The Dickinson press., 1889-02-23
FROM GRAVE TO GAY.
HOW THE WOMEN OF MEXICO MIX
RELIGION AND PLEASURE.

NV .IoSOIl6
y Strange Medley of Recreation and De-
s"ti"n- Fascinating Glimpse of an
Adobe Ball lsoom-OM and Young En-
joy Themselves Together.
The last strains of a dying hymn, chanted
III a sort of .jefky monotone, had scarcely
ceased vibrating among the ponaerous, rough
tewi,, web covered beams of the little adobe
church at Grants. n NJ, writes n correspond
elit. When the congregation. principally
women. true to a Gabitual failing, tegan an
animated conversation. Whether their COM
mrnts related to any particularly impressive
point OF the past service, or were devoted to
coming over interesting bits of domestic
affairs is not known. but it surprises tho
stranger, while waiting n few moments at tho
entrance of ehe church watching the people,
TO receive II pressing invitation to attend n
'haile" or Mexican dance.
y Bale is, of course. n most harmless rec.
%reation, but to fly to the opposite extreme,
With the lights Of the church vet burning
and the priests still strourlrd in sacruincntal
robes, impressed one as being Just Il trilo sac
sil agious.
= VERY SIMPLE BALLROOM.
"otieii So ldtclS SitrIES With uncovered
heads III silent devotion now trippcd lightly
through the gloomy streets. moving in and
out between the daricncd structures, chat.
ting and laughing each With the other. uppar
emily in the very Transports of mcrrimcnt,
all seemed i~ilcongruous.
Reaching a long, low rooted building.
where IL sa:.all, dingy window emitted Il flick.
ei'!Hs, uncertain light. and silrill strains of
music iiuated out into the night through an
open door, the casual visitor allowed himself
to hc hustled rather unccrcmoniously into the
very midst OF u Mexican dance.
The dancing apartment consisted of one
long, narrow hall, along either side of which.
Tor the accommodation of ladies. several
rough wooden benches We're strung out, each
sci closely against the wall. Upon these sat
"olnc OF all ages, i'll all imaginable toilets.
with hands crossed denurcly in front of
them. but intent upon watching the move
.ac!ils of those upon the floor
y ndnlbei of ta!low candles strcl: into wide,
wooden crosses and suspended at various
places from TIE ceiling impaired Il dim and
almost religious light, that cas-, 81 weird, pccu.
liar glow upon The dusliy occupants of tho
rouin Upon the wall, which had received q
fresh ut!orlliiont OF wlitewasl for the oeca-
sion. arranged in an odd. fantastic fashion,
were glonpso of vari-hucd muslins aud c~alicoes
iiliGe up with complicated loops, bows and
circles. and neatly pinned together 10y means
OF green cedar houslls. Those simple green
leaves and bright rulorcd muslins combined
in making Il notircably pleasing effect, and
greatly relieved the dull, dead white of tho
walls.
To assist the passage of sound two soulful
musicians were accorded a seat high above
tI. ,t.,,,.t 90, - H.
where they played on a violin and guitar.
However, the dancers wero favored with al
diti"illl sounds, very hollow. however, that
Issued from the depths Of the resonant dry
goods box, and occasioncd by four we'll soulcd
boots keeping APP Il continual tattoo.
In the event of such enjoyable occasions the
Mexican people tor Ncw alexico, observe very
little or no social distinction, consequently all
cla-sss If people in all phase. of life minglo
together in the bail room. The haughtiest
'iWi surprising himself in u sweeping suit of
tr':i'irlp,h, goes around I'M may whiri hand
N hand with Il moccasined pcon and calico
eilvrloped laS,.
Women OF all ages and girls not yet in their
teens eagerly await IL Request to he led out
upon the tioor. yet upon tho face of those
neglected, and WHO wait unaslcl for hours
upon the hard wooden benches, | have never
noticed un expression that would denote
envy
The old ciole of 80 accepts an invitation as
promptly Us the ~bluslling young damsel of lG.
She perhaps docs not feel tho same thrill of
pleasure as her younger sister, but she GER
talhiN b'ightrns nip on dance nights and
goes through the regulation moves to the best
of her ability, which. considering her ad.
Nanced Years. is very considerable. Tho prin-
c!lal charm, ii any there be in Mexican
dances, is their simplicity Each dancer,
from reason OF being taught from carly child |
hood, has all the required steps down to q
science, which obviates the necessity of any
calling oil" or ~"proinpt!ng."
THE EEFli.silMENT ROOM.
Such simplicity, however, does not prevail
throughout the entire performance, as other
very undesirable and highly congluolls feat
ureS strike one IT'S being extremely vulgar, if
not wholly bar!,arous For instance, a male
gallant during intervals between sets amused
if no one else, by stalking up and
down The floor, lcering his body to and fro
with an air of bravado, and by pounding his
feet vigorously upon the boards made a harsh,
discord:nt noise with the clashing Of two
monster spurs, ono of which he wore buclled
to either boot.
Another young man, tall and exceptionally
fierce locking, swung u pretty young girl
through the delights of a waltz, while the
polished end of a huge six shooter at each
turn CLEANED bright and formidable from
beneath his coat.
AT the completion of each set, tho 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 tho stand, upon which
the delicacies were served, measured about
four feet square, Directly in tho center stood
q dozen or more large black bottles, some full.
others partially filled with liquor Around
the bottles arranged in n circle We're u num-
Der of saucers.
The men for the most part took liquor, but
the women RECALLED themselves each time with
the contents of u single saucer, aud the price
Tor the combination of liquors, fruit and con
iectlons amounted to tho modest sum of 25
cents. AS the hours waned the moro careful
parents took their children home. Others
ielt III small numbers; tho candles one by ono
tlutterel out gradually, darkening tho room.
and finally the jewellers were followed into
INC aarkless by the two very much futigued
musicians. New York Star.
Natural Gas.
In view OF the ever expanding enterprise of
American towns and American manufac-
+r~~- 81