Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-15
A VISIT TO MExIco's
CRADLE OF LIBERTY

CRADLE OF LIBERTY
Siloa, Feb. 81.
We did not oversleep this morning
and took the $40 train for Guanajua-
to, or rather. Marfis The day before
we had made the acquaintance of the
conductor and the night before his
wife had arrived from the City OF Mex
leo to spend a few days, the city be-
ing their home until recently. when
the conductor was given this run. AS
the lady in question, Mrs. Downs. had
never visited Guanajuato, 1t was ar
ranged she would go with us. and as
she was able to talk some Spanish and
the conductor could talk the language
possible advantage. Arriving at Mar
fils at 9:15 we boarded the street
cars for the city. distance of six
miles. Here the street cars are grad
ed first. second and third class. and
the latter apparently catered to the
hest business. The line was up a
more or less narrow canon most of
the way, being built up with adobe
houses and huts, being the poorer
section of Guanajuato. with a popula-
tion OF forty odd thousand. The con-
dnctor accompanied us to the city and
was able to point out objects of In
terest along the line. Arriving in the
heart of the city we found it pictur-
es4uely located in the mountains. The
town Is one of those terraced places
where 1t would be convenient to nave
one leg shorter than the other. The
residents must be climbers and
creepers. 1t Is said 1t cost 100000
TO make the lot upon which the costly
church of the Campania is built.
which is one of the finest edifices in
Mexico. The Jesuits had hard times
here. They spent some twenty years
in completing this church and two
years afterwards were expelled from
the country. In the Campania are
some beautiful paintings and on the
facade several superior statues. One
thing that will attract attention in
Guanajuato is the variegated stone
used in many of the finest buildings,
having all the colors of the rainbow,
but green prevails. There is an i'm
mense theater, four stories in height.
built of this stone near the alameda,
The great walls look as II they had
been frescoed. 1t is the largest the
ater In the republic and said to be
the finest. 1t cost upwards OF one
million dollars. Besides the parQuet
and dress circle there are three rows
OF boxes In a circle around the audi
torium. Each box is handsomely fur
nished and the dome is high with gilt
trimmings. In the front of the Sec
ond story is what might be termed
rotunda for want of another name
1t is large and furnished with uphol.
stored chairs, settees. lounges. etc,
with little alcoves here and there. II
is for lounging room for the occu-
pants of boxes between acts or when
the fair ladies want to sip choice de
coctions and partake of bon bons. The
stage is about rs feet wide and fully
one hundred feet deep and four stor-
les, the curtains hanging very high.
X,
which stands simply as an ornament.
as 1t is not used for performances
twice year, sometimes a full year
passing without being used. We were
'old that to secure sufficient ground
II was necessary to tear down a Cath.
olic chapel, and this angered the
priests, who pronounced a curse on
The playhouse and the people refuse
TO patronize it. 1t was erected by the |
state, consequently escapes taxes. IL |
would certainly be an elephant for |
private ownership.
The main plaza Is small, triangu.
ar park, but very pretty. Historic
ally the Alhondiga de Granaditas,
Known as The Castle is the most
building In the city. 1t
vas an exchange" as the name indi-
'ates, but is now federal building.
Hidalgo captured 1t early In his fight
or Independence. His companions
we're few SO they could not hold the
ort. Later in the conflict the heads
y four OF the leaders were brought
lere from chihuahua and exposed on
he four corners Of the castle as a
warming to traitors. The republic has
IGNORED Hidalgo with statue on the
pot where the royalists tried to dis
race him. The Mexican republic ia
Iidalgo's true monument.
The city Of Guanajuato Is a series
Il surprises. It was founded on ac-
cunt Of surprise away back in 154S.
NE traditional mule got away and In
uniting him up silver was found, as
'ell as the mule. And ever since new
of rich minerals are being