26 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



free schools visited by the writer, the scholars, mainly girls, appeared 

 bright and intelligent, the teachers (females) competent, and the text- 

 books modern. The language of instruction was, of course, Spanish, 

 but a greater desire than ever before to learn English is reported, and 

 it is now (contrary to former custom) generally taught in preference 

 to French. Industrial schools, to which boys are appointed from dif- 

 ferent sections of the country, analogous to the system of appointments 

 in the United States for West Point and Annapolis, have also been 

 established by the Government. One of the most interesting of these, 

 and for the promotion of which the Mexican Central Railroad corpora, 

 tion have co-operated, exists at Guadalupe, about five miles from the 

 city of Zacatecas. Here, in a large and well-preserved convent struct- 

 ure, confiscated by the Government and appropriated for school pur- 

 poses, some two or three hundred Mexican boys are gathered, and 

 practically taught the arts of spinning and weaving, printing, carpen- 

 tering, instrumental music, leather-work, and various other handi- 

 crafts ; while, in close contiguity, and in striking contrast with the 

 poverty of the surrounding country, the ecclesiastical authorities are 

 expending a large amount of money the proceeds of a legacy of a 

 rich Mexican mine-proprietor in reconstructing and decorating in a 

 most elaborate manner the church, which was formerly a part of the 

 convent, and which has been left in their possession. 



The Federal Government also maintains national schools at the 

 capital, of agriculture, medicine, law, and engineering ; a Conservatory 

 of Music, an Academy of Fine Arts, a National Museum and a National 

 Library ; together with institutions for the blind, deaf and dumb, the 

 insane, for the reformation of young criminals, and such other system- 

 atic charities as are common in enlightened communities. Most of 

 these institutions are located in old and spacious ecclesiastical edifices 

 which have been " nationalized " ; and the means for their support 

 seem to be always provided, although the Mexican treasury is rarely 

 or never in a flourishing condition. At the same time it is almost cer- 

 tain that all these laudable efforts on the part of the Government to 

 promote education and culture have thus far worked down and affect- 

 ed to a very slight extent the great mass of the people. But it is, nev- 

 ertheless, a beginning. 



After all, however, as the stability of any form of government and 

 the maintenance of domestic tranquillity with such a population as ex- 

 ists in Mexico, is obviously contingent on the maintenance of a strong, 

 well - organized, and disciplined army, the first care of the central 

 Government is naturally to promote military rather than secular edu- 

 cation ; and, accordingly, the National Military School, located at Cha- 

 pultepec, and modeled after the best military schools of Europe, is in 

 the highest state of efficiency. The system of instruction and the 

 text-books used are French ; and the personnel of the school, both 

 officers and cadets, will compare favorably with anything that can be 



