The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-28
Pictures ofLEe in Mexico.

Pictures of Life in Mexico.
II The dense population that /:
/ pressed together in the valley of Mex
ico, and the Countrywide characte
8 peculiar to many parts of the capital
: a correspondent says brings alway.
: crowds of boorish people into Mex
lco's thoroughfares. Indians of pure
blood, looking like disfgured gypsies
3 are constantly seen rowing about
/. Husband, Wife and child are trottinc
: the same slow pace, STOPPING to the
: very ground and frequently carrying
> heavy loads, or the straw mattresses
} on which they had passed the Prev
Gus night, on their way to the city.
: Passing the front of some ancient
church or a decaying convent, we
/ see the graves crowded with ugly
looking Indian women nursing their
dirty little urchins. In the shade of
some building we see happy fami-
ly sharing the frugal meal, consist
ing of 'tortillasp ca cake baked of
Indian CORN and some fruits now
and then they may even be seen in
duiging in the luxury OF ''trijolas"
(reed beans) the national dish of the
Mexican not very far from the hap
| py ''at home" we notice a crowd Of
shabby looking young men lying on
the ground smoking and gambling
at cards 1.-THE monotony of the play
is now ald then interrupted by wild
curses or blow at him who has been
found guilty of cheating his drowsy
companions
Indians and Mestizzos. the broad
brimmed sombrero on their dust
covered heads, are leaning against
the walls of some fonda (innl:
they are shepherds, or muleteers.
who have brought cattle and goods
froni the interior and are now gaz-
ing at all the splendors of the capi-
tai and beholding the wonders of
them They are daring looking fel-
lows, clad in dirty linen clothing
and parti-colored shawl, which
thev draw closely around their neck
and head when the wind begins to
blow, SO there is little to be seen OF
their defiant faces. Pickpockets
and thieves wearing mixture of
national and foreign garb, are seen
prying out an opportunity favorable
to their profession.
Men and women of all ages and
complexions, boys and girls besiege |
the coffee houses, annoying the pc
destrian with their shrill voices, |
pressing him 60 buy q lottery ticket |
and gain the FIVE or ten thousand |
"rosn that are drawn on the coming
morn venders of matches and 9TH
er triiies. follow you step by step till |
you get rid of them by spending a |
copper piece or two, but only to be |
annoyed BY others who have watch |
ed your weakness and are anxious
to have their turn also. More pleas
ant than these match and ticket
sellers are those who offer for sale .
small objects of art, as waxen fruits
of great beauty, artificial flowers and
wooden charcoal figures of perfect
workmanship; tiny little figures
representing scenes Of everyday life,
beautiful birds on cardboard and
different kinds of feather work are
to be obtained at very low prices.
A charming picture are the How
er girls. who are busy composing
their abundant stock of the very fin
est flowers into tasteful nosegays,
in which we find great variety of
roses and the ladies' favorite, the
dark blue violet-fiowers that ma
ture offers US the whole year round.
Tasteful garlands, flower baskets
that would make the New York
forest rave, charm the buyers
eyes: nosegays of all dimensions
and the delicate flower fer the dam
dv's buttonhole are to be purchased
at low prices. For flowers the Mex
icon has a well-pleasing weakness,
and the love of flowers is one of the
qualities that the Spaniard has in
herited from his Moorish conquer
ors and has brought with him to
Mexico. Old matrons and young
ladies eyeing the passers-by from
the balcony, all have their hair and
dress adorned with fresh flowers.
The fruit vender makes a fine dis
play, of his stock on the ground or
in his primitive shops. Apples,
pears, strawberries, peaches, april
cots. Turkish and Indian figs, the
growth of the temperate climate, are
to be seen lying together with the
golden orange, the yellow lemon,
bananas, anenas, mangoes, and the
delicious chirimoya, productions
of the torrid zone. Those who are
fond of a cooling draught may ap-
ply to the numerous water stands,
where inoffensive mixtures of water
and anenas. lemon and juices are
served to the caller for two cents
glass. While slipping our nectar.
we notice two or three old Indian
women, half naked, who press with
a round stone the juice out of the
fruit. Chocolate and cocoa, are
served rs well at the stand. Travel
ing cooks with their two wheeled
kitchens are to be found in every
street, and they serve dishes to those
who give them q call yet foreign
er would scarcely be pleased with
acid Spanish pipkin or the baked
sweet potatoes, and other dishes, as