The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-21
VERY LIVELY SUNDAY
As Guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
Paul Hudson
MR.AND MRS. VIC MURDOCH
Visit Charity Bazaars, Bull
fights, Courts, CathedraIs.
MR.AND MRS. VIC MURDOCH

Mexico City, Feb. s.-As the guest OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Hudson, we have
spent a Sunday in Mexico" The first
expedition in this long and eventual day
was to the Thieves Market" 1t is
so called because a good many things in
that market are stolen during the week
At all events, here on Sunday great
display of the odds and ends of every
thing imaginable are sold. Little tempo
rary stalls are erected and on big square
counters the goods are displayed. China
fans shawls, door-locks, pistols, swords,
guns, paintings, candlesticks, books, coins,
stamps in fact anything you may not
think of and nothing that you desire.
Here the curio dealers Of the city pick
up their rareties and you have to be on
the ground early to get in before them on
rare" finds. Here you learn your first
lesson in Mexican barter. The first thing
you see that you want, should be avoided
quicly. Keep away from it. Do not look
at it. Casually touch it and ask in a
tone of absolutely Arctic Indifference,
'Quanty Valley" CHATS the way it
sounds). The man behind the counter
will pause awhile before answering.
Whether the article touched is worth
$50 or 1c he doesn't know. His whole
idea Of its worth is to be fashioned on
the degree Of desire in the prospective
purchaser In this case it is very rare
old piece of china, and it is Mrs. Hud-
son who has touched the plate and shown
absolute indifference. The merchant
wants to know what she really thinks.
He studies her face wistfully. At last he
answers slowly, tentatively, .anxiously:
DOS Pesos" (Two dollars)
Mrs. Hudson shrugs her shoulders, and
turns away Inwardly the merchant
curses himself for fool. He quickly
asks her to make an offer. She answers
calmly:
"vene-cinco." twenty-five cents.
She has a use of her words which
proves to the mechant that she is not
tourist, and that she is really after that
piece of china. He comes back with a
shrug and as she turns away again, his
anxiety forces him to say:
''Una Peso quatro reasel." Zone dol
lar and half.
"Quatro reales,' CHalf dollar says
Mrs. Hudson, seriously.
"Una Peso" Zone dollar says the mer-
chant. smiling.
Mrs. Hudson passes him over the dol
lar, and takes the plate. The merchant
is sorry now he sold it; he believes (and
he is right that the plate IS worthy
many pesos and he, curse his luck, has
been outwitted. Why could he not read
the word on the back of the plate and
know there was a small fortune there?
Mrs. Hudson also made a find this NOM
ing Of a valuable and very old fan. BY
this time l had run down a ''Knocker,'
one of the woman's hand with which
you rap on front doors in this city. I
told Mrs. Hudson to get it for me. 1t
was very ancient, apparently, and Mrs.
Hudson having located it, happened upon
it later by accident and looking coldly
into the distance, asked its price
"Quarto reales," said the merchant
meaning half dollar.
Mrs. Hudson didn't want it. She raised
her hand in absolute establishment at
such eXtortionate figures.
The merchant smiled graciously, but
showed obstinacy. We wandered away to
another part of the market, and later
coming back, Mrs. Hudson said to the
merchant, designating that "Knocker:"
Dos reales. twenty-five cents.
He shook his head and insisted on fifty
cents. So Mrs. Hudson said forclbly in
SPANISH ut is rusty old thing and
isn't worth anything" Then we went
away again Again after the lapse Of
ten minutes we returned and greeting
US was the merchant, in his extended
hand, the knocker, freshly painted black
That was too much. We laughed at him
and gave him the helf dollar. Later in
the day I saw another knocker at 10
cents asked. The next day I saw it in
curio shop at $40 asked Mr.. Hudson tried
his hand at bartering, but he can not
hold candle in this respect to Mrs. Hud-
son. the latter, have been told, making
more valuable finds than any one in the
city.
Before leaving the subject OF this mar
ket, it should be said that Mexico Is very
old. Certain portions of its population
have been at periods, regal. Against the
rocks of adversely families have. for cen
turtles, gone to pieces, and here upon this
beach. this market, things of splendor
and elegance and Of great value are oc-
washed up. things stolen by
servants centuries ago and passed down
in their families and pawned at last;
things brought forth from old chests;
things found in attic rubbish; in the junk
an antiquarian viii find these things once
in while and obtain them for practically
nothing. In some respects this was my
most interesting experience in Mexico
Then we went through the Cathedral,
the National Museum, the National Art
Gallery, places of great interest, but not
possible Of description; then through
President Diaz's departments. hung 81
red; through the Han OF the Am5assa-
doris, a paladal place: then into the
flower market, an affair OF pavilion
shape. 1t was midday and the flowers
were getting old. Fifty men, women and
boys -poked punches Of flowers a. you and