The Dickinson press., 1888-06-30
MEXICAN PASTIMES.
THRILLING PLEASURES AND FLIRTA-
TloNS OF AN EVENING PROMENADE.

Marionettc Performances and the Circus,
Theatres and Ralls-Thc Great Ma
tional Amusement of Bull Fighting.
Tho "Pclea dc Galios "-Gnmcs, Etc.
If the English do, indeed, take their
pleasures sadly" then the McSicans must
have somewhat of IL relationship with the
former named nation, for these last, notwith-
standing the vast amount of vivacious dc
scliption expended upon their impulsive,
passionate nature and fiery impetuosity of
behavior, maintain their native reserve and
melancholy in their diversions as consist
entity as if it were an actual sin, or worse vet,
Il breach of cducacion that is, good form,
good b%rccding) to display enthusiasm over
any matter whatsoever.
The simplest form of social gathering is
that variously known, according to the sec
tion, as %retreta, or scrcnata, n sort of open
air reunion, or promenade concert, on the
main plaza usually, at which the people
gather ''to hear the lily white bandSmen
play" Every Mexican city, town, village
or hamlet, above the limits of IL luncho-in-
deed, often the haciendas, cvcn-has at least
one plaza or open square for public use. The
larger towns and cities nave a dozen or
twenty. These plazas range from the bare,
dusty and unadorncd open space in the vii
laSe, through various grades of Settecd and
tree planted perilncter to the great zocaio
or plaza dc 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
We're sulmountcd by statues before they were
annexed by an aesthetic minded chief magis.
tratc according to the gossips), its electric
lights and the prctentious pavilion for the
musicians who play there thrice n week.
Likewise, i'll the m~inorritics, on from one
to two nights weekly, usually Sundays and
Thursdays, sweet music is discoursed bv the
really good bands, ono of which is pretty
sure to be stationed in every garrison town,
at least. To this levce al fresco flock the
ninas and the lagartijos-thc damsels and
tho dandies-mesdelnoiselles nesting coylv
beneath the wing of mother or some other
relative.
Most towns i'll Mexico nave an alameda, or
species OF boulevard; and here, also, once or
twice IL wcek-in the national capital daily
there is music and n parade more formal and
more dressy than that on the plaza, and
people promenade md drive during the
appointed hours.
The lowest in Importance of Mexico's
amusements proper arc tho theresa mari
onetso pcrformance-and in many towns
this is the only public diversion. To those
ccnters of population which seem to offer
sufficient inducements zones the circus-the
great American circus-on its yearly tour
through the provinces during tho of season
in Mexico city. Tho larger towns are visited
with more or less frequency by theatre com
panies, according to the distance from the
t,,n4 C,,1 fn1:1:t;,, c..
the accommodations offered 10y tho local
theatre building, the wealth of the com
munity and the propensity of the citizens for
pleasure. Most of the larger towns, particu-
larly the capitals, lavc well arranged
theatres, fairly we'll patronissd, though first
class troupes arc rarely seen outside the
national capital and a fcwof the larger cities
near by, such as Puebla, Vera Cruz, etc.
Even balls, or tcrtulias dancing parties),
would seem tame, "wcary, stale, fiat and
unprofitable' to the youth of the United
States promo to seek scquestered hooks in
c~onservatories and coigns of vantage Oh
staircases, wherein to exchange speeches
more or less confidential and sentimental.
Such a procedure would be social ruin to n
Mexican girl. Tho unwritten law demands
that tho women ut q ball be ranged severely
together OH ono side of the room, the men OH
tho other. The music begins for q dance, the
men 'nake q break" for their partners. The
piece over, tho ladies are restored to Their.
chapcrones.
While bull fights may really DO 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 arc very enthusiastic, but its oppo.
nents are numerous and vehement enough to
delight the hearts of the Society for the Pre-
vcntion of Cruelty people. Occasionally a
colrida de toros is organized by amateurs for
purposes of bencficence, and then the press
loads tho unhappy projectors with censllrc
and satire. While many high caste Next
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport, a very
large number regard 1t with adherence. and
the Mexican ladies' almost always express
against it disapproval, fear and horror.
Tho pclca de gallos, or cock fight, is a
much more brutal and sickening show than
q bull fight. 1t is a most vicious sport, too.
in the way Of gambling, enormous sums
being stakcd on the issue of these combats.
The greatest attention is paid to the breed
ing, rearing and care of tho game cocks, and
animals of noted record arc conveyed be-
tween distant towns of the republic to en-
gage in these contests.
Lectures, concerts, etc., arc rare, and
poorly patronized i'll Mexico. Parlor games
are little followed on the plateau, but moro
common in the "warm lands where, indeed,
life i'll every respect assumes n brighter,
gayer aspect under tropical influences. La
dies ride little, though equestrian exercise is
creeping in to some extent, chiefly through
thy influence of foreigners. Mexican men,
of course, almost all ride surprisingly
well. Drives i'll Mexico arc a formal and
stupid matter, consisting of monotonous
turns Oh tho Alameda boulevard. Picnics,
lawn parties. tennis, croquet and many other
amusements dear to tho Anglo-Saxon heart,
arc almost unknown in Mexico, duo to the
aforesaid social restrictions, which also sorely
hamper the line of evening calls, etc. Rink
ing and baseball begin to be known in sec
lions affected by American contact, but it
will be long ere the youth of Mexico enjoys
an adequate share of amusement.-Y. H.
Adds in San Francisco Chronicle.