Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-05-08
Some Facts About Merlcans.

uIikutCot III luc uuiNcISts
The old castle system-modernized
exists In all its glory. The rich are
very rich, the poor are very poor.
The Mexican courtesy and gallant
~ cannot be surpassed. Three times
every day for the three months that !
have been in this home, have l been
greeted with a cordial handshake
from both Senior and Sonora as we sit
down to eat.
On being questioned concerning
the manners and customes Of the bet
ter class the Senior replied: "Our
bodies are Spanish; u souls are
French.
The houses are all adobe-the bet
ter ones faced with stone.
The floors Of the poor are Of 'moth-
er earth;n the rest are always Of brick
many with rugs, Others "petatas''
tmatting woven all in one piece and
still others with elegant carpets, often
imported from France and Spain.
The ceilings are nearly all Of canvas
painted.
The miradoe (large columned porti-
col in front, is often carpeted and has
beautiful pictures hanging about-for
there is no rain from October until
June.
The sombrero thigh pointed hat is
worn by rich and poor, ranging from a
few cents in value to so and s60-the
latter bound in fine leather and en-
broidered in gold.
The trousers of thecaballero gentle
NAM fit like a glove and fasten from
the waist to the ankle down the side,
with handsome pearl buttons or
leather straps
No hats for the ladies, but the lace
mantilla OF black rebosa, thrown over
the head for church and street, and
beautiful rebosas OF all colors for
evening wear.
The tiny-wee babies OF the best
families, are dressed in blue and pink
and yellow China silk with deep lace
nounces and insertions and bonnet,
shoes and stockings Of the same color,
The chief occupation Of the Senorita
from 8 TO 10 p. M, is hanging over the
balcony railing; and that Of the Senoi
at the same hour, is playing bear on
the street, 6 or s feet below. MAX.
ing loye.)
The ladies are seen on the street:
very little. They never think Of do
ing their on marketing. A moSO oil
servant always does this and Of coursI
there is much "clipping Of coins'' il
this process.
The dress Of the peon OF peasant
consists Of two garments only-whit'
ID cotton drawers, and shirts OF sam
hanging loose from the neck. Tn
children are often seen in the street
with less than this and in some Of tn
mines the men work without an
clothing.
Perhaps 90 per cent Of the peopl
have no shoes. They are bare-fo0te'
or have sandals strapped on their feet
There is an average Of 600 arrests
month for drunkenness in GuanajuatC
There are no screens at the doors Q
the wine shops and some of the sight
are sickening as you pass by.
The poems live mostly in the streets
sitting on the edge Of the sidewalk 0
out near the car track, waiting for
chance penny, or perhaps selling a III
} tie patch Of flowers or fruit-in tn
mean time making microscopic inSpeC
lions Of each others heads like a lot Q
monkeys.
They do not hesitate to borrow any
thing they can, some times even ash
ing for a hne-tooth comb. And the
say IL is very necessary TO keep you
tooth brush hid from the servants /
the home.
+ At the same time they are yer
s generous and would spend the las
"centayo" they possessed to buy
nosegay or little present for yoU
birthday.
Chief food for the poor is calabos
Squash, goats meat and milk, an
tortias-the latter a round corn cak
rolled as thin as paper and looks yer
much like a speckled doilie.
I They can never manage but on
kind Of work at a time and that yer
slowly. The servant that cleans NJ
: room takes out one pitcher and fills Il
then the other and fills that; in
third trip she brings d towel; in
fourth another; and in a fifth, pc
haps, she will bring two sheets at
4 time.
I In paperlng a room, even the pr
fessionals win stretch the paper 0
the floor TO paste it.
J Trunks are all delivered at ID
house on the backs Of pens0ns-regart
less OF size, or distance from station
Cofins are rented, often carryin
three bodies at a time, 70 be dumpe
into the ground. They are borne o
the heads or shoulders Of men; not
hearse in this city.
The groom furnishes the bridi
dress and all the accompaniments. tn
bride does not e them until the da
before the wedding.
The street car waits for a gentli
man 70 help a lady of and escort be
| up the steps 10 her front door. II
! bids her a long Spanish farewell an
returns 10 bis car. IL often waits "a
a gentleman TO change his slippers:an
actually has been known TO wait 70
the dispensing Of a lady's tea party
including donning Of hats and p0wde
{ and bidding adleu 10 the hostess.
/ Imagine q Mexican In Chicago.
ANNA d. HfNDK-
Guanaiuato, Mexico.
Ten thousand cattle remained Il
the pens at Chicago yesterday after
. pretense OF buying. The angry shiT