The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-05-07
MEXICO CIT ! CAY. !
IN CRUCIAL HOUR.
Noisy, Joyous Crowds Throng
Streets Of Capital.
GIVE NO SIGN OF ANXIETY.

Evening Promenade Reveals the Aven-
ida Bathed In Light and Full Of an
Elegant and ThoughtIess Animation.
Every Day There Seems Like Sunday
to the Stranger.
I arrived at the City of Mexico in the
evening, writes Luigi Barzini in the
London Telegraph. 1t was the most
active hour of the life of the place
that of the evening promenade The
Avenida San Francisco was bathed in
light and full of an elegant and
thoughtless animation.
The traffic was blocked by an incred-
ible assembly of vehicles For long
minutes carriages and motorcars. sur
mounted by waving and trembling of
aigrets, paradise plumes, ribbons and
all the accessories which usually crown
female heads, We're compelled to stop
in order to disentangle themselves and
then resume their slow movement,
packed close to each other in a quad
ripple line.
Sumptuous shops cast upon the
crowds on the footways the dazzling
reflections Of their mirrors. On the
thresholds Of the "confterias,' of the
bars, the tea rooms and in front Of the
clubs-housed in ancient and noble
Spanish palaces-was crowded the
whole of the masculine aristocracy of
the city. vigorously dressed in the Eng
lish style, prodigal in their salutations
to the ladies, in affectionate gestures
to acquaintance and embraces for
friends.
Superb Horsemen.
The theaters were opening, the res
taurants were full, the cinematographs
were enguifng their crowds.
Returning from their daily gallop in
the forest were superb horsemen, in
the magnificent national costume
which is the riding dress of the Mexi-
can gentlemen. Proudly erect on their
tall, ancient saddles, their feet en-
cased in massive boxlike stirrups, they
rode in groups. scintillating with but
tons and silver embroidery, and with
| enormous sombreros bordered with
lace-a little Of the cowboy, a little OF
the musketeer and something of the
gaucho. The air was soft, the sky
serene and waves of music came from
crowded resorts, bringing snatches of
canzonettes, languid bars of habaneras,
| "reminiscences Of Zarzuelas and operas.
And the civil war? The revolutions?
The sanguinary battles? One must
come to Mexico to understand how all
such things became distant and vague.
One enters an atmosphere of oblivion,
of Indifference, Incidence. enjoyment
News is circulated. which, would place
any other city in the world in state
of anguish. 1t does not cause any
more emotion than a weather bulletin.
Mexico City goes on amusing ITSELF
No Hustle and Buste.
Nobody is in a hurry. The man who
runs is a phenomenon. This intell1-
gent, sensual, artistic race has discov-
cred that all the things which can be
| obtained by running are not worth
| those which can be enjoyed while
walking slowly, the spectacles which
| one can relish while looking around.
the conversations one overhears, the
beauties one admires, the scenes which
cause delight as one proceeds calmly.
Every race is an hour OF life thrown
away-to say nothing of the fatigue
which it causes.
For this reason Mexico City always
wears a Sunday aspect. Business is
done by chance, by stopping to con-
verse with acquaintance. One gives
and receives an embrace One drinks
something at neighboring bar, ex-
changes impressions about the last
bullfght, and at every street corner as
semblages Of people are stationed to
| glance at the passing vehicles and
! mediate as to which is the best road
! to take. At midday all the Offices and
| shops are closed for the siesta Lunch
| con is taken at noon. The American
| "quick lunch" is an unknown barbar-
ity. Everything is done comfortably.
! The houses, the palaces, the innumer-
! able churches, have in their Spanish
! amplitude also a restful and solemn
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