Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-23

| Francisco, with zerape closely drawn about
| him lurking in the dark shadow of door
| way-she suddenly lost the listless look
that now seems Interchangeable l noticed
that she smiled then, showing beautiful
teeth, her eyes lit up cloriously, and she
| dropped rose from her bosom to the tri-
umphant Acknowledging which Francisco
| drew his zerape closer, and vanished in the
darkness. Her conduct is not singular
here, for
WOMEN OF THE ARIsTocRACY
Pass most of their lives at the windows.
with minds as vacant as their stare. You
may see them anywhere, behind the bars
or half-closed blinds, always staring
blankly into the streets-with never book
or newspaper in their hands, the only ex-
ertion they are capable of being little
embroidery or the making of wax flowers.
Not only are the women lisiless in the
daytime, but sois everything else in Mexico
between the hours of and ) P. NJ, VIXEN
everybody is taking siesta. Between
those hours only dogs and Americans are
to be seen upon the streets, and even the
stores and postoffices are closed in the
smaller towns. After ) o'clock peo-
pie slowly awake from their lethargy,
and by evening there is a stir in the streets
and a murmur of voices ON the plaza
The military band begins 10 play, and men
and women loll on The stone benches by
the way side, or rambie under the orange
trees beside the flashing fountain. The
first music waited by The sweet scented
zephyrs is sure 70 be an aria from =" II
TIovatore.n The tune is caught up by the
multitude, and hum of many voices is
heard. | can Imagine no place on earth
more charming for a summers evening,
hon b,p lS
one of these Mexican plazas, among these
gentle people aud the sweet scents and
sounds they love.
Last night there was a public ball
at the Casino. Passing toward the place
saw in many cafe bald-head-
ed and bay-windowed old boys slipping
wine or chocolate and drinking deep
draughts of sparkling teqldid, their limbs
shaking as with palsy and their hands I'M
steady. lnquiring the cause, my escort
told me il is from excessive smoking, for
thescigarette is seldom absent from Next
cans mouth or fingers.
The ball was a masked one, though these
are generally confined to the Lenten sea-
son, which here is one of carnival instead
of publication and prayers. The fun "
begins the Sunday before Shroye Tuesday
and continues till near Holy Week. Dur
ing that time the city authorities charge a
dollar for the privilege of masking, and
make each masker pin a numbered badge
couspicuously ON his BOSOM Il is thus
that the Mexicans obey the command to
"wATcH AND PRAY"
BY attending mass in the morning, bull
fights in the afternoon and balls at night.
At public dances, during carnival time, the
assemblage is apt 10 be decidedly mixed,
and participation in the sport might be
dangerous to a woman not well escorted
At the one | attended, dominOes were most
numerous, fancy dresses being worn by
few Mexicans. \ harpist, violinist and
Two guitar players furnished the music. As
The hours wore on, the fun grew faster and
more furious. Rosita, having slipped at
sundry glasses of pulque, showed her
ankles in the "lancers p" in q way that
would have been a terrible shock to her
Inodesty at any other time; and her gallant
Jose grabbed her about the waist with IN
wanted freedom. The mazurka, favorite
dance here, is not at all like that of the
North. The steps are so short as to appear
minciug," and the dancers sway their
bodies from the waist upwards with more
or less abandon, in rythm with the music.
About midnight, when the dancers I'M
masked, noticed that foreigners had as
sumed control of the ball. Most of
them were Americans, and many, regret
to say, were considerably the worse for
sundry drinks. An American ruffian,
who would not be tolerated in any decent
society at home, talked loudly and insult
ingly, rudely showing a Mexican out Of the
way, and hurting an oath at another in
offensive citizen who turned to ascertain
the cause. The Mexicans uttered a curse
and endeavored to pass on; but the blood
OF young America was up he fanced that
the proud bird of freedom was insulted
and blow was given. Instantly more
than one dagger flashed into view, and
pistols were drawn. The Americans
rushed en- masse to their comrades
assistance, and the native whose al
legged offense had caused the disturb
ance was summarily elected. Then the
police appeared upon the scene to ascer-
tain The identity of the warliSe American;
but he had disappeared, the Mexicans did
not know his name, and his countrymen
refused to reveal it. By-and-by, when
he gets back to the States, he Will curse
the . Greaser" as cowardly assassin, and
state how, by his own valor, he narrowly
escaped death at the carnival ball
Now and then the dancers adjourned in
pairs to an alcove and clinked glasses TO
each others health An American miner
opened champagne Fizz, zip Juani
ia S dress was spolied-but what mat
ter; lie will get her another. Pres
emily loud laugh arises, ard
very red-faced, confused Young American
OF clerical appearance was seen brushing
tinsel from his hair, while her Mexican
partner stood near crushing the remnants
of an egg shell i'll his hand 1t is an old
custom-but seldom praciiced a. public
balls-for ladies to break iinsel over the
heads of their escorts in token of admira
ton.
Very different was the private ball which
! attended last week. There only ladies
and gentlemen were present, most of
them natives. They danced with easy
grace slipped wine in moderation, and
ioyed with ices made by the use
of snow brought many miles from
the distant peaks OF the Sierra Madre.
The ladies were not in full dress, nor
were the gentlemen but their attire was
costly snd elegant, and diamonds which
would have excited the envy of Duchess
cleaned ufon many fair Hericana
FANNIE B. WARD.