Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19
WAY DOWN IN MEXICO
Odd Sights and Scenes Inter-
estingly Described.
FLOATING GARDENS
LAND WHICH GIVES SIX CROPS A
YEAR.
Willow Posts of Last Year Make a
Beautiful Grove Nova
Delightful Host.
Special Correspondence of TIE Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of TIE Evening Star
CITY OF MEXICO. March A. 1904.
BE ready for an early start in the morn
ing said our good friend in Mexico as he
babe us good evening. You know tomor-
row we spend among the floating gardens
on Lake Xochmilco.
We obeyed orders and promptly at $50
the next morning we boarded an electric
car just in front of the famous old Mexican
cathedral, built on the very foundations of
the original Aztec temple. Our trolley
destination was the little station of Hui
pulco. about sixteen miles distant. Before
reaching there let me tell something about
the days program, and why we did not
follow the customary route up the famous
Viga canal, which flows from Lake Xoehi-
milco, where the floating gardens are to
Lake TeXcoco.
1t was our good fortune to have as host
that day Mr. T. Lakeside Phillips an En-
glishman, who has lived the greater part
of his life in Mexico. He has been dubbed
Lakeside" to distinguish him from an
other resident of the same name and be.
cause also of his associations with Lake
Xochimlco
The floating gardens are a sort of fad OF
his and nothing pleases him better than tc
take party of friends on an outing to his
faVor1te resort. HIS intimate associations
with the locality came about in this way:
Some dozen or more years ago, with some
kindred spirits, he conceived the idea of
boat club on the lake, and they brought
over from England a half dozen or more
outrigger boats for pleasure rowing They
built club house and boat houses, and
the boat club was organized. But it died
| an eaply death. 1t was too far to go for
pleasure row. and Mr.. Phillips was the only
one to keep up his interest. He practically
owns the whole place village and the peo
pie who live there. The latter are devoted
to him, and he is said to be godfather to
half the Indian children in the village.
| And when he gives picnic there is nothing
lacking to make the day an enjoyable one.
The Pleasure Begins.
We arrived at the station of Huipulco in
about forty minutes. We did not know
just where or how we were going, but we
soor learned.
| This point is some four five miles dis
| tant from the lake. and to reach it is very
easy on a Phillips excursion. At Huipulco
we found awaiting up-to-date noun
tain carriage. holding six or eight passen-
gers, drawn by a pair of well-fed mules
! which had started from the city before day
light and had had a good rest before our
arrival. We were soon on our way to thu
| lake over road fetlock deep in volcanic
dust. which has been highway for Mex
| leans for centuries, probably. About half
way to the lake we passed through the
| little native village of Tepepan, which.
was informed, was, until about fifteen
years ago, the headquarters of as villainous
a band of robbers as ever cut Threats or
robbed ore trains.
Wayside Shrines.
We had noticed all along the no I'd numer-
Gus rude crosses. which we supposed were
some sort of chrines but in reality each one
marked the spot whefe murder had been
committed This little village is peaceful