Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-09-11
MEXICAN PASTlMES.
THRILLING PLEASURES AND FLIRTA-
TioNS OF AN EVENING PROMENADE.
Marionette Performances and the Circus,

marionette Performances and the Circus.
| Theatres and BalIs-The Great Ma
| tionaI Amusement of Bull Fighting.
The "Pelea de GaIlos "-Games, Etc.
If the English do, indeed, "take their
| pleasures sadly then the Mexicans must
nave somewhat of a relationship with the
former named nation, for these last, notwith-
standing the vast amount of vivacious de
scrlptlon expended upon their impulsive,
passionate nature and fiery impetuosity Of
behavior, maintain their native reserve and
melancholy in their diversions as consist
emily as if it were an actual sin, or worse vet,
a breach of educacion that is, good form,
good breeding1 to display enthusiasm over
any matter whatsoever.
The simplest form of social gathering is
That variously known, according to the sec
ton, as retreta, or serenata, a sort of open
ar reunion, or promenade concert, on the
mann plaza usually, at which the people
gather ito hear the lily white bandsmen
play" Every Mexican city, town, village
or hamlet, above the limits of a rancho-in-
deed, often the haciendas, even-has at least
one plaza or open square for public use. The
| larger towns and cities have a dozen or
| twenty. These plazas range from the bare
dusty and unadorned open space in the vii
iaSe, through various grades of setteed and
Tree planted perimeter to the great zocalo
| or plaza de armas of the capital CITY, with
| us smoothly rolled walks its grass and
mower plots, its great trees, its smart iron
benches, its fountains and columns, which
were surmounted by statues before they were
annexed by an aesthetic minded chief magis-
trate according to the gossips), its electric
lights and the pretentious pavilion for the
musicians who play there thrice week.
Likewise, in the minor cities, on from one
to two nights weekly, usually SUNDAYS and
thursdays, sweet music is discoursed by the
really good bands, one of which is pretty
sure to be stationed in every garrison town,
at least. To this levee al fresco flock the
nlnas and the lagartijo damsels and
the dandles-mesdemoiSelles Nesting covIy
beneath the wing of mother or some other
relative.
Most towns in Mexico have an alameda. or
species of boulevard; and here, also, once or
twice week-in the national capital daily
there is music and parade more formal and
more dressy than that on the plaza, and
people promenade and drive during the
appointed hours.
The lowest in Importance of Mexico's
amusements proper are the theresa mari
onette performance-and in many towns
this is the only public diversion To those
centers of population which seem to offer
sufficient inducements comes the circus-the
great American circus-on its yearly tour
through the provinces during the off season
in Mexico city. The larger towns are visited
with more or less frequency by theatre COM
panies, according to the distance from the
metropolis and facilities for transportation,
the accommodations offered by the 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, have well arranged
theatres, fairly well patronized, though first
class troupes are rarely seen outside the
national capital and few of the larger cities
near by, such as Puebla, Vera Cruz, etc.
Even balls, or tertulias dancing parties,
would seem tame, weary, stale, fat and
Improbable" to the youth of the United
States prone to seek sequestered hooks in
Conservatives and coigns of vantage on
staircases, wherein to exchange speeches
more or less confidential and sentimental
Such procedure would be social ruin to a
that the women at ball be ranged severely
together on one side of the room, the men on
the other. The music begins for dance. the
men make a break for their partners. The
piece over, the ladies are restored to their
chaperones.
While bull fights may really be 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 are very enthusiastic, but its oppo-
nents are numerous and vehement enough to
delight the hearts of the Society for the Pre-
vention Of Cruelty people. Occasionally
corrida de toros is organized by amateurs for
purposes Of benefcence, and then the press
loads the unhappy projectors with censure
and satire. While many high caste Next
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport very
large number regard it with adherence, and
the Mexican ladies almost always express
against it disapproval, fear and horror
The pelea de gallos, or cock fight, is a
much more brutal and sickening show than
bull fight. 1t is most vicious sport, too,
in the way of gambling, enormous sums
being staked on the issue of these combats.
The greatest attention is paid to the breed
ing, rearing and care of the game cocks, and
tween distant towns of the republic to en-
gage in these contests.
Lectures, concerts, ETC., are rare, and
poorly patronized in Mexico. Parlor games
are little followed on the plateau, but more
common in the warm lands, )" where, indeed,
life i'll every respect assumes brighter,
gayer aspect under tropical influences. La
dies ride little, though equestrian exercise is
creeping in to some extent, chiefly through
the influence of foreigners. Mexican men,
of course, almost all ride surprisingly
we'll Drives in Mexico are formal and
stupid matter, consisting of monotonous
turns on the Alameda boulevard Picnics,
lawn parties, tennis croquet and many other
amusements dear to the Anglo-Saxon heart,
are almost unknown in Mexico, due 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.