National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-16

CITY OF MEXICO, Jan. 1, 1886. Betsy and
] were invited to spend "Chrlstmns week"
at the hacienda Of San Antonio, and gladly
awaited ourselves Of so fine an opportunity
to witness the ceremonies sacred to the
season. 1t being distinctly understood that
American travellers must be excused from
local conventionalltles not suited to their
Observation-Disclosures Mexican arlstocrats
may require OF themselves as BETTING their
own station--we declined our host offer to
send an escort, and rode out unattended
in horse car that passes the San Antonio
estate, though aware that such proceed
ing would be considered Of doubtful pro.
prioiy for ladies "to the manor born"
But we came near paying dearly for our In
dependence, not having reckoned on the
fact that ignorant gatekeepers, whose special
business is to keep out intruders, might
not be so well posted as their masters on
the habits Of foreigners. When we crossed
the now stationary bridge over the grass
grown moat and entered the lofty arch in
the Fashioned wall, which opens upon a
noble avenue, shaded by double row
of Expresses, leading TO the mansion, q
quarter of mile away-a flock Of angry
geese assailed us, like the many.headed
hydra that guarded the golden apples OF
the Ilesperides. Taking TO our heels In In
glorious flight, with shrieks which kissing
goose, mouse, or q COW is warranted to
wiring from the most strong-minded female,
the gatekeeper's dog setup such a chorus
ms to arouse that functlonary from his after
noon siesta and bring him forth in the
worst possible humor. not progresses
ing figure was this St. Peter, with
scowl upon his swarthy countenance, ac-
customed 70 deal with poachers and ma
H.. n - aaN.. A..
comprehend my faulty Spanish, while his
hand, from force Of habit, sought his belt,
in which cleaned dagger and brace of
pistols.
Fleet-footed Betsy got behind an angle
In the wall, in mortal fear OF The yelping
ours, while parleyed with the enemy. In
these isolated communities the barking OF
a dog is an event which excltes universal
curiosity to learn the cause, and at that
moment horseman came galloping down
the avenue, with large sword dangling at
his side, as II he were setting out to fight
the Saracens. II was our gallant host,
Senior Don Jaclnto Carrazco, who spraug
from his horse and conducted us with all
the honors Of war TO his casa.
THE HACIENDA DE SAN ANTONIO.
1t is one Of the finest in Mexico, located
about nine miles from tho national capital.
1t was once the property Of the Marquesa
de Carrazco, and her descendants are as
proud and seclusive as were any OF their
Titled ancestors. The extensive stone case
rambles around a Moorish court, and is
surrounded by scores Of barns, granaries,
and outhouses-all on so magnificent
scale as to suggest the days Of feudalism.
The tiled and marble floors of the lofty halls
and immense apartments are strewn with
Persian rugs and the skins OF wolves and
tigers; all the windows are iron-barred like
those of prisons, the massive doors OF
Nn1 Naly aY,1 ,.ahn oh att al.
while some Of the rare old pictures and
quaint articles Of furniture brought from
Spain at an early day incline one to the sin
of covetousness as could nothing modern.
Like most residences OF the better class
In Mexico, 1t contains private chapel, over
whose richly canopied altar is huge cross
upon which hangs a life-size figure Of
Christ. A orgeously-arranged image Of
the Virgin stands upon one side and San
Jose on the other; while the paintings
among which is genuine Murillo-
and splendid altar-services OF gold and
silver bespeak a fortune Of no mean pro-
portions.
Nothing more delightful can be imag-
ined than the gardens Of San Antonlo--se-
cluded hooks where flowers blossom the
whole year through, peach and apricot
trees are trained like vines against the walls,
and during the season of northern mid
winter, figs, oranges, and bananas are in
tHclI ilNlO OuC pOOho SOhplClSlJ
isolated from the world, though within
easy reach Of the busy capital. Everything
favors day-dreaming and repose, with no.
thing more distracting within the limits Of
vision than the lovely valley now green
with wheat and alfalfa, the cloudless blue
of the sky darlened here and there by slender
columns of smoke showing where charcoal
burners are at work among the hills, and
ever-changing shadows on the lofty snow
fields of old Popocatepetl and his dead
twin, the "White Woman stretched on
her bier beside him.
THE PosADAs.
The Christmas ceremony, called the po-
sadas, is practiced In many Mexican homes,
especially among the wealthy and In these
lonesome hacienda communities, where
amusements are eagerly sought At San
Antonio on Christmas eve dinner was con-
cluded two hours earlier tSan usual, and by
o'clock the servants had cleared the great
dining hall where the performance began
and ended. A curious mixture OF super
stition, fun, and religion is the posadas,
which seems calculated more for the diver
sion Of children than anything serious, yet
participated In by young and old, saints
and sinners. II is intended to typify the
time when Caesar Augustus sent forth a
decree that "all the world should be
taxed" when the Virgin and Joseph, hay
ing come out of Galilee to Judea to be In
so crowded with people who had arrived on
the same errand that they wandered about
for nine days without gaining admlttance
at any house or inn, and on the evening OF
the ninth day took refuge in manger,
where Christ was born. The word posada
signifies inn, and the ceremony represents
the wanderngs OF the holy family.
On the occasion In question all the house
hold, including guests, servants, and retain
ers, gathered In the hall, where procession
was formed and lighted candle put into
the hand Of each. The walls and corridors
had previously been decorated with lamps
and eveTgreens, and, two by two, we marched
all over the house, led by the family priest
and two or three padres from town, singing
litanies, with individual variations, In Latin,
Spanish, Aztec, and Yankee. At last the
procession halted before a closed door
when Whit! bang! went a lot Of fireworks,
suddenly sent flying over our heads, sup
posed to represent the descent of the an-
gels; and at the same instant bevy of little
children came dancing in. They wore alb
breviated robes OF gold and silver lama,
white satin shoes, quantity Of white ostrich
feathers, wings of white gauze fastened to
their shoulders, and all the family Jewels
vast amount Of diamonds, pearls, and
other precious stones In bandeauX, neck
laces, bracelets &c. literally loaded upon
them. Then another group of ladies ap.
peared, dressed to personate the shepherds
who watched their ilocks by night on the
plains of Bethlehem. At this point voices
struck up n Spanish hymn, supposed to be
Mary and Joseph begging admittauce at a
posada, declaring that the night was dark
and cold, the wind blew hard, and Mary
was Ill, and they had not where to- lay their
heads. From within chorus OF male volces
replied, refusing admittance Again and
again those without entreated and those in-
side denied, until at last 1t was announced
that she who craved shelter from the storm
was the queen of heaven.
At that name the door flew wide open aud
the Holy Family marched IN, attended by