Wichita eagle., 1889-01-10

fly.
The meZtiza women OF that most inter-
esting country are famed for their beauty
of form and features, abundant silky
black tresses. large dark eyes and easy,
graceful manners. Generally they are
rs good as they are pretty; but their lot
is seldom happy one; perhaps they are
600 numerous to be justly appreciated.
About one in eight enters the state of
matrimony, and these appear to be the
least happy. Owing to q great excess Of
female pOpulatiOn-the consequence of
many revolutions and war with hostile
Indians large number OF women de-
pend entirely on their own exertons, and
their field of labor is limited. They are
not employed in stores, such places being
monopolized by white handed youths
who think coarser toll beneath them.
Those individuals of the sterner sex ex-
pect the gentler, under ali circumstances,
to remain at home, no matter how pain
y ful their position. Orphans must eat the
= bread of dependence in the house Of re-
latiOns or friends, and on no account
shock public opinion 10y trying to earn a
living away from their place OF abode,
nor may they venture to dwell apart
from elders who shall control their every
movement. They may gutter everything
except actual starvation, yet must sub
NIT If they would be respected.
A few are wonderfully clever at max
ing most beautiful fruits and flowers of
sugar, but cannot earn a living by it, the
time and care needed in the manufacture
entailing so much expense that only the
weaithiest give an order on very special
occasions. Nothing truer to nature than
fiese vegetables, fruits and flowers of
sagar can be imagined. a pineapple, an
ear Of corn, a golden kashew, with its
odd shaped appenGage, Il spray of snow
white tuberCses-all equally perfect in
form and color; while large, full blown
roses, crimson, pink, and yellow, appear
as if the frail leaves viii fall from the
stem if breathed upon. Only the taste
cOnvinces us that they are not what they
, seem; and the iiayOrs given to them by
their skillfUl producers are as delicious as
the work is admirable.
MAKING CIGARETTES.
The making of cigarettes affords en-
ployment to hundreds of girls, because
men, women and children there indulge
in the use of tobacco. In city, town and
village pretty senOritaS sit behind the
prison Ike window gr2tings deity wrap
ping up tobacco in small pieces Of the
outer covering Of maize, which, when
toasted, imparts a delightful favor to
the cigarette. Twenty cents day is the
most that one pair of hands can earn.
DressmakerS are numerous. Others
anxiously solicit orders to embroideF in
silk, thread or worsted. Pillow lace was
formerly manufactured in Merida, but
being expensive, there was no demand
for the article. Less costly laces are
largely used. No meZtiZa's holiday
dress is complete without ample fiounces
of it; this converts their simple white
linen garments into expensive attire.
Cheap lace is imported, but all who can,
prefer TO wear that made in the country,
it being handsome as well as more dura-
BILE. This is not scld in the stores but in
the public market place, where it is car
ried by servants; for, strange as it may
appear, the most poverty stricken have
maids, who, besides receiving no wages,
frequently help to support their mis-
taesses. Generally they have been given
to the family, when children, by their
parents-too poor TO provide for them.
They work hard for little food and scanty
clothing, are very faithful, and viii bear
hardship and III treatment rather than
leave those TO whom they have become
attached.
Being directed TO a family of girls who
supported themselves, we made our way
along a broken narrow sidewalk to house
No. IN a row of dwellings,, each con-
sistlng Of three rooms, and an clubhouse
that served as kitchen. Werapped with
our knUckles, and a sweet voice babe us
"comc in" Pushing open the door, we
found ourselves in a room containing
small table and three low seats, occupied
by younG women, whose appearance in
dictated that they seldom enjoyed a hearty
meal.
TALE OF WOE.
Yes, thev could make all the lace we
desired, if we could advance money to
buy net and thread; they had none. even
to buy medicine for their sick mother.
We asked them to resume the work that
our arrival had interrupted. This they
did, embT0iGeTlnC the net with a long
fine needle and thread drawn from white
linen cloth. The designs, their own imi-
tatlOn OF native flowers, are traced on
white paper that is tackled to the net. 4
frame is used only for very wide lace.
After our order was given a tale Of
woe was poured forth, with an appeal for
money ii advance. 4 few DAYS later a
messenger came from our lace makers
win an earnest petition Tor another
small installmont, and SO on, every few
days, the full price being paid long be-
fore the lace was made. We engaged
one woman 10 make eight yards OF lace
eighteen inches wide, and having paid
the full sum il advance. never obtained
more than four yards These people earn
from twenty TO thiIty-five cents a day.
Ia spite Of their cherries homes. mo-
notcnouS lives. and continued toll, there
Is winsoine refinement and amiability
about these maidens that surprises and
charms. They seldom indulge in gloomy |
forebodings, and when things are at /
their worst make light of them. Their /
dinner may have consisted of but one /
tortilla, they may not have a cent in I.
their possession, or Z tallow dip to chase /
the darkness from their empty room. /
but they viii throw open the street door. /
setting in a flood OF sweet MOONLIGHT and |
balIny air. \ neiShbor has an old |
guitar, and slender fingers fall lightly |
upon the strings, while plaintive voices |
blend in some sweet melody attuned to /
the sentimental verses of a native poet. /
1t may be a love song, or PERHAPS a .
carnival ditty with q choruS.-Harpera .
ISzar