New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-13
The Lepero and the Iazzarone.


Many travellers have commented on the resem'
blsnce tho almost ident:y OF the lepero OF Mexico
with the szzsrone of Naples Save thai the one speaks
bad Spanish while the other converses Ia worse lIssn
the description Of ,his will serve for that.
Nobody tell the Lepero's occupation God only
knows how he lives lie has almos, as little need Of
the tailor Adam and Evo had 10 Eden his skin drinks
the at every pore An edic requiring the Lepero TO
brooches would extlDsulsh the race Lepero In
. whole pair of breeches would no longer be Lepero
Tor want creates another. The Lepero Ia emphst
eally tbs child of Nature the shining the murmur
ing breeze tho smiling face OF Nature are his bthrght
his property. Other have houses and lands TIE
world belongs TO the Lep"o. ne has no mss'cr ne
law. no eats when he 10 hungry drinks when
be 10 dry, and sleeps when aud where he 10 sleepy
Other men rest from their lsbors the Lepero works
when he 10 tired Of lszlness His work, however mover
isss than hour seldom more than ten or fifteen
minutes just long enough 10 provide for the few and
small wants Of the day lie carries travellers trunk
10 bis odengs does anything that cnes under his hand
picking pockets included, and holds out his hand for
charity Such Ia his work he Ia doer OF chores -
He eats anything and everything nesh, hsh and esPe
csally fruit
The chief visible occupation of the epero il TO
hu,,slf and tho City of Mexico In time of peace does
aot lack cheap smusements. There are military re-
views and religious professions and music and dsnoes
and horseFscss and churches Of which the Lepero 10
pretty stcady reqnenser for he loves sermon and IL
organicaliy devout. He has no political opinions you
may say whist you please 10 hs presence OF his country
or lie rulers he not whether yol sbuse Santa Anna
or Psredes, or how much. Provided you sag nothing
dercgatory to the Virgin Of Guadalupe, you are sale
from bis resentment II you touch that point look out
for the knife.
Excepting that the Leporos of less Joyous open
frank than the Lazrsron they present the
aspect ~ the observer Neither have any patriot
lam any principles but they have the same Instincts
Transferred from their hsuns 10 he rsnks OF the army
lxssroni aud Leperos have invariably proved the shah
b,e1 OF po;roons. Attacked on their own dvagh.ls
Lepros and Lszzsroni have proved no contemplate
toes In cass of Invasion Il was to have been feared
that they would tagn their hands 10 sack and massacre
fscy ere born and bred thieves they have respect
ssy Of the civil Institutions OF society the world 10
not the friend nor the worlds law. They love not the
rich and the Yankees they hate. all foreigners do
aliens. sun invaders and above all ss herciics
What has recently happened IN Mexico once happened
In almost precisely snil0 circumstances, In Naples
When Gen. Championnes marched upon Naples. Qn
1897 At thu hesd Of sixty thousand victorious veterans
Of ne Geld OF xonenoie and the Bridge OF Lodi, who
had also taken Msn:aa the Nespotsn royssts spread
the report among the LsszNoni that the French, who
came prce.Aiming freedom g. the masses and creating
republics along their route intended 20 burn the house
pass the churches rsyish wyes and msids and carry
Of the statue OF Saint January he patron ssin, OF Ma
ps.l TO France These charges were the more readily
Al appeal to their honor patriotism OF love OF freedom
hey would not even have understood but now they
raised themselves up from their repose In the persyss
peisces ana temples where they made their sb )de
snd crowded the public squares armed With stcks and
stones hall paked without leaders or anv Mind of mill
larry order bal sosded oy the instne, OF Wild beasts de-
lending their dens their mates and their youns Ions
live saint January y they shouted hurrsS for The
holy fsith death TO the Jseobins T. and thew Ken, h
sed soldery OF France Mbsy for sixty hours Ia whch
aus Chsupionnes gained the gate Of san, January Sc,
aot sa zach Of ground In any other direction. True he
nobility and middle orders Of Naples suffered vel a.
ihs French.
One Of the daily papers trying TO svs its reaseEs an
ldss of what manner Of pso2e the leperos are, sSs
that they are Ike the OF Naples and the oss
Of this couusry He owes the Lszzsroni and the Lee
psros apology they rsces BY no means 90 moral
" degraded ~ our osiers They thieves and beg
ssrs TO q man and often murderers, but they are not
drunkards or swiodlers. They are devoui too II 10
true thst their notions OF religion faulty aud absurd
bat at all events thsy hare religion snd act con
slsently with H. Moreover, they have extreme lgno
rance poverty aud neglect 20 plead Ia exsenuaton Of
their vices and crimes whereas osers hsve such
excuses
The Eoslish or American trsseler in Mexico feels
heart sck be beholds the apparent wrotehedaess OF
the half naked thousands lounsng the thresholds OF
public buildngs and ss the where they
~ End slssp. He 10 apt hon bic superficial view Of