San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-29

be seen why they do not live better.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of
these poor people who have not even
Il place TO rest their heads at night
and during the rainy nights was in
the city | saw not dozens, but hun
dreds of the unfortunates huddled in
the doOrways for the night. In the
dry season of the year they can man
age TO sleep in most any place, but in
the wet season is when they expert
enee the hardships.
THE City of Mexico has many pref
ty drives, but none which surpass the
one leading out to the Castle of Che
home. Ii is the most beautiful drive
| ever saw in my life and is called the
PassaO. 1t is lined on both sides with
stately trees and is paved with asphalt
tum, which gives one the idea that lie
is being driven over velvet carpet.
The castle is situated on the top of
a hill overlooking the city and is sur
rounded by the prettiest forest on the
continent, some of the trees being cen
turtles old. | have been through the
lumber regions of Wisconsin. Michi-
gan and other northern states. but l
never saw anything that would COM
pare with these stately trees.
Unfortunately | did not have the
opportunity of going through the cas-
tie, as the president resides there dur
ing the summer and no one is admit
ted, but in winter when he resides in
the White House any person of repu-
table character can secure a permit
to visit the place and go through it.
THE city is poorly off for drainage
at present, but an extensive sewerage
system which is at present being con-
structed, will soon remedy this evil.
As it is, when it rains the water stands
in the streets and plazas in pools, and
have seen it run into the houses.
The city is the most polite in the
universe. Everybody raise their hats
and friends always hug each other
upon meeting, just as we shake hands.
There is some confusion to the tourist
at first, however, on the street, as
everything appears to be backward.
Everybody turns to the left on meet
ing persons on the sidewalks, streets
cars run on the left hand side of the
street and even the door locks turn
opposite TO ours.
'MeXico's laws are very strict and
are rigidly enforced. The capital is
the best policed city in the world.
Three are at least 5000 policemen in
the city. At night there is one on al
most every conner. Each officer car
ries red lantern, siX-shooter about
two feet long and a club. In order to
enforce' vigilance on the officers part
the commissioner of police offers re-
ward of from three to five hundred
dollars to any person bringing in a
policeman's lantern at night, but I'd
advise no one to try it.
SHOULD you be run over by a We
hicle in that city, yourself as well as
the driver of the vehicle, would be
arrested-you for obstructing the pub
lie highway and the driver for run
ming over you. This law causes eau
ton on the part of all and works we'll
Should you see a fight 1t would be
well to turn your back ON it or walk
down a side street, because If po-
liceman appears on the scene every
body is arrested, the spectators being
held in Jail as witnesses, neither cul-
prit or witness is allowed bond, but
is kept until next morning when the
trial comes off.
zone thing in which that city differs
remarkably from this city is in its rate
of hack hire. Hacks are to be had at
every crook and turn and at moder-
ate prices, being rented by the hour.
You hire the hack and put as many
passengers in ii as you like, usually
from 4 to q. They are painted in
three different colors-yellow, red and
blue. The yellow ones rent for 80
cents per hour, the red IS and the blue
S1.00.
"Mexico is the poorest place in the
world for poor man. 1.-The ever gets
stranded he will never get back I'M
less he walks, because the laws are so
strict that he cannot 'hoboe' it on the
train. Should he get killed or Injured
on the train the whole crew would be
arrested and held responsible for it
Therefore extreme vigilance is eXer-
cised TO prevent anyone stealing a
ride.
"All bills presented in that country
must have stamps on them, purchased
from the government in accordance
with the amount, and anybody pre-
senting one without stamp thereon
is subject to heavy fine, as well as
the man VINO receives it. This stamp
law like all others, is very rigidly en-
forced 1t is one of the governments
chief ways of replenishing its reve
nues outside of its import tax.
''rhe crops throughout the republic
are looking fine. We will sell but lit
tie corn 10 that country this year. |
travelled miles and miles through
corn fields and they are in spelendid
condition. Plentiful rains have made
an excellent crop of cereals of all
kinds. The fruits have all matured
excellently this year and there is lot
of them there, too. Almost all fruits
addicted to the tropical climate can be
found there.
There's one thing l was disapponit-
ed in while there. They can't make
tamales, enchelades, tortillas and
other Mexican dishes like we can
here. They are not eaten in Mexico
except by the lower class and they
are then made at home and none are
for sale, except in border towns, where
they are patronized by Americans.
Once while | was at the Hotel Jardin