St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-14
THE MExICANs.
Some of Their Business Habits Which
Render Close Commercial Connection
with Them Undesirable.

Some of Their Business Habits Which
Render Close Commercial Connection
with Them Undesirable.
/ have lately talked with a gentle.
man who is thoroughly conversant with
this people, whose remarks are here
substantially reproduced:
1.-The Me1icans, may say, appear
to be divided into two groups-those
who have some education, and the
poems, who are absolutely ignorant, ex-
cepting that they show the animal in,
stinct to provide themselves with the
meager daily necessaries of life. The
former class are intriguants by nature.
Their business habits are tortuous, and
from the tinre they wake in the morn
ing till they go to rest they seem to be
studying how to put up a job on some
body who has got little means at COM
mand. Your Mexican does not consid-
er there is anything wrong about this.
When reproached with crookedness,
they simply show their white teeth by a
bland smile, and hug themselves with
pleasure that they have been smart in
getting the best of the gringo. Tricks
are not tried on the natives, because
there is no money to be made there.
The large towns swarm with LAWYERS,
and once in their clutches, it is 0dois
la plata. Your Police Court in San
Francisco has few lawyerlings of the
same type; but, Heavens! you ought to
see the brood that hangs round Mexi-
can court, under the name of
'abogados.
81 will mention an instance the
gentleman continued, s'of the trouble /
got into about piece of land I pur-
chased, or thought purchased, near a
principal town. was piece of three
hundred acres, from grant set aside
for school purposes. In the first place,
| made application to the ayuniamiento,
and was told could have it for some
three or four centavas an acre; but aft
erWard found out that member of the
council and an outsider, who divided
the proceeds of the sales of these lands,
objected, and | could not get the land
at all. Then a merchant of the place
sent me notice that he could sell me
the property. and give me what was
called in old times with us warranty
deed, guaranteeing me possession
against all corners. [ took his offer;
but had scarcely completed the bargain
when found some one surrounding my
purchase with rude brush fence.
.: What are you doing here?' i
asked him.
% Fencing in my land, was the re-
ply. I bought the whole of it. MAX
ing a comprehensive sweep with his
hand, many years ago, for fifteen dol
lars
Il was in a fix. | mentioned the mer.
chant; but the builder laughed.
[ went to the merchant, but he calmly
told me that although my title was
good, as he had insured it, | had better
settle with the invader, as he did not
want any trouble with people who were
customers. 1t would in ure his business.
/ did not settle. Afterward, when [ was
lying sick in my room, with an internal
calentura, q couple of abogados entered
with bill yard long, covered with
stamps. They said it was for rental;
p14A VIC COIISGluGl1CSS
if / did not pay. ] was half mad with
fever and rage, and had they not beat
hasty retreat would have thrown them
out neck and heels The stranger in
Mexico, the man who is tempted to go
into business there and has money to
invest, thinks it all plain sailing, No
one SO bland as your educated Mexican,
till the stranger has made his invest
ment, and proceeds, as he thinks, in
the credulity and simplicity of his heart,
to acquire a rapid fortune Then he
finds his way barred by unforeseen OBJ
stacles. Dues, charges, tqxes, counter
titles crop up on every JAnd, and they
must be paid or segded, elDe you will
have no peace. Aaler q year or two, It'll
you can not gua1Stasr yourself by some
strong protective intefSSfsat. you WilSShhaEe. j
no property. Cor. ST. ouis Reysb5l
I5ca7a. q 1s1psZVI
"A silver half-dollar is the OF ad.
mission ticket recognized at t e New
Grlca no EynoSitinn