Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-08-21
OF MEXICAN SCENES.
Miss Anne D. Hinde Tells of Mountains
and Valleys Of Southern North
America-Will Ascend
Popocatepetl.

Miss Anne d. Hinde writing to her
mother, Mrs. H. X. Hinde, Of this
city, from the City Of Mexico, Mexico,
under date Of August IL, says:
We have Just arrived from the long
talked of trip TO Cuernavaca--the
favorite city of Cortez and Maximilian.
We went down Saturday and returned
Monday. 1t is about IS miles from
here, right across the mountains, and
perhaps shows the most beautiful
scenery in the Republic. 1t is said
that the railroad Is the finest piece Of
engineering on this continent = a
winding snake-like road all the way up
to the highest point in the pass, which
is called La Gina; then the same loop
ing pathway down the other side Of
the ridge. 1t took us from p. m. to
8 p. m. to make the trlp-the beautl-
full Mexican valley in view all the way
with its many lakes and little villages.
The guide tells us that from one point
there are 40 little cities to be seen in
one view, but | think that is some
what exaggerated. Popocatepetl and
Ixtachihuatl are in sight almost all
the way-first on one side, then on the
other of the car. 1t was clear, beau
tiful day, something very rare this
season, and the lights on the snow
were magnificent. can not leave this
country until l climb to the summit OF
grand old "Popo." 1t is astonishing
how few natives have climbed 1t. !
haven't run across one yet-and only5
or 6 Americans who have scaled it. OF
course, we all went into 'spells" over
the scenery all the way. We could see
Cuernavaca distinctly soon after we
crossed the highest point, but we were
two hours reaching it. 1t is way
down in the valley-2,00O feet lower
than Mexico Clty-and there we found
some friends who had gone on before
to meet us and we had a regular
chariot race in coaches to our hotel
much like the race we had with the
Maryland quartette TO the foot Of
Vesuvius two years ago. After very
hasty, but tremendous supper, we
went for a moonlight stroll to the
castle built by Cortez 5OOyears ago. 1t
is after the order OF the old Feudal
castles of the middle ages, and just as
picturesque as it can be. The next
day we went through 1t. The hall Of
administration is specially interesting
and historic. 1t was here that Cortez
strangled one OF his mistresses, and
twas here, too, that one Of the CON-
radeS of Macmillan was confined SO
long. We were up bright and early
next morning to see the sun rise be-
tween the two snow. capped mountains
the old Indian smoking his pipe
(PopOcatepetD and his wife lying dead
by his side with a white shroud (of
snow spread over her tIxtachihuatl).
Before breakfast we visited the Gar
den of Carlota-Borda Gardens OF
all the sad places l have ever visited
this was the saddest. 1t seems to be
symbolic, for they say poor Carlota
wept many bitter tears in this little
Garden OF Eden. IL is 'Owned by
very wealthy Mexican now and he
will not allow the flowers or fruits to
be gathered. They bloom and ripen,
fall and die from one years end to the
next. BY paying 25 cents admission
fee one can pluck as many flowers and
eat as much fruit as one pleases, but
the ground is covered all the time with
decaying fruits and the soil is very
rich. Coffee grows 10 abundance.
Almost afi one tropical plants are
represented and there are quiet little
lakes and fountains and shady bowers
everywhere. 1t isa most enchanting
spot and the views from the corner OF
observations are most magnificent.
The swans glide so quietly and the
birds sing so mournfully. Everything
seems to be thinking of poor Carlota.
Then we visited the old church which,
they claim, once held the bones Of Cor
tez. After breakfast eight Of us took
a burro ride to the falls of San Anto-
MO and the pottery plantation. OF
all the places, this is the most noted
for its pottery. The clay is peculiarly
different from any other and the ware
is certainly beautiful. We purchased
a basketful and and on our way to the
train the coachman turned 1t upside
down and broke several Of our choicest
pieces. The intense heat was too much
for Miss Grossly. She fell by the way
side and we had to send back for a
coach to take her to the hotel. In the
afternoon we retained our same burros
and made two interesting trips, 3 and
I miles from the city to the country
homes of Macmillan and Cortz, re-
spectively. They are extremely inter-
esting- especially the former, which re-
minds one of Carlota's Garden, because
Of its neglected condition. COrtez's
ranch, or hacienda, is now used for a
sugar plantation, but the same build
ings, the same old bells and chapels,
are there that he built 346 years ago.
The ride out was perfectly sublime, so
much so that my dear old burro bowed
in reverence twice and l slid very
gently over the top Of his head. l
was reminded Of Switzerland many
times, and the falls are grander than
those of the Yosemite. 1t seemed
pretty hard to spend Sunday on the
back of a burro, but 1t was that way
or not at all. The trains run to this
little city only three times a week and
we could not go very well in the mid
del Of the week on account Of my Eng
lish classes. Saturday we are to have
a trip up the Viga and visit some Of
the quaint old Indian villages.
Of All hot Weather Enemies