Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and Historytrip — the bull-fight. Most of the party went to the bull ring on the Paseo at 3:20to witness a relic of the darkest of the dark ages. Thousands of people were gatheredto viewone of the most barbarous and inhuman scenes ever witnessed on earth. Ifthere is such a thing as a hell on earth it can be located in a bull ring where multitudesadmire and enjoy seeing horses and cattle tormented and driven to desperation for noother purpose than that of satisfying the barbaric desire for shedding of blood. Ifthere is one thing more than another which unsettles confidence in the stability ofthe Mexican Republic, it is the sentiment of what are considered the better classesfor this disgusting and inhuman sport. It is safe to say that if the Sucker editors andtheir accompanying friends were to have abundant opportunity, they would give thebull ring a very wide berth. In the evening some of the excursionists visited theProtestant Missions. Monday forenoon was spent very largely in shopping, each excursionistransacking the curiosity shops and antiquity stores for mementoes of this mostinteresting visit to the Metropolis."At 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, March 3rd, the tired travelers started on thehome journey. Through the kindness of authorities of the Mexican National Railroada special train wound its way through the gorgeous scenery of the Sierra Madremountains. Frequent stops were made to give better opportunity for viewing themany enchanting scenes. At Toluca, the Capital of the State of Mexico, a short stopwas made for supper. In the morning the excursionists were surprised to find that thetrain had been run at a much greater rate of speed than was contemplated, arriving atSan Luis Potosi at 9 a.m. instead of 12. The remainder of the day was spent veryprofitably in studying new types and phases of Mexican character. Through the courtesyand painstaking attention of Rev. J. W. Grimes, for many years a Methodist missionary,much of great profit was seen and heard. A visit was paid to the residence ofthe Governor of the State of San Luis Potosi and in the evening the Governor senta very fine band from the military school to give an open air concert in honor of thevisitors. The investigations of the day led to the conclusion that San Luis is thecleanest and one of the most thrifty of Mexican cities. On the following morning thejourney was renewed. All day long the train crawled through a barren waste, in facta veritable desert. The dust and heat were so great that all suffered intensely. TheRev. Mr. Powell, a Baptist missionary for 8 years with headquarters at Saltillo, wasinvaluable as a walking encyclopedia of the manners and customs, traditions and tendenciesof the people of the interior."A halt was made at the battle field of Buena Vista, where Mr. Powell gave avery graphic description of the encounter between Santa Anna and Gen. Taylor, afterwhich the train soon brought the dusty editors to Saltillo to enjoy a good supper.From this point on to Monterey the glorious moon-light night revealed some of themost charming scenery in Mexico. Early in the morning following Mr. Jules A. Randlewas on the ground with a line of street cars, ready to transport the excursionists tohis famous health resort known as the Topo Chico Hot Springs, located 3 miles northof the city of Monterey. On arriving nearly all of the party indulged in the delightsof a bath. These springs have very great medicinal properties and are being visited byinvalids and pleasure seekers from all parts of the United States and Mexico. It wasthe almost unanimous verdict that these springs were the equal of any in the world,not excepting the far-famed hot springs of our own country. At 9 o'clock Mr. Randleserved a complimentary breakfast to the party at the Topo Chico Hotel, adjacent tothe springs. The next part of the program was a ride over the city reviewing themany points of interest. The city's charming location, nestling among the foothillsof the Sierra Madre, with tall peaks overlooking all and with the silent grandeur of108