National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-15
LIFE In NEW MEXICO.
"REMINISCENCES OF WESTERN TRAVEL.
wild and Novel sccnes-Fandnngo and a
Funerai-A New wHv to Wash soiicd
Clothing Death 10 shirt Buttons-
Going to He'd to tho Music Of Pistol
shets-uow the Women Dres-Gan,-
bling Hell In q supper-Room.

Ciothtna-Denth 10 shirt Buttons
Going to he'd to the Musio Of Pistol /
shets-uow the Women Dress-Gan,- |
bling Hell In q supper-Room.
Correspondence Of tho Republican,
In time for dinner q party Of gentlemen
were dropped by the stage-coach before the
principal "tonda" or hotel Ia Santa Fe, that
gay old capital OF the Territory Of Now
Mexico.
The pleasant, cool rooms and refreshing
bath which awaited them, and the air Of
comfort pcrvadng the place, heightened by
their long, dusty ride, promised continue
ton Of tho good cheer, concomitant with the
transformations but hearty hospitality that Is
ono Of the agreeable features Of journey
through that country, where every house,
from that Of the poorest laborcr to that OF
tho wealthlest proprietor, Is always thrown
wide-open for the entertainment Of tho way
farer, regardless Of his prctensions.
Our host was kindness pcrsoniled, and i'm
Partially was shown to the fare, (mostly
fowl beneath which his hospitable board
fairly groaned. With the wines and our
after-dinner cigar, the various surroundings
were discussed, and on the tlp.toe Of expecta-
ton We strolled out Of the hotel through the
narrow streets Of the city In search Of i'd
ventures. Not being adopts in the use Of the
soft, liquid vcrnacular Of the aborlgincs, the
still prevailing tongue, we trusted to luck
aud our usual good fortune to bring us back
to safe aud agreeable harbor.
Under the combined effects Of heavy
lunch on
sPEcKLED TROUT AND soFr.DoILED Zoos,
served up to us at Pecos, the last batting
place before reaching Santa Fe, frequent
llbations to settle the dust from the liquor SO
famous rs Baker" the narcotic influences
OF our morschams, and the monotony at
tendant upon the slow, winding, uphill
course Of our vehicle, when we arrived at
the summit OF the hill that overlooks the
valley Of the Rio Grande at the situs Of Santa
Fe, tho delights Of drcamland had relieved
US fromthe WEAKNESS attendant upon our
journey, and we had failed to notice the
beauties OF nature, adorned and unadorned,
that meet the eye on every hand while enter
Ing the city.
We sauntered arm In arm towards the
small stream through which we have to pass
.on our road to the hotel, and which Jumps
merrily on to the embrace Of Its noble parent,
| the Rio Grande. furnishing the population
with the water required for culinary, lava
tory and agricultural purposes. As evening
was fast approaching, we found q large con-
course pf vendors Of water; washerwomen
engaged In their avocation; children OF all
ages and both sexes, enjoying In perfect free.
dom, untrammeled by even az leaf. tho
delight OF tho bath-a noisy, happy crew.
The water carriers had numerous doukeys
harnessed with pack saddles 90 large as
almost to hide the motive form. On either side
OF tho saddles were strapped barrels or
earthen jars, into which water was filled
from the river to be sold as the necessities Of
the consumers might demand. Each driver
has his fayorlte donkey or burro, hut unlike
the fortune Of favorites generally, he adds
the weight, not Of his favor, but Of his cor
porosity to the already heavy burden i'm
posed on these patient, thlstle-eating atoms
Of creation, by jumping up astride of the
ANIMAL behind the barrels, presenting In
that position picture ct once ludcrous and
suggestive Of cruelty TO animals.
The modus operaudi Of freeing the
| WASH CLOTHES FROM IMPURITIES
attracted our attention, being to US rather
novel. Be Ii known that wash. boards and
| washing machines are not la vogue In that
part OF the country, but the small-footed,
neatly -proportloned damsels, that gracefully
| toilcd by the river side, with their heads COW
cred up In many colored rebozas, had learned
to dispense with the rubbing process, and
we treInbled for the safety Of our shirt but
| tons when we saw these graces deliberately
pound the clothes between two rocks, then
apply more soap, then pound again, &c.,
| until their task was DONE and the clothes
well, we did not pursue our investigations
further, but mentally took an oath that II our
sojourn In those parts should be extended,
port wash-board.
While investigating the mysteries Of Abe
washing process, an old man, followed by a
herd OF urchins, passed by us, chanting 10 the
tinkling Of an antiquated guitar. Upon in-
quiry we learned that he was the medium
through which tho people were informed
that a
| FANDAsoo WAS TO BE HELD
In the evening" and that II we wished TO par
ticipatc we had only to Join the crowd aud
face the music, which would stop at the house
where the festivities were to be held. "In
Tor penny, In for pound" we kept pace
with the ''guia" or guide, as the musician was
called, spotted the house and retraced our
steps to the '"fonda," to learn that gongs had
found their way out there to drive US wild
with their din In announcing supper. More
from desire to fortify ourselves against the
complaints of nature when Its cravings are
unsatisaed than from any laundering, we gave
thanks, and In eating whiled away the interim
between sunset and candle-llght. On passing
from the soft, favoring light Of the supper.
room We found our inn metamorphosed from
tho nice, quiet retreat thatwe fancled secured
us into
| AN ANIMATED GAMBLING HE'LL, I'D.
swarming with men; some eager to try theiI
luck with tickle fortune, othep-tigers Ia
human form, showing the s0ftuess only oil
their claws-ready to pounce upon the I'M,
wary and destroy all within their reach
others, again, mere lookers-on. We soor
found out that our "fonda" was the rendez.
vous for all the gamesters Of the country, and
that tales of woe and tragedy were not un'
common among Its "reminiscences. We tarriet
here and noted the expressions aud manner.
sion and disgust impeled us to seek the more
joyous and Innocent pleasures to be found 10
the may dance. On our way thlther we saw
through half opened door, what appeared
to be
AwAx YOU'RE OF CHILD.
Impelled by curiosity we inquired OF q
passer-by the object OF the display, and were
Invited to enter and behold. A closer inspec
ton proved that our surmises were Incorrect
uuu thht uButC-ubhu buuEt tllllt bluCt
ran about In al the joyous freedom Of child.
hood, but now was stllled by the hand of til,
angel Death, and Its soul, swift-wingcd, hal
taken Its flight to the unknown shores Of eter
nifty. Here was beautiful demonstration o
the simplicity OF the faith Of these poor PEG
J pie In the happy promises OF that gloriou
life to come-theinnoce Of childhood beat
lied by the dissolution Of earthly ties and IL
, cold and inanimate form worshiped as tn,
casket that had entertained the spirit Of al
} angel, only Just now set free. Here no fea
; of death was known, but JOY rather pervade,
the hearts Of the bereft ones, as II they fel
that they had one more at the right hand o
: God to intercode and pray for them. Tn,
body was dressed In fine raiment and place.
, In leaning position against the wall Of til,
room. 1t was surrounded by flowers and
burning candles. amid which We noticed pic
lures OF the saints, to whom the living ar,
wont to address their applications for tn
: mercles of tho Divine Redeemer. We listene,
to the low-toned voices Of tho parents an,
friends, who were engaged In prayer or II
praisinR the virtues OF the departed, until W
, recollected that the fandango was still 10 b
visited, and that time was softly stealing iron
us the last hours Of the day, now about spent
After wandering here and there, now lost IL
, the windlngs OF the streets, then fresh start
cd, we accepted the proffered services OF
| half-tlpsy guide whose soul seemed file