The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-19

| six were natives of the West Indies,
and one of the latter, it may be Incl
dentally mentioned, was fluent in six
different languages, due partly to the
fact, probably, that living in the sea
port town of Tampico his vocation as
barber brought him in contact with
sailors and people Of many nations
still a negro speaking six languages is
something out of the ordinary.
The costume of the people of the
upper and mid lie classes has con
formed very generally to our own, so
very often it is impossible to tell
whether to address a person in Span
ish or English. The lower classes in
some sections adhere altogether to
their former dress, but in other sec
tions Of the country in this p lrticular
they have to large extent followed the
example Of their superiOrs in social
position The distinctive features of
the former dress wherever retained, is
for a man, a tall cone shaped hat of
felt or straw, with a wide brim called
a "sombrero," a pair of exceedingly
tight fitting pants, and a gaudy blanket
wrapped round the upper part
of the body and often held so
as to conceal the mouth. This
is called a "zerape." Often the
sombrero is gaudily decorated, costing
sometimes fifty dollars or ever more,
and the pants are decorated with lace
on the seams. This is when the ad
herent to the old costume has some lit
tie means, 10 which case he sometimes
adds to his dress a acket bedizened
with great quantities Of gold lace or
white braid. Bat these individuals
are now very few in number. Often,
especially further south, the humble
ing of a pair of coarse linen drawers,
a coarse linen shirt and a ~''poncho,"
which last is q coarse blanket, with a
slit in the middle through which the
costume is completed by a cheap straw
sombrero with its high steeple crown,
and a pair of sandals, unless, as is
most often the case, the sandals ven
are dispensed with. The women of
the upper and middle classes almost
uniformly conform to our manner of
dress save that the ''reb0so"-a kind
of mantilla-is still often worn over
the head in lieu of bonnet. The re
boso' is universally worn by the poorer
classes, doubtless on account of it's
cheapness and durability as a cover
ing TOR the head.
The police r very efficient, atten
tive to their duties, and very polite.
At night every policeman carries a
lantern, and this is set out in the street
in front whenever he may happen co
be on the sidewalk, 50 that looking
down or up the street re VS. of these
lanterns a always be seen. Step up
to one of these men and ask him where
your hotel is, and he will not only tell
you but, unless you object, he will go
with you to the next policeman who
will in turn pass you on till you reach
your destination. This is always done
politely and without eXps C5ation of
reward. Il how many American cities
would this happen? Not only in this
respect, but in all others, and by all
classes, the greatest politeness is the
rule. 1t seems a part of the nature of
the people of the country. They have
their faults and as many of them as
most nations, but boorishness or want
of politeness is not one Of them.
The railroads in Mexico, with the
exception of n of the railroads be-
tween Mexico and Vera Cruz, known
as the Queens Own" because built
by the English, have been constructed
almost entirely by Americans with
American capital, supplemented by
government appropriation. and are
managed by Americans. They are as
we'll managed as the railroads this side
the border, and indeed the Mexican
Central, which system controls some
two thousand miles of track, is han
died with unusual ability. The con
ductors and engine runners are nearly
all, if not all, Americans. So are many
of the station agents and other en-
ployees and all the high officials.
AS to speaking the language, one
not understanding the native tongue
will fnd less diff Guilty in travelling in
Mexico than in France or Germany.
1t is almost impossible to enter a rail
road car, or a hotel at which travel