National Republican., 1885-11-28

overshndUwiug volcauo past cotton mills
and match factories; through rural lanes
lordered by stately palms, orange, coffee,
and banana grovesi country homes rldgod
by Wild roses, pink aud white; odorous
fields of heliotropo, bright.hued lantanas,
purple sgeratam clematis, nasturtiums and
eveTywherc-even in the dusty road-llour-
ishes the fragnnt icssaminc tiazmin), which
has given its name TO The nuighboring
hacienda. From the carriage windows We
catch glimpses OF romantic cascades,
thatched cottages hidden under dense coffee
bushes and overshadowed by ilg or pome-
grnnate trees here an Indian mother
grooming to her baby; there au Oriental
looking female trudgipg to town with her
hamper Of fruit balanced upon her hend or
a silent man in n blanket, standing In stat
uCsque attitude under solitary palm.
Our first visit to this delightful place was
made at midwinter; but young corn was
sprlnging in the fields, and miles OF pale
green sugar-cane contrasted well in the
landscape with the dark, glossy leaves and
red berries of the coffee plant. Either corn
or cane can be sown here at any time OF the
year, though the usual planting seasons
There never being less than two crops OF
corn within twelve months) are in April
and November The hacienda del Jazmin
is exactly six miles square, aud produces
annually from 10000 to 100000 arrobas OF
sugar ian "arroban is twenty-five pounds),
besides more than 1000 barrels Of rum.
Another intoxlcant called
TEPACuE
is also made in large quantities from the
refuse of the sugar mills. Tue cane, laid
in deep furrows lengthwiso IN the ground,
comes up In about four weeks. The first
cutting (which makes the best sugar. takes
place in three years from planting; the sec
ond, sixteen months later, and the .hird
within eighteen months. After the juice
has been pressed out the stalks are used for
fuel to heat the furnaces. They tell us that
an acre of average ground Will yield about
10000 stalks, containing at least 5000 gal
Ions Of juice, which will make when "boiled
down. not less than ZOO gallons of sirtp.
Two quarts of juice to n single stalk is con-
sidered rather below the usual quota. The
rurcst aud whitcst sugar is made here, be-
sides various inferior grades, both grauu-
lated and nodded, into bars cakes, and the
tall, steeplc-like lonvee our grandmothers
used.
Senior Vivauco says that It cost him about
TO cents to make an arrOba Of sugar; 400
poems (serfs) are employed upon
the estate, and they receive remarkably
large wages for MeXico-the men 80 cents
per diem, and the women 20 cents. 1t Is
an acknowledged fact that the women
work best, and accomplish most in u given
length Of time but 1t is
THE OLD STORY OF ALL LANDS,
they get less compensation for the same
amount Of labor than the lords of crea-
tion.
Everything pertaining to the hacienda del
Jazmin is model of thrift and neatness.
The estate boasts portable tramway, six
miles long, equipped with cars, switches,
and turntable, and in moments time the
track can be picked up and laid in another
NtFV.
arise. The handsome young proprietor,
dressed in the outdoor suit Of ranchero,
and surrounded by half dozen hunting
dogs, makes pleasant picture as he comes
forth to welcome the stranger to his casa.
lie is q fair type Of the controlling class In
Mexico-a thorough gentleman, whoselre-
fnement Is not veneer, but the heritage of
biith from long line Of proud, wealthy,
and cultured ancestors. Like others of his
kind, he has Travelled much in other lands,
is educated to adegree which would astonlsh
the average American, and, with his wife
and babies, lives like lord upon his own
domain
Naturally, this controlling class is numor-
ically small, as, for example, on this one
hacienda II requires no less than 400 serfs to
'runn q single yiyanco. We of an older
republic wonder much why the ruling ele
ment in Mexico does not strive to elevate
the masses: but, taking all things into ac-
count, there is little doubt that the present
rather one. sided plan is best for all con-
cerned. Northernors who have not studied
this country from personal observation can
scarcely comprehend the
RADICAL DIFFERENCES
which must always exist between these
''slster republics"-not only the inevitable
results Of latitude, climate, and conngura-
tiOn Of soil, but because all the natural in
stincts Of the Latin race are Numerically
opposed TO those of the Anglo-Saxon. In
their present condition the swarming peon
population are cOntented, pious, and rea-
sonably gOod-hnppy animals who aspire TO
no higher lot. They will never be capable
of self.govornment; but, being always
children, they need the guidance of the
master hand. Forlorn indeed would be
their situation II turned adrift from the
hacienda where most OF them were,born, and
where they and their descendants are sure OF
home and support Perhaps n century or
two Of effort and education might elevate
them to comparative independence a liberty
which in the majority of cases would prove
n curse instead Of blessing.
FANNIE B. WARD.