Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-26

DRINK AND CIGARETTES
The "mozo' is-a quiet, unofTending person.
except when drunk, when he is at first funny
and NOISY and then wicked The native
compound called ''aguardiente' or 'guarro'
makes men crazy, Sometimes drunkenness
NAV be pleaded in extenuation of rhine in
civilized countries, especially where it may
be shown that no intention existed in the
mind of the guilty party before becoming
drunk; but here it may be pleaded in so
strong a manner as to relieve the culprit
from punishment, il it be proved that he was
drunk at the time OF action.
Late prosperity in coffee has enriched
many families here who before were pretty
well run down at the heel. but who now
scarcely notice their acQuaintances who
were less favored The grown sons Of the
fortunate coffee planters threw up their
clerkships when the parental Golfers were
filled, for the Central Americans idea OF
happiness is TO do nothing. Many of these
would be swells have certain small allow
ances, but seldom larger than to allow them
TO lose more than one game of billiards in a
night. Take q seat in any billiard room Of
Guatemala and watch the growing genera
ton All are addicted 10 the cigarette
habit. Sometimes, should a party of six be
playing pool, the leader or the loudest
talker will call the waiter and pompously
order him 10 take the orders Of the other
gentlemen, but as the waiter hurries to the
bar he is requested to bring separate checks
Then again the luxury of the drink is post
poned until paying up at the desk, when the
''bloodsn hang over the bar, talking of the
different brands of extra dry and Iqueu
well knowing there is not enough money IL
the party to pay for a single glass Of ether
and finally conclude by calling for modes
glass of beer, after which each produces hi
own small piece of silver for his own drink
The hobitue who lounges around to b'
treated would so very thirsty in Guate
mala-
GENTLEMEN OF GOOD STANDING.
I once noticed two young men seated at
| table talking and using up all the toothpicks
having nothing especial to do l made u
| nv mind to sit them out. People came il
| and got their drinks and went out, but N,
| young men never moved nor took anything
| Finally, after two hours, and when had fin
ished reading all of the newspapers, one o
them got up, bade good-by to his companion
| and went out. No sooner had he well gon
| than the one who was left took a solitar
| drink and went out, but in less than five mir
utes the other returned and also treated hin
self 1t seems to be the aim of every schoo
boy TO Join this privileged class, with its lo'
derby hat, cutaway coat, vest of many co
ors, and pantalooms so tight and taperin
that their patent leathered feet, alread
large, look like hams. They regard work a
degrading and beneath the dignity of gentl'
men of their standing, and l have never "
seen ono who did not "know it all.n
Spanish h-American women are much MOI
demonstrative than the French and decidedl
less attractive in every way. They mes
each other on the street. they inmediatel
fall into each others arms, there are two {
three little simultaneous pats on the bac
and movement of the faces toward eac
other which does not end in kiss, but lool
as if they wished to rub noses in kalmuc
fashion. This invariably occurs when tw
ladies meet What the pat on the bac
means nobody seems to know. When tw
Indian women meet the older presents hs
! hand to the younger, who respectfully TAX
it, and pends over while kissing it. The ladi
invariably complain of the rude staring
the men In the street, but at the theatl
they can sit in their low boxes and stand Il
intent gaze Of impudent flunkies who Al
near enough to rest their chins on the railir
without being any more phased than mi
ror. They seem to like such attention, Al
feel fattered that they ere worthy of the q
tention of such specimens Of the other Sc
In the evenings during band practice in Il
''plazas" crowds of ladies walk around Il
circle while the gallants stand two or thr
deep along the sides to look at them as thu
pass by There appears to be heavy pr
pondcrancc of girls in every family. Mann
takes them to hear the music in the 'plaz
while papa goes to what he calls the club.
Cor. New York Times.