The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-03-18
A TRIP TO MEXICO.
Hon. T. III. Galley Took an Audience Over a
Portion of the Route He Travelled.

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day. at the Congregational church and
in response to an urgent request from
his friends 7. ii. Galley appeared be-
fore an appreciative audience that eve
ming to give them the benefits of his
observations during his trip. Long
before the time set the house was filled
and standing room was at a premium
when Mr.. Galley began his recital.
He found the relations of the United
States and Mexico to be most friendly,
the Mexicans standing ready to de-
clare our enemies their enemies. and
praying that our government would
take steps toward declaring Cuba indie
pendent of Spain that they might de-
clare war with the European mon
archy. The common people have little
idea of the vastness or Importance of
our country. though, il being q com
mon impression that if the United
States was without Texas she would be
second best in a conflict with Mexico
On February %, Mr.. Galley saw the
stars and stripes waving over a build
ing and in company with his wife in
vestigated the reason for this display.
They found that the building was oc-
cupied by an American missionary and
his wife, who were observing the birth
day of the great American. This
couple had been doing excellent work
there. The woman had knowledge
of medicine and surgery, and Mexico
being greatly afflicted with blind and
crippled people, she found excellent
opportunities to- use her knowledge.
The natives regard cure of any of the
numerous ailments which afflict them
as little short of miracle, and this
gives the couple an excellent chance to
inculcate the teachings of their doc
trine.
Mexico, by reason of her vast num-
bers Of halt and blind, offers an excel
lent field for the young physician.
While as a rule the common classes
are unable to pay large fees, they are
willing to give all they can for medical
services, and when asked to recon-
mend physician invariably mention
some American.
A visit to Chapultepec proved to be
Of great interest. The fortress is sur
rounded on three sides by cliffs which
are impossible to scale without assist
ance from above, while the fourth side
can be approached only by a perilous
ascent up a rocky headland whose sides
slope at an angle of about SO degrees.
The capture of this fortress was great
victory, for even if the point was not
we'll defended it was almost impregna-
BILE and its storming demanded great
courage from the attacking forces. At
this point appear monuments which
have been erected in honor of the
Union soldiers who fell in the assault
and also in memory of the Mexican
students who so bravely defended the
place.
The Mexicans are contented race
but they are content with much less
than the poorer classes of our country
obtain. In the first place wages are
much lower, first class mechanics, car
penters, masons, stone cutters, and the
like, receiving from IS cents to S1.OO
per day, while the common laborer re-
ceives but Is to 20 cents per day in
Mexican money. A days work, too, is
from daylight till dark. The common
laborer feeds his family on cornmeal
soups Of which the principal ingredi
emit is red pepper, and beans boiled il
water without a particle of meat, but
ter, or grease of any kind. A Mexican
carries in his dinner pail soup O
tomatoes and peppers, three pancakes
and a spoonful of beans. Our work
men could not live on such food anl
would consider it hardship to subsis
without butter or any other of tn,
things we consider necessities, but tn,
Mexican has never had anything bet
ter and never expects to, therefore b.
is contented.
The Mexicans never speak Of tn
= weather for each day is so like it
3 predecessors that there are no peculiar
tiles to mention. They invariabl
shake hands on meeting and again o
parting, even if the meeting has nc
extended over minute
About all the silver manufactured i
Mexico comes to the United State!
either for our use or in bond to /
shipped to other countries. Durin
the visit of Mr.. Caley's party the mini
were all closed. Paper money is tt
currency OF the country and no one wi
carry silver.
A cotton factory was visited where
was found that the best skilled labt
was employed for 40 cents per da
The product of the looms was excellen
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