The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-04
MEXICAN PASTlMES.
THIFLlNG PLEASURES AND FLiRTA-
TONS OF AN EVENING PROMENADE.
Marionetto Performances and the Circus.
Theatres and BalIs-rhe Great Ma
tionaI Amusement Of Bull Fighting.
The "Pelea de GalIos "-Games, Etc.

| II the English do indeed, take their
pleasures sadly" then the Mexicans must
| have somewhat of relationship with tho
! former named nation, for these last, notwith-
standing the vast amount Of vivacious de-
scripton expended upon their impulsive,
passionate nature and fiery impetuOsty OF
| behavior, maintain their native reserve and
melancholy in their diversions as consist
entity as il it were an actual sin, OF worse yet,
breach of educacion that is, good form,
good brecdingl to display enthusiasm over
any matter whatsoever.
The simplest form of social gathering is
tina. yariously known, according to the sec
| ton. rs retreta, or serenata, sort OF open
air reunion, or promenade concert, on the
main plaza usually, at which the people
gather "to hear tho lily white bandsmen
play" Every Mexican city. town, village
or hamlet, above the limits OF n rancto-ln-
| deed. often the hicienlas, eycn-has at least
one plaza or open square for public use The
| larger towns and cities have a dozen Of
| twenty These plaZas range from the bare,
| dusty and unadorned open space in the vii
| Iage through various grades OF settoed ana
tree planted permeter to the great zocaio
| its smoothly rolled walks. its. grass and
| flower plots, its great trees its smart lror
benches, its fountains and columns, which
were surmounted by statues before they We're
annexed by an aesthetic minded chief magis
trate according 10 the gossipsl, Us electric
J lights and the prctentious pavilion for the
| musicians who play there thrice a week.
Likewise, in the minor cities, on from ono
10 two nights weekly, usually Sundays and
Thursdays, sweet music Is discoursod 10y the
really good bands, one of which IS pretty
sure 10 be stationed in every garrison town,
at least To this ieyee al ircsco flock the
nina, and the lagartij0s the dam>els and
the daudcs-mesiemoisoll nesting coyly
beneath tho wing Of mother or some other
relative.
Most towns in Mexico have an alameda or
species of boulevard; ard here, also, once or
twice a week-in the national capital daily
there is music and parade more formal and
more dressy than that on the plaza, aud
people promenade and drive during the
appointed hours
The lowest in Importance Of MeXicO's
amusements proper are the titercs-a mari
one.te perfomaHce-and Ia many towns
this is the only public diversion. To those
centers OF population which seem 70 Offer
sufficient inducements comes the circus-th
great American clrcus-on its yearly tour
through the provinces during the of season
in Mexico city. The larger towns are visited
wth more or less frequency by theatre COM
panies, according to tine distance from The
metropolis and facilities for transportation,
I'll. .ffrual l.V
theatre building tho wealth Of the COM
munity and the propensity OF the citizens for
pleasure Most of tho larger towns, particu-
larry the capitals, have well arranged
theatres, fairly well patronized. though first
class troupes are rarely seen outside the
national capital and a few Of the larger cities
near by, such as Puebla. Vera Cruz, etc.
Even balls, or tertuias dancing parties,
would seem tame, weary. stale, fiat and
Improbable to the youth Of the United
States prone to seek sequestered hooks in
Conservatives and coigns Of vantage on
staircases. wherein 10 exchange speeches
more or less confidential and sentimental
Such a procedure would be social ruin 10 Il
Mexican girl The unwritten law demands
that tho women at a ball be ranged severely
together on one side Of the room, the men on
the other. The music tegins for a dance the
men make a break for their partners The
piece over. tho ladies' are restored TO their
chaperones
While bull fights may really be called the
great national amusement in Mexico, it must
not be supposed that public opinion on this
subject is undivided. The champions OF bull
fighting are very enthusiastic, but its oppo-
nents are numerous and vehement enough 70
delight the b arts Of the Society for the Pre-
vention OF Cruelty people Occasionally
corrida de toros Is organized by amateurs for
purposes Of benefceuce and then the press
loads the unhappy projectors with ceusuro
and satire While many high caste Mcxi
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport, very
largo number regard il with adherence. and
the Mexican ladies almost always express
against il disapprovai. fear and horror.
The pelea DO gali5s or cock fight, is a
much more brutal and sickening show than
q bull nght. IL Is a most vicious sport, too,
IN the way Of gambling enormous sums
being staked ON the issue Of these combats.
The greatest attention is paid TO the breed
ing. rearing and care of the game cocks, and
animals Of noted record are conveyed he
tween distant towns Of the republic to en-
gage IN these contests.
Lectures concerts, etc, arc rare, and
poorly patronized in Mexico Parlor games
are little followed on the plateau, but more
common in the "warmands, wheYe, indeed,
lite in every respect assumes q brighter,
gaycr aspect under tropical influences. La
dies ride little though equestrian exercise l.
creeping in 10 some extent, chiefly through
the influence of foreigners. Mexican men,
Of course. almost all ride surprisingly
we'll. Drives in Mexico are a formal and
stupid matter, consisting Of monotonous
turns on the Alameda Boulevard. Picnics,
lawn parties, tennis, croquet and many other
amusements dear TO the Anglo-Saxon heart,
are almost unknown ia Mexico, due 10 the
aforesaid social restrictions, which also soreiy
hamper the line OK evening calls, etc Rink
Ing and baseball begin to be known in sec
tions affected by American contact, but 1t
will be long ere the youth Of Mexico enjoys
an adequate share OF amusement.-H Il.
Adds in san Francisco Chronicle