The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-11

Hammerstein or a Grau or a Conreid
brings them over and rams them down
our Threats, with the aid of much adj
vertising and the private subscriptions
of wealthy patrons of the arts. And
that Is why, although 1t would be
reasonable to suppose that the grand
opera companies which go to Mexico
would also tour the states, the few
that have tried the experiment have
always stranded although the singers
have been the favorites of the grand
opera houses of France and Italy
they don't go in much for German
opera down there. So the companies
usually return to Europe direct un-
less, indeed, they play in some of the
South American capitals, where good
music Is also appreciated.
This is how it happens that the City
of Mexico with population about
that of Kansas City hears more grand
opera than Chicago and it also ex-
plains the number of wonderful bands
and orchestras in the city. The Police
band of Mexico is said to be better
than any band in the states and there
are many other remarkable musical
organizations. The music in the cafes
Gas we were there in the ''off" sea-
son, remember) is as good as in New
York. At Chapultepac there is
splendid orchestra Every Sunday and
Thursday there are free public band
concerts in all the parks and p1azas
and the people turn out in great num-
bers to hear them. Sometimes fifteen
bands are giving concerts at the diff
ferent parks, the statuary, the broad
avenues and boulevards, the buildings
all of stone and cement Il can't re-
member to have seen a frame build
ing in Mexico) the wonderful provi-
Dental palace of Chapultepeo above
all the beauty of the trees and flow
Mexican capital ineffably lovely. It
has an appearance of extreme clean
illness, on account of the white build
ings and the fresh vegetation, and it
looks indescribably gay and festive,
after our smoky, dirty western cities
with them contrasts and incongruities
Of architecture. To the unaccustomed
eye it is all picture-the old houses,
with their enchanting gardens and
their beautiful patio walls along
whose white surfaces chambers the
bougainvillca, with it's rich purple
flowers and glossy green leaves is the
most strikingly lovely thing, at first
sight, in Mexico. All the flowers are
wonderful, but, as you have heard,
they are not so fragrant as ours, ex-
cept the very heavy odorous ones like
the gardenias, which we sometimes
call cape jasmine, and of which we
saw enormous quantities during our
stay. The flower vendors make them
up into the most fearful and wonder
full bouquets-great pyramidal ef-
fects, the blossoms shipped off close
anu lieu W lOI8 I6CQJ 6lCIIlS, lAA0 cHQ@
of which are buried in bed of mat
ted damp. leaves, which keeps the
bouquets fresh for many days. These
astounding arrangements are as big
as a lamp shade and your arm aches
when you have carried one awhile but
in spite of all the material and time
and patience it has taken to make
them you can buy them for twenty
five cents and a native will get them
for ten cents. At the flower market
you see all the flowers and fruits of
all chimes and seasons at one and the
same time-violets, sweet peas, mas
turtiums, roses, geraniums. camellias,
gardenias, heliotropes, pansies, dahlias,
chrysanthemums, hibiscus, water ILL
les, Ascension lilies, hydrangeas, glad
ion, Strawberries, pineapples, peaches,
pears, grapes, apples, pomegranates,
figs, mangoes, aguacates and many
others of which I do not even know
the names-a1l in profusfon and as
toundingly cheap. We had strawber-
ries for breakfast every morning and
it was always a struggle to decide be-
tween berries or pineapples, they
were both so delicious--sweet enough
without sugar and of comparable
flavor. Charlie Gauit, who had met
them in the Isle of Pines. had been
knocking on maneoes. but we were