The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04

ures, I went down to the square in front
of the old San Fernando church, right 10y
the Mexican Pantheon. where a very poor
man with less than a Mexican dime in his
pocket could get a meal. There was spread
out on the square d perfect bazaar q
dishes. Most of the dealers sat on the
ground, with their pans and pots sizzinS
and broiling with the various Mexican
dishes that they were preparing. ii there
was anything there that 1 had ever seen
before it was so cleverly disguised that L
Failed 10 recoeuiz,, IT. Other dealers a
little more enterprlZing. had boards set up
as imprOviSed tables, while piece OF Dian
ket overhead gave shelter from the sun
rays. AS il the dinner hour. the scene
was a busy one. of hundreds OF busy labor
ers stopping by long enough 10 get meal
Going up to one az the stands. ordered
dinner by dishes. determined TO get as
much as 1 could out of the Ieast amount
of money. In a pit l observed boiling
dark liquid with a Dlaceish green solid be-
ing stirred up in it. This was meat ana
cabbage hashed up. and the whole was
called soup. which was. Of course, the
regulation first dish. and cost cents. Next
I observed a queer kind of paste which was
being made. into which was dropped
mashed corn and other vegetables. when
the paste stopped over ii, the whole
dipped into pot OF grease and then drawn
out. This was the world-renowned tortilla,
eight of which were purchased for cents
The most inviting dish in appearance pres
ent was Mexican boiled beans with soup
a plate of which was cents. Thus for 6
cents. cents in American money. /
palatable meal. AS / had desire to be a
little luxuriant, l ordered cupful OF
pulque al a cost of l cent. This made for
an extravagant poor mans dinner a total
of cents or 3l2 cents American.
The Swarm of BeESnrs.
Yet, amid all these advantages, with a
climate that forbids the use Of fuel all
the year round with a soil spontaneous
to the barest touch. there persons SO
miserably and abjectly poor that it makes
one sick to look at them The streets are
all infested with beggars. principally WIZ
II en- and children, who. no doubt, are Sc
verely thrashed upon their return home
il they have secured nothing. No not
home! These creatures have never known
that there was such a thing i'm existence
They lie about in the parks, hudGle up in
the store doors. lean their backs against
lamp-posts, or even drop down on the I'M
frequented streets and fall asleep with
only the sky above them and no one to
care a thought about them but that God
who in His wise providence, may give
them hereafter the happiness they have
never known here.
This recalls a pretty sight which I
Witnessed the other day. Crawling along
in front of the Hotel IturhiGe was 81 man
whose lower limbs We're paralyZed and w no
could only prOpel himself by his hands
AS he came to a halt for a rest n woman
came walking along a crippled boy of
seven walking by her side. From their an
pearance the woman was evidently gov
erness, taking her little boy out for a walk.
As the youth came by the aged crinnIa
he stopped, took coin out of his poclSa+
and dropped it into the hand OF his af,iicte
ed fellow mortal. The kindred aH4ictio,
charity.
As long as he was in sight the un,or,
innate man showered his blessings after
him. p. J. MORAN.