The Republican journal., 1899-01-12
Notes from Vera Cruz.

By courtesy of Mrs. F. w. Limeburner we
are permitted to give the following interest
ing extracts from letter written by her
brother, Capt. Oscar L. Limeburner, first
officer of schooner Wallace W. Ward
VERA CRUZ, Mexico, Dec %
DEAR SISTER: I received your letter, and
The Journals, which together occupy my
evenings proftably and enjoyably. \
We'll, sister, this is a great country l should
like to live here. The country is low in this
immediate vicinity, but very mountainous
a short distance from the coast. Looking
west there is continuous chain of noun
tains the highest, Orizaba is 900 feet, stretch
ing far up into the heavens, the top covered
with snow. 1t is 40 miles distant, but looks
to be about a two hours walk. 1t is visible
seaward about 100 miles. To the south is a
volcano, TuXila, now slightly in eruption
not quite so high as Orizaba but when
vomiting its lava and smoke it is discernabe
fully far.
The natives here are indolent, as are all
Mexcans but think they are a trtle more
ambitions than in Tampico. The women
W
l should enjoy living here. There is scarce
ly anything here made by machinery-all
hand work. The principal occupation is
making pottery and cigars. You don't need
any clothes here. A pair of duck trousers
and ten or twelve turns of some bright
coored sash around You completes your
outfit. You are not expected To get up until
!.
the remaining time in drinking and eating.
These customs, especially the last, would
suit many of us to a charm
took dinner few days ago with the
Assistant Superintendent of the Inter-
Oceanic Railroad time 8 P NJ. There were
five of us. Before each was pile of plates,
thirteen i'll number. Your first course went
with the top plate, and so on to the end. Your
wine is poured for you, and it is very bad
form to drink to the bottom of your glass
The person you are drinking with keeps
your glass replenished, and calls the wait
er's attention by clapping his hands. Our
company was composed of Americans and
they kept the old Don pretty busy doing the
encore act. However, he did not kick, for they
are a very hospitable people, and nothing
pleases them more than to know that their
guests are enjoying themselves. There were
great many dishes that did not recognize
but | never said word, but looked wise
and took my medicine like thoroughbred.
After dinner We visited the mblng
houses, where men, women and children in-
vest their mites W lille the game is on, and
until it is decided, the players cross them
selves and call on their patron saints to grant
them luck-poor fools
Oranges and bananas are abundant and
very cheap, Bananas are rarely shipped
from here. After the local appetite is ap-
peased the remainder of the crop goes to
waste.
There IS wall around the water-sde of
the city. The streets are very narrow and
the surface slopes from the sides towards
the centre, in which is a small stone gutter,
this being the only sewerage system. In d
hot day the stencil is something terrible. 1t
is unhealthy here at all seasons of the year,
but less so in December and January than
in any other months.
The merchant here never invites you to
buy. You point to what you want and take
it or leave it as suits you. He never claims
any merit for his wares-quite a contrast
from walking down Chatham street in New
York, where, if your clothes are strong
enough to stand the strain, they will pull you
inside
The days here are hot, but the nights are
nd YnJ1
heavy dew, which is almost equal to rain.
1t never rains during the winter months
There are never any strong winds except
from the north and the harbor is well pro-
tected from them. The natives, neverthe-
less. stand in great fear of northerly gales,
ana whenever norther is approaching a
signal is set on the fort, which stops all
work, although it may not arrive for some
hours. We have had three since we arrived
here, but | have experienced many harder
blows on the Atlantic coast
The buildings are of stone, of snowy
wilderness, with the exception of an occa-
sional bright green or blue one, which gives
the city quite picturesque appearance.
There no harbor police, but a large
search-light is operated throughout the
night, which prevents theving.
We finished discharging at p. M, and
are going to Pensacola, light. Should like
to be with you on Christmas, but as that is
entirely out of the question l will do the
next best thing and wish you all merry
Christmas. Regards to all. OSCAR.
Death of Hon. Austin Harris.