Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1846-11-05

leo, all the clothing he requires is blanket,
n pair Of leather breeches and a straw hat
which articles cost him eight or nine dollars,
and lasts him twelve month In the
terra cdlicnie or hot region, the Mexican
can do with less clothng-hc could scarce
~ do with more The traveller who has
brains, OF scull or eyes in his head, soon
notes these pccularities Of the climate Of
Mexico Aud noticing them he makes al
lowancc for the Mcxicans at first he was
their ccnsurcr; now, be is inclined to he
their aF7.ogi-:
The town, or rather village Of San Au
custin de las Cucyas Is distant from McIi-
co some - miles Lying at the base Of
one OF the mountains which form the UNI
vailed valley Of Mexico, its situation i. most
romantic. Scanty indeed is the population
of the village This however, is feature
that adds To the attraction rather than di-
minishcs thcrcfrom; for it is pleasant to
live in a place where You can be quiet as
YOU like; where YOU are not annoyed, as IN
the city Of Mexico, BY the continual ringing
of church bells, the shrill cries of innumcra-
bic charcoal and fruit vendors, and the i'm
pertncncc of mcndlcants, whose looks IN
spirc horror rather than compassion. As
might be expected, many Of the Weather
Mcxicans own villas in San Augustin or It's
vicinity. and occupy them during the sum
mer months. But there are only three
days in year when it is place of general
resort 1t is in the month of May that
these three DAYS occur; for then there is
fiesta, or festival at San Augustin in honor
of the saint whose name it bears Dull in
deed is then the aspect Of the capital; ST.
lcnce reignS in Its spacious streets and
squares; they nrc deserted. The good cit
liens Of Mcxico-at any other time Of other
than migratory hahits--nrc at this, restless
aud locomotive and on foot, on horseback,
or in diligence, may be seen gong to San
Augustln What To- do there? To partl-
cipatc in diversions like those you see on an
English race course No There II no
thimblc rigging or lorse racing at San Au-
custin, but there is cock fighting every at
tcrnoou of the fctc, aud a public ball at
hight These amuscmcnts areN not without
their attractions for the Mcxicans; stll, Inc
regards them as minor plcasurfs-as cntre-
mrnis in the grand repast prepared for HIM
at San Augustin He goes NIther to play
nj "A game Of chance called monte, and with
no other ohicct-no is there any lack OF
opportunities. for the qualification Of this,
the dominant passion OF his soul. San Au-
gustin is but a village, vet II contains many
hnc houses, built on n scale that harmonlzes
well with the grandeur Of the scenery
around Now the largest Of these houses,
at the time of the festival, are converted IN
To- gambling houses and while II lasts,
they are crowded from morning TO night
with the elite Of Mexican society And
not ouly with the elite. You may sec al
sorts Of people at these inpromptu hells
The chaplain Of the Palace. and the porter
of the Palace. are there And there may be
seen. the reckless reyolntlonists, and the
plant supporters Of the powers that he -
the millionaire merchant, and his ill-palC
clerk the chief of band Of robbers ant
the chief Justice Of the criminal courts; th
? sugar planter from the South Of Mexico, an'
the man who owns a sheep farm on th
borders Of Texas all seated round IN
, same table, trying their luck st monte =
p But what is monteP What game Is this
which TO the Mexican is a necessary Of life
2 Just as the ludi eircenses were TO the Ro
. mans Whist il is said, was invented /
amusc an insane king But respecting III
origin Of monte, nothing whatever Is know
b nor is tins 70 BE- regretted The invcn
, ton Of game Il chance rejects no cred
, IN the inventor, especially when hk
r monte. it Is one Of the simplest in vogue -
( Blu, though We cannot say who first playc
: DoHiS W. can at al events state how II
u PLAYED now. With pack Of forty card
. divided into four suits, this game l. playeC
. Yirst the cards are shutilcd then the Nv
i bottom cards are placed on the table, {,
i the byslanders To- bet thereon. lie, u SUP
4 pos thai these cards are two and thrc
il A b,t. = douhloou on the ., Is an c4u'
amount ON the 3 The cards are nov play
70 ed-and Of the ~ ~ aud 3 that remai
4 in the pack, > sppesrs the hr'' wherein
/. ,.o h loscs his douAoun, while \ has his n
( turned to HIM and another a. well Vow
n -, T., observed. that the MeiicAn gamma
:. house Keepers never cheat They DO NJ
Is a.. marked carls nor are their subrdli
!, Ats killed IN the art Of legcrdcmAin. II
}. -,ea, Cro~kford. when ma the hesh Wa D
- more regular ia hi' dealing at BIS e.uo
i, :, JArnr,. street, than are those who ~
q similar establishments IN MeIioo. lhl, b
AZ ING tie cAse. what source Of prrbi Ia
ut thrse t--rson. They have tins Tie vi
1o mig card i soIneiimes PHcria-iLAi
Of u tbe ygr! aFs. card that Is played NO