Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-02-06
The Mexicans.

1he average Mexican Is DeinS O
little progress, and, like his close neigh
| Dor, the Indian, presents pretty mucl
the same aspect as half century ago
He is swarthy and mOrose; his dark
colored skin i'm many instances might
make him pass for Louisiana mulatto
hestill wears the traditional long shank
ed spurs, and his broad-brimmed
sOmbrero, with its silver ornaments
If its owner is rich enough to have them
can be distinguished almost at the
distance of half-a-mile. Whether en-
gagged in the stock business or not, La
Mexicano usually carries coiled around
the horns of his saddle the universal
lasso, which serves for " stalking Out''
his grass pony, catching a wild steer in
his swift flight across the plains, or
choking an American traveller with a
fine horse or belt full of gold, as the
latter rides through the thick and
high chappar-i on either side of the
river.
The roughness of his visage is in
strong contrast with the real beauty of
the ladies of Mexico. For symmetry
of form, grace of manner, long, flowing
raven hair, and the lovely darkness of
their large dreamy eyes, the Mexican
women, and indeed Spanish ladies
everywhere, have long been celebrated.
The Senorita of Laredo, of ramaulipas,
and of Mexico generally, is really
beautiful being, and throwing all po-
etical notions aside, combines as many
of the real elements of loveliness and
the attractions of feature and form as
the women of any race on this little
planet. Her magnificent black eyes are
clear offset TO the expressive blue
orbs of Anglo-SsXon ladies, or the
flashing and handsome optics of her
Texas sisters. 1t may be said of the
ladies of Mexico that, unlike their fathers,
husbands and brothers, they are gener-
ally adopts in treachery but make faith
ful wives, and whenever occasion has
arisen have always treated Americans
with a nobleLess and generosity that
enhanced their ioveliness.
Laredo, now the proposed terminus
of narrow-gauge road from Houston,
and the end of continuous line from
ST. Louis direct 10 the Mexican frontier
which will undoubtedly soon be built
is the trading station for a large ex-
tent of the great stock-raising country
in South Texas and below the River
Nucces.- A short distance above the
town is Fort Mcintosh, containing a
United States garrison, while there is a
Mexican commandery also across the
river and nearly opposite.
Northward and to and across the
Nucees is one of the grandest grazing
countries on the globe. Millions Of
cattle, horses and sheep roam over graz
ing wastes, which, TO the traveller,
appear broad and boundless as the sea
and the amount of capital now Invested
in these species of property is really
immense. The great cattle kings OF
South Texas have acquired almost a
national notOriety. Some of them own
hundreds of thousands of head. In
fact, stock raising is the leading and
almost the only business of account
followed in the Nueces region, the
climate being too dry for farming,
Ii need be matter of little wonder,
therefore, If the incursiOns of marauders
from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande
have been a source Of great vexation. as
well as loss, to the cattle drovers on
this side. Mexican thieves have in
numberless instances, raided into
Texan territory, and boldly, and in
broad daylight, leisurely driven herds
of horses and cattle belonging TO Amer
lean citizens across into Mexico, where
the idea of recapture was laughed at.
Moreover, the Mexican authorities and
military commanders on the frontier,
while pretending to desire stop put to
such nefarious proceedings, have recent
Iy encouraged their Mexican brethren
in the wholesale stealages that have,
from time to time, taken place.