The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-01-25
A Mexican Interior.

Mary Hallock Foote 8 second lllustrat-
ed paper on Mexico, in the Century,
deals with Morelia, "A Provincial Cap
ital of Mexico" and contains the follow
ing description of the domestic life of a
wen-to-do family:
The house had been originally built
for an ecclesiastical college, and, as may
be imagined, was a very easy fit for a
family of three. There was an agreeable
sense of unexplored space in the vistas
of high, airy rooms. opening into one
another, and all opening on the corri-
dors which surround TIE front and rear
courts.
Instead of the bedside tray of coffee
and rusks served by the waiter with the
impenetrable head of hair, who never
knocked at the door, one awakened to
the luxury of bath, a daintily served
cup of chocolate or bumper of hot
milk, fresh eggs, fresh fruit, in the flow
er-scented diningroom, at whatever
hour one chose to call for it. The air
of early morning was indescribably pure
and cool-cool enough TO suggest an
open fire to an English or American
constitution-bu the sunny side of the
corridor was a very good substitute
The flowers were freshly watered and
fragrant. ALI the galleries in Mexico
surrounding the inner courts are lined
with flowers. 1t is one of the prettiest
features of the domestic architecture
The vines festooned along the arches
stirred a little in the breeze which lifted
and let fall the heavy leaves of
the banana tree near the dining-room
door. Clear shadows slanted across
the pale-tinted stone facade of the clois-
tered gallery. There was a hammock
of Panama grass, swinging empty, or
cradling the little daughter of the hous Sc,
always attended by fluffy white poodle,
whom she addressed rs "ERriqte! mi
dina 20 my soulD
A man-servant, of the shade of CON-
plexion called moreno chocolate with a
little milk in it-and eyes of chocolate
unmixed; in a white linen blouse, with
red sash girding the waist, shuffied
listlessly about the gallery at this hour,
watering the plants or sweeping the red
tiled pavement with a broom made of
palm splints. There was a parrot, like
great jewel, on his perch in the sun.
The gray turtle doves are regarded by
the Mexican servants as harbingers of
evil to the house where their soft gut
teral note is heard, but the Casa c.
rejected this superstition of the country,
and gave shelter to the doves. The
noises of the house were very pleasant; !;
loud, harsh voices or footsteps were un
heard; no bell ever rang. If the young
mistress had need of q servant, she STEP
ped into the corridor and elapped her
hands. The signal was answered by
Leonardo, or Rita, or Michaela, or the
disconsolate Ascension, who did every
thing with fine gloomy air, even to the
oh ON hia Shnnlfnn-S Of hn
little Jose, the child of Leonardo, the
Camarista. Their medieval associations
reconciled one to the only loud noises of
the house-the deep, echoing bay of the
two gaunt young blood-hounds chained
to the wall of the court below,
and the stamping of the horses feet
on the pavement of their stalls under
the arches. The first cere-
moniotis meal at which the family as
sembled was the midday breakfa st,
dln1Ier=o. There was a succession of
courses, chiefly meals, in surprising
quantity and variety in climate where
very little animal food is sufficient,
ending with dulces and coffee. After
the soup, rice, cooked in the Mexican
fashion, was invariably served and
eaten with bananas. The game and
poultry had the advantage of the most
perfect cooking over a charcoal fire. A
spit is used in roasting, and every Mexi-
can kitchen is well provided with null
titude of pottery vessels, even to pottery
griddles, light and clean, which seemed
to me far preferable to our heavy, un-
appetizing metal ones.
From time to time national dish ap-
peared, rather to humor the guests
fancy for their novelty than for pref
erence for them on the part of the fam
ily. One called turco. was told, is of
Moorish origin. 1t is composed
of chicken, cooked slowly in a paste
made of the flour of very small and
delicate dried pea, and served with a
sauce of complex flavor. Raisins and
olives are an incidental feature of it,and
the whole dish tastes OF the Arabian
Nights.