Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-02
MEXICAN LETTER.
Gambling Carried on Openly During
Fes tivi,ies-The Tables Crowded
With Men and Women.
Bull Els hts and q Circus the Chief Attrac
lions OF Chris, mas Dsy-An
American Abroad.

CDIlSGWdS FESTIVITIES In mexico are 80
radically different to anything Of the kind
IL the United States that perhaps the
personal observations of your correspon.
dent may prove interesting reading to
many subscribers of The GAzE1TE.
Yesterday was just such bright sunny
day ss we would expect in this climate
The air that had been damp and cold dur
log the week previous causing dull, steel
colored clouds to hover around the
mountain tops, warmed up under the in.
fueIce OF the morning sun until spring
like temperature seemed to prevail.
Long before the sun had climbed the
first quarter Of his daily course, large
crowds from huts and hamlets thronged
the principal thoroughfares leading to the
city of Lsrdo. And what a gay, motley
crowd it YVES. Some on foot, on horse
back, in coaches and private conveyances
A strange intermingling of ancient and
modern costumes, not unlike the collec-
ton Of wax figures in metropolitan mu
scum.
The low, fat-topped houses of Santa
Rosa ranch, surrounded with gigantic cac
tus plants that looked like phantom
figures by the roadside, through
the openings Of which could
be seen the long stretch OF mes
quite valley interpersed with cotton fields
overshadowed by the barrep, but stately
Sierra Madre mountsins, formed strange
and interesting picture, that On this par
ticulsr Christmas seemed animated with
new life.
Crossing the stone-arched bridge that
spans the large irrigation ditch in the
edge of the city limits of Lerdo, the
low cornstalk huts with dirt tops, tina,
are grouped in irregular order on either
side Of the approach to the principal
street, look strangely in contrast with the
massive adobe buildings that form almos'
a solid wall to the city limits. Passing
along the street toward the Grand
Plaza, there Is such SINH
larity in the appearance Of the houses
that each side of the street has a fortlike
architecture, that is more suggestive OF
defense than comfort. The deep set,
massive doors and iron barred windows,
can be traced pack to their Moorish
origin.
The Inhabitants of the city seemed to
be chiefly out OF doors, and with the ex-
C ption Of vendors of fruits and Christ
mas TOYS, were basking In the sun.
Men, women and children, With their
white costumes and bright colc1ed
BLANKETS wore broad Christmas smile
upon their faces, that seemed to cheer the
very atmosphere around them. The ap-
proaches in the vicinity of the plsZi Were
crowded with vendors OF oil kinds Of
fruits, confectioneTies and wares in the
line Of Christmas holiday goods, While
the spacious plaza was g perfect wilder
ness OF tents and tables where all kinds
Of gambling devices were spread out to
catch the uuwary. All of these games
were crowded with men and women, who
CHANGED their money upon the turning of
card or the roiliGg of wheel. With
open doors facing the plaza were num-
Der of heightened gambling rooms, where
thous ,nds of Mexican silver dollars
were piled up upon the green
cloth. An old-tlme Mississippi river
gambler would have opened his
eyes in astonishment at the heaps of gilt
tering wealth. The upper class OF both
sexes frequented these halls and engaged
in the sport with est that showed they
enjoyed 1t. Gambling is unrestrained by
law in Mexico during the grand fiestas.
ABOUT O'Clock p. N the great event
Of the day WAS enacted in the amphithea
ter, known b the name of the bull pen
Here the most distinguished fighter of the
Republic, with corps OF able assistants
was advertised to meet the ferocious
quadrupeds in deadly affrsy.
After the brass band mad paIaded the
streets, playing number Of soul stirring
airs, the crowd began to gather within
the spacious circular building. One OF
tnat numerous assembly who gathered
therein was your humble correspondents,
who climbed to a seat liz the dress circle,
where he could view the tragic scene
from safe distance. In the center of
this building was circulsr Arena, fenced
in with strong timbers, the space being
shout loo yards ia diameter. A dozen
yards from the circumference of this
arena began the rows Of seats, that cir
cled one above the other to the height OF
twelve or fifteen feet. At the top of
these rows was level space Of shout
twelve feet wide, seated with comfortable
benches, where the better class OF Mexi-
cans viewed the scenes below. Opposite
to the main entrance, and opening out
into the arena, were one pair Of large
double doors and two smaller ones.
These were used by the participants in
this strange combat, the large doors for
the entrance and exit of the horsemen and
the smaller ones closing in the bulls at
the proper time.
After the crowd of about 5000 people
had gathered the opening scene was
announced by q blast from a bugle.
The large double doors were then
opened and Mr.. Diaz and his troupe came
forth into the arena and bowed to the
audience. They were dressed in blue,
scarlet and bronze green silk suits, trim
med inlsilver and gold lace, embroidered in
many designs, representing flowers,
esgles and the national coat Of arms. Tie
suits were cut after the style Of Henry
Wills time. Two men were on
armed with long lances, sur
with short, sharp spears. The
others were sfoot and carried red cloaks.
Another blast from the bugle. aad the
ropes were loosened from one OF the
smaller doors when out rushed black |
Spanish bull. He paused mo-
nent as If to survey the scene, |
hen made dash for the red
,loaks. After successfully chasing one |
Ifter another to the wooden coverets nesr |
he sides of the arena, he made |
. dash st the nesrest horseman, who
net his charge with q thrust from his |