The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-08-28
Mexican Indians.
Correspondence Boston Herald.

Correspondence Boston Herald.
The fact is that the Indian puts himself
in competition with the burro, that patient
little beast of general totage. The back Of
the Indian seems to be about as strong as
that of the burro, and the Indian has this
advantage, that after transporting his stuff
to market he can make his own bargain
for its sale. know no more interesting
sight than to go out in the early morning
on to one of the great highroads leading
into the city, and to watch the reverend
ing procession of Indians carrying bur-
dens. The rag figures sold in few Bos-
ton shops give exactly their expression.
1t is the Aztec face, that dull, bronzed
countenance, with lusterless eyes, which
seem to have accepted the lowest condition
of life as all that is attainable by human
endeavor.
And what loads these strong Indian
backs can carryl watched gang the
other day loading grain on car The
grain was in bags, and each bag weighed
300 pounds. A little bronzed chap, about
as big as the bag, and, weighing not a
pound over 100, would take bag on his
back and run up platform which was on
level with the car, and then he would
trot back at once for another load And
yet some writers assert that the lower
Mexican class are lazy. say that they
are capable of as unremitting, patient toll
as any people on top Of the planet, and
that the true wealth of Mexico consists of
her docile and industrious laboring popula-
tion Half the time they are idle and
have nothing to do. That they will work
hard and continuously for fair wage the
history of the building of the Central Rail-
way shows. Ex-General Manager Robin
son, now of the Atlantic &Pacifc, said that
he preferred them to any American gang
of laborers for hard work.
| have seen an Indian carry from car
to weighing scale bag after bag of grain
weighing 300 pounds, and four cargadores
will carry grand piano on their shoulders
from one end of the city to the other
Furniture is usually moved on litters, with
a man at each end These chaps will pile
up strff on a litter and bind it with ropes,
and then start off at a jog with burden big
enough for horse These furniture NOV
ers are remarkably careful, and rarely in
jure anything. They work cheaply and
WELL
Frequently you will see man perched
on another's shoulders being taken about
the streets. have often seen well-dressed
old gentlemen being trotted along in this
fashion. They are victims of rheumatism
out for an airing, or on visit to some
friend The poorer classes carry their ba-
bies on their backs and one of the quaintest
sights is to see little brown face with
black eyes peeping out of the hood-like
folds of its mothers upper garment.
often see babies being toted about in this
way on the backs Of little brothers or sis
ters, for the kindness of Mexicans of all
classes to young children is a most praise
worthy characteristic. Even in the narrow
streets, where the very poor live in hut-like
houses, you see no trouble among the chill
dren; they play quietly, and their mothers
are not engaged in frequent brawIs regard
ing childish difficulties Indeed, there is a
certain refinement of action, decency.and
courteousness of behavior among the poor
est Indians which would put to shame the
coarseness of people Of the same grade Of
life in an American city.