The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-12-09
Pictures of Life in Mexico.

The dense population that is pressed
together in the valley OF Mexico, and
the Countrywide character peculiar TO
many parts of the capital, correspon-
dent says. brings always crowds of boor-
ish people into Mexico's thorough
fares. Indians Of pure blood, looking
like disfgured gypsies, are constantly
seen rowing about Husband, wife and
child are trotting the same slow pace,
stopping to the very ground aud fire.
quently carrying heavy loads, or the
straw mattresses on which they have
passed the previous night, on their way
to the city. Passing the front Of some
ancisnt church or decaying convent,
We see the grades crowded with ugly
looking Indian women nursing their
dirty little urchins. In the shade of
some building we see happy family
sharing the frugal meal, consisting OF
'tortillas" "a cake baked of Indian
corn and some fruits now and then
they may even be seen indulging in the
luxury of "trijolas" freed beans, the
national dish of the Mexican not
very far from the happy ''at home" we
notice crowd of shabby-looking young
men lying on the ground smoking and
gambling at cards the monotony of
the play is now and 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.eover-
ed heads, are leaning against the walls
of some "fonda" inn) /; they are shep-
herds OF muleteers, who have brought
cattle and goods from the interior and
VINO are now gazing at all the splendors
of the capital and beholding the won
ders of them. They are daring look
ing fellows, clad in dirty linen clothing
and parti colored shawl, which they
draw closely around their neck and
head when the wind begins to blow, SO
that there is little to be seen of their
defiant faces. Pickpockets and thieves,
wearing mixture of National and for
eign garb, are seen spying out an op-
portunity favorable to their profession.
Men and women of all ages and COM
plexions, boys and girls besiege the cof-
fee houses annoying the pedestrian with
their shrill voices, pressing him to bny
a lottery ticket and gain the five or ten
thousand ''piros' that are drawn on the
coming morn yenders of matches and
other triAes, follow you step by step
till you get rid of them by spending a
copper piece or two, but only to be an
noyed by others who have watched your
weakness and are anxious to have their
turn also. More pleasont than these
match aud 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 differ
ent kinds of feather work are to be OBJ
tanned at very low prices.
A charming picture are the flower
girls, who are busy composing their
abundant stock OF the very finest flow
ers into tasteful nosegays, in which we
fad great variety of roses and the
ladies' fayorite, the dark blue violet
flowers that nature offer US oil the year
round. Tasteful garlands, flower bask-
cts that would make the New York for.
ist rave, charm the buyers eyes f; nose
gays of all dimensions and the delicate
flower for the dandy's button-hole are
to be purchased at very low prices
For flowers the Mexican has o we'll
pleasing weakness, and the love Of
flowers is one Of the qualities that the
Spaniard has inherited from bis Moor
ish conquerors 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 vendor makes a fine display
Of his stock on the ground or in his
primitive shops, Apples, pears, straw
berries, peaches, apricots, Turkish and
Indian figs, the growth OF the temperate
climate, arc TO be seen lying together
with the golden orange, the yellow
lemon, bananas, anena5, mangoee, and
the delicious chirimoya, productions OF
the torrid zone. Those who are fond OF
a cooling draught may apply to one Of
the numerous water stands, where in
offensive mixtures Of water and ananas,
lemon and juices are served TO the caller
for two cents glass. While gipping
our nectar we noticed two or three old