On the Mexican highlands, with a passing glimpse of Cuba . sed to have lain, norany of her public buildings, not even the Palaceof the Spanish Captain Generals, are of so strikingand splendid architecture as one sees generally inMexico. The allurement and dazzling fame ofthe Empire of Montezuma attracted thither allthat was daring and forceful and brilliant In oldSpain. Even the wonders of Cuba and the Antillespaled before the tales of fabulous wealth and treas-ure of the conquest of Cortez. The noble churchesand architecture of Mexico have no rivals amongthe Cuban cities. Nor Is there among t
On the Mexican highlands, with a passing glimpse of Cuba . sed to have lain, norany of her public buildings, not even the Palaceof the Spanish Captain Generals, are of so strikingand splendid architecture as one sees generally inMexico. The allurement and dazzling fame ofthe Empire of Montezuma attracted thither allthat was daring and forceful and brilliant In oldSpain. Even the wonders of Cuba and the Antillespaled before the tales of fabulous wealth and treas-ure of the conquest of Cortez. The noble churchesand architecture of Mexico have no rivals amongthe Cuban cities. Nor Is there among the Cubansthat picturesqueness In garb, that striking bril-liancy of coloring, which one sees upon the streetsof the Mexican cities. In Cuba you see no scarletand green and blue zerapes; no purple and blue andpink rehozos; no rancherros and cahalleros in vel-vet jackets and tight-fitting trousers, laced andspangled and buttoned with threads of silver andgold; none of the splendor in coloring and dressof the sixteenth century, which still clings to the 234. The City of Habana street scene In Mexico. Cuba In Its outward as-pects Is distinctly, unromantlcally modern. Theblack coat Is de rigueiir; the black hat or thepanama Is the only covering for the head, andeven conventional millinery has begun to driveaway the graceful mantilla from the brows of lassehoras. There Is no poetry, no artistic coloring Inthe life scheme of the Cuban. His face and move-ments lack the vivacity and alertness Inspired bythe keen, quickening air of the Mexican High-lands. Even the clothes he wears and the wayhe wears them bespeak the heavy, sea level atmos-phere he breathes. Nor has the language of theCuban preserved the ancient grace and forceful-ness which distinguish the almost classic Spanishof the Mexican. The Spanish spoken In Cuba hasadded to Its vocabulary a multitude of words fromthe French and English of Its neighbors, and fromthe provincial patois of the formerly numerousSpanish soldiery. Anot
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidonmexicanhig, bookyear1906
