Wichita eagle., 1889-01-15
FROM GRAVE TO GAY.
HOW THE WOMEN OF MEXICO MIX
RELIGION AND PLEASURE.

| A Strange Medley of Recreation and De-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GlimPses Of an
Adobe BAH Room-Old and Young En-
Joy Themselves Together.
The last strains Of dying hymn, chanted
| in a sort of jerky monotone, had scarcely
ceased vibrating among the ponderous, rough
hewn. web covered beams of the little adobe
| church at Grants. n NJ, writes correspond
| emit. when the congregation, principally
women, true to habitual failing, began an
| animated conversation Whether their COM
ments related to any particularly tmpressi We
| point Of the past service, or were devoted to
coming over interesting bits OF domestic
affairs, is not known. but it surprises the
stranger. while waiting few moments at the
entrance of the church watching the people,
to receive a pressing invitation to attend q
''baile" or Mexican dance.
bale Is, of course, a most harmless rec
reation, but 70 fly to the opposite extreme,
with the lights of the church yet burning
and the priests still shrouded In sacramental
robes, impressed one as being just triAe sac
religious
A VERY SIMPLE BALLROOM
Women SO lately sitting with uncovered
heads in silent devotion now tripped lightly
through the gloomy streets, moving In and
out between tie darkened structures, chat
ting and laughing each with the other, appar-
entity in the very transports OF merTiment,
all seemed homogeneous
Reaching a long, low rooted building,
where small, dingy window emitted flick
ering. uncertain light, and shrill strains OF
music hoated out into the night through an
open door the casual visitor allowed himself
TO be hustled rather unceremoniously into the
very midst of Mexican dance
The dancing apartment consisted Of one
long, narrow hall, along either side Of which,
for the accommodation Of ladies, several
rough wooden benches were strung out. each
set closely against the wall Upon these sat
women of all ages, in all imaginable toilets,
with hands crossed demurely in front of
them, but intent upon watching the move
ments of those upon the floor.
A number of tallow candles stuck into wide,
wooden crosses and suspended at various
places from the ceiling impaired dim and
almost religious light, that cast weird, pecu-
liar glow upon the dusky occupants Of the
room Upon the wall, which had received a
fresh adjournment Of whitewash for the occa
sion, arranged in an odd, fantastic fashion,
were groups of varihued muslins and calicoes
made up with complicated loops, bows and
circles, and neatly pinned together by means
of green cedar boughs. Those simple green
leaves and bright colored muslins combined
in making noticeably pleasing effect, and
greatly relieved the dull, dead white Of the
walls
To assist the passage Of sound two soulful
musicians were accorded a seat high above
the crowd on a mammoth dry goods box,
where they played on a violin and guitar.
However, the dancers were favored with ad-
ditional sounds, very hollow, however, that
issued from the depths of the resonant dry
goods box, and occasioned by four well souled
boots keeping up continual tattoo.
In the event Of such enjoyable occasions the
Mexican people tof New Mexico) observe very
little or no social distinction, consequently all
classes of people in all phases of life mingle
together in the ball room The haughtiest
don, surprising himself in a sweeping suit of
broadcloth, goes around in a may whirl hand
in hand with a moccasined peon and calico
enveloped lass.
Women of all ages and girls not yet In their
teens eagerly await a request to be led out
upon the floor, yet upon the face of those
neglected, and who wait unasked for hours
upon the hard wooden benches, have never
noticed an expression that would denote
envy.
The old crone of so accepts an invitation as
promptly as the blushing young damsel Of lG.
She perhaps does not feel the same thrill Of
pleasure as her younger sister, but she GER
tainly brightens up on dance nights" and
goes through the regulation moves to the best
of her ability, which, considering her adj
vanced years, is very considerable. The prin-
cipal charm, if any there be in Mexican
dances, is their simplicity. Each dancer,
from reason of being taught from early child
hood has all the required steps down to a
science, which obviates the necessity of any
calling off, or prompting"
THE REFREsHMENT ROOM.
Such simplicity, however, does not prevail
throughout the entire performance, as other
very undesirable and highly congruous feat
ureS strike one as being extremely vulgar, if
not wholly barbarouS For instance, male
gallant during intervals between sets amused
himself, if no one else, by stalking up and
down the floor, leering his body to and fro
with an air of bravado, and by pounding his
feet vigorously upon the boards made harsh,
discordant noise with the clashing of two
monster spurs. one Of which he wore buckled
to either boot.
Another young man. tall and exceptionally
fierce looking, swung a pretty young girl
through the delights of a waltz, while the
polished end Of huge six shooter at each
turn CLEANED bright and formidable from
beneath his coat
AT the completion Of each set, the gentle
man conducts the lady to an adjoining room,
where refreshments are served. The refresh
ment stand, over which an elderly woman in
a white apron presided, is worthy Of note.
The upper surface of the stand, upon which
the delicacies were served, measured about
four feet square, Directly in the center stood
q dozen or more large black bottles, some full,
others partially filled with liquor Around
the bottles arranged in circle were num-
Der of saucers.
The men for the most part took liquor, but
the women regaied themselves each time with
the contents OF a single saucer. and the price
for the combination of liquors, fruit and con-
fections amounted to the modest sum of Is
cents AS the hours waned the more careful
parents took their children homo Others
left in small numbers; the candles one by one
futtered out gradually, darkenlng the room,
and finally the jewellers were followed into
the darkness by the two very much fatigued
mUSicians.-New York Star.
Natural Gas.
a.