The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-01-18
MEXICO
as Seen Bv Robert Bean, Jr.-
Strange Customs.


about 10000 and is the capitol of the
Stale of the same name. 1t is piotur-
esquely located in the mountains and
is the center of very rich silver min
ing district, some tin is also found
here.
1t contains many handsome build
ings both private and public. The
finest is Gel Teatro Juarez" (the
Juarez theater.) 1t was built by the
State as a monument to BeniUo Juarez
and cost $1,250O00. Tourists have
pronounced it one of the finest in the
world, and it is considered the hand
soonest on the continent. 1t is built
of pink, bule pnd gray stone. Twelve
handsome stone pillars, forty-five feet
in height and six feet in circumfer-
ence, support the balcony Of most
beautiful carvings upon which are
twelve bronze figures representing
the MUSES. in the center is the "God-
dess of Liberty" At the entrance on
each side of the steps are two bronze
lions in crouching position. The
floor of the entrance is all of the most
beautiful tile and glass. The wood
work is of light brown color; the
doors are large and beautiful and fit
ted with small panes of convex and
beveled glass, with bronze trimmings.
When one enters the interior most
beautiful sight greets the eye. The
first is large and beautiful chande-
lier containing 52S electric lights of
all sizes (some no larger than a finger
colors and designs. Lights are also
arranged along each side of the hall,
$500 in all. The walls and ceiling
have been decorated by famous
French, Italian, and Mexican artists.
The theater contains a parquet and
four galleries and many private boxes
which have been furnished with the
handsomest of French furniture (,
which cost $4,000 in gold.
The majority of Mexican theaters
are not conducted like ours, but seats
in the parquet are sold by the act.
A person only wishing to see one act
MAJ pay for that privilege and secure
a good seat. Those wishing to see
the entire performance may rent a
box or stall.
Adjoining the theater is one of the
Government minis bnilt in 1866. 1t
employees large force of men and
much of Mexico's celebrated free sill
yer is made here. 1t was my first
trip to a mine and 1 enjoyed 1t. All
machinery nsed is made in United
States. II is quite an interesting
sight to see the huge bais of silver
gradually made into q dollar worth
about 40 cents.
For the benefit of those who have
never visited a mint will try to give
them some idea of one. The silver is
brought in in bais much the shape of
lead 1t is then put into 8 furnace and
melted and is then put into strips
about four feet long and is then run
through different rolling machines
and rolled to the proper thickness--a
little wider than dollar; the strips
are then taken to machine that cuts
the dollar out, then another machine
does the corrugating along the edge.
They are then weighed and if found
to be the correct weight are stamped
with the Mexican Eagle, Cactus and
Snake on one side and the Liberty
Cap and the Sun on the other.
From the mint I went to the old
prison, which is now a kind OF peni-
Tertiary. This prison played quite an
important part in Mexican history,
but 1 know but little of it. In the
center of the prison Is large vacant
space, the Mexican Potio, on each side
are large stone pillars which support
balcony.
1t Is said that when the Mexicans
gained their independence 10000
Spsniards--men, women and children
had gone here for safety. The
Mexicans beat down the doors and
killed most of the occupants. Many
children were killed by having their
brains beat out against the stone pill
lars, and to this day the pillars near
the base show blood stains. When
Hidalgo, the President, was shot with
three Of Of his generals, their heads
were severed from their bodies and
huud IN iron hnnEa ~ oach caroar ~