Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-09-04
THE FEAST.
What It'Is and How It is Doae-A Curious Gel
 ebsatioa by Cosmopolitan Throng.

To persons who have not attended the
 annual Feast of San Agustin, the idea of
 continuous festivities extending over a
 period of from five to six weeks, will
 seem somewhat novel The gatheringi is
 not feast in any sense of the term, but
 is simply @ gambling picnic. The grounds
 are laid of in a rectangular shape and are surrounded booths, where food and
 drink are dispensed for an adequate
 consideration, and a large pavilion IS provided wherein games of chance of
 every conceivable variety are conducted
 There is also 8 dancing pavilion, chiefly
 patronized by the Mexican portion of the
 community, who revel in a giddy whirl ! to the uncertain time of questionable
 music.
 Eating and drinking are moderately | indulged in. and any manifest excess in
 intoxicating hbations Is promptly ar
 rested by the presence of vigilant po-
 lice, who preserve the strictest order
 and decorum.
 The chief center of attraction Is the | gaming room, and indeed, without this | feature. there would be no Feast" | Every night. from early lamp-ight until | long after midnight, the various gaming | tables are surrounded by crowds of people of all ages and conditions, eager | ly wooing the tickle goddess, reminding | one of the foolish moths attracted by the
 bright light who fall wounded and
 scorched about the dazzling flame. Men ] and women, ladies and gentlemen of re- spectibility. who are open in their ex- pressions of abhorrence of gaming, are
 irresistably drawn into the exciting
 whirlpool and speedily acquire the non- ehalance of veteran gamesters in making
 their ventures. Thousands of people
 gather in a motly multitude, and with disregard for all ceremonies or formaIty
 enter promiscuously into the prevailing
 excitement. There IS an utter abandnr
 ment of all moral restraint, sga- os tba
 love of gambling is e.e.,,1eer-ned. and that
 Ilass-'u -s y ss.stly indulged in decorous
 iSAtt1...-cf, the only sounds heard above the hustle of the moving and restless thr0ng being an occasional down in time of the roulette gamester, or the cry by the ubiquitous per ambulating solicitor for an adjacent bar, that everybody drinks" Every taste can be suited in tine various games, from those in which the player has nearly an equal chance Of winning, to the various devices that approach downright rob- bery.
 Out in the dim light of the central grounds, made ssni-luminous by the lu- rid flames of many smoking torches, the scene presented is of an entirely differ ent character. The monotOnous thump of a drum within the dancing pavilion, wearies the ear and tires the senses. Small tables are here scattered about, loaded witb Mexican confections, nuts and melons, and here and there a cheap iewelry game where one runs chance )f winning a ring set with a diamond as big as a hickory nut, for twenty-five cents. Occasional groups of Mexicans are to be seen squatted In a circle around post on the top of which torch sends forth a sickly glare. At a proper stage of mescal inebriatiOn they begin to wal forth a dismal, drawling song, more Of anguish than joy possibly because they are saddest when they sing. As the late hours approach they drop of intOa cOmatOse state upon the damp and bare ground in tine en- brace of tired natures sweet restOrer, 5almy sleep" | . The thousands who pass in and out of .he feast grounds every night find much To interest them in the new phase of human indulgence and excitement pre- sented to their consideration, and doubt ess wonder how TucsOn's patron saint ,an look calmly down upon the unhal- owed scenes enacted under the panOply 1 If his holy name If is needless to say , hat although the day of St. Augustine S appropriately observed by the Church, | he secular feast is not recognized as a portion of the proper exercises by the aithfuL