The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-04-19
LETTER FROM MEXICO.


publish the following extract from a
letter written to him by Mr.. ]. G.
Howard, now in Mexico. 1t gives a
good insight into the Mexican char
acter:
STATE OF CoAHUILA, MEXICo,
CAMP % MILES SOUTH OF
MAYA, April 5. 1888. }
| like Mexico, and | am trying to
learn the language. Think | will sue
coed. The people, on first beholding
them, are very curious about many
things, ''rather Shy" ignorant, lazy
and dirty, and as stubborn as a kick
ing mule.
Their mode of living, agriculture
ana business habits date back five
hundred years before Moses sailed in
his ship. Their adobe houses are
primitive. One room answers all pur
poses of kitchen, dining room, bed
is ornamented with no chimney;
hole in the center for cooking range;
only one opening in the house, the
door, shut and opened as light is de-
manded or excluded, or venti-
lation; no furniture; and mother
earth fer CARPET and chair.
CLld1lSO, OuC u NC, yCG u6tlu OA .ChO la
dies, they call the pig their mock
ing bird, and caress it and have it in
their room. This is about all that
adorns their home. Generally, man
and his wife, two mothers-in-law, a
father. six cousins, fourteen aunts
and from twelve to twenty
0X10, and all are as happy, if not hap
Nj thon To- Gn1111 honlT0r
Still, with all this drawback, the
people are very easily handled, if you
treat them gently and with kindness.
They are hospitable to fault, and no
end to their talk; and when you get
their confidence they will hug and kiss
you all over. And then you will fall
into another extreme of not knowing
how to get rid of them, or getting
them to do anything like business or
work, without insulting them.
There are no national banks here.
Every one is his own banker; and
when youowe dollar to any of those
bankers he wants it deposited in his
own bank every night. And while
there is any money in his bank he
will not work; it makes no difference
what you offer OF the profits.
Money commands an eX orbitant
uSuly for legitimate interest here.
When they are broke and want
money, or gamble or drink mOskal,
they will offer you five hundred per
cent and give collateral security or
mortgage themselves to you,
then they are peoned, and have
to work till you are paid.
But they very seldom get out of
debt, for they will buy and borrow,
as long as you will let them. If you
invite them to eat with you or stay
over night, they will always accept,
and will kill you with kindness and
thanks, extol your generosity ano vir-
tue to all their friends, and send them
to eat and sleep with you and thank
you likewise. They do not work
much when they are their own bosses;
never in hurry; never care whether
bank closes at or not; never care
whether note is protested or not;
never think of tomorrow; follow
scripture to the dot, thinking the evil
of the present sufficient.
Their chief glory is to let God and
nature provide for them-bask in the
sunshine, talk about the political sit
uation of their country and raise
children to make soldiers to defend it
or create a revolution. Oh, it is in
deed the land of God and liberty
This section about here is very fertile
dotted with little towns Independent
of rain and dry weather, for God has
abundantly provided water in natural
streams and bitches for irrigation
The streams run on the sides OF
mountains, you only have to TAP
them and water your land.
A stream runs close to the town:
Of Naya, st. Juan Allenda, More
las, and other towns, and
settlements, that feed them with al
the water they want and oceans to
spare; and millions of acres of beauti
full, verdant land just crying to lei
| this water run into it and raise corI
and produce for the hungry. But no
Mexican is satisfied with an acre il
town, just enough to keep him from
starving and baSk with his canary
bird in the sunshine of laziness.
Oh, capital come here and open
this up; double yourself hundred
j fold in five years. For a grazing
eXcelled by any land in Texas that
have seen. Right here is fine mineral
and the finest building sand stone tina
ever man laid eyes on, any thickness
you want it. Yes indeed, this is
lovely country. No wonder the Mexi
cans love every one who smiles OF
/. them. No wonder the love of twenty
four children blesses the parlor of I
: pair of doves that live in an 8 by II
room, an acre of land to feed them on
they want no more land" and tn
pure air of Liberty to breathe. Ever
l have got lovely myself since 1 cam
| here, and if you could just hear m,
talking Mexican, you would laugh.
T G. TT