The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-05-06
ABOUT MEXICO.

Weso p0A CACuAoAAy Sl0S0A IL POiutluS OuI
the characteristics of the populace,
their mode of dress, their ideas of pub
lie life, their public amusements, their
devotions to religion, their supersti-
tons, their Incidence, and their disre-
gard for the many points of interest
in their community.
The principal reason assigned for
Incidence on the part of Mexicans is
the warm climate in which they live.
It is pretty generally conceded that
the further south person goes there
is less Of the restless energy, the push
and activity of the northern zones. To
this statement can the career of the
Moorish invasion and domination in
the lovely valley of Granada bear evil
dence. At first they brought know
ledge, literature, art and all the scienc-
es to the valley, far surprising the
knowledge of the Catholcised Nation
in the north. Then came Incidence,
nonchalant patriotism, and finally a
return of triumph of the cross over
star and crescent. The Moors in
Granada we're a conquered people. In
Mexico this same indolent disposition
has existed ever since it's settlement.
1t has been assisted by inefficient
school service, by no material progress
in the church, and by the ruthless
hand of a foreign government whose
idea of government is ignorance among
its people, Since the throwing off of
the latterlyoke there has been signs Of
improvement in the condition of the
country, and under the magnificent
rulership ofsPresident Diaz and Re-
publican form of government there
has been as much material progress
made as there was during all the years
preceding the Republic. Railroads
have been constructed, great public
Improvements carried on, and the
ground has brought forth it's richest
fruit. Schools are being built and
maintained and it is believed that gen
erations to come viii. be happy, pros
porous and educated Mexicans who
will despise Incidence and encourage
progress.
The dress of the Mexicans is char
acteristic of the climate. The latter is
warm and an American linen buster is
about all that thei average Mexican
needs to wear. But, as Miss Beecher
stated, he wears more. He must have
the huge shawl to throw around his
shoulder, or in which to wrap himself
on taking a..siesta. On his head is a
sombrero, and if he wears trousers he
must have tiny bells at an extended
bottom. He loves music and he doz-
es off to sleep on hearing the strains
from a mandolin or guitar.
The bull fight, in which he takes SO
much pride, and..on which deep-dyed
American Christian would unfavorab-
ly comment, is inherited from the
mother country of Spain. ASpaniard
without bull fight is as uncommon
as an American without a game oil
base ball on his mind. The bull fight
is certainly brutal, dangerous to hui
man life, and results, aside from loss
to human life, in loss to bulls and
horses. These last blood-curdling
spectacles in the amphitheatre is what
makes the fight interesting to the Mexi-
cans, and while Miss Beecher probably
showed no signs of fainting while wit
Messing the killing of dozen or more
bulls it is quite certain that her feel
ings we're different from those of the
thousands of Mexican spectators.