Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-08-13

their republic, and ascribe her prosper
ity largely to the free coinage Of silver.
But free silver does not make q terres-
tial paradise in every respect. The
traveller is reminded Of that in many
ways. The Mexican cartwheel dollar
nlelts away in a surprising fashion when
it comes u buying what An American
considers the necessaries of life. For
instance, when the cOlored porter of
the Pullman buffet car brings you the
bill OF fare it almost takes away your
breath for the prices charged for the
various eatables. For instance, two
boiled eggs cost 80 cents, while three
may be obtained for the moderate sum
OF 40 cents. Bread and butter Is 20
cents, u cup OF tea or coffee costs the
same price. while a sand wich costs no
less! OF course the eye OF a B%OstOnian
would seek the price of the %succulent
and nutritious baked beans, and he il
surprised TO find that it requires ~
c~entivos (cents) to pay for the dish for
which his municipality Is famed. A
small bottle of ApOllinaris water costs
50 cents, and other things are in pro-
,urtion. During a light ,urch on one
occasion in the City OF Mevico l bought
a small package OF e. biscuit, about
half Il pound in all, which might have
cost Is cents in America, and WAS sur.
prised to find that my bill amounted to
81 cents It should be remarked, how
ever, that If one is content to live in
Mexican style prices are moi so exOrbi-
ant. A good rom Ia the best Mexican
hotels for one or two people u be had
for from 81 to 81 Il day lMexican(, and
bOard-if you stand the excreable
cooking of the country-is from 81 to $2
more.
The sill yer Of prosperous Mexico has
not yet found its way to any great ex-
tent into the pockets of the poor peo-
Pile. Wages are evidently On the high
est sort of u gold basis. A number of
my friends told me that they pay their
cooks about IS per month, about one
quarter the price paid for such labor in
the States. In the country districts AN
able bodied man earns IS (Mexican) Il
mouth ($3 American) and his board,
while u fair days wage in city or coun-
try for II labnring man ia SO cents Mex
ican). Nowhere are beggars more mum
crous, and squalOr and wretchedness
more in evidence than in prosperous
Mexico. The railway stations are
thronged with almost naked children,
holding out grimy hards, while their
pitifui and mOnOtOnOus wall Of "centi-
vos, cenlivos" reminds one Of the
''bAcksheesh, backsheesh" of Egypt
and Syria. Indeed the condition of
the common people seem not u whit
better than that Of the fellahin OF
Egypt or the pariahs Of India. In
many respects the condition Of these
widely separated ones is strikingly SIM
liar. They liye in the same kind ot
mud houses: they are clad in similar
fluttering, picturesque ~rags-except
the rags Of Mexico seem q little more
ragged than those Of the east. Their
fe ct are shOd with the same kind ri
sandal, n Hat piece Of rough leather
hound on with a leather thong. In the
matter Of headgear this oriental cOun.
try of the Occident has the advantage
If the sister nations Of the east. Its
title it truly u magnificent one. |,
sometime costs 500, and very frequent
Nv from $40 to $50. Often II mounted
Mexican may he een galloping across
the dry plains, whose OvershadOwing
sOmbr-ru is worth more than all the
res, of the outlt--coat, shirt, trousers
and horse and saddle.
Hundreds OF thousands Of Mexicans
live in houses which could BIZ built fOl
$40 in American money, and their
whole WARDROBE, minus the sombrero
would come high ut two bits" | an
speaking, OF course, Of the poems, the
peasant class. There is another elias.
Of Mexicans. of whom | cannot write In
this paper. who live in beautiful houses
surrounding lovely patios. or inner
courtyard gardens, built very much Il.
were the houses If ancient POmpeii
These Mexicans are polite, generous
hospitable, full OF eager hopes for thei'
country and patriotic to the last de
gree. 1t is II race with large p'ssibil
tiles and u hopeful future. Is free sill
v"r the good genius OF the republic?
will leave il to t%inanciers to say. sim
ply record the impressions Of a trav
eler."