Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1884 — An Old Mexican City. [ARTICLE]

An Old Mexican City.

Chihuahua, the capital of the State, has from 15,000, to 18,000 inhabitants, and was once noted for its dullness; hut it is now rapidly improving, and is feeling, as all Mexican towns must feel, the stimulant of railroad enterprise, writes a correspondent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean. ■ The city is well laid out, having broad, well-paved streets, which cross at right angles. Here, for the first ’ and probably the last time while in Mexico, you will see the American omnibus and hack, whose drivers have little regard for anything except the money they think you owe them, whether you are rich or not. The depot of the Mexican Central Bailroad is over a mile from the center Sf the town, and this necessitates yonr riding in a carriage or taking a street car. The gity is quaint and curious, as are all Mexican tpwns, an,d dates back to the dose of the seventeenth century. It is said that in 1160 the Aztecs occupied the site of the town and erected upon it their temples. In the center of the town is the Plaza Major, which is an open plot of ground of about- the same size as one of the squares of Chicago. It is one of Chihuahua’s most attractive places, being tilled with flowers and surrounded by a tine walk, lined with seats, where both natives and foreigners gather twice a week a listen to the excellent music of the military band. Music is given every Thursday and Sunday evenings from 8 until 10 o'clock, and they are called music nights. Sunday evening is the principal music night of the week, and then the town can be seen at its best. It is then a very interesting place, being filled with gailydressed ladies and gentlemen of all ages, nationalities and countries, who • make this the pleasure evening of the week. There is none of the loud talking and laughing so common in the United States, all l>eing quiet and subdued, and all seeming to be enjoying themselves. It is certainly a very pretty sight to see the very brilliantlydressed ladies and gentlemen walking among the flowers, keeping step to the music of a fine orchestra, and all in the cool and invigorating air so common to this climate. According to the custom of the counti v,. the ladies, both young and old. promenade the plaza by walking around and around, always going from right to left, while the gentlemen all walk from left to right, thus meeting each other twice in going around the plaza once. This custom dates back to “time immemorial.” and is a part of the etiquette of the country. —Letter from Mexico: