Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-11
MEXICAN LIFE.
bomc OF the Epicurean Morsels Enjoyed By
the Hidalgos,

some OF the Epicurean Morsels Enjoyed By
the Hidalgos.
Tortillas is not only one of the grea
Mexican dishes, but one of the womens
chief industries. In almost any street
there can be seen women on their knees
MASKING corn between smooth stones,
making it into batter and finally shap-
ing it into round, flat cakes. They spit
on their hands to prevent the dough
from sticking, and bake in a pan of
hot grease, kept boiling bya few Jumps
OF charcoal. Rich and poor buy and
eat them, apparently unmindful Of the
way they are made. But it is bread
that Americans must be educated to.
Many surprise the Mexicans by refus-
ing even taste after they see the bak-
| ers.
There are some really beautiful girls
among the low class of people. Hair
three-quarters the length of the women
and of wonderful thickness is common.
1t is often worn loose, but more fire.
quently in two long plaits. Wig-mak-
ers find no employment here. The men
wear long, heavy bangs.
There is but one thing that poor and
rich indulge in with equal delight and
pleasure. That is cigarette-smoking.
Those tottering with aye down to the
creeping babe, are continually smok-
ing. No spot in Mexico is sacred from
them; in churches, on the railway cars,
on the streets, in the theaters- every
where ale to be seen men and women,
of the elite, smoking.
The MeXicans are unsurpass,d SER
wants. Their thievcry, which is a his
toric complaint, must be confined to
those in the suburbs, for those in
houses could not be more honest Their
cleanliness is something overwhelming,
when one recalls the tales that have
been told of the filth of the "greasers. "
Early in the mornings, the streets,
walks in the plaza and pavements are
swept as clean as any thing can be,
and that with brooms not as good as
those children play with in the States.
Put an American domestic and Mex
lean servant together, even with the
difference in the working implements,
and the American will "get left" every
time. But this cleanliness may be con-
fined somewhat to such work as sweep
ing and scrubbing; it does not GER
tainly exist in the preparation of food.
The meat express does not by any
means serve to make the meat more
palatable. Generally an old mule or
horse that hasrcached its second child
hood serves for the express. A long
iron rod, from which hooks project, is
fastened on the back of the beast by
means of straps. The meat is hung
on these hooks, where it is exposed to
the mud and dirt of the streets as well
as the hair of the animal. Men with
two large baskets, one in 'front.' one
behind, filled with the refuse of meat,
follow near by. If they wear trousers
they have them rolled up high so the
blood from the dripping meat will not
soil them but run down their bare legs
and be absorbed in the sand. 1t is as
serted that the poor do not allow this
mixture in the basket to go to waste,
but are as glad to get it as we are to
| get SlrlOln SJeaK.
Men with cages of fowls, baskets OF
eggs and bushels of roots and charcoal
come from the mountain in droves of
from twenty-five to fifty, carrying
packs which average three hundred
pounds.
Pulque, which is sucked from the
mother plant into mans mouth and
thence elected into water jar, is
brought to town in pigskins. The
skins are filed and then tied on to
burros, or sometimes-not frequently
carried in wagons, the filled skin
rolling from side to side. Never less
than four filled skins are ever loaded
on to a burro; oftener eight and ten.
The burros are never harnessed, but 90
along in trains, which often number
fifty. Mexican politeness extends even
among the lowest classes. In all their
dealings they are as polite as dancing
master. The moment one is addressed
off comes his poor, old ragged hat, and
bareheaded he stands until you leave
him. They are not only polite to other
people, but among themselves. One
poor, ragged woman was trying to sell
broken knife and rusty lock at a
pawnbroker's stand. "WiA you buy?"
she asked, plaintively. "No, Senorita,
gracias" Il thank you), was the polite
reply. - Merieo Cor. Pittsburgh Dis
01Ich