Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-10-09
THE CHILL QUEENS.
THEIR THRONES WERE IN SAN AN
 ToNlo's HISTORIC ALAMO.

ToNlo's HISTORIC ALAMO. ThsiF Reign Is Ended, but They Ruled
 Royalty For Long TiIne-They Were
 Especially Gracious to the Tourist From the North and Made It Pay.
 When tho northern tourist used to strike tue town, the first things the pa. tBiotio citizen who was doing the hoa- ors would proudly steer him up against would be the Alamo plaza chih stand, with it's attendant divinity, the far famed chili queen.
 .'Now, sir. you we seen the historic Alamo, the old cathedral and the mis- sions and got whiff of our ozone, " the citizen would remark with righteous pride, "and tonight you must come and eat Mexican supper and see the chili queens. The chill queens are one of our most noted attractions-the beautiful, dark eyed senoritas, you know. y
 Ehe tourist generally knew. This was in the late eighties. thc palmy days of the chilli queens, when their fame had spread to the larger northern citiea Some very musical verse about them had appeared in the magazines. and in the newspaper sketches they were ideal ized as stunning creatures, with the rich, brown skins of the tropics and khe languoFous grace and bewitehing black eyes of Spanish donnaa
 When the citizen and the tonFiss stroll mp to the gay looking chili stand with it's big red, green and yellow Ian terms and its scintillating pyramids of cheap but gorgeous glassware, she promptly shuts up the sporty young man who is bandying slang with her or quits haggling with the chili gorged beotblaek over change She hastily rearrangea the flowers iu her hair aud the big bouquet at her bos- om and beams on the new arrivals with sparkling eyes.
 The citizen addresses her with au easy familiarity.
 Hello, Chiquita! How's frieks?'
 Hello, senor. Tricks ire bReRo How is my amigo. the senor!" They all nzed the Spanish dialees when they had special customers, de- spite the fact that other tongues came easier to some ef them by nature There were six reigning queens on the plaza in 1888. and one of them was of Ger man descent and another was born in the island where the sod is highly green and there are no snakes. The other four, however, were senoritas of the genuiae Mexican variety.
 Chiquita's eyes sparkle with their most brilliant 1uster, and, with 8 quick succession of flashing smiles, she uses her red lips and white teeth to good nd. vantage on the tourist while she en. gages in badinage with the citizen
 You're looking prettier than ever tonight, Chiquita. I'm glad of if, be- cause we want so make good impress sion on my friend here. He's from away up north, yop know, and he's heard af you before. "
 Then Chiquita uses her tinkling laugh and slaps the citizen gently on the cheek.
 So sorry. but have not single nickel to give you, But take this flower instead. B
 She transfers big rose from her cor. sage to the citizens buttonhole. The tourist is beginning to want his share of the fun.
 '.Yes, heard of you up there, and that's one reason I came down hereto see you. you know"
 ''Oh. myl You must have flower too /"
 Her hands finger lightly on his coat as she carefully pins spray of honey. suckle on. and the tourist begins to be. heve that he must have come down here for this He is enjoying himself very much.
 Well, let's begin on our ehili pen. pers, " suggests the citizen. You say you never ate one before3 We had better take little of everything. then, so you can say you did San Antonio right Bring US the whole bill of fare, Chiqui ta. ''
 The queen turns sharply to the slimy ASSoAhH OSO %hsA4C<tA Nllo ndb GQa1Be Ol the steaming pots and kettles in the rear and rattles of this with celeFity which seems to astonish the tourist:
 Jesus, andaFlel Dos plates de chili con caRne, y dos tamAles con ehili sra. ". de eEehilades tortillas, ' dos tazas de cafe. !"
 The aerceiy burning ehili con carne agonizes the tourist and he chokes on the enchilades, but he manages to strug- gle through the tamales by drinking n great deal of water Meanwhile, the chilli queen sits opposite him in Ian. guishing attitude and keeps up her tin. kling laugh When it comes time to 20. he insists on paying the bill, despite the protests of the citizen, and tenders $5 bill Chiquita seems to have trou. ble in counting out the change and D thought strikes the tourist.
 Say. Chiquita. he says tentative. iy, lyon needn't mind that if''-
 You mean you want to make me present;"
 As that is what he means, she tueks the bill i'll her bosom, and gives the tourist fond look. She takes another rose from her hair and pins it on his coat and squeczes his hand in bidding him qoodhy