Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-02-08
Ell PASO.
TIE HoUsEs-THE PRODUCTS
CIGARs-THE LADIES.

COurier-Josrnal writes as follows !,
from the line of the Southern kali
road:
The houses of the Weather class
es are built of adobe or concrete,
sometimes. though not often, two
stories high, and with large, pro-
citing, grated windows. The floors
are very rarely laid with lumber,
but are of either large flagsstones or
concrete, and except in the kitchen
there are scarcely ever any fire.
places, but, owing to the thickness
!. Of the walls and of the roof, the lat
Ter being fiat, and also of concrete,
the houses are quite warm in the
winter. as we'll as cool in the sum
mer. The walls of these adobe or
" concrete houses are on the outside
. and the inside carefully kept white
. washed, and the inside walls are de-
corated with profusion of repre-
sensations of the crucifixion. and
' Images of the saints--these saints
among the Mexicans seeming to be
ID as multitndinous as the sands of the
Rio Grande valley.-or as its IDEAS,
l know not which is the stronger
figure. The very poor people live
in mud huts, the roofs being thatch-
ed with grass, and the floors being
the naked earth. But everything
in and about these houses indicates
neatness and order surprising any
thing have ever before seen among
any people whatever, and this in
the face of the fact 9hat the men
, are, with scarcely any exceptions,
lazy and idle.
In the coolest room of these
hhouses are suspended in the air the
water cooler, called here "orios."
The manufacture of these "orios"
seems to be mystery, the knowl-
: edge of which has has descended
from the ancient Indian tribes of
d. this country, and which is still con-
fined to the Mexicans and to their
semi civilized Indian neighbors.
They are apparently species of
: earth or clay moulded into the form
of vessel and baked hard. Their
i. merit consists in their exceeding
:: porous character, in consequence OF
which evaporation is rapid, and the
vessel being exposed to the air, wa
ter contained in it becomes ice cold
A great abundance and variety of
fruit grows in the valley; but par
ticularlp distinguished for their fine
flavor are the pears and the Ell PasO
grape. The wine made from this
grape is, in my estimation, superior
to any except the finest and most
costly European wines. The vine
yards, which are all irrigable, are
beautiful, being cultivated with
jealous care. The wine, however
d. unfortunately, will not bear trans
portation and have been told, by
those who have made the expert
mentf that the vine will not do well
if transplanted anywhere east oil
south but I think it probable that
if transported with railroad speed
and planted before its vitality has
become extinct, it would thrive
The FL PasO onion grows to the
size of a common saucer, and differs
from the common onion in not hay
ing its bitter, pungent taste.
Some six years ago l spent some
time in this place, and having bust
ness with Senior Ochoa, who resided
in Ell Paso proper, and who was ;
graduate of the st. Louis Jesuit Col
ledge, upon his cordial invitation
spent much ofmy time at his house
He was the wealthiest merchant il
the city, and / was Sastonished a
the character of the business don,
by his house. In one department
bills of goods amounting to thous
,ands OF dollars were put up for the
interior towns and haciendas, while
in another the most frequent de
.mands were for a quartilla two anG
a halt cents) worth of jabOn (soap)
or a medic five cents worth o
,manteca Qard). 1t may be observed
here, that ten cent piece passe.
for a real, eight of which make ;
dollar, and an "ounce," or doub
loon, passes current at sixteen dol
lars.
Ochoa's family lived immediatel,
IN the rear of his warehouse. Th,
principal assembly room during th,
summer was large "patio," or Opel
court, Overhung on the four side,
by the projecting galleries in from
ofthe sleeping apartments and othe
, family rooms. This "pation is floor
ed with broad flagstones, aud IN it,
centre fountaiLconstantly playe,
during very warm weather, cooiiu,
the atmosphere. Here, it being tn,
coolest place about the house, tn,
family passed the largest part tn,
summer days-la sanora i'm raadinf