The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-02-12

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never allowing the omission of this for
mality to disturb them in the least
In fact, they allow nothing to worry
or trouble them. They look OH the
bright side of everything, and nothing
is ever so bad that it might not be
worse.
| \ Mexican woman seldom hesitates
| in marrying a negro. She does not
lose caste among her own people by
50 doing. When a negro marries one
of these people, he is generally very
proud of his wife and works hard te
| support his family, and for this reason
she is considered sensible woman in
choosing a descendant of Ham.
a Mexican beau, on the other hand
generally makes great professions, and
in most cases, prepares elaborately tC
make his future wife comfortable II
he owns any stock, he will sell or mort
gage-to the last hoof-any or all o.
it, to procure the finery necessary fol
the bridal outfit. He exerts himselftc
make as great display as possible
but, alas! this is usually the effort OF
his lite; after that, the woman general
ly goes to work to support him and the
children.
Many of these people have decided
Indian features, the high cheek-bone
and square jaw,-and it is very reason
able to suppose that they inherit many
of their characteristics. AS rule
they are the most aimless and shiftless
people in the world, and, though sell
dom accused of crime, are generally
mixed mp in small thieving exploits.
One walking through the "Chihuahua'
division of any of our western towns,
on bright, warm day, may see these
people in their clement-basking in the
sunshine, sitting fiat on the ground OF
balancing themselves on their toes,
smoking. laughing, and talking. Moth
ing to do and not wanting work; hap
py that they are alive, and have sutii-
cient food to keep soul and body to-
gether; most of them without a dime
in their pockets. Poverty has no ter
rors for them, and nothing but grim
death disturbs their equanimity. They
are, without exception, the happiest
and most contented people on the face
of the earth. Ifthey have work, "Esta
BIeno:' if not, they are just as well
satisfied.
How they manage to live on so little
is mystery; yet they thrive. When
they have work, they do not wear
themselves out in accomplishing it, but
take it very slowly, making it last as
long as possible. Their wages vary
from fifty cents to dollar and a half
per day. They have a habit Of draw
ing on their employers for their money
before it is due, and, as a consequence,
have little or nothing left to collect
when the work is done.
They live principally upon corn and
''frijoles," or beans. Tobacco is one of
their luxuries. They had rather 90
without food than dispense with their
cigarettes. They do not use the man.
ufactured article, but buy cheap tobac-
CO and paper, and roll them at their
leisure A little food lasts them long
time, and they never question the quail
ity. They are neither epicures or glut-
tons. Corn is their staple article of
diet. 1t is prepared in many forms.
The first process in every case is to
boil it in lye, and rub off the husks,
usually by rubbing it between the
hands and then grinding or MASKING it
in stone troughs, or metats. This pro-
cess involves hard work, requiring con-
siderable strength and energy, and is
always delegated to the women. The
netat is placed on the ground, the wo-
man getting down on her knees before
it and going to work like a washerwo-
man rubbing soled clothes on wash
board; except that in this case the wo-
man wields a heavy fiat rock with
which to crush the corn. the amount of
la>~r depending generally upon the
condition of the corn, but being always
more than in washing. The result of
this operation is a kind ofpaste, resemb-
ing oatmeal mush.
Tortillas, their bread, are made from
this paste; they are about the size of
tCa-plate and about the thickness of a
blotting-pad, and look very much like
a great tough pancake: they have
neither shortening, salt, or lcavening
in them, but are, nevertheless, very
palatablc.
Enchiladrcs are cakes composed of
tortillas in layers, between which are
spread a sauce Of red chill (pepper),
cheese, and onions-a delightful COM
bination. when ones taste has been
sufficiently cultivated to appreciate it
"a dish fit for the gods.
Tamales are agreeable to most pal
ates; they are made of this corn-paste,
small quantity being fiattened out in
the hand and then rolled with a little
cooked meat and red chill. This, in
turn, is rolled into cOrn-shuck, tied
with strip of said shuck, and then
cast with the rest of it's fellows into a
pot to be thoroughly steamed. After
being thoroughly cooked, they are