Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-06

his cathedral or church; he does
not passin front of them without
his hat, yet the church in
Mexico is subject to statutory regu-
lations unknown in this country.
No church in Mexico can own any
land or building not actually used
for church purposes, and in many |
other respects the church is re-
quired by statute to strictly observe
the scriptual injunction, to "Ren-
der to Cesar the things that are
Cesar's, and to God the things
that are Gods
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH LINES.
The Mexican Government owns
and operates a system Of telegraph
wires, which reach all parts Of the
country; but private companies are
also permitted to construct and use
telegraph lines.
ENCOURAGING GENIUS.
There is probably no government
in the world, our own not excepted,
that does as much to encourage
genius as the Mexican Government.
In Mexico all schools are absolutely
free, even such schools as those of
music, law, medicine, drawing,
painting; in fact every branch of
instruction is absolutely free. But
the government goes even further
than this, for it hunts out pupils Of
genius, and helps them to develop
their special traits. Every year the
government sends to the schools OF
foreign countries number of
promising pupils and pays all their
expenses. And even more, the
Government helps men Of genius
after their school days have passed.
HELPING THE FARMERS.
is the settled policy Of the Diaz
Administration to improve the ag-
ricultural methods of the country.
And no class in Mexico is further
behind the times than the farmers.
1t was not until late years that the
government turned its attention TO
farming, but that subject is now
uppermost in the public mind. The
government printing office is send
ing out free Of expense to every
part of the Republic vast quantities
of papers, books and pamphlets on
agricultural subjects. And the
Government goes still further, it
buys and distributes free great
! quantities of seeds and plants
grains and even fruit trees. The
Mexican readily admits that there
is no country in the world more in
| need than Mexico of enlightenment
on the subject of agriculture. When
our "Tama Jim" Wilson finishes his
Job down at Washington, he may
confidently expect an offer from the
Mexican government to continue his
experimental labors in that coun-
try. Diaz is in the market for Just
such men as Secretary Wilson.
AN ETHER DRUNK.
| had read before going to Mex.
leo about pulque, the country's
picturesque curse. l knew that
great fields of magney we're grown
in that country, and that the Mexi.
cans extracted from the great leaf.
like stalks Of the magney plant q
juice which they called honey water
which when allowed to ferment fol
a few hours made an Intoxicating
drink that was favorite beverage
for both rich and poor. But before
going to Mexico | had never heard
Of such a thing as an ether drunk
] was assured by an American law
yer, whose acquaintance l made at
the hotel where ! was stopping. that
when a Mexican wanted to indulge
in really high old time he used
ether instead of pulque, and to
make good his statement he took me
to where could see with my own
eyes what he had told. l found a
young man, probably not more than
81 years Of age, with well corked
tin can that would hold about a
quart, and large towel. He was
accompanied by two young women,
who looked enough like him to be
his sisters, and he was holding the
towel up to his face. Occasionally
he would uncork the can, splash
some Of the ether into the towel,
then cork the can and put the towel
back up to his face. His eyes were
CLASSY and his speech incoherent,
but the two women kept him from
indulging in dangerous demonstra-
tons, which he occasionally attempt
ed, They did not appear to be an
noyed OF troubled in the least, but
cared for their unfortunate com
panion as though he were a child.
THE CITY OF MEXICo.
A few words more about the city
Of Mexico and these descriptions are
atan end. All things considered,
the streets and alleys Of the Capital
are the cleanest | have ever seen
anywhere. Except where they are
Uttered by workmen engaged in the
construction of buildings, or some
other class of improvement, they are
remarkably clean. Some few years
ago the American Colony began a
system Of having plot Of grass be-
tween the sidewalk and the street,
and now it is being adopted as a
means of identifying nearly every
part Of the residence portion of the