The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
LIFE IN MEXICO.


A Happy Place Where No One Is Ever TTur.
ried.
Correspondence Boston Herald.
When l contrast Mexico with Boston, it seems
like the difference between the lovely, unworried
senorita and the aspiring female suffragist burn
ing with problems and eager to solve all the rid
dies of all the ages. For pure intellect Boston
will take the prize, but for serene contentment
with life and charming insousiance Mexico
easily exces. 1t is not at all uncomfortable to
look, as spectator on civilization in which
half the world is not marrying itself to death ary
ing to regulate the universe The rum ques-
ton does not exist 1t is impoite to get drunk,
and shows lack of breeding. That will do for
peons but not for gentlemen. People do not, as
a rule drink hard; wines, cordals and light
drinks are preferred Doesn't he drink" is
unheard question. OF course he drinks, in the
mild, gentlemanly Mexican way. And so do the
ladies at the table, but there is no intoXication
and scandal about it.
What dreadfully lonesome time of it the
temperance reformer. the female suffragist, the
Sorosis and the reform the-otherchaps societies
would have down here. Nobody wants to be re-
formed and nobody wants to do any reforming.
I think that it is quite desirable state of civil
lzation. 1t saves lots of dreadfully tiresCme
serrnonizing.
What does the cultivated Mexican gentleman
do with his time! You may be sure that he is
not the president of any missionary society,
home or foreign; that he has no views" on tenn
perance, except that it is brutally coarse to get
tight, and that he has not secretly taken a con-
tract to reform anything or anybody. He is
just comfortable being, with a strong liking
for good cigar a comfortable chair and good
novel after dinner The Creator placed him in
a tropical land. where views" would only be a
bore to man, and the sun does for him what the
American steam register and hot-ar furnace
vainly endeavor to do for the New Highlander
He can read French, and 30 gets into the broad
current of general modern literature. Politics
afford him mild sort of excitement but he
does not grow. baggy-eyed and bald headed hap
ing and working for an Office.
The eager. painting, ardent, strenuousiy
nervous life of American cities is unknown in a
land where TO morrow's paper goes to press at 4
or p. NJ, where they skip paper on Monday
morning, and find time for quiet smoke and
game of cards chess in the cafes. Nobody
sits up nights here to wear out his eyes and scar
his brain, and so all may enjoy what of social
life and recreation is to their hand.
The American seems to have the burden of dis
| century upon him. the Mexican has only the bur-
den of to-day. and that sits very lightly on his
shoulders. Tomorrow is quite as good as to-
day. and that notion saves lots of worry On
the whole, the Mexican doesn't take life so wor-
riedly. He may have what to most Americans
would seem a very quiet life, but he exists very
comfortably. Down in the hot country the life
of the hac;endado, or great planter, is almost
idyllic. He has his great stone house, his SER
wants respectful and obedent his horses f1r
travel or pleasure riding, his regular peaceful
life in climate which is perfection, and what
more is there for mortal man under the suns