St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-06-15

Immediately laid the foundations fol
City.
Juan, our guide, had told Mrs.
Harvey and me that we could plan
on staying in Mexico for two
nights before going on into the
famous silver mining districts.
We again had comfortable quar-
tiers, this time at the Hotel Carl
ton, a small quiet family-style
hotel. The atmosphere was so
CHEEKY and friendly that even at
our first breakfast there it was as
though we sat at one long dining
table instead of an individual one.
We had already ordered breakfast
before Juan joined US. l had
French toast and delicious coffee
mexican style). Juan ordered hot
cakes. While waiting for the cakes
to come he said, "Last night, 1
couldn't go to sleep. So l got up
and went to the bar and got me two
glasses of Tequila (Mexican
Whiskey). Oh, Boy! Then sleep!"
Just then the waiter brought the
hot cakes. Juan rubbed his hands
together in anticipation. He put
on butter and poured on the syrup,
picked up his knife and fork and
then exclaimed, "Ayee! Hormigasw
We looked. His plate was swim
ming with ants. Immediately our
table was crowded with interested
spectators. A handsome white man
from the next table said, "You
should have been in the Philippines
with me and you'd eat your hot
cakes!"
This man spoke in English for
our benefit. AS he left the dining
room, we saw that he walked on
crutches and had leg missing.
Juan next ordered an omelet with
something like a hot pepper relish
in the center.
During the night, Mrs. Harvey
and had written letters and post
cards to friends in the States and
we were anxious to mail them. So
our first excursion in Mexico City
was to the post office. Our guide
drove US downtown to the post
office but the traffic was so heavy
that he was unable to park within
four blocks of the place. AS he had
brought along a clerk from the
hotel, he decided to send him in
with me to take care of getting
stamps and mailing. The clerk
spoke some English.
We had hardly arrived in the
post office lobby before l was lit
orally pounced upon by a neatly
dressed man who led me to the
stamp window. He talked volubly
in both Spanish and English. He
snatched my post cards and letters,
ordered my stamps, asked for the
money to pay for them and then
proceeded to put the stamps on the
mail for me. l stood helplessly
by. Finally, turned to my COM
panion, and asked sarcastically,
do I pay him for his charming
courtesy?"
"Of course" said he. Fifty
centavos!"
In true United States fashion,
felt gyped. l tried not to show it.
l could have taken care of this my
self as read some Spanish, and
oddly enough most public servants
in Mexico speak English.
We then went to the Art Museum
of Mexico. The building was beauti-
full and built of a fine quality
Mexican marble. The building was
begun by Diaz in 1904 and COM
pleted many years later after many
revolutions. Diaz had ordered the
famous glass curtain for the audi
forum. The curtain was made by
Tiffany in New York. 1t is COM
posed of 100000 small pieces of
mercurial glass and weighs Fl tons.
1t is lifted by two electric motors.
The Museum also had a mural
done by the famous Mexican artist,
Diego Rivera. There was also
breath-taking mural, of a woman
chained, done by ]. Clemente
Orozco.
We tipped the Museum guide
five pesos and departed with many
"adios" and "muchas gracias."
Then we went to the Cathedral
of Mexico and here again Juan
left US in the hands of a friend,
who was a guide for the Cathedral
and the palace.
The Cathedral was first called a
cathedral in 1880. Many parts of
the building were added later, how
ever.
Entering this huge building was
quite an experience. The Cathe-
dral was 1886 feet long and 165 feet
wide. The affairs were of the very
richest, hand carved wood and