Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-03-10
Old Mexico.

The building was commenced In
1912, and many additions have
been added to it since. 1t fronts
on the Plaza Mayor, is 675 feet
front, and extends down the side
streets about the same distance.
In it are the executive offices, sem
ate chambers, treasury and bar
racks rooms for two regiments of
soldiers. The presidential apart
ments are magnificent. :.The most
noted rooms are the Halls of AM
bassadors. The walls are hung
with fine paintings of Mexico's
men, and among them
is fine picture of George Wash
ington. On presenting our pass
we were conducted all through the
building from end to end.
We next went through the
Bishops Palace, another mag
nifcent building. Next, to the
Cathedral San Francisco. This is
the largest and most splendid
building in Mexico. 1t is built on
the ancient site of an Aztec
Temple. The corner stone was
laid in 1878 and finished in 1925,
and cost two million dollars. The
altar and chapels are ornamented
with gold and cost several hundred
thousand dollars. There are two
immense pipe organs. A great
many fine paintings of eminent
people are hung on the walls, that
no money could buy. l can only
give a general outline in a letter
like this. One must see it to
realize its immensity and fineness,
We next took in the Mint Palace,
Yturbide--so named from one of
the old Emperors. Next to the
National Museum, where are
stored thousands of old relics, too
numerous to mention, next the old
aqueducts, and next the post-of-
Gee, which cost S8, 100000.
Our next trip was to the peni-
tentiary, which is a comparative
Iy new building and one of the
cleanest prisons that I ever was
in. The crimes for which the
prisoners are there for are classed
first, second and third degree.
Homicide is the first and the
prisoners of this class are confined
in cell for three years and are
never allowed out only an hour
each day, in a large hall for ex-
ercise, and then under the eyes of
a guard. The second and third
class are put into the shops at
once to work. They make shoes,
baskets and sombreros,
or Mexican hats, which are plated
by hand. Each prisoner has a
card under glass in a frame hung
up in his cell, which tells what he
is there for, how long, and that he
is. allowed two days off in every
thirty for good behavior. There
have been eighty-two deaths from
various causes in the prison.
When man dies he is taken to
the dissecting room and his head
is removed. The body is then
buried in the prison yard. The
head is put up in a row where the
others are who have died before.
The head is labeled with the crime
and cause OF death, and is studied
by criminologists, but it is a
gruesome sight to see eighty-two
grinning skulls. The officials are
very gentlemanly and pleasant to
visitors who have passes, but of
course, expect the tip of "uno
pesos." This custom of tipping is
universal in Mexico.
Our next trip is to the Hot
Springs, and the Park, and the
Volcano Popocatapetl, which is
all one trip. The Park is at the
base of the mountain and where
you leave the cars for the burro
trip up the mountain. We en-
gagged the burros and guide
for So a piece and up we started.
The equipment consists of a
small burro, pack for a sad
die, strapped on his loins and a
pair of rope stirrups, with girt
behind his hams, and no bride.
Each burro is supposed to fol-
low the one ahead but he dop'i
always, do SO. We got along
pretty we'll until we reached the
snow line. I was pretty tired and
/ told my next neighbor so. He
said, "Just wait until we star
back down." and limited that
would not be able to move for O
week from soreness. | made up
my mind that right here is where
Bill stops. We held a cancus and
several others stopped with me
The others went mile or SC
farther. The Mexican sent a boy
TO return with US. Let me say tc
your readers, that here is the
grandest view on this earth
Mexico City and about twenty
other towns lay in plain sight, ap-
parently right at your feet. The
view is good for at least hundred
miles, with a glass. I did not en-.
Joy it as | should for thinking oi
that down trip and it's conse-
quences. But we started. The
trail is narrow one and a rocky
one, cliffs on one side and a deep
canyon on the other. There are
loose stones in the path and when
your burro steps on one he
stoDs suddenly. throws his head