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Raaw% Ree MONTEREY—THE METROPOLIS OF NORTHERN MEXICO By Fann B War, ‘Mosremer, tho capital of Nuevo Leon and the larg- | of France it was also the capital of Coahnila and Taman- ‘est of tho five frontier Statos of Mexico, ies some 700 | lipas, and the most important commercial point in all miles north of the capital of the Rapablie, and about 200 | Northera Mexico. During the governorship of General tiles sonth of the Rio Grande. Before the intervention ! Santiago Videursi, whoee great influence with the Liberal ‘roowrann 1 Ta PLAZA DE ZANAoOSA, MoWTERET,scEIDD. ‘Vol. XVII, No. S=17. 258. ‘party, in return for services rendered aguinst Santa Anas, ‘obleined namerous concessions and priviloges for tho ‘commerce cf Montarey. Merchants brought their goods hiere from Saa Lnis Potosi, Zacatecas, Durango, aud even far-away Obibuabus But since that good man’s ay theve edvantagos havo boon considerably curtailed, tnd the olden honors and emoluments divided among the neighboring states. Tt has now s popalation of about 40,000, and being the nearest place of importance to the ‘vorder—about aa far southeast from the dividing river as San Antonio—tho flourishing city of the Alamo is north- ‘ast of it—its steady growth and prosperity is assured. ‘Tt is nostled in the midat of tho Sierra Madres, and de- Fives ita namo (Monte—Rey, king mountain) from {great Siorra de la Mitra, which is truly a “king " among mountains, with peak shaped like « huge mitre, rising ‘west of tho town, From the earliest days of Catholicism fn this country, the faithfal have devoatly believed that within the heart of this stapendous height enormous treasure is hidden, to be revealed to God's children in His own good time by mirsoulous removal of tho mitra. (On tho east stands the giant Siorra de la Silla (Saddle Mountain), while tho main range, with here and there « ragged peak, throws up an impasssblo wall of precipitous lids on threo ides of tho town, excopt where broken by dlafils and caZons. No pen can describe the ever-changing Thoauty ofthese “mother mountains "—the Sierra Madres. Even their eolor ia never soon twico alike ; roey in the ‘morning, blue and browa at noonday, amethyat at sunset, parple at night, overy pussing cloud, every chango in the atmosphere, gives them a difforont tint, Sometimes their tops are lost in clouds ; again the summits are dis- tinctly Visible, while fleeay patches float far below them ; fand anon the whole rango grows indistinct and misty, as though ‘the “Madroa” had vailed themsclros and 70- treated. ‘Tho sight of them in this Sammer land of sweot iMloness is a perpetual tonfo, a rest, an inspiration, and ‘akos plain the Paalmist’s words, "I will look unio the 2s whence comets ny help!” ‘The history of Montarey, like that of all modern Mex- {co is Vlonded with the annals of the Cliarch. ‘The early Spanish Fathers who came over to convert the Indians, followed the roving tribes as they moved trom place to place in search of richer fruits of better game, holding Alivine servioes wherever practicable. Whenever » halt was made, tho missionaries erootod rade jacals (hata) of ‘eanches, which served for sanctuaries, and in many casse the primitive leafy charoh in time became « permanent mission. Thus it was that Monterey was born. ‘Fray Andros do Loon, who eamo over immodiately after the eopquest, happened to build his jacat hore, and held sorvico in it’daily until (in 1592) his mission wae firaly cewablished. ‘Then Montemayor camo, and in Soptombor 20th, 1596, formally founded the town. For several years ‘thoreafter the contral figare of thin metropolitan city of ‘Nuevo Leon—the nucleus around which everything grew, ‘aod upon which all depended—was ite one charch, mud-horel roofed with hay. But by-and-by the good Fray le Leon succesded in obtaining funda trom the ‘mother country, and built a convent for Franciscans, ‘upon the site of the primitive jaca, which stil forms part fof one of tho fashionable churches of Monterey—the Tglesia do San Francisco. in those days sanctuaries were aluo forts anil houses of rofage, and as early as 1628 it had the eame high wall and strong tower which still distinguish thin most intoront- ing landmark, For 150 years, however, ita roof vas still, of driod grass, which sparks repeatedly burned or winds lew awoy, and not until 1758 vas it oappel with this roof MONTEREY—THE METROPOLIS OF NORTHERN MEXICO. of esbine boams topped with arches of solid edobe, which ook capable of defying al storms to come till the Hoeur- rection marning. Ite great wooden door sre worm-eaten and rickety ; but the crossed arms painted upon them— ‘ono, naked, representing the people ; the other, sloeved ia featlet and purple, the protecting power ofthe Church fre plainly visible. Grass and cactus have sprung and faded, and sprang again through more than s century of seasons upon ite root, and among the arches s young tree is thriftlly growing in the drifted dust of tho years. Tie old towor, reached by an outside stairway, whovs stones havo been worn hollow by many feeb, contains a so-called chime” of antique bells, which make an uo- ‘earthly clatter when “the ringers ring with tho will” wx they do at every hour in the day. Tn tho vaults below it is said that the Inquisition was located, in days when that remnant of medimval barbarism provailed in Mexico. Tt would be dark and gloomy enough within the old charch, were it not for many candles which the faithful havo kept burning through all tho centuries, At what- ‘ver hour of day or evening one enters, there aro always worshipers upon their knees, murmuring their Spanish prayers or whispering at confessional gratings. ‘The tasto fof tho early fathers seems to have rioted in gorgeous coloring, and tho whole Blessed Family, saints included, fro clad in all the colors of the rainbow. ‘The Christa are exceedingly bloody and lugubriows, often with purple logs and biuo hair, and roses as largo as cabbages grow {ng out of the wounds in hands and fest, and from the heart of each Mother of Sorrows a real dagger in onten- tatiously protrading. ‘This old Iglesia do San Francisco thas a wonderfal fascination, One loves to elimb its moldy tower, and porch with the birds among ita rasty balls, looking dowa into the courla, now wood-growa anil Aosortod, wharo nuns and monks walked in other daye ; ‘hile the sighing of tho wind roems echoing the voioot of howe who suffared in the vaulta beneath in the name of ‘ho merciful Jorus ‘The cathedral, or rathor La Iglesia Mayor, which an~ sovers the purpose, is an imposing ediflee in « city whose fidobe structures have rarely bat ove story. This Main Church, which is known aa tho Cathodral, bas exited since 1604, bat, ike the Sea Francisco, was at vt oaly ‘ hay-roofed jaca, which required constant repairs ‘In 1635 the present church was bogun, but progressed to slowly thet, half a contury later, it was not yot ready for ocenpancy. ‘Then the priests took it in hand, and by soliciting alas, in the cours of fteen years had aished ‘tho frst vault, Enooaraged by this rapid (2) progress, some wealthy citizons came to the rescue, snd in 1791 it ‘was declared completed. ‘The outaide-alla are colored a pale yellow, with much carving and stucoo-work in bas Feligf, representing tho usual pufly chosked angels snd cherabim of the artist's imagination —the former with remarkable development of limb, and the Inttor with no limbo a oll. ‘High up in the towers, around which countless doves fro constantly miling, a x wonderful old clock, made in the Gity of Mexico in 1786, by Antonio Velanguez. Not only has this anciont horologe told the passing hours to cessive generations, but strikes the quarters also by ‘nother all, whose deep, resonant tones may be heard by all the city. "Tn the other towers several bes aro always clamoring, indiceting nearly continuous sorvice during very day in the year, Ttis, indeed «dim, religions ligt" within La Tetesia Mayor, for ita small, heavly-tarred windows are high mp ‘under the root, and daylight is admitted aly through the elaborately carved side doors. ‘The great altar in

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