The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-01
CURE FOR FREE SILVER.
A VISIT TO MEXICO DETRIMENTAL
TO THAT FAITH.
Col Cutsbaw Gives an Interesting Account
of His Wandering In the Land of
the Montezumas.

the Montezumas.
City Engineer w. r.. Cutshaw returne,
early Sunday morning from a long ai'
| pleasant visit to old Mexico. where h
roamed around free from every care. snt
enjoyed the many interesting sights O
| that d., around which so much o. ro
nance hovers. Colonel Cutshaw returned
with a face bronzed by days spent un6ei
the full glare of the sun. and with a
form instinct with health
With a picturesque. broad-brimmed hat
upon his head, Colonel Cutshaw travelled
across the rough country on muleback
lived on the rough fare in miners camps
and slept at night under their tents. He
was accompanied on his trip by his
friend. Ex-Governor Thornton. Of New
Mexico.
MEXICAN SOUVENIRS.
Colonel Cutshaw talked I'm a most in
terestng and entertaining manner of his
trip to a Times reporter, who called
upon him at his residence. Upon the Ia
bic were a number Of articles manufac-
tured IN Mexico. which he had brought
bach with him to give to little Siri
These little trinkets speak volumes IN
themselves. aud give an Insight that
words cannot impart into the manners
and customs Of this semi-trOpical land.
Among them is the figure of a woman,
the inevitable covering thrown over her
head and shawl around her shoulders.
kneading with a stone roller the cracked
maize, from which the "tortillas," or
corn cakes. the food. and often the only
food of the "Peon" class. are made. Be
side her is an earthen jar containing the
homlny, and a round. nat stone, supported
on four small stones. upon which the
cakes are baked. Colonel Cutshaw said
that the figure was typical Of the woman
to be found IN every Peon family, and
that she seemed TO put IN nearly the
whole Of her time I'm making and baking
these cakes. while the head Of the family
stood idly by. never doing anything II
he could avoid II.
Other articles brought on by Colonel
Cutshaw represent Peon man and Wo-
man with earthen water jars slung on
their backs. dressed I'm the typical cos
tune ~ the country and with bare feet.
Colonel Cutshaw also brought with him
a number OF elegantly-made articles or
onyx stone. some representing various
kinds of fruits. others in the shape Of
books and paper-wegnts. This stone
abounds in that country and Is often
used I'm the construction Of columns TO
hourses. and other ornamental work
DESCRIBED HIS JOURNEY.
Colonel Cutshaw sketched i'm graphic
STYLE his journey through Mexico. lie
stopped some little time IN the city OF
Mexico, and then went down 10 vera
Cruz, visiting intermediate points.
lie was much struck by the progress
that the country is making under It's
present able and wise ruler. President
Diaz. who Is practically the King oil
Mexico" as his sway is almost absolute.
There is "A general system or granting
concessions TO any enterprise which
may wish to come in and in return Tor
these concessions. President Diaz has es-
tablshed a rule that free schools shai be
established. In consequence the cause OF
education is rapidly advancing.
Colonel Cutshaw while in Mexico had
mis- attention strongly called TO the finan-
cial conditions prevailing, and he said
last night that q visit there was not cal
culated To enhance any ones faith in free
silver.
The cases Of Mexico and the United
States" he said. ARE not parallel ones
by any means. The people there use the
currency they do not because they wish
10. but because II is the product Of the
country. 10 is "a case of have to-
As regards the condition Of the Poems
or laboring classes in that country and
the working men in this it was gathered
from Colonel Cutshaw's remarks that no
lust parellel could be drawn between
them on account OF the radical difference
IN existing conditions. There the Poems
are ignorant and indolent. the climate
Tor the most part. being an enervating
one. They can. and many of them do
subsist on tortillas at a cost Of five cents
per day. They are content 10 exist in
their present state without any ambition
10 become rich or achieve greatness in
any direction.
STREETS AND DRAINAGE.
During Colonel CutshaW's stay in the
city of Mexico he naturally paid much
attention TO the streets and drainage Of
that city. They have not the excellent
drainage system of Richmond. but the
streets are paved in a more lasting and
substantial manner
Colonel Cutshaw described the country
IN glowing terms. Although the city Of
Mexico is about n thousand miles from
the Equator. its great altitude gievs IT
delightful temperature. The surrounding
country and along the route 10 Vera
cruz the views are grand. Colonel CUT
shaw witnessed much wild and pictures
que scenery from the back Of a burro.
and although he admired il he confesses
that he felt somewhat shakey as his little
beast trotted nimbly along the edges OF
almost bOttomless ravnes
rhe city Engineer enjoyed his trip and
returned inVgorated both i'm mind and
body
lie was particularly struck. he said
by the number OF churches I'm the coun-
try. and their magnificent decorations
one OF them-at Gandaloupe being said
10 contain twenty tons OF silver The
trip. he says. IS well worth any ones
time.