Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-03
,XA. GAZETTE 6 VIRGINIA ADVERTISER

LIFE AMONG THE OLD MEXICANS IN CALl-
FoRNIA.-A California correspondent OF the
New York Tribune gives description OF the
Arcadian simplicity of life among the old popu-
lation of California and shows how ''progress"
has interfered with and broken in upon their
primitive style of living:
"a gentleman at Los Angeles described to
me the life on one Of the great estates in that
county, before the Americans came, and
may add that different persons, among them
General Vallejo, have confirmed to me
every detail. They MIXED COWS and made
cheese; they dressed and tanned sheep and calf
skins for clothing; they vowed blank kets; they
made wine; they raised grain enough for their
bread, aud the Indian women ground this on
stones; they preserved the hides of the cattle
for the Boston ships; and at the San Fernando
mission | saw the huge stove and cement tanks
in which they melted down and kept the tallow,
which also was sold to the Boston men.
In those days, said my friend, when [ went
out to see Don- -, he received me at the
door; he showed me my room, and, in few
minutes, he came bearing in his own hands
basin of water for my use. But behind him
came half dozen servants, to show ME that
what he did he did out Of respect and welcome
to me, and that servants we're at hand to 90 1t
if he did not choose. This old man had SOUS
and daughters. grown and married, living 10
his house. He always breaktasted alone, un-
less he invited his eldest son to eat with him.
He arose somewhat later than the family, who
had breakfasted before him-the men, mean;
for the women and children ate apart, and had
a very merry time over their meals When
be had break tasted he went out into his corri-
dor or piazza. There stood his sons and his
major domo and his vacquerOs, hat IN hand
Then the horses, which had been saddled since
daylight, we're brought The eldest son held
his fathers stirrup while he mounted and
when he was seated in the saddle the rest fol-
lowed. Then he gave to each his orders tor
the day-to Martin the tannery, to Antonio
the horses, to Thomas the cheese, or the calves;
and when at last all this was received, always
in silence, he gave the word and out into the
plain they rode as though shot from bolt
The old man rode at the head, and as he gal
loped he called, in that low, soft voice which
they almost all have Pedro" and Pedro drew
up alongside L do not want that manada
of horse on the hill yonder," Isl, Senor," says
Pedro, and gallops off, Antonio, these calves
should not be here, they must be nearer the
river - and so on, always In gallop, seeing
everything With his practiced eye, and issuing
his commands as he rode.
About four he returned to his dinner, which
his sons ate with him. After dinner he sat In
his corridor, made and smoked paper cigars,
and contemplated himself. =.
On Sundays and fast days, said my Trend,
the family rode to church, all on horseback
a graceful cavalcade, for the women rode finely
aud the horses, which we Americans ignorantly
despise are yet the best saddle horses IN the
world. In this, by the way, every man who
has ridden them will agree Then came the
gold discovery, and the Americans, and the sud-
den and great wealth which spoiled all this
simple life. Then they became too proud and
too careless to milk, and so now you mud no
milk on the ranches They could buy clothing
and all kinds of supplies, and so their useful
and ingenious industries perished. They came
to the towns dressed iu absurd gold and silver
lace, and with gold stirrups and gold-mounted
saddles, and wasted their money in gambling
houses; and so their business was neglected
Finally, they thought it genteel to ride In car
riagcs, and so they gave up. the most graceful
and healthful exercise which man or woman
can have. | still remember my old friend Don
Tomas standing here looking with silent dis
gust at his faulty climbing into cumbrous
coach, and then turning to me with the words
"they are young and may risk it, but for my
part am determined never to hazard my ite
IN one Of those things while have strength to
sit on horses back" [ do not doubt that it
was happy life they led-these old Califor-
mans. But it did not belong to the nineteenth
century, and the railroad will, in a year or two
leave no yestige OF it this side of the Mexican
border. But one thing have learned this win
ter among the old Californians which it is a
pity we, their successors, have not copied from
them, and that is the moderation of their lives.
Their amiable aud kindly temper, their abstemi-
business and temperance in eating and drinking,
the readiness with, which they submit to mere
physical Inconvenience, their kindness to de-
pendants and servants, aud the skill with which
they know how to manage these, and the polite
ness and ceremony which they know how to
carry into all parts Of their lives, seemed to me
Very admirable indeed" . ja.rs.
BITTEN BY A RArrhEsNAKE.-M VIM.
Stauntou, lad about nine years of age, says
\ NIB 70