The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-11-28

In OLD MEXICO At the meeting of the
Womans Alliance, Nov. 21st with Mrs. Thomas
B. Dinsmore, the hostess gave very interest,"
ing talk on Personal Experiences in Mexico.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dinsmore and Mr.. and Mrs. R. P.
Chase of this city, when en- route to California
last year, spent some time in Mexico, and Mr..
and Mrs. Dinsmore had prepared themselves
for the visit by reading and re-reading Terry's
work in Mexico, mapping out an itinerary of
the places to be seen and acquiring useful
vocabulary of the Spanish language They
were thus we'll equipped for what proved to be
a most interesting and instructive visit to Old
Mexico country of present as well as his
toric interest. Leaving San Antonio at 7.30 a.
m. the party crossed the Rio Grande at noon
and stopped for an hour in Nuevo Laredo, Mex
leo, where their baggage was examined and
they changed their American money for Mexi-
can currency, receiving two dollars for one.
There are no Mexican bills smaller than five
dollars, and silver is used for lesser amounts.
Mrs. Dinsmore told of their sightseeing in
Monterey, Satillo, San Louis Potosi, Quere-
taro, Gaudaloupe and other places, describ-
ing market places, cathedrais, etc. Mexico
City was of course the place of greatest in
terest and much time was spent there. OF
the cathedral she said: 1.-THE building was be-
gun in 1881 and cost two million dollars, and
with its contents is estimated at $50, 600.
1t contains many beautiful affairs, one of which
was presented in 1900 by Charles the First,
and cost three and three quarters millions in
gold 1t is called the altar of kings and at it
Macmillan was crowned. 1t is covered with
10 carat gold leaf. In the cathedral are also
many beautiful paintings, among them The
Holy Family, by Murillo, 300 years old. j. P.
Morgan at one time offered $3.50, 600 for it but
the Mexcans would part with their lives
sooner than one of these sacred paintings"
The National museum, which contains many in
teresting and horrible, relics of old Mexico
and the days of the Aztecs, was visited and
Mrs. Dinsmore gave description of the Ma
tional palace, the winter home of President
Diaz. She told also of the flower market, and
of pawnshop patronized by the aristocracy,
who think nothing of pawning horse or auto
or other valuables to obtain money for din
ner, ball, or box at the opera. The party at
tended bull fight, or rather witnessed. and
enjoyed, the preliminaries, the gathering of
the aristocracy in full dress. the parade, ETC.,
but the fight itself was too much for Ameri-
can sensibilities and when it began hasty
exit was made. A more pleasant experience
was visit to the wonderful floating gardens,
little islands of perfume and bloom in the
Virgin canal. They are now stationary, but
formerly were fioated down the canal to Mex
leo City, where the. flowers were sold in the
market. They visited in little flat bot
toned boats, picturesque craft with matched
ROOFS over them and propelled by little Mexi-
can boys with long poles. Mrs. Dinsmore it,
Illustrated her talk with pictures and post cards
of the places described, and at its close an
swered the many questions asked by her in
terested hearers. Mr.. and Mrs. Dinsmore
brought home many curios and other souvenirs
of their visit to Old Mexico, of which they
have most pleasant memories.