■
KXK'O U a land of enchant
meet, rcaaa-e and mystery
tar meet .Vtsencasi We. of
the northern climate*. are
theiy to look -pon It as a
txwrj of t*ali fichu, bandits
and olid ledlans. a here the
• *•* of forrl#are tot
•b»- »nd the principal amuse
■* 1* atabhteg Americans in
t- nark slth long-bladed
katana. During the last year
or too certain maga. .n« ar
ttrtes hate caused the^ ideas
'a take a firm hold upon our
olnds .specially »tnce the
_ aaa rmklta broke out
Theas pieces are tr.sc-d upon
facts tut *be truth has hoes gre.tly enlarged
pe* :a order to create a demand for such
tern: and make the [.rodunion of the
aatbors ar. salable Hoe ever, the traveler
<a Mexico ell! find that he is just as sale
te-. m is any cher part of the world, prorld
•t< 'tat be agenda to hts oe» affairs: hut. on
^ M ?/* M4rZZ\ (_) □
'■** o her h*m* if he Is look-ng for
'• rouble he wiU he aecuaamodaled
there iam aa gulch!? as at ham. lur
Mexicans are a couruea* race
and nochiag jiicaae* them better
that t» hr obliging to strangers
One aorutg u. JaS'. cetera! ) ears
ago. I ur.i« la Vera Crux Thu i>
uae of the moat ancient cities of the
Nee % uric, aa if a a* founded t<v
< orter In 11 !> It la historic to the
iaal decree, and It mas there that
Maun .tan first set foot on Mexican
**®- ,fca» tfi« fl*C* of four great
—spam. r.n. France and the United
State* — have dueled over ti> ramparts
Kevin City la full <rf interesting pices.
Hehcs at the consulstadore- and of the days
-jt Spanish rule may he seen on every side.
History says that about 1225 a hand at Aztecs
•*» traveling thre.gh the Valley of Mexico.
Fur nesri; sit fc --d years these people bad
been wanderers on the face of the earth and
during all those centuries they had teen
searching for the promised land—a place to
ha-lld a new home Their priest* had taught
them that rrben 'hey saw a royal eagle wi'.h a
*n*he ta ru takms alight u;>on a prickly [ear
cartaa that would be a sign that there uas the
t *< • for 'hem to build a city. And as they
• ere wandering through this valley they be
held a royal eagle, perched upon a cactus,
bidding a serpent This Is the origin of the
Mexican national emblem at tc<day. Accord
ingly they stopped, for they firmly believed
'ha' the r long journey was ended On an
bland in l^ake Texcoeo they built a city which
'hey called Tesocbtltlaa. and this Is where the
rtty at Mexico how stands
Coe*idcring the centuries that they had been
homelet*. -he reign at the Axtecs over this fair
was short, for in 151* Cortez landed tn
Hagfgp. The* hega* co" of the moat remark
t, Se can istigns la all history. The great con
r-«r rtmtatDMd his famous march to the
tr'er capital, fighting battle after battle, and
defeat eg horde* of savages Oa November
• ill* fortes entered Tenocbtitlaa with his
•tie army and »a# welcomed by Montezuma
The Spaniards collected a great amount of
, £ and other valuables which they were com
'v ied to leave, for on July 1. 152«. they were
*-!,«* from the ettr However, la August.
21 they returned besieged the place, and on
he : Sth they were again victorious^ and the
i__ ^ ^ m
i
i
OWH—y
J3LZsit?£-^\
modem Mexico's first emperor. Augustine de
Iturbid**. This man was the commander of the
viceroy's forces; but he was ambitious, and so
he joined the revolutionists, helping them to
throw oil the yoke of Spain. For this he was
crowned emperor of Mexico on July 25. 1S22.
His reign was short, for he soon became un
popular. and on March 20. 1823. he abdicated
and sailed for Europe.
Mexico Is a land of churches; and over the
ruins of one of the greatest pagan temples of
the New World stands a magnificent place of
worship of the Christian religion. There, where
the gr«at Aztec temple that was destroyed by
Cortez once stood, is now the beautiful Ca
thedral of Mexico. The cost of its construction
was about 12.000.000.
The front is surmounted by two beautiful
towers, about two hundred feet high, from
which an excellent view of the city, with its
picturesque domes and great buildings, may
be had; while the Valley of Mexico, famed
the world over for its beauty, stretches out
like a great panorama. The famous Take
Texcoco. the great castle of Chapultepec and
the sacred town of Guadalupe seem just be
neath your feet. Far away on the him of the
valley the great Popocatepetl and Ixtacclbuatl
Che Woman In White”), on the summits of
which is the land of eternal snow, rise up
above the surrounding country.
The cathedral is never closed. Night and
day. summer and winter, its doors are always
open, and every one, from the poorest beggar
in the land to the richest man. is welcome.
There, within the walls of this beautiful pal
ace of religion, they all gather, rich and poor,
aristocrat and peon, to receive the bishop's
blessing.
On the east side of the Plaza Mayor is the
National palace, which was started in JC92.
This Is the seat of the national government,
and within its walls the laws which govern the
people of Mexico are made. It is on the
grounds where once stood the palace of Axaya
catl. an emperor of the Aztecs
Just beyond the palace, on the Calle de Mo
neda. Is the National museum. This place is
a wonderful treasure bouse of Aztec relics, and
nowhere else in the world will such a collec
tion of implements and other remains of this
extinct race be found.
Within a few minutes' ride of the Plaza
Mayor is the castle of Chapultepec. the White
House of Mexico. This building stands upon a
huge rook that rises up out of the plain, and it
has been the site of the residences of the rul
ers of Mexico ever since the days of the Az
tecs.
The Mexico City of former'times was sur
rounded by Lake Tezoooo, the waters of which
were alkaline and unfit for use. Therefore the
inhabitants were compelled to obtain their
water from springs, and it was carried to the
city by means of aqueducts. One of these ran
along the road to Chapultepce and terminated
at the fountain of El Salto del Asu. nerr Be
lem prison.
Portions of this famous o'.d waterway are
still standing and may be seen from the street
cars. It was constructed of bricks, laid in ce
ment and plastered with the same material. It
was very substantial and would have stood a
thousand years as well as one
The region of this ancient waterway is one
of the most picturesque parts of the city. Out
on the Chapultepec highway, which was built
by Maximilian, scores of w oed carriers may be
seen with enormous loads of firewood, that
they have cut in the hills, fastened on tbeir
backs. They can carry almost as much as a
horse, and they peddle this fuel in the city,
where it is used for cooking. Q_!te frequently
burros are seen loaded down, carrying a bur
► den larger than themselves. I have also seer,
this in towns in New Mexico and Arizona
One of the most picturesque sights to be
seen in Mexico are the queer-looking ox carts.
There are great, two-wheel
ed affairs, drawn oy i»o
oxen, sometimes four, and
are used in all parts of the
republic. Generally the
wheels are made out of a
solid piece of wood, but
sometimes they have
spokes. In these vehicles
the peons bring their pro
duce to the city, and peddle
it along the streets, much
the same as do the Ameri
can truck gardeners.
Many of the plows used
in Mexico, and very com
monly on the haciendas
about the capital, are. in
• »__ tru _
aeea. a reveiatioD
tongue Is about ten feet long and is simply tbe
limb of a tree, generally with a fork at tbe end.
The latter part is about four feet in length and
pointed with iron. The whole thing has but
one handle and Is drawn by a yoke of oxen.
With it the natives manage to scrape out a
furrow in the ground. The method is exceed
ingly primitive and picturesque, and is used
throughout all parts of the country, modern
American plows being a great rarity. In fact.
I did not see one in all my travels in the re
public.
All of tbe cities and towns have a public
fountain from which any one who desires
may obtain water; and every hour of the day
one may see the aguadores (water carriers)
obtaining their daily supply from these places.
Both sexes come: the women generally carry
a large earthen jar upon their heads, while
many of the men bring burros upon which the
peck-saddles holding six or eight vessels.
Others bring rudely fashioned wheelbarrows
with which to haul away the precious fluid.
At Popotla. a suburb of Mexico City, is La
Noche Triste (the Mournful Night Tree), one
of the most historic trees in North America,
for it 1b said that the great conqueror. Hernan
Cortex, sat under it and wept on the night of
July 1. 1520. following the defeat of the Span
iards by the Aztecs and their retreat from the
City of Mexico. This ancient tree Is well
cared for. and is surrounded by an iron fence.
It is gnarled and crooked and partly dead,
and It is doubtful If It can live many years
longer.
A visit to the little town of Guadalupe,
about two miles north of the City of Mexico,
is one of tbe roost Interesting and, probably,
the saddest journey in all Mexico. This pic
turesque village, nestled at the foot of the
hill of Tepeyacac, is the shrine of Mexico.
There is an interesting legend concerning it,
which Is as follows: On December 12, 1631,
an Indian named Juan Diego was on his way
to the church of Santiago to attend mass,
when the Virgin Mother descended from the
clouds and appeared before the poor peon on
tbe bill of Tepeyacac. She told Jusd that
she Intended to become the Patron Saint of
Mexico, and that she wished him to go to the
bishop at fbe Cathedral of Mexico and tell
him that she desired to have a church built at
the foot of tbe hill and dedicated to her.
Naturally the bishop did not believe tbe
Indian’s story, but when Juan went to him
for the third time the predate told him that
he must bring some sign. When he repeated
this to the Virgin she tcld him to go to the
top of the hill, which was always barren, and
that he would find the ground covered with
roses. He was to fill his zurape with the flow
ers and hasten to the bishop with them. Juan
did as he was bidden, and when he spread
out the roses before the bishop there, on the
inside of his coarse zarape was painted a
beautiful picture, another miracle, of the Vir
gin Mary. This was enough: and cne of the
finest churches in all Mexico was built at the :
foot of the hill of Tepeyacac.
This remarkable portrait was placed in a
prominent part of the edifice, where it may
be seen to this day. enclosed by a beautiful j
* frame, said to be solid gold: and it Is know n
throughout Mexico as "Our Lady of Guada-;
lupe.”
On December 12 the festival of "Our Lady
of Guadalupe" occurs, and thousands make
the long pilgrimage to her shrine. This has
taken place since 1752. in which year the Vir
gin of Guadalupe was officially recognized.
On the hill of Tepeyacac is a little chapel
which marks the spot where Juan Diego cut j
the roses that he took to the bishop. Just
back of It is the Guadalupe cemetery, in
which some of Mexico's most famous men. :
among them are Santa Ana. Viceroy Bacareil '
and Colonel Obergom are buried.
This edifice is reached by two series of j
long, winding stairways, which go up the
steep hill from opposite sides. About half
wav up one of these flights are the mast and
sails of a ship, made of stone and plastered
with cement How long they have been there
no man can say. There is a legend concern
ing their origin which is as follows: Many,
many long years ago. centuries, perhaps, a
ship was in a great storm on the Gulf of Mex- ’
ico. The vessel was in danger of sinking, and
so the sailors prayed to the Virgin, and prom- .
ised her that If she would save them they |
would take the mast of their ship to her
ffcrine at Guadalupe, and there set it up so
that it would remain forever as a monument
to her power. The vessel was saved, and
true to their vow. the sailors removed the
heavy mast and carried it upon their shoul
ders over the long, weary miles from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico, and thence to
Guadalupe, where they erected it. the sails
set. It was covered with stone and cement in
order that it might be preserved for the bene
fit of future generations: ar.d there it re
mains to this day. high up on the hill where
all may see.
un me spot wncre \ iitiu is &uii.w?ru w
have stood when she appeared to Juan Diego
a spring, the waters of which are supposed to
cure any ill, gushes forth. Over this fountain
a little chapel, one of the most beautiful that
1 have ever seen, stands. Over the altar is a
painting of "Our Lady of Guadalupe" and
every day many go to her shrine to worship.
One of the most pathetic scenes that can be
imagined takes place in front of the cathedral.
Among the passengers of every street car
that arrives are the lame, the halt and the
blind. Some have to be carried, others are
Jed. while many who are friendless, hobble
and drag themseives to this sacred spring to
obtain a drink of its magic waters.
Xo description of this interesting land
would be complete without some mention of
the picturesque city of Guanajuato. This fa
mous old place was founded by the Spaniards
in 1554. and the attraction which brought
them there was the rich vein of silver known
as Veta Madre (mother vein), which has been
worked steadily for over three and a half
centuries. The great Valeneiana mine, lo
cated near the city, has produced about $800.
000,000. Mining is carried on in the same 1
primitive manner as in the days of the early
Spaniards.
The cemetery and the catacombs are. prob
ably. of more interest to the stranger than
any other point in the city. Armed with a
permit which the hotel proprietor gave me
1 climbed the steep hillside streets to the city
of the dead, situated upon the summit of one
of the mountains.
This cemetery Is rather small, and I won
dered that there were so few graves in it. but
the mystery was soon explained to me. In
the walls that enclosed the place are thou
sands of vaults. Just large enough for a coffin.
These may be rented for sta'ed periods, but
when this time has expired, if the relatives of
the deceased do not renew the lease, the re
mains are taken out and thrown on the bone
pile beneath. The crypt is then ready tor
occupation again. The ground where the
graves are located is sold outright.
However, the greatest surprise of all was
before me. My guide opened a small door
built in some masonry on top of the ground,
and a flight of narrow, winding stairs was
exposed. These we descended, and they
brought us into a long, underground passage,
where is one of the most remarkable and
gruesome sights in all Mexico. About half of
this chamber is occupied by a number of
corpses. In that dry climate, flesh will not
decay when protected from the weather, and
these bodies were so withered and dried up
that they looked like leather.' The expres
sions on the faces were horrible in the ex
treme.
The other end of this chamber is piled full
of bones. They are the remains of the poor
wretches who had once been laid to rest in
the vaults above, and who, after the term for
which their frienda had paid rent had
elapsed, had been removed to this place.
These catacombs are Indeed horrible, and
a poor place for any one inclined to nervous
troubles, for if your nerves are not pretty
strong you will see this terrifying place, with
Its grinning skulls and shriveled mummies,
for many a night afterwards.
Cyclist Near Death
< Aor r ■ «trme»r motor
-to —to* M
• >« tto ottor d»r. at Bow o ftr*. »
=j*U rlU*#* ttow* mPwi -*^ °*
w Tto tr*to —*• nomrltac jo
cbm Wtoa opi«Ho tto ril
-an -ire. omt a »»•. tto *»d °
,Urt twteto re to tto cjrelteta »•<•*
Bfiw a rtT*r- to* (to mb ia .tto
rar released his hold but, as It was,
the cyclist's neck wa- severely in
jured. Fortunately he was sble to
pell up immediately. Even then how
ever. his face was purple, and the
skin of his neck torn. A walned
nurse who happened to be staying in
the village attended to the wound.
The Injured was an entire
stranger to the district He offered
te let the matter pass If the man
who threw the rope apologized, but
the latter declined to do so. The
matter is now to be taken to court.
Expert Testimony Available.
A Spokane tobacconist has sued a
judge for $4.86 for campaign cigars. If
the judge called upon those who smok
ed the cigars he could probably show
that the claim is extortionate.
The Proof.
"Is your puree real alligator skin?”
"la tt? You ought to hear ft snap.”
Goats and Tuberculosis
As regards the freedom of the
milch goat from tuberculosis the late
George F. Thompson, a government
expert, suggested that it was due to*
the food and climate where the goats
are found and the exercise obtained
in roaming over the mountain sides.
Whether domestication for successive
generations will remove this hardi
ness only the future still show. Hul
pert says that since the goat is much
more healthy than the cow or sheep,
tuberculosis attacks it very rarely and
so Its milk is much better than cow's
milk and is especially adapted to nee
by children. From most other m»i«
diee to which a dairy cow is suscep
tible the goat seems to enjoy freedom,
with the possible exception of the
foot and mouth disease.
TOMMY MURPHY,
The great horseman who Is winning
most of the big races for fast trotters
with that farm horse. "R. T. C..“ record
says: "SPOHN'S DISTEMPER
CURE Is the best remedy for all forms of
Distemper and coughs I have ever known.
I have used It a number of years.” All
druggists or send to manufacturers. 50c
and J1 a bottle. Spohn Medical Co.. Chem
ists. Goshen. Ind.. D. S. A.
Needed at Home.
Brown—That is the worst behaved
kid I ever sav. Do you know his
parents?
Jones—His father is one of those
scientific management experts.—Puck.
Stop the Pain.
The hurt of a burn or a out stops when
Cole's Caibolisalve Is applied. It heals
quickly and prevents scars. 25c and 50c by
druggists. For free sample write to
J. W. Cole & Co.. Biack River Fails. Wis.
When we read the lives of distin
guished men in any department we
find them always celebrated for the
amount of labor they could perform.—
Everett.
The Pure Food Law stopped the sale
of hundreds of franduknt medicines. They
could not stand investigatkm. Hamlins
Wizard Oil has stood the test of investi
gation for nearly sixty years.
Bean Porridge Hot.
"Would you call soup an edible?”
"Yes, an audible edible."
Mrs. Whssiow’s Soothing Srrup for Children
teething, softens the gums, reduces inflamma
tion, a..ays pain, cures, wind colic, 25c a bottle.
Sunshine is worth more than gold
when it is real sunshine and not fox
fire.
Poverty hath its own reward. A poor
men isn't asked to contribute to a cam
paign fund.
And He’s Not Atone.
Howell—What do you think of him?
Powell—He has all of the eccentri
cities of genius without the genius.
Tell the dealer yon want a Lewis’ Single
Binder straight 5r cigar
It’s one kind of tough luck to strike
oil when boring for water.
—u-- - - a
J
rf|D HEARTBURN
rUn POOR APPETITE
INDIGESTION
CQSTiVEHESS
MALARIA
take the Bitters first. You wil l
find it exceedingly helpful.
?JS5£S Thompson’s Eye Water
W. N. U., OMAHA, NO. 39-1911.
SWEEP!N6 CROP FAILURES THIS YEAR RICATED LANDS I
WjXX) additional acres now open for entry tinder the Cary Act. at Valier,
Montana. Works are 90 per rent, completed and are constructed under the
supervision of the Carej Land Board. 40.000 acres irrigated in 1911. Rich
soil, no drouth, sure crops, abundant water, delightful climate. 60 bushels
wheat and 100 of oats per acre. Terms. $40.50 per acre. $5.50 cash at time of
filing, balance in 14 yearly payments. We ask no one to file on these lands
without making a careful, personal inspection. If yon are Interested write
for lumber information to CLINTON, HVHTT A CO.. VALIER. MONTAN A
W. L. DOUGLAS
*2.50, *3.00, *3.50 & *4.00 SHOES J
WOMEN wear WUJouglas stylish, perfect f :;};-.
fitting, easy walking boots, because they give
long wear, same as W.I_Doaglas Men's shoes, fifes
THE STANDARD OF QUALITY §§|
FOR OVER 30 YEARS B
The workmanship which has made W.L.
Douglas shoes famous the world over «
maintained in every pair.
If I could take you into my large factories 1
at Brockton, Mass., and show you how ^B
carefully W.L. Douglas shoes are made, you 28j
would then understand why they are war- ML
ranted tc hold their shape, tit better and
wear icr.ger than any other make for the price H, *
CJt}iYir;M The ^enidt.c Hare W. L. DnsrlscB ~t
- i , — nc.me ud price stamped on bottom MBK
ii yon cannot oroain w. 1* Onuglas shoes in --
jonr town, write for catalog. Shoes sent direct OWE PAIR of my BOYS' tt.tU>Oor
from factory to wearer, all charrr* prepaid. vr.l_ SS.OO SHOES wUl positively out wear
UOLCLAS. liC spark SU Brockton. Mass. TWO PAXBgof ordinary bbya’aboW
Defiance Starch
fj The most serviceable starch on
the market today. Works equally
well hot or cold and produces a
finish unequaled by any other
starch.
One trial will prove its merits
and make you a confirmed user.
ffSee that you get
“DEFIANCE” next
time. Big 16 - ounce
^ package for 10 cents at
N all grocers.
Mamtfactwred by
Defiance Starch Co.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA