The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-04
TO OLD MEXICO.
Continued from Page Two.)


the place. Mexico City is we'll be
! naved and we'll policed and it is no
likely that property supposed to bt
| stolen would be permitted to be placed
| on sale. The Thieves market is not {
| particularly inviting place and one
| was inclined to keep one hand on hi:
watch and the other on his pocket
| book while passing through the place
| The flower market near the big ca
/ thedral is one of the show places
here in profusion and for a few PEN
| MES a handsome bouquet may be Sc
! cured. Men, women and children are
deftly engaged all the time making
| are used at funerals. An elaborate
| design filled with pansies, daisies
| tuberoSes, ETC., was priced at two
| dollars in Mexican money and another
more elaborate piece at five dollars
| We would expect to pay our florists
| from three to five times as much for
| the same thing.
| Many fields in the neighborhood of
| the City of Mexico grow pulque, pro-
nounced pul-kay. These plants are to
winter and in the city parks and about
our homes in the summer and are
known here as the century plant
The Mexicans draw from the center
| of this plant a white juice, which is
fermented over night and becomes a
beer. 1t is the beer of Mexico and is
said to be more Intoxicating than the
| American article. Well to do Mex
| leans say it is the curse of the poor
classes, thousands of whom work for
the money to buy their pulque and
carouse with it until the money is
gone, to begin again the operation of
working and alternately spending for
the liquor.
Made in Topeka, U. S. A.
I was proud to learn that the
Meadow Gold and Primrose butter
made in Topeka, which sells there for
$1.10 Mexican, money and seems to be
in demand.
Perhaps the reader is expecting to
read a description of the bull fight.
can't give it, unless 1 go to the guide
books or give the experience of 9TH
ers. / might have gone to a bull
fight, just once, but did not. 1t was
generally announced that no bull fight
would take place while we were there.
afterwards learned that there was
one, an amateur affair. at which six
bulls were killed.
One hears of various stories in the
City of Mexico about bull fights. 1
heard one American gentleman con-
denim the amusement very strongly.
Another American gentleman and his
family said they enjoyed the sport.
One American told me he had been
under fire in the army and witnessed
quite equal to a bull fight.
Bull fighting as an amusement has
evidently come to stay in the City of
Mexico, for an enormous amphithea-
ter of steel construction is now under
way and nearing completion.
The government is however, spend
ing a very large sum of money to
cultivate fine dramatic instincts and
encourage operas and amusements of
the high grade. Near the center of
- 1i,7r- II
structure of steel frame work, to be
known as the National lTheater. The
government WILL it is said, give free
rental to the highest and best classes
of dramatic and operate organizations
to encourage this sort of art. The
planned to be nearly as large as the
Kansas capitol.
Mexico has its museums, art galleries
and libraries similar to those in great
cities of this country and Europe.
One afternoon we spent at the charm
ing suburb of San Angel where there
is handsome hotel of the mission type
in the center of a beautiful park of
hundred acres, the property of Mr.. Still
we'll and a number of his associates in
the Orient railway. Many lots have
been sold to wealthy people who will
build suburban homes thereon.
On the last afternoon of the stay in
the city elaborate luncheon was
is in the park which surrounds Chapulte-
pee which is the White House of Mex
leo. President Diaz, wonderful man,
who has been elected time and again
for twenty-four years as president of
the republic. was i'll and could not re-
ceive us as we expected. His disap-
pointment was doubtless great. The
luncheon, however, was attended by
many distinguished Mexicans, who
seemed to take delight in honoring Pres
ident Stilwell.
American Capital Encouraged.
The Mexicans indeed encourage Amer
lean capital. They have given sub
sidy of three million dollars to the
Orient railway and take the greatest
pride in paying the subsidy promptly
from time to time as it becomes due
when certain sections of the road are
completed.
Mr.. Stilwell and his officers agree that
they have never dealt with more honor
able people than the officials of the
government have shown them
selves to be in connection with the
building of the road and never in a
single Instance have they been the vic
tins of any sort of hold-up or extortion.
Among the Mexicans at this luncheon
was Mr.. Juarez. He was exceedingly
affable and gave me his autograph. I
am unable to read his first name, but l
know he is the son of the first president
Of the republic and an exceedingly fine
gentleman.
The luncheon was beautifully served, |
a full dress affair, although no ladies
were present. The gentlemen wore
Prince Alberts and silk hats, leaving
the latter, of course, at the check stand. |
Many in our party, who never wore this |
regalia before and never expect to wear /
It again, made a virtue of necessity and !
bowed to the custom of the time and |
place.
We left the City of Mexico Tuesday |
evening" returning over the National |
'oad by way of Laredo, Texas. This is |
much shorter and more desirable route |
han the one by way of Ell Paso unless |
me may stop to break the long ride |
From Laredo the journey continued by |
way of San Antonio, Fort Worth Mus |
N,