Arizona republican., 1892-05-06
IN THE MEXICAN HOT COUNTRY
An Incident of n Dinner in Mexico Where the Fame of the Camera Wna Hna.u.

An Incident of n Dinner in Mexico yberc the Fame of the Camera Was Known.
 Our dinner was astonishingly good. Just think of a meal in that semihar. barous place down in the hot lands of Mexico equal to the best to be had in the Italian or French restaurants that stand high in tho favor of artists and other bohenians in New York! There were nlne Oounuful courses, served in excel. lent style, at total cost of three reales, or 3719 cents in Mexican money, hardly more than twenty-five cents American, with exchange reckoned as it was then. The watermelon served at dessert was the most delicious had ever tasted-a deep red pulp of firm texture and mealy crispness that almost melted in the mouth. The melons in this region are raised on the sandy beds of the streams in the dry season, where they mature quickly in the intense heat. For drink there was pulque from Apam on the tableland, brought by railway train to the nearest station and thence hauled by teams across country.
 This fonda was, of course, patronized by the "quality"-the visitors from the neighboring great estates, city people who had come over from Jonacatepec, and rancheros with their families These latter, like farmer folk the world over, l believe, were undemonstrative and chary of speech, exchanging but few words as they sat at table, awkwardly handling their knives and forks, and evidently awed by the. unaccustomed magnifcence of their repast. Don Er. nesto had entered into little friendly chafling with Maria, a proceeding upon which good ranchera, who sat opposite with her husband, looked with evident disapproval
 | "Drunkp she was heard to remark to her husband under her breath.
 "Yes, he responded, with confrma- tory glance.
 Poor young fellow, to be so harshly misjudged for his metropolitan man. ners, when his delicate health made him total abstainer!
 Jovita, one of the waitresses, became a great favorite with us all. She waa girl of about fifteen, slight, with regu. lar, delicately chiseled features and glossy dark hair falling in two long braids-a type of lovely rural inno- cence. There was an exquisite shy grace in her movements.
 Take her photograph" suggested Celso, and the proposition was heartily seconded by all hands. But even here the function of hand camera appeared to be known, and Jovita took sudden alarm.
 "No, mo-" she appealed. Her head dropped, pretty fingers went shyly to her mouth, flush stole over her brown cheeks, and she stood there with face averted a picture of maidenly shame. She was now on her guard, and ever | glanced apprehensively toward us. Ev- cry time she saw the instrument aimed in her direction she would turn her face quickly away. It was too shadowy in the fonda for good snap shot, and so l really did not lose anything. But when we rose to leave Jovita was standing by the range, well out in the light and awaiting an order. She had seen us start and deemed herself in safety. She was looking the other way, was within a few feet and my camera was ready.
 "Adios, Jovita!" said
 She turned my way unthinkingly. Click went the shutter, and l had her,
 A shout of merriment from my com 1 panions greeted the success of my strat- agem, and the expression of disnay on Jovita's face gave way to a rippling lit- tie smile, as if to say that now it was done, it was no great harm after all.- Sylvester Baxter in Harper's.