The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-30

SPEECH AT THE BALL.
ed with pink streamers and banana
plants, where the guests helped them
selves to the contents of long black bot
ties, seemed to work material change
in their dispositions. The commandant
was truly an attractive figure and had
the appearance of a commander, every
inch of him. He wore his full dress uni
form, tight fitting suit of linen, and a
glittering sword dangled by his side
Although native of Peten, no one
would take him for an Indian, and inst
how much Indian blood there is in his
veins it would be hard to say. He is
perfectly white and wears long black
beard and is quite corpulent.
The ball came to a close with speeches
and toasts in which the impending diff
fculty with Mexico was touched upon.
1t began first with simple ''Rere is to
the health of our commandment and
''To our country" and as the drinking
of the glasses increased SO did the spir-
its of the guests until open hostilities
were breathed against the avaricious
neighbor. The ladies kept their seats
and looked serious. The affairs Of the
men were not theirs. If the government
ordered their husbands to the front, or
their lovers, it was not for them to
make any remarks. They had only to
submit. One young man with flowing
mustache and head covered with black
curls stepped into the middle of the
room, and holding a glass before him
made brilliant speech in which he de-
clared himself ready to shed his last
drop of blood for the honor of his coun-
try. This was responded to by enthu-
siastic cheers.
A supper was served, consisting of
sardines, pickles., olives, crackers and
sweets, the luxury Of which may be
Judged when considered that all these
things are imported from Belize and are
carried through the forests on the backs
of mules, it sometimes requiring two
months to make the journey. The ball
broke up with ''vivas,' and everybody
went home satisfied.
Only rumors of wars have ever
reached these people. Past revolutions
and civil strife in which their country
has been involved were no concern of
theirs. This is the first time in their
history that they have been brought
face to face with an impending war
eminent changed in times past, and
they knew nothing Of it till weeks
perhaps mOnths--had passed. Now they
are the center Of attraction. Mexico
claims portion of their rich uninhab-
tied territory. They care nothing about
those uninhabited wilds, but their gov
eminent has ordered them to report for
military duty, and this they have done
with the exception of few who have
ran away to Belize, where in an I'M
healthy climate they are allowed to
swing their hammocks under a tree and
sleep unmolested by the sound OF the
drums beat or bugle's call.
Ny door opens upon the plaza, and l
gee the Soldiers forming into line pre-
paratory to their afternoon drill. take
note of one thing in particuIar-not one
of these soldiers is barefooted. They
spend two hours in running I'D and
down, skirmishing and pointing their
muskets at imaginary foes. Then they
are dispersed, and we are called to din
ner, and very palatable dinner awaits
Us. There are six or seven dishes of
meat on the table, including cows I'd
der, wild turkey and venison, a scarcity
of vegetables, but good white bread,
made from -four worth $40 barrel, and
smoking hot tortillas, made from native
corn that varies in price from 80 cents
to So bushel l am told that the but
ter is hard to get at 81 pound, and on
expressing my surprise l am shown a
small cheese similar to one of our cent
pot cheeses and am told that it has lust
been purchased for % cents We are
given coffee valued at rs cents per pound
which was grown in the yard back of
the house. On inquiring the reason why
everything is SO extremely high in a
country that seems so productive the
lady of the house, with a long drawn
sigh, answers:
''Ah, senior, no hay brazos,'' or, lit
orally, ''There are no hands to do the
work. The Indian will not work IN
less he is forced. to work The creole
does not care to do an Indian s work
when he has the money wherewith to
pay him, and as the Indian can raise
enough corn and beans to supply his
family for a year with two weeks &C.
tuaI work, and his wants are few, he
sees no reason to bind himself to a Gre
ole patron. Consequently 'tho hay bra
EOS, J" and the creole laments his mis-
fortune. Tom ROBINSON.