Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-09-16
FROM THE srArsrOs srrerAroR.
TWO MORE LETTERS FROM CAPT.
HARPER.
s.InILo. Mrxico, July "a, ls47.

SALnLLo, MEXICO, July a, ls4I.
DEAR Ash cannot entertain you with
any moving incidents of military enterprise
and adventure, shall try to gather something
from the still life and customs OF the strange
people am among, that may serve 10 amuse
you.
10 my last, mentioned the singular spec
tace exhibited in the streets on Sunday even
ing. of Chicken Cock, decorated like one OF
our own military heroes, carried If procession,
and followed by band Of music. That bird.
have since learned from a gentleman who
attended the sports Of the evening, belonged to
one Of the Priests OF the city, and was fought
by him in person upon wager Of fifty dollars,
which he lost-his chicken being killed. He
had others. however, with which he proved
more fortunate, and came off winner, IN the
end, some two hundred and fifty dollars.
am told he heels all his chickens himself, and
has the reputation Of being the most sklltul
cock fighter in Ssltillo. The gentleman who
gives me this information attended Church in
the morning, and saw the same Priest admin
lister toe Sacrament of the Lords Supper 10
his deluded and misguided people.
About the same time that these sports Of the
pi; were going on, WITNESSED one OF the most
pompous funerals | have yet seen. 1t was
llt tuHtfdi, L lD.OftJtu, vi du iuldHf- hc
corpse was carried on bier, and was COM
pletey bid under the mass of artificial flowers
with which il was decorated At the head of
the corpse something like an arch was formed,
rising to the height OF about three feet, wealth
ed with flowers, and enclosing in the centre a
small image, suppose Of the Virgin Mary
Immediately in advance of the corpse where
the Priest and two attendants, the latter accou-
tired in red flannel frocks aud pointed brlmless
caps, and near by at their side two miserably
ragged and filthy looking beings, the one with
a burning brand and the other bundle of
rockets, which were set off by the former al
most as fast as the latter could hand them 10
him. The crowd that followed was very mot
ly, consisting OF mean looking men and wo-
men and ragged boys. and had more the ap-
pearance OF mob than a procession. Here
and there, however, could see some few of
genteel exterior, and among them several wo-
men carrying vases of flowers. The funerals,
presume, are quite expensive, and have no
doubt are made source of handsome profit to
the priesthood | did not follow the process
sion into the Church, and consequently can
give no account Of the ceremonies there.
A marriage in high life was to have taken
place in the principal Church of the CITY a
few mornings since at two O'Clock, and had
determined 10 attend it, but for some reason il
did not come off as expected. The Priests
here, | understand, ask fee of hundred
dollars to marry couple properly, so as TO
''secure prosperous and happy marriage"
The price is certainly moderate enough, II the
security TO be obtained by it is worth any thing,
But there, should say, is the rub! Still there
is little question that many put full confidence
in it; SO that where faith may not operate,
fashion, or desire, as we say in Virginia, 10
be married ''hke white folks" will be sure in
the general to make such items Of service fat
jobs TO the priesthood.
There are number ofschools, find, in Sal
lilo, and considerable attention is paid to edu
cation by the weather. portion OF the popula-
ton. | have seen few Mexican young
men who were well educated, and some OF
the Ladies of the same class are said to be
highly accomplished. The harp, the guitar
and the piano may sometimes be heard in pas
sing along the streets. Still the masses are
miseraby degraded and gnorant-but little, If
any better, should say, in appearance, color,
conduct, morals, or intelligence, than our free
negroes. Ii is a mistake, however TO call
them effemnate. They are generally of good
size, and have the best developed chests ever
saw. They partake, too, rather more OF the
character Of the Indian than the negro.
The chief amusements OF the population
here are cock-fghting and dancing, in both OF
which the women participate. The costume
OF the women is pretty much like that OF our
own, the hustle not excepted, though they
wear their shawls over their heads drawn
close under their chin, instead OF bonnets.-
They have slovenly mode too OF wearing
their dresses stripped down upon their haun-
ches or waist, leaving their bosoms bare, when
the shawl is thrown aside or only slightly pro-
tected by their under garment.
In their houses they have but little furniture,
even among the better classes. A table, a few
chairs, and probably mirror, for the most
part, make up the whole stock. Many, in
deed, have neither tables, chairs, nor beds
The family eat their meals seated round the
dishes on the floor, and take their repose upon
dried hides.
The municipal affairs are managed by the
Alcade, who seems to have complete and alb
solute jurisdiction in all cases. whether civil or
criminal. The only check upon him, indeed,
seems to be that the office is elective, and the
length of the term, which, | believe, is but one
or two years. The police are certainly very
yigilant and quite efficient in their own way,
so far as they undertake TO correct public dis.
orders. | witnessed a scene the other day IN
market which amused me very much. Two
stout boys were engaged in furious tight,
but unluckiy for them apolice- man happened
10 be near, who, instead of proceeding in the
quiet, methodical way Of one Of our officers,
Immediately fell upon them with his long rod,
caring not which Of them, or where he struck,
and the Infatuated combaants at once broke
their holds and ran off. Thus the whole mat
ter was settled in second, which might have
taken up day in our Corporation Court, con-
suming the valuable time OF three or four JUS
tees, and twelve stjurors, to say nothing
of the half dozen gentlemen of the green-bag
that are usually involved in such petty annoy
ances.
There is slight increase on our sick list to-
day. We report sixteen sick.
Yours, SC.
C,,-,,,o M.x,eo ADo 1917