The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-23
THE MONTEZUMAS.
A People Who Have Some Good
Qualities But Many Bad Ones.
Tn. Roasted Hospitality OF the Mehicahs
- Purely MythicsI-Common Law Mar
riages Very Common-Untrust-
worthy Poems.


r A recent resident of the City OF Mexico
was in Kansas City few days ago ana
in a chat with 4 journal reporter ex-
ploded a great many of the romantic
Stories told of ideal chivalry and other
Arcadian and idyllic characteristics of
the Mexicans. His opportunities for
STUDYING the people were unexcelled
and he had little else to do. lie traV-
eled all over the country many tlmea
and studied the people with exceeding
care For over year he has been con
nected with the Mexican Central rail
way in an important capacity. Il only
speak for myself" said he, but for
one / failed TO find Mexico the fairy
land had pictured to myself. There
are lots of Americans there who are de
lighted with it and who would live
nowhere else. and il may be my fault
that | do not like the place. But l
could not, even though l tried very
hard TO do so, as my business called me
there. In the first place, the native
lower class Mexican hates an Ameri-
can. 1t is not very pleasant To have an
ugly-looking greaser growing out
'gringo" as he passes you or hurI at
YOU the bitter curse 'tabroneH
Some one has said that Mexico was
ninety-fve per cent. climate and five
per cent. 'Quien sabe?' (who knows?) l
have often thought that about fifty per
cent. of 'miana' (to-morrOw) ought to
be thrown in. The Mexicans never do
to-day what they can do tomorrow.
The boasted hospitality and chivalry of
the lower classes are pure myths. The
upper classes are splendid people, high
minded, hospitable and generous. But
the lower classes, the poems, are the OPP
posite. They say: My house is yours,'
but it is a lip phrase and they do not
mean it. The blowing is done with
sticks and thrashing with horses and
the reaping with sickles. America could
sell agricultural implements in large
numbers were il not for the duty. The
only thing we would need from them
is fruit and coffee. The prospects for
reciprocity are therefore not very fat
tering, as they really do not sell us
enough fruits and coffee to offset the
agricultural implements.
1t costs SO much to get married in
Mexico that few of the lower classes
ever marry. The church does not rec
Ognize state marriage and the state
does not recognize the church wedding.
The consequence Is that common law
marriages are the rule. There is little
of what we call immortality III the sense
of promiscuity. The police never take
any notice of anything unless somebody
makes Il complaint.
1t is unquestionably true that the
peon is an unconscionable thief Hotel
men never buy more than enough for
one meal. The servants would steal
the surplus. Everybody in Mexico buys
lottery tickets, and have seen an old
lady selling tickets within the doors of
the cathedral. An important step is be-
ing taken by President Diaz, who is q
wide-awake and progressive man, who
Is bitterly hated by the clergy or priest
hood. He is taxing the large land own
ers or hacienderos, who own vast tracts
OF uncultivated land. The owner OF
these haciendaS declare they will have
to cultivate them or give them up. 1t
is a question If the poems would have
ambition to cultivate the land after il
was turned over. A great mistake i
made by foreigners in going there in
the winter, when the place is dry and
dusty. They should go in the summer
when the rains refresh the earth every
day. Sharp showers fall during the
rainy season, but the sun rises bright
and pleasant every morning. As l said
in the beginning Mexico may do for
some, but 1 prefer the United States
and have come back to live here"