Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1902 — A Letter From Mexico. [ARTICLE]

A Letter From Mexico.

Editor of Republican;— Ought one to print any observations about a country whose language one does not know? In the best schools here the study of English is compulsory, Diaz proposes to fit the ooming Mexicans to speak both Spanish and English so as to be able to do business any! where on the continent. We looked in on the Pan American congress and no members so need an interpreter as ours. Senator Davis stated that all but our representa-tive-speak Spanish: Our Embassador Gen. Powell Clayton cannot yet communicate with the Mexicans by direct speech and says he was to. old to learn being now 71. When we crossed the river at El Paso we were de&rly aware that we were in a foreigneouotry. The revenue officers could speak Eog lish and courteously .looked over our ward robe ami found nothing dutiable. _ It will probably not be so easy to get back into our own country. The land is a desert for two hundred miles and our first night at Chihuahua and a tour of observation showed the many destinctive features. The cold-wave followed usj and at Lamar, Las Vegcs, Albuquerque, El Paeo, Chihuahua! and Mexico, every one said it was ; the coldest wave known for years, The school boy who thinks the torrid zjne is hot must reckon altitude as well as latitude. The churches, the markets and the people are the three matters to which a stranger is strougly attracted. The dry, cold air does not drive the Mexieanlto the use of fire, As the sun comes up, and nearly every day is a dear one, the Mexicans stand close along the wall, with eyes sunward to warm by their only stove. We being used to a house temperature of over sixty shiver in an air below fifty. In this country the men, like our birds, wear the fine feathers in their bats, while the ladies as a rule U:e plain sombre oolors in dress. The Indians, and peons of both sexeß take their places with the burrors as burden bearers. It is said if you raise the wages of a day laborer lie will work less days and in large manufacturing establishments all are paid each day. If the laborer has more tbau one pesos be won’t work as a rule. The strikes here are caused by high rather- than low wages. This oountry is making fast strides under Diaz who is givin/ the people a paternally free and peaceable government. He is serving kiß four k successive term under a constitution limiting the presidency to one term and yet Juo imperialist ones are heard. As human ‘slavery never existed here race distinctions are not known. Even Diaz hath a trace of Indian blood. The houses here have the lawn inside surrounded by walls, and every Apartment opens thereon all of which is very nice in warm weather. The Mexioan cooking is not palatable and we are not hungry at all. A sight is usually sufficient to satisfy the ordinary craviDgs of hunger. We will return well paid for our journey and glad we have been to Mexico, The cities are well policed as to the conduct of the people. Many of the houses are more than four hundred yearn old, and yet well preserved, and owing to the dry air not even moss grown, Prior to 1858 nearly all the costly buildings belonged to the Church, j The order of sequestration by Pre- j sident Juarez, caused the Empire cf Maximiliam. Now every school j library, museum, or theater is I located within a ohurefi, ~ent , or cathedral. Diaz whoso® -led Juarez is a liberal and permit church

though his wife is a Catholic and nearly all the people, they do not have the freedom to worship and oarry out to the ritual of Church enjoyed in America. 8. P. Thompson, Agnas Calientee, Mexico. Dec 29tb, 1901.