The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-15

around, and all the Agostins and Agostlnas
kept open house. But gradually there de-
veloped from these beginnings, principal
ly with the advent Of the American drink
ing Of feast, which, little by little, from
year to year, increased in volume and du-
rance, until in 1881 it had assumed the
character Of three weeks'-well, let us
say spree" When reached Tucson in
1866. the Feast Of St. Augustine lasted
only two days, and the only popular
amusements then in vogue upon the church
plaza was a little gambling, principally
at the simple game of monte" upon a
common pine table. and dancing by the
rabble under shed constructed upon the
center of the plaza.
But early in 1871 the church plaza was
found too small; and the feast was moved
to the much larger Courthouse Plaza. The
city then, in order to derive some benefit
from the proceedings, which at that time
extended over full week. sold on Aug.
l at public auction the privilege of occu-
plying the plaza for the term of 10 days,
to the highest bidder. This man then be-
gan to lay off his ground. and sold the
privilege of erecting booths for drinking
bars, gambling tables, fruit, candy. lemon
ade and cigar stands by the front or
square foot. Several restaurants, princi
pally offering the quite palatable Mexi-
can dishes, were also opened.
AN ANNUAL CAMILLE.
On Aug %, in the evening, the ball was
sent a-rolling. l could never understand.
and cannot now, how it came about that
the population of any town could keep up
n feast of that kind for three weeks. The
fact, however. remains that night after
night the people of Tucson came upon the
feast grounds. ate Mexican and American
dishes. drank liquor and gambled. State
y ma irons accompanied by their husbands
and children would sit by the hour around
the Chusa tables and bet pores o nones
Todd or even) for quarters, half dollars,
dollars, half-eag!es. eagles and double
eagles. This game is little known in the
United States. / think it originated in
Mexico, or perhaps old Spain; at all
events, the Chusa tables were at all times
surrounded by a multitude of people, the
Americans liking the game and patroniz-
ing it fully as much as the Mexicans.
1 have seen many people of the best
standing in the community playing ut this
game by the hour. and it seems that no
one lost any social prestige or smirched
his or her reputation by INDUCING in it.
The faro. rouge ct nOir, roulette monte
and dice tables were also well patronized.
principally by miners. cowboys. etc; but
here. also. many respectable citizens who
would not dream of investing n fiye-cent
piece in game of chance during the re-
mainder of the year. became gamblers pro
TEN. There were Mt least 20 drinking
bars upon the premises. bes 'des innum-
cradle ice-cream, fruit. candy. lemonade.
and cigar-stands, not to mention the oc-
casional quacks with their Indian medi-
cines, etc.
In the middle of the square stood
wooden platform. an improvement on the
earth floor, and here the rabble danced as
of yOre. and TO the same music and tones
that had FIRST heard ~ years before In
fact, the music, which was for years pro-
duced by the same Papago Indians upon
their home made fiddIes. consisted of only
two distinguishab'e tunes CT airs One
did service for polka. schott' sch. waltz and
quadrilles by simply adapting it tempo"
TO the faster or slower movements of each
dance. The other as the so-called "Pas-
COLA distinctly Papago dance. What
these native musicians lacked in tuneful
accomplishments they made ,uD, by perse.
verance. for they daily played those two
tunes continuously from O'Clock p. IN.
until long after midnight. during the 10
days that the feast lasted. UpOn the
platform only the low-class Mex 'cans,
half-breeds and Indians danced. and only
women Of questionable tor rather ungues-
tionable) reputation. This feast of 1881
proved very profitable to us. but it was the
last that was gotten up in such grand
style. The railroad having now reached
our town, the large circusea included Tue
son in their visiting lists, as also did many
dramatic companies and MINISTRIES, and the
st. Augustine, Feast. gradually became a
thing Of the past - =
CTo be continued)