The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-12-05

American capital and enterprise, more
than to any other source, may be traced
the rapid strides in development which
have characterized Mexico in recent
years. The mountains, and broken
condition Of tho country in general,
with the Intervention of fertile valleys
as we reach more southerly latitude,
with here and there an occasional crys-
tal-like lake, all combine to form seem
ic views that are truly beautiful.
However, the interest of the traveller
is generally .centered in the City of
Mexico, and when this is reached. the
idea held by SO many Americans that
they would find in the Mexican Capital
a somewhat antiquated or unprogress-
i've city is dispelled by first impressions
which soon become lasting While
many of the buildings present a rather
quaint appearance, and the existence
of somewhat crude conditions in GER
tain forms will be noticed, still the
city as a whole is thoroughly modern.
Too much time and space would be
required to describe the many attrac-
tions of the City of Mexico and vicinity
but glance at some sides>of life as we
find it here might not be out of place.
The large number of foreigners to be
found in the city lend to it a cosmo-
politan air to be found nowhere else in
the Republic. The residence district
of the more wealthy class presents all
the appearances of refinement and lux
ury, while the opposite extreme will be
found in those quarters which serve
the same purpose for the poorer class.
In the aUode of the peOn, or labOrer,
will be found only the actual necessa-
ries of life, and these generally ina
very crude form. What household ef-
fects he possesses are frequently OF his
own manufacture. With the absence
of such things as cooking stove, or
metal cooking utensils, these being
, generally replaced by an open fire, and
utensils made of native pottery, and
) even the knife, fork, and spoon are
!. frequently dispensed with. Generally
) when the meal is finished the larder is
empty as the prevailing custom among
!. this class is to purchase only enough
q for one meal at a time. His wages
: are not sufficient to enable him to enjoy
b a better mode of living, aud the sani-
+ ftary conditions by which he is sur
8 rounded, are such that they invite
I'll disease, together with his almost COM
2 plete disregard for the simplest laws of
g health, accounts to great extent for
If the alarmingly high death rate pre-
# vaillng in the city. In general the con-
d ditlon of the laborer thru0ut the Re-
70 public are similar to those just de-
# scribed, aud it may he said that he is q
s, poorly paid, poorly fed and poorly
II clothed Individual.
J. Tropical Mexico, which is yet in the
d infancy of It's development, is attract
E. ing a great deal of American capital,
70 and sugar mills and plantations are
e springing up in many places. However
the swampy condition of most of this
le section of the country together with
K the many large rivers with their smaller
Dr. tributaries in which it abOunds, the
7e density of the extensive forests, with a
u prevailing jungle render development
q here, for agricultural purposes, very
a difficult task. Besides, the native as Z
- workman, is unreliable and inefficien,
= aud the labor problem is one that il
70 ever present, in the tropics especially
g and Mexico in general. The wants o.
re the native in the tropics are few a.
IL there are no winters to be provided
IN against, and his clothing generally con
a sists of two garments, shirt and trou
1g sers, made OF coarse Wnise cioth' aAaIe
no. straw sombrero, and g pair of sandal
instead of shoes, the latter being lux
ury which msny of the native laborer
have never possessed.
~ Among the middle, or busines
'oo classes, we find more desirable cOnd
al tion of affairs, and his lot is general
de contented and comfortable one. A
ch q people the Mexicans will be found {
nd be hospitable and friendly, and ger
of orally lacking that treachery and read
or ness to knife his fell0w-man which
~. is unjustly accused of possessing in
- large degree. The condition of th
w. masses is not desirable one, still 9
IN long as they are contented and hspE
nd we might say with the poet, "WheI
lite ignorance is bliss, tits folly to be wise
tol J.L.F.