The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-22
Mexican Windows.

These are peculiar Institutions whose
like Is not to be found in any other
country under the sun. They gener-
ally reach from floor to ceiling, are
wider than church doors, and have al
ways wooden or iron bars before them.
"A comparatively few oasas luxurate In
window glass, but, as the duty on that
substance IL little less than robbery,
the vast majority dispense with it al
together. The inside shutters are of
solid wood, not furnished with Stats
like ours, usually unpainted, and OPEN
ing both ways in the middle forming
four square doors. AS their peculiar
construction renders curtains an i'm
possibility, the only way to secure the
slightest degree OF privacy when the
household machinery Is not on exhibi-
ton, Il 10 close the lower half Of the
shutters; and then outsiders frequently
climb up outside and gaze in upon you
over tho top, with sharpened curiosity
because OF the evident attempt to de-
prlve them OF their rights. Mexicans
entertain the idea that windows were
m.,de TO look in at, rather than to look
out OF, and 1t IL a matter OF daily oc
currence Tor n1en, women and children
ot tho lower Glasses to congregate out
SIDE AND stand calmly Watching you by
tile hour. In the deep recesses these
window openings from in the thick
walls Is ample room for placing chairs
upon tho leuges, AMI therein the family
slt III the cool VI the day. In summer
time Tins is very pleasant, but wne,i
long, chilly rains come OH (and they
sometimes even have u little snow III
these higher altitudes) tho absence OF
n,r III u -, g.
to close Llle shutters entirely means to-
tai darkness within. In Saltillo and &;
few Otner mountain cities tho winters
are really cold, and now they bear them
without any protection from the outer
air Is u mystery. There is not a house
Ill Mexico with any provision for grate
or stove, or possibility Of making u
tire, except that for cooking purposes
Ill the Kitchen, which docs not warm
the room i'll the slightest degree. When
tho winter OF their discomfort arrives
all hands from Oldest to youngest,
wrap themselves In rebosos. and sara
pas, and possess their souls in pa
Ilence, for having ncvor known any
other mode OF lie they do not dream
or making themselves more comforta-
DE ny Knocking out a chimney. The
nrSt sight OF tho barred windows
strikes the stranger in Mexico unpleas-
antly, and he is apt TO feel himself in
prison behind them, with his stone
noOr and iron beusJead for suitable
Accomplishments: In time, however, hv
sees not only the convenience but the
necessity OF them, and by and by comes
TO teel AL uneasy sense Of insecurity, IL
ny raro chance he tinds himself nOL
thus protected. lt,lnust DO raInembered
that tho greater portion OF Mexico ls 4
land oI perpetual summer where win
dows must be open both night and
day. and these gratings cannot be
''plckeu" like locks or noiselessly cut
Ike panes Of glass. Though one may
sleep III perfect security without clos
Ing shutter, 1t Is we'll to remove ones
eHects from too close proximity to the
bars, for the ladrones have cheerful
habit OF throwing in ropes with hooks
attached and dextrously drawing out
even your garments-which perhaps
gave rlse to the slang word ''hooking"
lOr stealing