Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-27

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served the best for the last. it is GER
tainly true that no portion of our So
lourn In the republic has been more
enjoyable than the time spent in the
two cities of Guadalajara and Guiana
luata.
GuadaIajara.
Gudalajara is the capital of the state
of Jllisco and is on the western diyi-
sion Of the Mexican Central railway,
38l miles from the city of Mexico. 1t
has over 100000 inhabitants and is
the second largest city of the Mexican
republic 1t lies in the lovely valley
OF the Lerma and is only 5000 feet
above the sea level, so that it's winter
climate Is one Of perpetual sunshine
and almost summer days. The golden
Light OF the afternoon sun bathes the
city with its glory, bringing into great
er prominence the towers Of it's mag
n1ficent cathedral and the spires of it's
many churches. The decorations of
the Iuadalajara cathedral are mainly
In pure white and gold. 1t is to my
mind the most beautiful and impress
ssive of the many cathedrals to be
found in Mexico.
In the sacristy Of this cathedral is to
be found Murillo's celebrated painting
of the Assumption, an art treasure
not only of this cathedral, but also of
the whole American continent It is
said that at one time $4,000 in gold
was offered for this painting, but the
offer was promptly refused by the
archbishop. Guadalaiara is clean
city and the city authorities rigidly
enforce an ordinance we wish might
be applied likewise to every city in the
United States. Each property owner
Is required to sweep and sprinkle once
a day the sidewalk and the half of the
street in front of his property. If
this work is not done each day, the
property is subjected to heavy fine.
The result is that the streets Of Guada-
lajara are not only clean in the bust
ness center, but in the factory districts
and in the very poorest residence sec
ton. just imagine for moment what
such an ordinance rigidly enforced
would do in the way of cleaning up
Iowa cities like Davenport, Muscatine
and Ottumwa.
Guadalajara is already a manufacture
Ing city of Importance. It's manufac-
tured products consist of cotton goods,
leather and shoes, flour, pottery, knit
goods, hats and blankets. AS a dis
tributing center, it is outside of Mexi-
co City, the most important in Mexico
! The fertile and productive Pacific coast
region is now being opened up to it
by railway extension and Guadalajara
is at this time having what in the north
would be termed something of a boom.
ia rs hc, 1oJ =, -,
the past two years and the predictions
are confidently made that these same
values will again double and even
quadruple in the next decade.
Society on Parade.
But in Guadalajara: as in other
cities, 1t was the peopls who interested
me most. Here in Guadalajara on a
Sunday evening, from the balcony of
the American club, we had the pleas
ure Of witnessing one of the most in.
teresting of Mexican customs. The
Mexican people are very musical and
there are no better bands in America
than those to be found in the larger
cities of the republic. Each city and
town has it's plaza and public band
stand, where there is music of the
N,ttst character certain evenings in the
fweek and which is free to the entire
population On Thursday and Sunday
evenings in the city of Guadalajara
these public band concerts become SO.
cial events that are participated in the
wealthiest classes. The band plays
from to 8 o'clock. Up to O'Clock
many magnificent equipages, occupied
by ladies and gentlemen in party
dress are to be seen driving
about the streets in the vicinity of the
plaza. Promptly at s o'clock the car.
riages are dismissed and the gentle
men aid ladies repair to the plaza
where they begin promenade that
continues until the clock strikes nine
The strange feature of this promenade
10 the, northern visitor is that the
asssgses make up one line going in one
Erection and the gentlemen make
ap another line going in direct
" the opposite direction. AS
these lines. extend clear around the
bur sides of the plaza, the promenad
,rs met and pass each other many
mes during the hour and there is
et.undant opportunity for smiles and
Zig and recognition of acquaintance
I'll spmpanied frequently, as we are in
tire Sedt by a young gentleman, by the
- - .dptitious passing of notes; and yet
va+a juld be considered highly improper
fausa gentleman other than the nearest
60 lative, to stop and converse or to
If .lk by the side of young lady in
rs prom enade. The promenade Itself
Ma beautiful sight, because the ladies
aana attired in their finest dresses, the
~ ,nenade. presenting to them practi
nansy the only opportunity that they
au,rIe of showing their fine clothes in
sidppIlic. Every lady participating
e or shis promenade is required to wear
t tgnat and one will see here the most
thagant Paris modes. and other costly
n,Is5les il. millinery. AS the weather
Vas delightfully."- warm and balmy and
4 here being no physical necessity fol
4ahe wearing of hats, 1 asked a gentle
- IAN why this requirement. He re
aooIied that it was matter of social
). distinction as the Peon women and
Girls do not wear hats, they univer
a5ally using a shawl as a covering fol
The head The wearing of hat by a
s'HS5., ic a SIRE Indication of wealth