The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-08-20
G., PA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. 1875.

up very lIHliOldily' ihcy tlcuJ IlCnl llht
dolls and their chief study is to dress thon,
prettily. Tho children arc very precocious
up to their tenth or twelfth year they pro-
gross with wonderful rapdity, but then their
intellectual development becomes very slow
or entirely ceases.
Family life In Mexico is quito pleasant
the husband and wife are always seen to-
gcther, and they live mostly at home, sur
rounded by their relations. Parents sepa-
rate themselves from their daughters willing
ly, and not unfrcquently they marry them to
men who arc content to make the house of
their father law their home and TO live at
his expense
Tho ladies are exceedingly ignorant.
They read nothing but their prayer books
aud arc hardly able TO write the most COM
monplacc letter They know no language
but Spanish, and of history and geography
they are entirely ignorant. They knew be-
fore they were ovaded by the French that
Paris is the capital of France, and of London
they had also heard, since from both
of these cities they have always re-
ceived their iincry and many objects of
luxury. All they know about Rome is that
the Pope has his residence there, and but
for that circumstance they would not know
| there is such city. They, however, have a
good deal of taste for music and many of
them sing and play very credibly.
In many Mexican houses they have, as a
rule, no regular dinner. If they are hungry
they eat some simple dish or drink cup of
chocolate, which is excellent the coffee,
however, although they raise good quality,
is not good. They do not know how to pre-
pare it.
At six o'clock they drive out and from the
promenade they go to the opera or theatre,
taking their daughters, dressed in their fin
est with them. If perchance there is no
place of amusement to whicc they can go,
then they remain at home and amusc them
selves with cards and music. The young
people assemble very frequently for hop or
n tertulid, as such gatherings are called in
Mexico.
Although there are in Mexico among the
100000 inhabitants about half million
negrocs-vcry few in the cities-tho house,
servants are Indians, mostly young girls,
who are generally treated in very friendly
and familiar manner by their employers.
They are well skilled in household affairs,
and many of them cmbroider beautifully.
More than half the population of the
country are Indians; those who live on the
plateau Of Mexico, and in the vicinity are
defendants of the Aztecs who, 800 years
ago, astonishcd the Spaniards with their civ
ilization, which some say surpassed that of
the ancient Egyptians. The cOnquerors,
who expected to meet with savages only,
found in the Aztec capital tlourishing city
containing many fine buildings adorned with
numerous works of art. What has become
of this intelligent industrious people? The
manner in which the English treated the
American Indians, bad rs it was, had som G
excuse in the obstinacy with which they re-
sisted every attempt TO civilize them; but the
A2tecs were very far from being savages.
Maltrcated as the poor natives were, they
took refuge in the forests, where they were
deprived of every means of culture Their
children grew up in ignorance and, in course
of time, they even lost mechanical skill.
No wonder they are shy and distrustful.
When they are well treated they evince great
goodness of heart, are faithful and evincc n
strong desire to learn.
When the conqueroS spread over the coun-
try the aborigines could not keep entirely
away from them, especiallyin the cities. O
this contact there came among them new sor
of civilization. They soon learned the value
of money, and that it could be OBJ taincd by
selling theirservices to their lazy masters. The
consequence is that we sec them every wher'
thepetty tradesmen and laborers of the coun
try. They were almost exclusively the pro
viders for the capital-they came from ever!
direction with their poultry, fruits, vegetables
wood, charcoal etc, etc.
The women work more than the men, and
togeather with heavy load, carrying theil
babies on their backs, they can be seen OF
every road leading to the city, going on G
dog-trot to market. Their dress is very sim
pie. a piece of blue cotton stuff is wounC
round the waist and falls to the ankles, Will
the shoulders and breast are covered by
another piece of cotton of a different colo
: in which there is Il hole toput the head througl
| have seen the peasants in the Tyrol wea
pieces of carpet in similar manner
, The dress of the men is still less complete
Around the waist they wear piece of leath
, er in such manner that it forms a sort q
: short brooches. Their shoulders they cove
4 in the same way the women cover theirs, an
. on their heads they wear a palm-oaf hat.
The Aztec women have large, handsome
eyes, are generally well formed, and man
/, of them are quito good looking; but tn
women of the other Mexican tribes are, fc
the most part, ugly.
7 Not few of the companions of Cortc
married Aztec girls, and from these unions
which became more and more frequent, thei
sprang mongrel race called creolcs. Man
d of these are ranchros, planters or farmers
h and are looked upon rs forming the best POI
: ton Of the nation. Some of them are yer
c rich and, as they have little opportunity
/ get rid of their money except by gambling
o they crafty their passions for costly appare