Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-11-06
ST. Louis to Mexico.
My dear Mr.. bishop:


trip to Mexico City where | attended
meeting called 10y the National lines
of Mexico to consider improved train
service between st. Louis aud Mexico
City. You aud your readers may he
interested in few remarks as to the
country, people, etc, in that Old World.
The first night out from st. Louis
brings you to Little Rock the capital of
Arkansas, town of about $4,000, the
largest in the State, aud further run
nt five hours reaches rexarkana situated
right on the border between Arkansas
aud Texas where you take the Texas
Pacific for ninety miles to l.ongview
Junction connecting there with the
International & Great Northern for
Laredo, Tex, where you transfer to the
Mexican line for Mexico City distance
| of S02 miles. The ride down across
Texas takes one through the Capitol
Austin--and San Antonio an old Span
ish town and now peopled by a great
many Mexicans. Between San Antonio
aud Laredo the country is a barren
waste at present, but which can be made
very productive when water is applied.
After the baggage was transferred at
| I hr,l l,rac
ming the Rio Grande and stopped at the
| little town of Nuevo Laredo to have our
baggage examined 10y the Mexican GUS
toms officials, also to get our pile changed
into Mexican money, $500 Mexican for
Sl.00 American, very fine going, but
what about coming During the wait
here we amused ourselves trying to talk
Spanish to "a little Mexican boy. |
found the Spanish I studied four or five
years ago when | had the fever to go to
Mexico, stood me in well aud | had very
little trouble making myself understood
after arriving in the City. Our first
morning in Mexico found us in desert
similar to that the day before in Texas
except that now we were up about 5000
feet above sea level, in valley between
two range Of mountains. This desert
evidently was the bed of a lake at some
time 1t is now covered with giant
cactus trees aud large palms total
ly bare of foliage, except at the top
where it branches out something on the
plan of feather dustel. The stations
are few and far between, but at each STA
ton group of peons-the working
class-met the train selling fruit and
begging money, the little dirty ragged
children singing -"deme centavos -
give me some cents. 1t is said that
some mothers actually cripple their chi!-
dren in order to make them beggars
The poems are great workers but are so
awfuly slow that it takes long time
for them to accomplish much.
An all days ride through this desert
and another night through little better
country found us in Mexico City, the
fourth morning out from St. Louis
$50 miles. want to say in support
of the railroads down here that they
compare very favorahly with the best
= lines in the States, as to track, equip
ment power, etc. Segunda Clase-sec
ond class, cars are attached for the peon'
and Primera Clase, first class, for thu
- better class of people. The second class
cars have seats clear around the side o
the car and a row of seats up the centre
| walked through one OF these coaches
and had to work my way over sleeping
babies on the floor, also keep shy OF dirt!
old Mexicans who are credited with hAv
ing numerous little animals on thel
person who like to change diet occa
sionalIy.
Arriving at the City we had break
fast in our car and then started Tor ou
hotel. Mexico City is noted for IL
poor hotels but they are improving
to the rooms, bedding, etc. however
not all hotels furnish meals that W
Americans relish. The cooking OF tn
Mexjcans is distasteful to our people
Our time being limited we secured
ouide and started out to see the prlnc
pal sights, first visiting the Natlona
g., Museum containing hundreds OF ston
idols dug up and found at various time
in the City and at other points in tn
: Republic. l will mention two' Tn
= Aztec Calendar stone, hinge thin
weighing 26 tons, carved to show tn
ann. moon, months, days, ETC.; anotht
rho Sacrifcial stone, at which huma
beings were offered up in Sacrifice.
, ;s said twelve thousands prisoners wei
y sacrificed on this block at its dedlcatio
y, ~ in 1910. The expensive and statel
g. 9, carriage of the ill-fated Emperor Max
e' milan wlich was used only three time
twice by himself and once by our la'
u General Grant, is stored in the Museum
B The old cathedral, one of the first star
B ed in Mexico was visited. This churc
Il is over four hundred feet long, contain
l ,,,,v old naintings, and gold leaf i