Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-07-24
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
HInLmrrnLc Maxim Inlr 1G 1895

Since our last we nave pasStu luto tue
torrid zone and on to the summit of the
Central Platan We are now about one
mile and half above sea level, and hence
we find every thing differing very much to
that described in our last In the terpas
calientes (hot lands) of the border, the child
rem often 90 naked and the older people
wear no more clothing than their partial
civilization demands There the flat rooted
adobe houses the palm covered cane huts
and the cave in the hillside answered every
purpose of an earthly habitation for those
whose lives were passed within them, but
here nature has so elevated the country and
lowered the temperature that clothing is
necessity. Then there is sufficient rain to
penetrate the fiat roofs and drown out the
cave dwellers, hence we find the people liv.
ing above ground and under inclined roofs.
Thus far they have advanced by the sheer
necessity of their external surroundings.
Yet where nature has not acted with
compulsary force they still remain in con-
dtion which in many respects is scarcely
above that of the lower animals. The
houses are built of sand stone and adobe.
They have dirt floors and shed roofs
which are covered with mud mortar about
six inches deep. They seldom have windows
or any other provision for light and
ventilation, except the door. We often find
large family living in one of these rooms.
When the evening comes family circle IS
formed around few ancient earthen mugs
and iars, which are set on the dirt floor;
from these they take their scant and simple
meal. after which round of corn shuck ci-
garettes are smoked; then the door is barred,
the hickering tallow candle is blown out,
and while the unsavory fumes of the smok-
ing wick are permeating the entire room the
last one retires to rest in this dungeon home
"a home then darker than the blacklist
night, as unsavory as the dungeon Of the
doomed, and almost as sckly and deadly as
the Black Hole of Calcutta. Our world is
qood, Louely one. 1t is filed with free light
and pure air, and the supply always exceeds
the demand. Then what sin the creature
commits, and how benighted he must be
who stubbornly persists in depriving him
self and his innocent little ones of these, the
greatest blessings on earth. We see these
creatures on their knees every day and with
out-stretched arms they hemoan their lot,
and beg of God in his mercy to grant them
more blessings, after which they employ
what little mental and physical force they
possess in rejecting those which have al
ready been granted. What fools these
mortals be !"
Their diet consists OF the various
fruits of the tropics, with goats
meat, goats milk, torillas (corn cakes)
baked with salt and water, the meal
of which is ground by hand between two
stones similar to those used by the ancients
B. G. In place of stoves and iron cooking
utensils they use elevated fire places and
earthen jars. The latter are placed over
charcole fires, hence, chimneys are dispensed
with. The knowledge Of cooking among all
classes of women is as meagre as the means
used. Hence, the light breakfast biscuit,
white loaf bread, pies, preserves and pud-
dings to which we were treated while we
tarried in Fairfax and Prince William are
unknown in Mexico.
The women of every class wear shawls
over their heads in place of hats and bon
nets and the fashion has never been known
to change. Their feet are small and they
wear tight shoes with very high heels.
Among the lower class plain cut, bright red
dresses are worn, while the more refined
prefer combination of bright colors. The
men of every class have passionate fond
ness for suits made of dressed sheep, goat or
deer skin. These are often brightly paint
ed, fringed and embroidered with silver.
The pants are ornamented with rows of but
tons and buckles down the side, and the
wide brimed sombrero is adorned with sill.
YER stars, tassels ard heavy gilt reel
around the crown. The poorer people wear
yery low crowned, wide brimed straw hats
sandals and heavy woolen blankets. To-
day, July 16, while write, the natives are
passing my door or summing themselves with
their blankets wound around them up to
the nose. Mothers are passing with their
babies wrapped up out of sight. Many. OF
the more refined young men are wearing
long heavy robes similar to those used in
Apostolic times few are dressed as we
see them in the States. Thus it is, we see
the old, the new, the high and the low all at
one view. AS to the climate here it is sim
ply delightful. The fairest face don't be-
iieye would sun.burn or tan. Fans are
never needed, and the winter wild flowers
are said to be fresh and beautiful all winter.
In short flowers, fruits, birds, bees, and but
tert1ies are always here. RAMBLER
Su0JrC TT 0IIP