Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-22


foreign countries for payment of i'm
ported goods Dosor added, natives
will never improve their country
because they are not capable The
majority of them don't want to work
and the rest are too lazy to accomplish
much.' Poems seem TO be anti
progressive, and as an example he
cited the instance of his own servants.
His cook receives $3.50 per week, and
y cents per dav to live on; domestic
gets 81 .25 per week, and II cents per
day to live on. Upon inquiry as to
what was meant by twelve cents dav
to live on" the answer was given that
servants object to advanced American
tastes and notions OF cooking food, and
would not remain at work day if they
had to eat as their employer does. The
rubber tissued ''tortilla," dry 'friiola"
and red hot "chili concarne" sauce is
all they want and twelve cents per dav
suffices to feed them on native stuffs
abundant. Kind words were spoken
for President Diaz. who controls public
affairs with an iron hand, yet has the
interests of the Republic at heart and
is recognized as the best ruler Mexico
ever had. Compulsory education is one
of Diaz' late measures, and another is
quick and severe punishment for
murderers, which has accomplished
much toward estopping the wholesale
use of the stiletto for which the country
has long been noted. The editorial
party was fortunate enough to be
invited and formally entertained by
President Daz himself at his palace in
the City Of Mexico and we shall Try to
say more Of him later.
The low topped houses and domed
churches of Zacatecas make the tourist
who looks upon the OLD city for the first
time feel as if, in some mysterious
manner he had been dropped from the
clouds into the heart of Palestine.
Indeed, pictures of Jerusalem and
Zacatecas placed side by side bear a
striking similarity. The rapid transfor-
nation from the nineteenth century
way of doing things in the States to
those of Bible times in this quaint
habitatiOn was too astonishing not to
call forth good stretch of Imagination.
Everything is primitive, and even the
Rebeccas at the we'll are found in this
Jerusalem of the New World" We
mingled with the natives in their
peculiar garb and strolled through the
crowded plaza (park) while the band
was playing. A city of any size at all in
Mexico has its plaza, you know, and a
good band too, for they are music
loving people. The plaza is not away
out somewhere on the outskirts of a
city, but is set right uown in the very
heart or business center, a green gem
Of tropical foliage, handsome fountains,
carved stone benches and shady paths.
park seems the first consideration in
the building Of a city, and when that is
located the large cathedrals and the
rest of the town are erected around it.
1t must have been Easter day in IaCa-
teCas. Vendors were Offering gayly
colored egg shells for sale by the basket
full. Maldens out for a promenade
wore no hat or head covering, and they
walked IN pairs or groups, always
without male escorts. The boys also
travelled in groups by themselves. This
una American idea Of singleness appealed
to my inquisitiveness at once. Soon
there was a meeting, a passing as it
were. A boy would modestly step up
to a girl, smash an egg shell or two on
her hair, then each continued their
directions as uncorsciOusly as if nothing
happened. Not Il word spoken. After
maiden had passed about a dozen
colors Of the rainbow and it was an odd
looking nest too. We have not learned
to this day what that custom meant, but
when bold young fellow slyly cracked
an elderly lady on the head trouble
seemed to come thereof.
A lively tramway ride of six miles
down the mountain, gravitation supply
ing the only motive power necessary
brings the traveller to one of the richest
churches in this country of domes. On
the altar were life-size figures represen-
ting the crucifxion, and for background
there was a grand painting representing
the Hill Of Calvary. with attending
Roman soldiers and Jews grouped
around. To the left Of Cathedral, and
connected with it, is chapel erected in
1871 at cost of half a million dollars
the gift of lady of great wealth. 1t is
considered without equal anywhere
The chancel is magnificent, portions OF
it being constructed of solid gold. The
altar rail is of pure silver, while the
steps leading to altar are of rarest and
most expensive shades of onyx. Paint
ings of exceeding value adorned the
walls, work of the best masters il
Rome. The magnificent dome was
beautifully frescoed and it would seem
that ones eyes would never tire ot
feasting on the many lovely figures sc
skillfully portrayed. One of the EN-.
phatic contrasts and glaring inconsisten
ces which struck the writer forcibly
while in Mexico was these wondrously
| fine and costly houses of worship
| ovorvubora aD5 the moor iUDora n +