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