Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-22

orous in this funny country that gentle
man may not rde IN the same carriage
with the lady to whom he is betrothed, vet
THE MOST DESPERATE FLrRrATIoEs
Are INDUCED in to an extent which would
put TO blush New York, Chicago or San
Francisco Following a beautiful senorita
up and down the fashionable promenade
ana staring lntently in her face is an ac-
cepted mode OF compliment here-perhaps
gratifying to the fair recipient. but fraupbt
with dangers TO the adorer if she hannens
TO have other equally devoted SWANS: and
not Inirequently duels are the result. She
being pre-eminentiy the belle who can
boast the greatest number of such encoun-
tiers.
The canal was completely covered by
boats, big ard little, the majority of them
being clumsy, raft-like barges. each with n
covered space i'll the center, and deck"
at both ends, propelled by three
or four bare-legged Indians, who
push their long poles against the river
bottom; singing as they go. Many indie
scrlbabie craft were inclosed in an airy
lattice-work of woven PUSHES intcrtw;nei
with flowers. which shaded the bappv DC
cupants. Others, gay with flags and awr
lngs were exact limitations of Venetian
gondolas; and thousands were simply dug
outs-the same primitive chulugas which
Cortez found the natives using nearly four
centuries ago. Most of the canoes carried
guitar-players a few We're seen with harms
or viols and the air was full of music
Here everybody sings, at all times and in
all places, Tor these happy-go-lucky chill
dren OF nature are born musicians. Their
lnnumerable folk-songs, though meaning
less, are charming in sott-voweled Castil-
in ND fiaIr hffrl -
incorporate great deal about the tran
scendent virtues of native heroes. from
Montezuma down to Diaz.
The banks were lined with booths of
green branches testooned with garlands.
wherein lemonade (colored red, blue or
green, CHA, Il delightfully."- cooling drink
made from the seeds of flower and
Favored with The Juice of pine apples or
oranges, putique, Orchdta. and other mild
Mexican beverages were sold. But the
great attraction all along shore was the
flowers, offered for sale by Indian girls.
whose dett brown figures darted back and
forth like shuttles as they fashioned
bouquets and button holes with surpris-
ing rapidity. From earliest DAYS Mexico
has been noted for the beauty and diversity
of her flora, and here were heaps upon
heaps of the choicest blossoms, of which a
carriage-load might be bought for few
reateS. These bowers of living green set
Oil well the piquant beauty of
THE INDIAN GIRLS
Each was crowned with poppy wreath,
her black hair hanging in long braids, ewes
shining like stars, glittering teeth made
whittier by contrast to bronze checks, short
red skirt gathered loosely around the I'M
corseted waist, shoulders but partially COW
cred by the low chemise, above which a
reb0S0 was flung with careless grace-an ad-
mirable foil they made to the richlv-at-
tired patrician danes who patronized
them.
Near the bridge of the embarcadero was
an enormous bower of leafy branches,
which the City Council had erected
at cost of several thousand dol
lars, and beneath it two fine military
bands, also paid from the public treasury.
played alternately during the day. In this
delightful retreat, commanding a view
both up and down canal and causeway,
chairs were for hire at a real ~! cents)
apiece. \ detachment of gensdarmes rode
constantly 10 and fro, as guardians of the
peace; and at every twenty feet along the
boulevard policemen were stationed, from
the embarcadero to the bronze statue of
Guatimotzin, the youthful poet, priest and
soldier king of ancient Mexico.
1t Is cSllindtcd tuaJ July ZU,HUb people
visited the Niga on this festival of Niernes
de Dolores. All bore in their hands or on
their heads some floral tribute as a wei
come to spring, while boats piled high with
blossoms were continually coming down
from the great gardens beyond Santa Anita
and the floating islands of Ixtacalco. The
festivities were kept up, though on a d.
minished scale, for two days and nights
During all that time the shrill, discordant
rattle OF
TEN THOUSAND "METRACAs"
Rose above the babel of human voices
These little instruments of auricular tor
ture are made of tin, wood, iron, ivory,
even gold and silver, III all conceivable
shapes. Some are in the form of humming-
birds, peacocks, parrots, or other members
of the feathered tribes; Others represent
gridirons, frying-panS, musical instru-
ments, fruits, flowers, reptiles: in short,
everything imaginable. Everybody must
have one. from the gray haired grand, par
ent to the baby in arms; and by twirling
them rapidly the wooden spring inside
produce a most unearthly, rasping, grind
ing sound, enough TO set ones teeth on
edge. This bideous noise is intended to
typify and ridicule the cries of the Jews
{" Cruelty Him. Cruelty Him !'') as they
followed Christ to Golgotha.
Not to be outdone by our neighbors,
Betsey bought a metraca in the shape OF
an ivory fiddle, and small wooden bride,
dressed in white satin, flowing veil and
orange-blossorns and, thus fortified, were
enabled to add our full quota to the general
din. FANNIE B. WARD.