The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-12

veniences from any source whatever.
In the first two months that she was
here she gained fifteen pounds in
weight, so that when she left for
short visit to her old home, she
looked quite another person; but
of this however, take it, you have
ere this had an opportunity to wit
ness the remarkable Improvement
for yourself. For the first few days
after coming here, consumptives
usually complain of giddiness of the
head, oppression at the chest, palpi-
tation of the heart, deficient respi-
ration, inability to exercise; in snort,
they complain of those inconven-
fences incident 10 going from lower
to a higher altitude. These are,
however, of short duration, lasting
only few days, when improvement
begins which gradually becomes
more and more prominent until one
by one the entire train of harrassins
symptoms disappear and complete
recovery ensues.
AT present the
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
are meagre. There is but one hotel
in the place, which is kept a la Meci-
canO, and though greatly improved
of late, the fare is not yet such as
would suit the invalid palate of the
fastidious American; the proprie-
tor, however, Senor Meguil Arizpe,
is an accomplished, accommoda-
ting, English-speaking gentleman,
who does everything ill his power
to contribute to the comfort of his
guests, and will, when they desire
it, rent them rooms and allow them
to have their meals sent from with
out. Recently an American lady
has opened boarding house from
which L hear good reports; she ap-
pears to be energetic and deter
mined, and will doubtless satisfy
those who honor her with their pat
ronage. There are several Ameri-
cans here now, others with same in
tent have come and gone, negotiat-
ing for hotels and boarding houses.
Many who are here in quest of
health rent houses or rooms, hire
servants and by giving personal at
tention to the culinary department,
manage to supply themselves with
out much difficulty, chiefly owing to
inability to make themselves under
stood, with good, wholesome diet,
tor the market abounds with all
kinds of meats, vegetables and fruit
at moderate prices.
THE COST OF LIVING
is variable, .. e. one may live as ex-
travagantly or as economically as he
wishes upon the whole, however, it
is as high, if not little higher, than
in America, especially if he lives
after the American fashion. Ser
want hire is very cheap; men COM
mand from four to eight dollars per
month for the best, females from two
to six. Board at the hotel, includ-
ing room, lights, etc., costs $45,
at the boarding house. $50, and
at the restaurants from eighteen to
twenty dollars per month, the lat
ter price when meals are sent to the
| houses.
1 can perhaps give better idea of
THE CIVILIZATION
of this portion of Mexico by saying
that, in so far as bull and cock fight
ing, horse racing, religious skepti-
citm, use of plows identical in con-
struction and material with that
used by Cincinnatus when called to
the dictatorship of Rome, four hun
dred years and more before the
christian era. sandals of the same
remote period, lashing the yoke of
oxen to their horns with raw-hide,
long poles with spike in one end
with which to urge them on, reap
ing wheat with the sickle of ages
past, treading it out under the feet
of horses and mules, winnowing it
by tossing it up before the wind, u.s.
ing the backs of men and of donkeys
for transporting articles of burden,
cooking in earthen articles in large
open fire places, wearing leather
breeches, coats, pantaloons and hats
bedecked with silver and other orna-
ments, living in adobe houses, with
fiat earth roofs, enormous heavy
doors, admitting when opened, a
railroad engine or six-horse stage
coach, heavy iron or wood CRATES in
front of windows and massive
wooden shutters within, floors of
earth, brick, sun-dried tiles of con-
crete, without chimneys, fire places
or stove f1ues "a few only have win
dow glass, the walls of many con-
creted within and without), enor-
nous OK carts without tires, boxes
IN the hubs or iron upon the axles,
and the loyal fealty with
which they cling to many
other customs, appliances and
appurtenances, that could be NEIL
toned, common with their Aztecan
ancestry in the fifteenth century, de-
tract from American ideas of civili-
zation, in that proportion is this por-
tion of the republic wanting in that
attribute; while upon the other hand,
in 80 far as religious devotion, free
schools, compulsory vaccination,
boards OF health, abolition of gam
bling, punishment of drunkenness,
other crimes as well, registration OF
births, marriages and deaths, respect
for person and property public
parks and plazas adorned with fra
grant trees and flowers, supplied
with fountains of limpid waters, iron
and stone benches, paved walks,
graveled drives, lamplight at night
| luI6C DlilCC q w OOh w AAOib
brass bands containing from twenty
TO thirty pieces each, illuminated
streets, efficient police, fine horses
caparisoned with silver mounted
brides and saddles, fine carriages,
/ court yards to the houses beautified
with flowers, shrubbery, fountains
and statuary, their walls magnif-
Gently frescoed, and rooms finely
furnished with musical instruments,
draperies, tapestries, furniture, mir
rore, oil paintings, owners (of course
it is understood that only the richer
class possess these things in their
purity attired in finest wearing ap-
parel, with diamonds and other cost
| iy Jewels, in conjunction with the
, uniformly polite, agreeable. kind,
gentle, intelligent, sympathetic, hos
Ditable, respectful and orderly de-
, portment that is universal among
, the Mexicans can contribute to civi.
: lization, SO far are the people
of Saltillo civilized. The