The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-25

ss s.5ssaass Al 81 ri
CnR1sTnAs EVE N REV MEXICO.
A uriix Who has sojourned for some time
4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. nus describes the advsnt Of
the Chfistmas holidays ct that ancient Mexl-
Blssine faeots Of mesquite roots, placed on
the enrroundinr wallis, illumiDate the old
church IN The pIaza, There - grand bale
e "a fonda. The sounds Of music already
| inyite A Is the ball room. We enter; the
| door il full: hundred couples are gliding
through the graceful "6panlsh dance. or
sslow waltz, - it Is termed here. NOT
| few blue-and-g gold United States uniforms are
| TO be seem in the throng. A fall uniformed
ma;nr Osneral of volunteers adds the eclat Of
IN eneulettes to the occasion. The rancheros
have poured in their sen0ras and senoritas.
and three rows Of dark-eyed creatures sit
ranged around the room.
The MEXICAN women look their best in .
IhaIl-room. Their black eyes. black hair and
white teeth glisten in the light; they are
dressed In the gayest Of gay col0rs; ponder
| Gus ornaments Of gold. strongly relieved by
their dusk competitions, shed around them
rich barbaric lustre. Not that they eschew
adventitious means to blanch their sun-shad-
owed tints. For days some OF the senoras
and sen0ritas have worn mask OF white
clayey mixture to give them an ephemeral
Wilderness for this occasion. Those who could
procure nothing else have worn pasty wizard
kneaded OF common clay, TO effect in some de-
gree . l Ike result by protecting their taces
from the sun and wind. Should you visit
New Mexico, and as you ride along meet 0
senorita who gnxes at you with pair OF jet
black eyes through hideous ghastly mask Of
mud or mortar, do not be frightened from
your accustomed propriety. The senorita u
preparing her toilette de BAL
The New Mexican women cannot be con-
sidered pretty, generally speaking. In artistic
gymmetiy Of feature, in purity of complexion,
| they are not to be compared with our country
women. These can bear the searching light
| Of day, whom delicaey Of detail can be dis.
| tinouished and appreciated. Those look
| their best in the artificial light Of the ball
room. There the blue-black hair, the brill
liant blackeyes. the well-traced eyebrows, the
magniAcently white and regular teeth, the
richly -developed forms, produce q general
effect, before which our blonde and delicate
beauties seem pale and fades. But the Mexi-
plainly visible in the light Of the sun; you
should sec her on'y by the lamps
| No iutroductions are Necessary at the pub
| lie bella Saunter around the room, inspect
the show Of expectant partners, and when
you sea one who suits your fancy ask her to
dance. without more ado. If she be not en-
eaeed she win at once accept your profered
arm. She will not say anything. Ten to one
abe win not breathe syllable during your
eyolutions. Conversation is not the forte OF
4 the senoritas. But she will smile and smile,
and you will have no reason to complain Of
her waltzing. The Mexican cabdlero. when
he seeks partner, will not put himself out so
far al to have any words about it. He merely
beckons the chosen one, as the Sultan might
throw the handkerchief. and she comes to
him at once.
Each dance concluded, you lead your
nartner to q sort of bar where refreshments
re furnished, and ask her whether she will
take zinc or dulces-wine or candies? She
viii take dulces-" Gracias, senior " This is
de yigueur. You pay for them, ofcourse, and
conduct her to her seat She pours the duIces
into the awaiting pocket-handkerchieis Of
the old people, her conadres, and OF her
younger brothers and sisters.
Waitzes, ground" and ''slow, are the pieces
de resistance of American ball; quadrilles are
not relished by the dusky danseuses There
are some New Mexican dances which do NOT
lack prettiness. OF these, the cuna is the
most popular. It commences with see-saw
movement suggestive of its name-cuna, Of
|csadle-dance. For the rest the waltz enters
'; The o,ch -. Generally consists of one o,
,.o.e ,;oI;ns md q onitar or two. A native
L..s;s s. sads the mns;c If his manv strings
.rd ~ nj hsd mns;c either. thouch he does moi
hoy 4uaso. LUZ
Thn aninvnAnt NJ the evening Ia at high
no el9oS ~ w.. s., ~ 80 .w;nc;ro enro;no
pressure. Inc dancers re swi.elns' s11.,eln6'
spinning through tne oPansn u'.ce' Iveay