The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-11-30
MEXICAN SCENES.

York Herald.
MEXICAN SCENES.
Pen Pictures Taken Under the Shadow OF n
Hotel-The characteristics of Mexican
Caravansary, Etc, Etc.
MONTEREY, Mex, Nov. 1S.-To eat
banana beneath the tree whereon it has
grown from green knob of promise to yell
low, luscious ripeness, is, and at any time
must be refreshing experience; but 1t is
most refreshing to lazy man, at least,
when it can be done without stirring be-
yond the limits of well-appointed hotel.
In the cities of the United States no hotel
keeping person has ventured to plant
within his hotel an orchard, and herein our
cousins of Mexico lead us by many lengths.
AS | sit here in the cool arcade that sur.
rounds the inner courtyard OF the Hotel
de Monterey / catch only glimpses between
the broad, ragged banana leaves, OF the
deeply blue Mexican sky; and at my elbow
is the bunch OF bananas, plucked from
these very trees, that the senorita so era,
ciously gave to me. Here, truly, is an idyl
in green and blue, with touch of gold
where the mellow sunlight filters down
through the leaves; and it has an intensely
practical side, which also is delightful, IL
The toothsomeness of the ripe fruit.
Not only in the matter of its agricultural
tendencies, but in other respects, the hote
is curious study TO me. In its essentials
it is not widely different from the hotels o.
the same class on the other side OF the RiC
Grande; but in its non-essentials las we are
wont to regard them it is unlike the aver
age American institution for the discomfort
OF travellers as well as can be imagined
Above all things it is picturesque. Its from
is pleasant break in the stolid stone walls
which grid in closely the narrow street. In
the center of this front is deep recess, shut
off from the street by a low wall surmount'
ed by light railing OF iron, wherein well.
grown trees, orange, peach and lemon, ano
smaller trees and rose bushes, now bloom
ing, and various shrubs and bushes of which
/ know not the names, grow up together
and flourish mightilv-all being well
watsred and all having, without the trou
BILE of asking for it, their ill o.
the sun. On each side of the garden is o
broad entrance beneath well-turned arch
and around the garden is covered walk
upon which opens the large reception room
of the hotel. Here one may sit under cover
and yet be pretty well out of doors too
which is comforting arrangement in this
breezy, sunshining land, where houses are
conventional requirement. rather than an
actual necessity-things which very likely
would be given up altogether but for the
good of them as shelters against the heat
But it is in the inner courtyard, where
THE BANANAS
flourish in their grove, that the life of the
hotel centres. All around this courtyard
is broad walk laid in concrete, and ovel
the walk massive stone arches uphold a
broad roof against the sun, and through
the arches the waving leaves make pretty
effect either by daylight or. at night
time when the swinging Ian
terms are ALT. Upon this arcade all the
principal rooms of the hotel, and some o.
the sleeping rooms, have entrance--and all
the doors are open, and everything Is fresh
ened and gladdened by the free sweep thus
given to the sweet, fresh air, Here is mucn
temperate activity, not rush and hustle, as
may be found in American hotels, but the
easy going energy that is characteristic o!
Mexico. All the business OF arrival and
departure is transacted in this open place
The desk is here whereat sits the landlord
or his clerk TO receive or dismiss the coming
OF the going guests, and, being well re-
ceived and entertained with cordial hos
pitality, the fiction ofguest and host that Is
SO hollow mockery at an American hotel
seems here TO have some reality TO II. On
the desk lies the hotel register, and
above it, on a board set of with stray
Cling rows of numbers, hang struggling
rows of keys. The purpose OF these keys Is
well defined, but their use is uncertain.
They belong IN
THE BED-cHAMBERs,
all of which are on the ground floor, but
for some inexplicable reason they are rarely
used, Through the day the bedroom
doors stand open, as though we all we're OF
one family and had no secrets TO conceal,
and even at night, in the hot season, they
are not closed. One cause OF this curiois
treatment Of the doors is the total absence
of windows. Windows would let in much
light and in summer light is heat, so that
the thick walls are pierced only with door
ways, which open out in the cool shadow
of the arcade. Also for the sake OF cool
ness the floors are Of concrete. In the bed
rooms, as the cool time of the year draws
on, carpets or rugs are laid down, but a
really cold time Of the year never comes,
and SO the floors have no chance 20 grow
chilly enough to breed discomfort. Monte
rev, Il must be remembered, Is as far south
as Florida, too far In the south for the win
The guests of the house lounge about the
arcade lazily, or lazily loll in big armchairs
for the spirit OF the land is laziness asd
the lesson Of how 10 do nothing is easily
learned. The servants go placidly upon
their WAYS and duties, or come 10 serve in
response 10 a clapying Of hands-a feature
Of The hotel that do greatly joy In, be-
cause II makes the place seem all the more
like q bit Of the Arabian Nights made real.
Over in a corner Is a well, served With
leather buckets hung on stout rope, around
which maid servants gather with vessels 70
be filed from the cool spring Tar down IN
the rock. Some odds and ends Of little
brown Mexican boys idle about and look
wonderfully at the stray Americanos from
ont their soft, gentle brown eyes. A said
yellow cat, q linguist OF parts. knoEing vel
what words in English and in spanish mean
kindness towards cats and what mean
digreenect. walks aIably about among those
whom she recognizes a. her irlends-be-
rtowine here and there q gentle rub against
sorns especially friendly leg-0r fees for
shelter into the depths Of the banana grove
from tboae whom she knows 20 be Der foes
And 10 Ali these little stirs Of gentle life the
IN Wind rushing through the ragged
leaves Of the banana trees makes gentle
nccompnniment-
1,oofine ont. under the arches % the en-
trance wav, up0n the street. one sees e All
lines
r,rrreHrrrI MErIcar FarCEANh-
rim Iiffle soldiers from The military bead
rnarters near b.. with nov and then q
'rurh- belaced offcer. jsuuty riders o. me
nor-es. tough little doutsys almost infisl-
~ beneafh loads q frslwood piled hiEh
1r-r,r their rafienf bscks. mysterious women
rr9rpef IN shnrls and boxing a. though
~ hsf escHped from an orefn
|hrrus. men With trnys ~ fruif ~
.-rrf-rnrrfs ur,rn Their heads. he merits
I'd chearness 81 which theT rrucIa.r IN
- ii erceefinr nela1cboIT- TIN ladies'
= .--Iish r1uus. 81 uhirh he stTIs = thst
Il 80 ar.rr~ rsrr~ rrre b.. IumterInr /