Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-20

M.
They are capable of the highest de-
velopment under the proper education-
al and other civilizing influences, and
1t Is predicted that in another fifty
years the uncivilized Indian will have
disappeared from Mexico. The visitor
Is surprised to find that whereas the
total foreign population in 1900 num-
bered 57,511, only 1928 of these were
Spanish. During the period of the rev.
olutlonary wars there was time
when the Spaniards were banished
from Mexico, but the law was not rig
orously enforced and the Spaniard has
the same right In Mexico today as any
other citizen. And here let us remark
that every native Mexican whether
civilized or undivided, is citizen,
with all the rights of citizenship guar.
anteed to him, at least, on paper. Pres.
ident Diaz is somewhat Lincolnesque
In his character and frequently an-
swers question by telling story.
When asked once by some foreign vis-
itors If he really thought the poorer
classes III Mexico were actually in the
enjoyment Of their civil rights, he told
the following story: He said that a
gentleman being informed that he had
new nephew, desired to send him
present. Being somewhat absent-
minded, he purchased a suit of clothes
that would fit q grown person. When
afterward informed that the recipient
OF this present was only an infant, the
gentleman replied: well when he
grows up he can enjoy his new suit
of clothes. This story aptly illustrates
the existing situation In the Republic
of Mexico.
One Of the strHhgest sights to the
visitor Is to meet In the streets OF
every city, including the capital, the
blanketed and barefoot Indian brush
ing up against the finely dressed and
exquisite Mexican gentleman or lady.
Nowhere else have seen such TEEN.
Ing population as In this great city OF
Mexico. From early morning until
late at night the streets are full OF
people of all classes kinds and condi-
tions. Until one becomes a little
hardened to it the frightful poverty
and wretchedness of many Of these
people is simply heartrending, and one
has to keep close grip on his spare
change not to give 1t away to the pitt
full beggars, many OF them little chill
dren, who beset him on all sides. In,
this city Of over 100000 inhabitants
with the high prices prevailing for the
means Of subsistence, one wonders
how these people exist at all.
The fact seems to be that they sim.
ply do exist and little more. The birth
rate among them Is very large and
the death rate among the children Of
the poor, owing to inadequate food,
clothing and protection from the ele-
j fnents IL enormous.
There are SO many things OF histor-
ical interest t6~see in Mexico Cait
that one can putt day afts CT d.
busy and delightful sight seeing and
still leave much OF interest for the
!. morrow. Among the sights to which
AZ visitor is first attracted Is the
great cathedral, which occupies por-
ton OF the Plazo Mayor. now known
as the Zocalo This cathedral occu.
pies the spot upon which the Spanish,
conquerors found the old Aztec tenn
pie, or Teocalli, where the fearful
rites Of human sacrifice we're observed
by that old people. In the Christian
cathedral now occupying this spot,
you could place half dozen ordinary
churches and still have ample room
for thousands of people to worship.
After visiting this spot it is exceeding.
~ interesting to take street car and
ride out the Tacuba road, over the
Identical old causeway upon which
.Cortsz and his followers made their
escape from Mexico City on that aw-
full night of July /, 1920. when they
We're driven out by the Aztecs. This
night Is known in history as the
"Triste Noche" and today one can sit
down under the Identical tree where
Cortez sat on the following morning.
and wept over the misfortunes that
had come upon him and the losses IN
men, munitions and treasure which his
army had sustained. The tree is pre-
served carefully by the authorities
and is one Of the most interesting
sights Of Mexico City to the tourist,
No one should visit Mexico without
having first read Prescott In order to
have proper idea Of the historical
significance Of the many places Of In
terest In this city. After that comes
the equally interesting events of the
history Of modern Mexico upon which
|, numerous works have been published.
In my next letter I hope to tell Of q
visit to the old church and shrine Of
Guadalupe, the most holy shrine in
the eyes Of the Mexican Indians in the
republic Today this shrine is being
visited by a pilgrimage Of several
thousand Indians from points at q dis
lance, and will draw this letter to a.
close, in order to make visit to the
. shrine, contemporaneously with the
pilgrims.