Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-27
A CURIOUS OLD CITY.
Delightful Climate and Com Portable
hOuses-a Paradise for NinmbIers.

HOuses-a Paradise for Gamblers.
SANTA FE, N. Mo stranger first
visiting this old.new country, the sights
are novel and interesting. Our first
view of this city was obtained in the ear
ly dawn of morning, Just as few of the
more industrious citizens were creeping
from their holes. We drove up to one
Of the many curious blocks of which this
city is composed, and after unloading
our living freight, entered through an
arched doorway into square courtyard,
which we crossed, finding quarters for
our Indians in one of the rooms which
opened therefrom
This city, ss your readers are aware, is
upward Of 300 years old, and contains
5000 people. Situated, as it is, $500
feet above the level of the sea, it enjoys
most exhilerating climate. The only
signs of any improvement whatever were
upon the outskirts, and in marble slab
placed in the center of the grand plaza
or square, to commemorate the dead who
fell in the battles around Santa Fe in the
late war Save these few signs, every.
thing denotes age and Spanish origin.
The conversation, the customs, and the
looks of the people are strange. All the
buildings are adobe, and are all built
alike. The wall are very thick, which,
with the open ireplsces, make the warm.
est houses in winter and the coolest in
summer.
About the only religion observed here
is the Roman Catholic. The priests have
great influence with and control over
these people, who are very devout in
their observances. There is small So
ciety under the auspices of the Preshyte-
rian Church, of which a Mr.. Smith, Of
Pittsburg, is the pastor. He is devoting
himself with great deal of assiduity to
his duties, and takes a great interest in
the work. The society, though small, is
composed Of the leading Government
officials.
The gamblers form a very numerous
class of the people, caring nothing for
the future, and only living in the present.
Gaming is conducted as openly as any
ordinary business. The night of my ar
rival attended dance, the guests being
composed almost entirely Of Mexicans,
with very little sprinkling of Ameri-
cans. 1t was conducted somewhat after
the manner of some of the Bowery balls.
The most interesting sight | have seen
has been the patient, plodding burras.
They are very small donkeys, some OF
them no larger than a good sized dog,
and perfectly gentle. These beasts are
about the only support of many Of the
Mexicans; they carry in nearly all the
wood that is consumed in the city, it be-
ing tied on their backs in piles three and
four feet high. Hay is carried in the
same way; and sometimes, when the
little animals have a very large load,
nothing can be seen but great bundle
of bag moving along. These animals,
though exceedingly small, are very
strong. think they will carry anything
that can be fastened upon their back
No bride is used, but they are driven
loose like drove of cattle, whether
loaded or not. They are outlandish.
looking beasts, some Of their heads being
nearly as large as their bodies. Their
fodder consists Of almost anything, so
that it costs very little to keep them.
1t is quite lsughable to watch some of
the Mexicans who are in business.
Their stock in trade often consists only
CT few pints Of phones ia nut which
grows in this country, and which is very
rich, and over these they will sit on
their Launches all day, with their ser
apes wound around their heads, waiting
for custom rs.
The only inviting, bomelikC looking
places in Santa Fe are the Government
quarters, or heuses for United States Of
6cers and their families, These present
very inviting appearance, with their
neatly-fenced yards and cultivated gar.
dens.