Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-12-05

strike the towns the first things the pa- triotic citizen who was doing tho hon. ors would proudly steer him up againss would be the Alamo plaza chili stand. with it's attendant divinity, the far famed ehili queen.
 Now, sir, you've seen the historic Alamo, the old cathedral and the mig sions and got whiff of our ozone, l" the citizen would remark with righteous pride, and tonight you must come and cat a Mexican supper and see the chilli queens Tho chili queens are one of our most noted attractions-the beautiful, dark eyed senoritas, you know. J
 The tourist generally knew. This was i'll the late eighties, the palmy days of the chili queens, when their fame had spread to tho larger northern cities. 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 tho tropics and the languorous grace and bewitching blaek eyes of Spanish donnas
 When the citizen and the tourist stroll up to the gay looking chili stand with it's big red, green and yellow lan- terms and its seintiilating pyramids og cheap but gorgeous glassware, she promptly shuts up the sporty young man who is bandying slang with her or quits hass iinr with the chih gorqed bcoeiJlach Dter e.-.S.Ige %z She hastily rearranges the isoweHS e; her hair and the big bouquet af heg5. .aa om and beams on the new arrisalsFc S. sparkling eyes sat The citizea addresses ner v'7s27q,, easy familiarity.
 Hello. Chiquitai IEIJ9HE's trieks?''
 Hello, senor. Tricks are bueno How is my amigo the senor?"
 They all used the Spanish dialecs when they had special customers, de- spite the fact that other tongues came easier to some of them by nature There were six reigning queens on tho 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.
  Mexican variety.
 Chiquita's eyes sparkle with their most brilliant Iuster, and, with q quick succession of flashing smiles, she uses her red lips and white teeth to good ad- vantage on the tourist while she en- gages in badinage with tho citizen
 You're looking prettier than ever tonight, Chiquita I'm glad of 1t, be- cause we want to make good impress sion on my friend here. He's from away up north, you know, and he's heard of you before. n
 Then Chiquita uses her tinkling laugh and slaps the citizen gently on the check.
 "So sorry but have not single nickel to give you. But take this flower instead
 She transfers big rose from her cor sage to the citizen s 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 sec you, you know. J
 "Oh, myi You must have flower too D
 Her hands finger lightly on his coas as she carefully pins 8 spray of honey suckle on, and the tourist begins to be- ifere that he must have come down here for this He is enjoying himself very much.
 Well, let's begin on our chili pep pers, suggests the citizen. "You say you never ate one before? We had better take little of everything, then, so you can say you did San Antonio right Bring us the whole bill of fafe, Chiqui- ta -
 The queen turns sharply to the slimy looking old Mexican who has charge of the steaming pots and kettles in the rear and rattles off this with celerity which seems to astonish the tourist:
 "Jesus, andarlei Dos platas dc chi1i con carne, y dos tamales con chili gra- ", de enchilades tortillas, dos tazas de cafe. ;
 Tho fiercely burning chili con carne agonizes the tourist and he chokes oa the enchilades, but he manages to strug- gle through the tamales by drinking great deal of water Meanwhile, the chiii queen sits opposite him in ian-
 
 gushing attitude and keeps up her tin kiing laugh. When it comes time to go, he insists on paying the bill, despite tho protests of the citizen, and tenders s5 bill Chiquita seems to have trou- Die In counting out the change and thought strikes tho tourist.
 Say Chiquita, he says tentative y, you need.l t mind that if''-
 You mean you want to make me present?''
 As that is what he means, she tucks the bill in her bosom, and gives the tourist fond look She takes another rose from her hair and pins it on his coat and squeezes his hand in bidding h,n goodby.
 Then, when her customers are gone ea goes and sits down in front of ona o. the steaming kettles with a Ian fnYf