Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-11-07
MEXICAN PASTIMES.
THRILLING PLEASURES AND FLiRTA-
TioNs OF AN EVENING PROMENADE.

s1arIonette Performances and the Circus.
Theatre~ and aaiIs-rhe Great Ma
I tIonai Amusement 81 Bull Fighting.
The "PeIea de GaIios thames. Etc
II the English do indeed, stake their
pleasures sadly" then the Mexicans must
have somewhat of n relationship with the
former named nation. for these last, notwith-
standing the vast amount OF vivacious de
nrription expended upon their impulsive,
passionate nature and fiery impetuosity Of
behavior, maintain their native reserve and
melancholy in their diversions rs consist
emily as II 1t were actual sin, or worse yet,
a breach of educacion that Is, good form,
good breedingl TO display enthusiasm over
any matter W. discover
| The simplest form Of social gathering 10
/ that variously known. according TO the sec
/ ton, as retreta, or serenata, a sort OF open
air reunion, or promenade concert, on the
main plaza usually, at which the people
I 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 haciendns, evcn--has at least
one plaza or open square for public use The
larger towns and cities have dozen or
twenty. These plazas range from the bare,
dusty and unadorned open space In the viii
iage, through various grades OF setteed and
tree planted perimetcr to the great zocalo
or plaza dc armas of the capital city, with
its smoothly rolled walks, It's grass and
flower 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 gossipsl its electric
/ lights and the pretentious pavilion for the
musicians who play there thrice a week
| Likewise, In the minor cities, on from ono
to two nights weekly, usually Sundays and
Thursdays, sweet music Is discoursed by tho
really good bands, one Of which Is pretty
sure 10 be stationed in every garrison town,
at least To this levee al fresco flock the
ninas and the llgartijos -the damsels and
the dandies-mes1eInoise Nesting coyly
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 n week--in the national capital daily
there is music and parade more formal and
moro dreSsy than that on the plaza, and
people promenade and drive during the
appointed hours
The lowest In Importance OF Mexicos
amusements proper are the titeres-a 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 circns-the
great American circus--on its yetrly tour
through the provinces during the OF season
In Mexico city The larger towns are visited
W til 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.
larry the capitals, have well arranged
theatres, fairly well patronized. though first
class troupes arc rarely seen outside the
national capital and few OF the larger cities
near by, such ms Puebla, Vera Cruz, etc.
Even balls, or tertulias dancing parties,
would seem tame, weary. STALE fiat and
unprofitable' TO the youth OF the United
States prone 60 seek sequestered hooks in
conservatories and coigns Of vantage on
staircases, wherein TO exchange speeches
more or less confidential and sentimental
Such procedure would be social ruin 10 a
Mexican girl The unwritten law demands
that the women at a ball be ranged severely
together ON one side Of the room, the men on
the other The music begins for dance the
men make break" for their partners. The
chaperones.
While bull fights may really bc called the
great national amusement in Mexico, il must
not DO supposed that public opinion on this
subject Is undivided. The champions of bull
fighting are very enthusiastic, but It's 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 benehcence, and then the press
loads the unhappy projectors with ccnsure
and satire While many high caste Mexi.
cans undoubtedly delight in this sport, a very
large number regard II 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 siekening 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
animals OF noted record arc conveyed be-
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 warn lands, where, indeed,
life In every respect assumes a brighter,
gayer aspect under tropical Influences La
dies ride little though equestrian exercise ID
creeping in To some extent, chiefly through
the influence Of foreigners Mexican men,
Of course, almost all ride surprisingly
well Drives in Mexico are a formal and
stupid matter, consisting Of monoionous
turns on the Alameda boulevard Picnics,
lawn parties. tennis, croqnet and many other
amusements dear TO the Anglo-Saxon heart,
are almost unknown in Mexico, due 10 the
aforesaid social restrictions, which also sorely
hamper the line of evening calls, etc. Rink
ing and baseball begin TO be known In sec
tons affected by American contact, but il
win be long ere the youth Of Mexico enjoys
an adequate share of amusement IL
Adds In San Francisco Chronicle