The National tribune., 1891-08-13

animal makes a rush for him head downwards
he thrusts his rapier into his shoulders and on
down into his heart. The bull falls dead and
the audience go wild with applause. The bands
play, aud the bull-fEhter is for the time the
greatest man in Mexico.
Next to bull fighting, the favorite amuse-
ment OF the Mexicans is cock fighting, and
see game cocks everywhere. On the trains
find the baggaGe-cars sometimes containing
half dozen baskets or crates Of baskets, each
OF which contains a game cock, with its head
in sort Of cornocupia horn, so that IL can look
out, but so arranged that il cannot possibly
peck at nor be pecked by the other cocks in
the crates, and am told that at the biggest
ieasis cocks are shipped in by the thousands.
Many OF the poems own fghung-eocks, and
You can get up chicken fight here any day
on ten minutes notice. / see cocks tied 10 the
front Of stores and outside Of huts, as an indi-
cation, am told, that their owners are willing
10 challenge all corners. These cock fights are
waged with rs heavy bets as their owners can
stand. There are no greater gamblers in tho
world than the Mexicans, and gambling IS
licensed by the Government. Every man and
woman plays, and you iud gambling going on
IN from; OF the great Mexican Cathedral here
while the praying Is being done not ten steps
away. Ii you watch both players aud prayers
carefully, you will note that the former often
leave the roulette or the monte tables 10 80
into the cathedral 10 worship, aud that the
prayers frequently rise from their knees to
lind their way 10 the games outside. i went
out 10 gacubaya one sunday afternoon and
dropped into a great garden there, which was
within a stones throw of the residence Of
Romero Rubio the Secretary OF the Interior
] found here a big gambling hell, with half
Gozen roulette and monte tables, aud around
these hundreds Of men aud women stalking
gold and silver on the turning Of the cards and
the rolling Of the wheel. ! find that there arc
many gambling establishments which are open
night and day he:c in the Capital, aud in the
Jockey Club there are a number of rooms
which are given up 10 card playing. The
NeEcaus lose their money in this way with
out much emotion, and many Of those who are
closest IN tlcir business dealings aud arc Coo
nomical ia their habits are by no means aveTso
TO risking their thousands at the card-tablc.
There arc great many rich men IN this City
Of Mexico. ] met man to-day whose income
is $4,000 every year, aud this hotel in which
i write belongs 20 the ltuT6ide family, one OF
the richest ia Mexico This family has many
valuable business buildings IN this city. IL has
been rich for generations aud its members now
live abroad, and, like many OF the old Spanisn
families, have little connection with Mexico
outside Of getting their income from il. The
Z
( This 10 the family in which a brother lately
married his sister, so that no could unite
the two fortunes which they inherited from
their father ami thus keep the wealth in
/ tho family. The fortune largely came from
I the Vera Cruz Railroad, and II is one OF the
+ few Mexican fortunes which have come from
Z such a source. The most OF the miliionaFes OF
Mexico have gotten their money out Of mines
/ ana lands. ana there are hundreds Of farmer.
1 IN Mexico who own more land than they have
/ ever travelled over ] have ridden through
/ farms a hundred mics long, AID saw younc
! girl on my trip from IamPioo 10 san Luis Potos
who was dressed in giREaam skirt aud a calico
4 waist, and who Owned something over 2 million
I acres Of rich lands. Qlitc number Of the
! rich men Of Mexico have gotten their posses
! SONS 0at Of Office holding, and President Con
/ za!Cs made millions while he was at the head
Of The nation. lie has a number 81 large
! hacieudas aud he lives like a king. President
4 D.aZ Is said 10 Tie wortl about million. and
/ The Gurcuors0 TIE States are IN general pretty
well hcelcd. The Paseo, or the fsshiouabl,
drive Of Mexico City, is lined with fine houses
and you Will see from five oscveu as fine turn
/ outs upon il as you will end in any fashiOnab.,
! drive la the world. The most Of the rich Iner
OF the country live here 10 the Capital, and Oh,
richest Of tho haciculados have their city
homes here, where they como to spend seyera
4 months u tie year.