The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-26

ever present soldadoss Every approach
Is guarded and every part of the building
can be constantly under surveillance. Diaa.
the idol of Mexico, Is rs well protected as
though he were Il crowned head of Europe.
When visiting Mexico for the first time
one Is surprised to see so many We'll
dressed men In the cities. aud what IL
more surprising. is the fact of hats and
costumes worn. The time was when no
man pretending TO be well dressed would
dare 10 wear anything different from the
prevailing style. Every man was obliged
10 wear the same style of hat or costume
or appear outre. But the times have
changed. There are certain 4 oadly de-
fined styles. which we'll dressed men affect
but they admit OF more individuality. G. n
tlemen of Mexico are growing away from,
the idea that one we'll dressed man. as
far as clothes are concerned must be like
another.
Many of the senoritas are very beautiful,
dressed In their imported French dresses
and present a gay appearance when at
tending some social function or driving
In the afternoon in their handsome car
riages, behind wellgroomed horses Near
" all their dress fabrics are imported from
France. The ladies are very fond of bright
colors, rich dresses. flowers and pictures,
Almost any hour OF the day, when ons
visits the art galleries. ladies are to be
seen there, industrlously copying one Of
the many beautiful paintings of famous
masters.
Even the rather ignorant class must love
pictures, judging from the scenes they
paint on gourds and rough wooden spoons.
They also make beautiful pictured PLAQUES
and card receivers Of colored glass, worked
into very artistic and natural effects. Thcu
drawn work Is world famous. often re-
sembling a SPIDERS web in its delicate
tracery, They make their best drawn
work on the finest imported French linen
lawn.
Their love OF flowers extends from the
highest TO the lowest classes. The elc-
giant homes have the flowers growing in
the court and can not be seen from the
street. In front of the poor little straw
or adobe homes can always be found a
few flowers, II only one or two pot plants.
Beautiful palms and gorgeous flowers
bloom in the fertile valleys and on tho
mountain sides but In the cities no flow
ers are seen, except on the plazns and an
occasional glimpse into the court of some
residence. In the early morning flowers
are sold on the street corners and in Mex
leo City they have a beautiful flower mar
ket 1t is on the Zacola and the building Il
pagoda shape. When filled with flowers OF
every variety It is beautiful sight The
atmosphere is so dry that when flowers
are pressed they retain their brilliant col
oring,
Some of the Mexican cities have very
narrow sidewalks and no trees at all,
others have shade trees of the oleander.
single hibiscus, crepe myrtle. orange and
guave trees, and when all are in bloom
present a beautiful sight
The maguey plant was the vineyards OF
the Aztecs. There are awo varieties the
cultivated one from which pulque is made,
and the wild species, from which Is dis
titled a highly intoxicating liquor called
mescal. The juice is about the color of the
milk OF the cocoanut and when first taken
from the plant is as harmless rs new cider,
and is called aqua miel." or honey water.
Fermentation will take place in a day and
about as much alcohol develops as beer
contains. pudue IS used by the MeXicans
as beer is by the Germans, or wine by tne
French. II is not adulterated and is sold
so cheap that 1t is within the reach OF tho
very poorest. therefore very popular with
all classes. Besides giving to Mexico nor
national drink. paper Is made from the
iibros of the leaves of the wild maguey
plant. and the sharp thorns are used Tor
needles and pins; soap Is made from the
roots. the dried leaves for fuel and thatcli
for the roofs of houses, The iibrous parts
are used for making ropes, and the young
tender sprouts are roasted and used for
food. When the sap is extracted from the
plant. which is done three times a day, 1t
is put into pigskins. II comical sight to
see them Carrying II on their backs, or one
on each side of burro. with the pigs
feet sticking up In tstrir The plant has
often been called miracle of nature" rs
Il can be used for so many different pur-
poses.
We read in the Bible OF two women
grinding at the mill" but we can scarcely
comprehend what these women were doing
until we have visited Mexico. For then
we se not only two, but thousands OF
women grinding at the mill. Just as those
did in Bible times. the only difference
being, that instead OF the wheaton Loaf.
they Will be preparing 10 bake the tor
tllla.' n thin cake made from the Indian
corn. After tho corn has been well soaked
In water. II Is spread out on a Nat stone
called "matate," and with another stone
shaped like a rolling pin. crush 1t into
paste. When this paste or dough Is OF
the proper consistency II is patted by the
hands into cakes, Sometimes II is baked
on another fiat stone or on piece OF Nat
iron over charcoal fire. While the women