The Russellville Democrat., 1879-10-09
THE MExICANs.
How They Live and Farm in the Far West Sheep Raising Their Manner of
 Living-An Interesting Letter.
Corresp0ndence PraIrie Farmer

!
 It is easy enough for whites to spea
 of the "greasers,a and put them down for nuisence to any civilized community, but does any one ever look at them through eyes that have spark of sym pathy in them? True enough, they are indolent as class, yet some of them mixed with Spanish blood. All are called "greasers' here, but some are actual Spaniards, and those are as near the whites in all their habits as could be expected. The majority of "Mexicans" are cross between the Spanish and diff ferent tribes of Indians, and are com monly called "coyetes," which, being translated, means halfbreed. It is sur prising to see, at their own home, how they live and farm. At some of the re- mote 'plazes" in northern New Mexico and southwest Colorado they live undisturbed by the presence of a white face for six months at time. They seemed highly delighted on one occasion to meet strangers. As we drove through blaze where whites seldom find their way we were hailed from all sides by some fifty dark looking creatures, and the first thing we had to do was shake" with them all, and our health was inquir- cd after; then followed series of ques- tions as to our destination, and they wondered if the lady would not be con- tent to remain with them until the hus- band returned, and if so, it should cost her nothing. They seemed to feel sighted when this was declined.
 The forte of these people is sheep rais- ing and nearly all have some sheep-all the way from 30 head to 50,000, according to means. They farm along the stream on the bottom lands, and build their "plazes" and the dry bare prairie with seldom ever tree or water, if but near enough fo that they can carry water from the stream for irrigating ditch for house use Their towns are laid of generally in one street, but some large towns or "plazes" look different as they nearly all contain 8 few whites who go there to keep stores and trade with the Mexicans. Their houses are made of poles set endwise, and held in place by stout timber around the top, and sunk in the ground below; the floor is as smoth and hard as a plate. It is spaided up first, and water turned on, making a thin mud A bunch of sheep is then put on, and made to tramp it until stiff, when it is pounded down and rolled till finally they wash and sand it of, and it has a surface that no miners nailed boots will scar. The roof is poles covered with mud and layer of ground on top. The inside is ceiled and plastered with mud, and coat of white wash, which they obtain from rock in the mountains here, and which makes their "casan so snowy white that it surprises person or entering. A blanket door is often eeen, and they seldom have but one room which is gen. erally quite long. A neas little chimney in one corner completes their dwell- ings.
 The women do all this mud work, and make the chimneys all out of mud They are set a short distance from the floor, and the fire place is the shape and size of "A inch looking glass, slightly arch ed at the top. They are the greatest lit- tie things to throw out heat l ever saw, One will warm a room 40 feet long. They burn "pinon" wood and roar like a furnace. Their houses are always in or der after seven A. M., and few white per- sons in any country can even show a heater kept house than theirs always is. All the dirty work such as washing, etc, the take to they stream to do. They all
 
 are made of wool, carded and packed to depth of inches or locked in white flannel coverings. When evening ap- breaches the daughters go to high pile of dry doods in one corner and bring some check blankets of their own make. These are spread on the floor. Then l follows row of single mattresses, short distance apart, according to the number of persons in the house. A white sheet, a pillow, in calico, invariably, and one pair of blankets constitutes the bed. In the morning the mattresses are laid three deep, along the wall, and covered, thus making their seats. All the house contains in the furniture line is table, loolSing-glass and some Catholic pictures. | They have a church in all large 'plazes," sport fine organ and are pious peo- | pie. Some of the daughters, who are educated at the convent in Santa Fe, can do the piano equal to the best of our own, as music and singing is natural to | the Spaniards.
 The wealthy who have large herds of sheep, keep men by the year, and house | servants also. Of the poor class, the men go out and drive teams and the women wash. This class is very scarce and generally found near white settle ments. Poor people-like we have among whites-who are destitute, are very scarce among them. They do not marry like us, with nothing, and when a couple marry, both ther fathers give them some sheep, according to their means. have seen brides father give her, as wedding portion, 1000 head. The wife keeps house and milks | the goats, and men do all the farming and gardin work. Few cows are ever millxed with them. Goats milk and even sheeps milk is used for butter and cheese, the latter being better than the whites generally consider it. They usu- ally have small families, who are well trained After tea a boy of some eleven years rises. and as the family take their place around the wall, on the mattresses, he makes "cigarita" and lighting it, he present it with hat under the left arm and low courtesy to his father. the same next to the mother, and so clear down to the three-year old, when he helps himself to one. As the brother comes in of cold night, after herding sheep all day, he is fondly embraced by the sisters regarding his comfort, They observe more manners and the youth re- spects old age much more than "young America" does. l will say so much for them, after having been among them till can speak their language quite as well, to speak from personal experience. II IL.