Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-03-27
DRINKING IN MEXICO.
The National leverage Bad wins-1;ao
American Darkroom Riotens Grlngo.
L..

The National Baverags-B bad wine--1iae
American Darkroom = Esiotens Grlngo.
Mexico Cor. Boston-Heraldl
A great deal is said about the danger
OF drinking the water which comes in
from the hills through the great aque-
ducts. But this is an oyer-exaggerated
matter. indeed, an esteemed friend,
the scientist and engineer, Mr.. Francisco
Garay, who is famous here as an author
ity on all sanitary questions, tells me
that he always uses the aqueduct water
on his table, believing it to be very
healthful, and have found that, despite
the warnings of the doctors, those who
drink water are as healthy as those who
confne themselves to beer and wine. A
stranger on first arriving should be care
full OF taking the water pure; a little
claret or brandy makes it safer for the
neW.comer.
lulque, the national drink of the
lower classes, and found also on the
tables of the well-to-do, is safe and
nutritious beverage. | noticed awhile
ago that some recent writer on Mexico
spoSe of the 'disagreeable and repul-
sive look of pullue. That is nonsense.
The beverage looks exactly like milk.
Its taste is, at first, unpleasant for
many people, although personally did
not find it so, and it certainly is drink
appropriate to the climate and the alti-
tude. 1t is nervine. and, at this alti-
tude, tho tendency is to nervous dis
eases. 1t is quieting, sleep procuring
and fattening. Introduced into the
United States, it ought to have great
sale among nervous and dyspeptic
persons A man can digest a good
many difficult things, if he taken
pulque with his meals. l cor
tidently anticipate that, in the near
future, pulque will be an article of ex-
tensive export to the United States. II
has already attracted the attention Of
ing ish physicians on account of itG
nervine properties.
But it must be confessed that pulque
is a mild intoxicant. If you drink
enough of it you become mildly OK
hilarated and prone to Sleep After q
peon has taken about gallon he wants
to embrace all the world as long lost
brethren. He is, in some stages of in
|
personal difficulties with his ever-ieady
knife. The paternal government wisely
regulates that the pulluerias shall shut
up shop at q p. m, an earlier closing
law than Massachusetts has yet dared
to apply to her bar rooms. And in this
country of sharp enforcement of the law
the pulquerias do shut up in fact as
we'll as in theory.
The wine sold here is, as a rule,
very bad. The French claret | have
found to be generally beastly stuff,
headache provoking and undeniably
drugged. The French will be driven
out of this very good wine market il
they don't reform. There is already
established here very good market fol-
the excellent wines of California. II
the Californians were as liberal in theil
trade arrangements as are the French
exporters, they would gain GROUND
more rapidly here. The California
claret sold here is a strong wine. bu
with the unmistakable flavor of the
grape 1t is already in high favor, ant
is to be found on the tables of the lux
urious classes.
The American bar room has become ;
fixed institution here, and some of thu
bars are quite respectable and conven
tionally gorgeous The bars run il
connection with the big billiard hall
are prosperous concerns Billiards is
perfect passion with young Mexicans
as it is with all Spanish Americans
notice that the tendency here is to ligh
drinks, but have seen very few peopl,
f intoxicated. Once in while a newl.
arrived American gets drunk afte
nightfall, and takes up good share o
the sidewalk, metaphorically exaltinl
the American eagle and floating tn
stars and stripes. At that particula
hour of his life the set-up American j
, ready to conquer Mexico himself ant
, unaided. When he gets too riotous
! gentleman overhauls him and tows hin
. to the city prison to give account o
himself the next morning. That MAJ
is ever after the enemy of all Mexicans
and has profund contempt for Me2i
lox