanish Ian
guage is almost exclusively spoken
and the stranger is at a great disad-
vantage. The city, however, is nice
ly laid off, all the main thoroughfares
are straight and run at right angles
to each other and converge on the
central plaza de Armas, beautiful
little park of IA acres, tastefully laid
out with flower beds, grass plots,
shade trees and fountains. The
streets have no names. What to us
is one street has dozen names in as
many blocks, and to locate ourselves
we always had to keep in mind the
plaza.
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