Wichita eagle., 1888-06-01
-sSSAiLSN
Daily eagle
MEXICAN PASTIMES.
THRILLING PLEASURES AND FLiRTA-
TlONS OF AN EVENING PROMENADE.

Theatres and Balls-The Great Ma
tional Amusement of Bulk Fighting.
The "PeIea de GaIIos''-Games, Etc
II the English do, indeed, etake their
pleasures sadly, then the Mexicans must
have somewhat of relationship with the
former named nation, for these last, notwith-
standing the vast amount Of vivacious de-
scription expended upon their impulsive,
passionate nature and fiery impetuosity of
behavior, maintain their native reserve and
melancholy in their diversions as consist
emily as If it were an actual sin, or worse yet.
breach of educacion that is, good form,
good breeding) to display enthusiasm over
any matter whatsoever.
The simplest form of social gathering IS
that veriously known, according to the sec
ton, as retreta, or serenata, a sort Of open
cir reunion, or promenade concert, on tho
main plaza usually, at which the people
gather t'to hear the lily white bandsnen
play" Every Mexican city, town, village
or hamlet, above the limits of rancho-in-
deed, often the haciendas even-has at least
one plaza or open square for public use. The
larger towns and cities have a dozen or
twenty. These plazas range from the bare,
lage, through various grades OF setteed and
tree planted perimeter to the great zocalo
or plaza de armas OF the capital city, with
its smoothly rolled walks, its grass and
flower plots, its great trees, its smart iron
benches, its fountains and columns, which
were surmounted by statues before they wero
annexed by an aesthetic minded chief magis-
trate according to the gosSps), its electric
lights and fha rlr,ntantiol1S roviIiou for. ba
musicians who play there thrice week.
Likewise, in the minor cities, on from one
to two nights weekly, usually Sundays and
Thursdays, sweet music is discoursed by the
really good bands, one of which is pretty
sure to be stationed in every garrison town,
ct least. To this levee al fresco flock the
ninas and the lagartijos-the damsels and
the s-mesdemoiselles nesting coyly
beneath the wing of mother or some other
relative
Most towns in Mexico have an alameda, or
species OF boulevard and 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, and
people promenade and drive during the
appointed hours.
The lowest in Importance OF Mexico's
amusements proper are the titeres-a mari
onette performance-and in many towns
this Is the only public diversion To those
centers Of population which seem to offer
sufficient inducements comes the circus-the
great American circus-on its yearly tour
through the provinces during the OF season
in Mexico city. The larger towns are visited
with more or less frequency by theatre COM
panies, according to the distance from the
metropolis and facilities for transportation,
the accommodations offered by the local
theatre building, the wealth OF the coIn-
munity and tho propensity of tho citizens for
pleasure Most CT the larger towns, particu-
larly the capitals, have well arranged
theatres, fairly well patronized, though first
class troupoS are rarely seen outside the
pational capital and a few of the larger cities
near by, such as Puebla, Vera Cruz, etc
Even balls, or tertulias dancing parties),
would seem tame, "weary, stale, fat aud
unprofitable" to the youth of the United
States prone to seek sequestered hooks in
conseryatorieS and coigns of vantage ON
staircases, wherein to exchange speeches
more or less confidential and sentimental
Such procedure would be social ruin to a
Mexican girl The unwritten law demands
that the women at ball be ranged severely
together on one side of the ROOM the men on
the other. The music begins for q dance, the
men snake a break" for their partners. The
piece over, the ladies are restored to their
chaperoneS.
While bull fights may really be called the
great national amusement in Mexico, il must
not be supposed that public opinion ON this
subject is undivided The champions of bull
fighting are very enthusiastic, but its oppo-
nents arc numerous aIld :SAement enough 20
delight the hearts OF the Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty people Occasionally q
corrida do toroS is organized by amateurs for
purposes of beneicence, and then the press
loads the unhappy projectors with censure
and satire While many high caste Mexi-
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport, a very
large number regard it with abhorrence, and
the Mexican ladies almost always express
against it disapproval, fear and horror.
The pelea de gallos, or cock fight, is
much more brutal and sickening show than
D bull fight II is a most vicious sport, too,
In tho way of gambling, enormous sums
being staked on the issue of these cornbats.
The greatest attention is paid to the breed
ing, rearing and care of the game cocks. and
animals of noted record arc conveyed BE-
tween distant towns OF the republic TO ell
gage in these contests
Lectures, concerts, etc, are rare, and
poorly patronized in Mexico. Parlor games
are little followed en- the plateau, but more
common in the warm lands, where, indeed,
life in every respect assumes a brighter,
gayer aspect under tropical influences Ls-
dies ride little, though equestrian exercise is |
creeping in to some extent, chiefly through /
the influence of foreigners. Mexican men.
of course, almost all ride surprisingly /
well Drives in Mexico ere formal and |
stupid matter, consisting OF monotonOus (
tuIns on the Alameda boulevard Picnics, /
lawn parties. tennis, croquet and many other
RmusementS dear TO the Anglo-Saxon heart,
are almost unknown in Mexico due to the
aforesaid social restrictions, which also sorely /
hamper the line OF evening calls, etc, Rink
ing and baseball begin 10 be known in sec
tons affected by American contact, but it
VIII be long ere the youth of Mexico enjoys
en- adequate share Of amusement-Y. Il
Adds in San Francisco Chronicle.
Game of Mad Reading.
J