Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-12


wedding or funeral; and for wealthy
family to refrain from celebrating, whether
their hearts are in it or not, would be dan
gerous at this juncture, for the '.junta"
might construe it into an evidence
of sympathy for the 'lost cause"
of Balmaceda. The municipalities u.s.
ually recognize three days as the
legal time for feastlng and rejoicing, dur
ing which nobody can be compelled to Ia
bor-the 18th instant for the assembling of
the people from the country; the 18th for
horseback riding and general jollifcation :
the 18th for sham battles between chosen
divisions of soldiers, the tournament, rae
ing, ETC., most of the people, however,
spending the entire week, night and day, in
one uninterrupted round of festivities, in
preparing for which many of the poor sell
everything they possess in order to secure
pocket money for the occasion; and in some
circles the merry-making IS kept up far into
October.
By the way, here is hint to travellers.
In most foreign countries, and especially
in Spanish America, it is quite the correct
thing to visit pawn-shops, wherein may be
picked up many choice and curious souveh-
irs, such, for example, as diamonds in am
tique settings, golden spoons, silver candle
sticks, splendidly embroidered shawls, sill
verplated spurs, prayerbooks bound in
mother-of-pearl, etc. 4 few weeks after
DtcI " OtllD- NutH -tuc tSLOTl llilC has
elapsed during which these may be re-
deemed by their owners tasd they seldom
are redeemed). is the best time for pawn
shop purchasing.
The funniest part of this patriotic season
is the preliminary spree which always pre-
cedes the regular celebration by just two
weeks, and is supposed to appropriately
lead up to it. This extra jollifcation is
known as Diez V echo chico, Little
Eighteen and is continued from one to
three days. Though participated in by all
classes, from the president down TO the
humblest peon, it is not considered quite so
swell as the latter celebration.
spent last Diez ocho chico in Santiago
only one little year ago, and what changes
have taken place, Then the hero of the
hour, surrounded by his happy family, was
now the despised Balmaceda. The troubles
that eliminated in his melancholy suicide
were already begun, but nobody dreamed
that they would end in war. At the races
last year, and the subsequent dress parade
on the fashionable drive, the Balm aceda
coach, containing the president, his hand
some wife and two daughters. were the OBJ
served of all observers; and the rabble who
lately shouted with JOY at his DEATH were
as ready then to rend the air with vivas in
his honor. With that irresponsible element
il is lie roi est mort; VIve lie rol. Their
allegiance is given to the star that happens
to be in the ascendant. and they will be just
as ready to welcome another overturning.
One year ago the late president was not
only d popular and happy man, but a very
rich one, and that poverty could oyertake
him or his, seemed entirely out OF the qGes-
ton; yet he died so poor that all the money
he possessed had been given him by his
wife from her private fortune 10 assist his
fight. The widow and the children are
left not only penniless, but homeless, for
4
their house. as well as that of BatInaceda'S
aged mother
In this third city Of the republic. the
patriotism of Diez ocho chico has been
rampant for twenty-fOur hours. and still
cannons are booming and bands playing
VIVA Chile, and carriages dashing TO and
fro carrying gaily dressed people with glad
faces. Hundreds of young cabailcros,
mounted on pranciag steeds, with wonder
fully ornamented saddles and trappings,
are galloping about like mad, to display
their EQUESTRIAN skill and prepare for the
afternoons tournament. The fashionable
resort of Conception IS the Alameda, which
lies in the outskirts OF the city, snug up
against Il hill which rises abruptly 10 the
height of 1000 feet, and though at least fifty
years old, few attempts have ever been
made to beautify it. Lombardy populars
grow thickly, in long rows from end 10 end
OF the Alameda On either side Of the first
line Of noble trees, rows of tents have been
set-sosne made of boards covered with
cloth, some of old carpets, and others
of canvas. These motley houses are
occupied during Diez Y ocho by
thousands of country people, all dressed in
their best-whole neighDorhoods together,
bent on having Il week Of thorough enjoy
ment. Every tent appears to serve as L
hotel, for in front of each women are con-
stantly preparing food - some kneeding
1
ing onion-odorous tamales in kettles Of
boiling fat. Inside. on shelves, more deli
cacies are exposed for sale-such. for in
stance, as huge turkeys, each baked with
head and feet intact and a green olive in his
bill Should you call for u meal at one Of
these obstetrics, you will find the meLu
about as follows: Soup, made of chopped
CLANS, beef kidneys. cabbage and onions;
the lungs of fat pigs. broiled; boiled sea-
crabs, garnished with the grilled entrails of
pigs: roasted ''sea-urchins, served in their
purple shells; fried fish, with sauce pre-
pared from ox-feet; roast turkey, stuffed
with onions, spices, red peppers and cori-
anders; fried peas; pepper salad; bread,
cheese and yerba mate-thc tea of Para
quay, slipped, boiling hot, through u silver
tube the size of a straw. You can take the
whole course, standing, for the modest sum
of about g; or, if more economically in
chned, you can find cheaper alternative
on the back side of the same tent. where
for % cents. you can join the family dinner
of boiled meat and vegetables. ali eating
from the same wooden bowl; and an extra
medic % cents) will secure you two or three
glasses of wine with which TO wash il
down.
Every tent is ballroom and a saloon.
as well as q hotel, where two or three
young women sing the plaintive airs of The
cuaca, accompanying their voices with
guitars, while couple after couple come sol
EMMY forward. twirl their handkerchiefs
and dance, and the bystanders keep time
by the clapping Of hands. Casks. barrels |
and bottles of wine are strewn all about;
and so, while some trip the Light fantas-
tic others drink; and they in turn dance
and drink together, until all become too top
heavy for further effort. Here comes Il |
handsome country girl in high-heeled shoes |
and close-titting gown of navy blue with
bright black eyes and checks like roses. |
She twirs her handkerchief in the cuaca |
with young rustic in poncho, boots and |
spurs. until some old woman remarks: |
oh she must have her wine to keep heG>s
heels going" $50 she must" echoes the |
rustic, and he fills goblet to the Grim, /
which she losses of, laughing, at a single |
gulp. Other SWANS come in for dance |
with the same damsel, she is SO pretty and |
sprightly, and each admirer must treat her /
10 a big glass of the "rosy.' Her heels fly /
fast and her tongue faster: but presently !
she steps high. as il the floor suddenly rose I
to meet her, and though Still showing |
pearly teeth in smile and coQuettishly |