The Dickinson press., 1904-03-19
Old Mexico City.
Mexico City. Mexico.

city OF the Republic, which might prop
erly be termed the White City-the
buildings all being built Of stone and
cement. If it were not for the quaint
style of architecture and the complexion
of the natives, n might imagine he was
in any Of our metropolitan American
cities.
Wide, we'll kept, paved streets, beauti-
full plazas, and open courts, filled with
tropical plants and flowers are the city's
pride; :;nd every afternoon and evening
the bands play on the plazas for the
pleasure of the natives. Beautiful man.
sions, owned by Spanish noblemen, and
grand old churches and cathedrals are
everywhere apparent, and whatever else
may be said of old Mexico, it must be
admitted that she is strong and devout
in the Roman Catholic faith.
The hotel Reforma, where most of the +
the party stopped, is a typical Spanish
hostelry. 1t is built of stone and white
cement with an open court in the center,
flonding all the rooms with air and sun
shine.
The climate here is delightful. In the
morning and evening it is just cool
enough to make a light wrap feel com
Portable, and in the middle of the day it
is warm. In the early evening the drive
ways are lined with the handsome equip
age of the elite taking their daily drive.
Thursday morning the party chartered
an electric car and took a ride around
the city, visiting points Of interest,
among them being the old church on the
hill at Guadalupe. 1t is in my estima-
tion the second most beautiful church
that | had the pleasure of seeing in the
Republic, the Grand Cathedral in Mexi.
co City, being the grandest of them all.
The old church at Guadalupe is re-
garded as the hottest shrine of all Next
CO. At the foot of the hill is a cluster of
churches built around the original church.
The high altar Of Guadalupe is magni6-
cent. The ratings are solid silver on a
base Of white marble, and the crown is
of solid gold and precious stones, con-
tributed by the women of Mexico from
their own jewels, and cost over $4,000
for manufacture alone. Here also is the
Chapel of the WE'LL, the water of which
is supposed to be a panacea for all the
ills that the flesh is heir to, and people
from all verthe Republic come to drink
and worship at this shrine and be healed.
A great many pages might be devoted to
this beautiful old historic church, but we
must pass on.
In the afternoon we went to the Castle
Chapultepec, the home of the president
of Mexico and the seat of the National
Military academy. At present President
Diaz is living in a more quiet way, near
er the Palace, and the beautiful and
elegant apartments in the castle are
used only when he entertains on state
occasions. The cite is a beautiful one,
reached by a winding carriage road,
bordered with flowers and vines meath
large spreading trees, o~'ershadowing
\ limpid little artificial lakes. Standing
, on the balconies of the castle, the view is
one never to be forgotten, far beyond
the rising hills, villages and mountains
are the great snow-capped peaks of the
Popocatapatl and lxtacchnatl white
Woman). The saloons and apartments
of the Castle Of Chapultepec have the
appointments of regal magnifcence, as
there still remains a great deal Of silver
upholstery, etc. belonging to Maximiliar
and Cortez.
Friday morning the party left fol
~Cuernavaca, in the state of Morelos
There We spent a pleasant day annie
semi tropical surroundings. Passing
over the mountains, the valleys lie before
you in a beautiful panorama, Of radiant
sunlight and purple shadows. Cuerna
vaca has much of the %quaintness ane
primitiveness of the old world, remind
ing n very much Of the pictures of The
Holy lands with her walls and adob.
houses. The natives glide stealthil,
along with their packs on their back
like the swift and silent Arabs-many 0
whom were on a real pilgrimage to tn
shrine no far distant.
The state capitol is a building tina
was once the palace OF Cortez, and it wa
here that he also spent some of the las
years Of his life. We also visited tn
Borda gardens, a beautiful park filled
with all kinds of trees and plants, will
artificial lakes and lagoons where we en-
joyed a good rest beside the cool ant
sparkling fountains, listening to tn
singing and chattering of the birds anon,
the trees. 1t was hard to realize tina
you folks were all enveloped in snov
with the thermometer 20 degrees below
or more while we were really uncomfort
able with the heat
Most of the party visited the potterie
at San Anton a few miles from Cuerna
vaca and bought quite an assortment o
pottery. Most of it is inlaid, some yer,
artistic shapes and. it is supposed to b.
modelled after the wares of the rea
Aztecs.
We returned t o Mexico City Saturda,
evening and on Monday, FEBRUARY q
the party was received by Presiden
Diaz at the Palace. He is we'll pre-
served, fine looking and has a gallant
digni6ed bearing. He is ever alert TO
the good and welfare of his people ant
is greatly loved and reverenced by hi
countrymen. In. the palace is a larg
painting of George Washington and
great many American flags were seel
floating about the city in honor of tn
day. The United States has long bee
: a guiding star to the Republic of Mexi
co, and President Diaz is ever courteou
to all visiting Americans.
Monday evening we babe goodbye t