Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-31
MIS- c ELL A N Y.
rom lb, unpublished Chronicle Of Tn'sIsr.l
THE BEAUTIFUL DEc0Y.

regular tlsN'" w "h'"s' J
In every section Of that mi.erably governed
country and that through want Of inter-
ference Of the authorities, this has grown
up into such regular and formidable shape
,ha, every traveller mus, b, prepared 10 put
hi. life at hazard at every stage or BE- pro.
vided with suitable contribution for los
oabdii,. o, IsioaniHo (lhc knights oithe road)
who in the even, Of finding you prepared
and willing, will make their levy with a
pol.teness equalled only by the smiling
landlord when he receive. your overcharg"d
faro for your las, night. entertainment.
Why such ~ tcmatic boldne-' Of robbery is
allowcd--ii not with tho connivance, ai
least with rarely any interference, OF the
government or state an,horiue,-'s one OF
,ho,, mystical matter. which among many
o,hcr-. :, purrl'' and nsrplsxs' the in,ell''
gent foreigner hut th,; such Is the disa-
rrcsable truth every traveller throughout
that vre,ched country can bear ample te''
tlmony.
some years ago, having business which
fr.t called me TO the Capital ofM 'rico. and
thence through the interior Of the country
20 the northward. met with several thrill.
ling adventurcs, which have recorded Tor
tho hcnc6t OF whomsocver may take an in.
intere-, therein. om't'ing only the dates.
they bcin: non.Ssen,al to the interest OF
the narrations themselves.
The drsi oi tho series occurred on the
route between Vera Cruz and the City Of
Mexico. In the regular diligence running
between tho places just mentioned. l had
taken passage and had passed through tho
beautiful City Of Jahpa, and entered the
gloomy town of Pcro,e. without meeting
with any unusual incident, though bcing
continually warned 10 bc on my guard
asain., the dangers of the road. At Peroie
where We halted for relay and refresh
mcnt.. all NY icllow.pascngers took leave
Of me, very .olernly assuring me that II rs
sailrd nv the lairoHsi, or robbers, IL would
be- much better for me TO To take matters
Quietly. and suf,r mysel' TO he gcntsely
rlundercd. than 20 run the risk Of hayin:
my throat cut for resistance, as hal some
what boldly proclaimed i, va. my intention
cf doing. thanked them for their advice
and replied that | would take the matter
into serious ronsiieration.
At Pero,c. I repeat. MI who had bcen my
composition. frnm Vera Graz took leave of
the. this b'ins tho end Of their journey in
that direction. but there was ons new pas.
.enser here 10 go forward, whom. to my
agreeable surprise, found to he a beau,i.
fol young lady, some twenty years Of age.
Senoriia Paula. NJ | subsequently a.ccr.
tanned her name 10 be. was indeed one Of
those rare beauties seldom met with except
in the work, OF 6ciion-tall. graceful, with
a rroIu,on Of long black hair-sJf,, clear,
melting eyes-tca,ures a. perfect as ever
came from the hand Of the sculptor and
with an animation the most fascinating.
varying in expression with every changing
mood Of the intellectual pos-"s,or. A
glance a, her bewi,ehing dark eyes showed
me that she was one who was naturally OF
social disposition and ne we ratified away
from the gloomy town, ! took the liberty OF
opening conversation.
" They tell me-" said I, that the route
between here and Mexico is very danger.
Gus one TO travel" "
There i, little to fear" she replied
with a sweet and melodiou. voice, " eEcep,
IRON the professional robbers, and they '"l-
dom harm any one who makes no re'is-
taucc."
1T seem. strange TO me-" | rcjoined,
that yuu II li-,1,. should take such thing,
as a matter of course, and deem resistance
very impoliic way Of treating the knights
Of the road, instead Of boldly asserting your
rights. and abating the evil by manly
spirit Of resistance. For myself, mu',
consider /, the most cowardly ofproceeding-
Tor any respectable party to set out prepar'
ed to quietly crafty the eupidi'y Of the ia'
drOn,, and unprepared to treat them to
their just deserts"
Z" Every traveller, SenOr," she replied,
+" should before setting out. count the cost
of hi. journey. and as OF course IL is natural
! he should yaluc his life highly, It seems Ia
mo natural that he should pay certain
sum Tor positive safety rather than put that
/ life in jeopardy. For instance, in travelling
FROM Very CruI to Mexico, II hc wall hr''
reckon that - much is the fare by the dill
rencia, and that 50 much will be required
/ for entertainment on the way. and 50 much
for the contingency you speak Of. he will
then have the exact cost between two points
and n he will look at the whole as the sun
total Of hi. journey, he will tot seem to be
robbed by any one party more than anoth'
er."
That" replied. "nay be, believe H.
the Mexican mode Of doing business, but
dc, not tally with tho prcconceived ideas
Of u. foreigners.
"Bu, every one" replied the fair speak
er ".hould conform to the customs Of the
country he visits"
" And do you then 20 prepared for thi'
highway robbery and have you no fea'
in thus jOurneyins by yourselff"
Well Senior, what can do" lam nj
you perceive an unprotected lady; who iOr
certain reasons. am required TO make the
Journey between Perote and the Capital