The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-04-26
A THIEVES MARKET.
ONE or THE PROMINENT PLACES IN
The CITY OF MEXICO.
Anv policeman VIII show You the
way 10 II and You May There r"r-
chase stolen Goods by the single
piece or by the Carload.

Why 10 IL and Nou Nay mere ,
chase stolen Goods by the single 4
Piece or by the Carload.
II Won want TO know the time IN
the City of Mexico; II you need mousse
hold goods, objects Of art or OF per-
sonal adornment; in fact, II there Is
ANYTHING you desire from pincushion
10 a redhot stove-just ask ponce I
man.
He will point the way to the thieves
market without any more idea OF laws
that deal with those who receive stoi-
en- goods than II you had asked him the
way TO the best hotel In the city or 10
one Of the theaters OF to the National
palace. The official Of the law VIII not
hesitate to tell you that 1t Is Directly
across the street from the National pal
nee, east Of the Zocalo-the park OF the
peons-and that II you are timid about
the size OF the load you wish TO take
there the gate Is large enough 10 drive
the biggest truck through without III
convenience. IL Is very simple mat
ter to find the thieves market.
II il no small establishment. but q
city institution, with court as large
M a city block, and II Is crowded from
morning to night with those VINO are
looking for bargains without the slight
est idea Of moral wrong In buying stoi-
en- goods. Indeed Il Is stated that now
and then persons find property once be-
longing to them exposed there for sale
nj prices SO reasonable that II would
be absurd 10 go TO law about 1t and lay
ND against the delightful convenient
"manana" the trouble Of appearing In
court.
The market Is just what its name i'm
plies-a thieves market, where moths
do not corrupt, because there Is always
a stream OF purchasers for goods at RI
diculous prices. Nothing remains In
stock over few days. Spread out on
tables or piled high on the ground can
be found samples OF almost anything.
for the Mexican ratero Is not partc-
ular what he steals. The thieves do
not themselves act as the statesmen. for
this would be dishonest even to the
Mexican mind They dispose OF their
plumber eltDeT IOT lullp suii VI t"hS
a commission from the sellers.
There is no assortment Of goods as to
class or kind IL Is case OF pick
and choose. Crockery, cutlery, tinware
and cooking utensils are the main sta
pies, for the Mexican is careless, and
the thieves of his kind find this sort OF
plumber easy to get and with a ready
market. The proprietor Of one OF the
well known local restaurants admits
that nearly all his knives, forks and
table linen come from the thieves
market He makes II point regularly
to visit there TO replenish what may
have been stolen from his own place.
But It Is perhaps In the line OF curl
osjties, books and objects OF art thai
the thieves market Is most interesting
The libraries Of the monks, scattered II
the war of reform, are represented now
and then. The thieves OF course, know
nothing of the value of the books.
Recently folio Of Shakespeare
bound In vellum, In splendid condition
Notwithstanding the long ago date o
its publication, was picked up by
book lover for $50 In Mexican silver
Several bibliophiles or the Unlte'
States have regular agents In tn
thieves market and II pays them.
With Macmillan and his court man.
rare works OF art came to Mexico. II
the rush away from Mexico these wer
left behind. Within the last month
fan, beyond doubt by Vatican, wa
bought In the thieves market for 81
The painting is still bright, the lace eA
quisite and rare. and the very sticks
inlaid with gold, are still intact.
Mexicos many wars have made III
country an arsenal of obsolete veal
ons. Swor'- gnd firearms froi
the tin 20 the present ue'
adc r. 49,. Led up In the tnleVe
mai. -. little or nothing. Some
them, outside of their value as curio
are OF intrinsic worth, as an America
discovered not long ago. He bougl
for trlne an ola sword, furnished an
dirty. The style of the hilt please
him. When he had Il cleaned, he -four
that scabbard, hilt and blade were !
laid with rich gold of marvellous n
tistic design.-City of Mexico Letter
New York Times.