The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-11-12
you RIDE In MEXICO.
non't Take Cab with the yellow Fiasi
stick to the "CoIornd0''-The
Police Lanterns.

Cabs in Mexico City are only trife
moro expensive than In Paris. The
char for one course" in Paris is one
franc and a half, or 80 cents. and the
charge for one ''yiaje" in Mexico City
Is three reals, or 37is centS
The cabs are drawn by shaggy little
ponies which are driven at break-ncck
speed and are forever racing to the
curbs Of the broad "paseo at the im-
minent risk of disaster The one that
arrives first gets the passenger.
There are three grades OF cabs in Mex
leo City, which are known as the red,
or colorado" the blue. OF "azul, and
the yellow, or amarillo" The latter.
says the New York Sun. must be avoided
like the plague, which their color seems
to typify They are used to carry the
lowest kind of poems. profigates and
criminals. and more often than not are
carrying a load OF passengers who do
not pay any fares, but who transfer
their affections to any uninfested neo-
phyte who happens 10 have the misfor-
tune to enter the cab. The blue cabs are
acceptable when red cab Is not TO be
had, but the red cabs are the best.
These three grades are distinguished
by little tin flags OF the corresponding
color which are in plain view up by the
seat Of the driver There is a Joint in
the stick which supports the flag. and
when the cab has fare the flag is bent
down.
The cab fares are regulated by law.
and slip OF paper must be pasted in
side each cab opposite the seat 90 In.
form passengers OF the rates. but the
cabby always expects a slight PRO
pima For a three-rehl trip he gener-
ally secures half dollar from a for
eigner The climate is so even and so
beautiful and invIgorating that more
than half the vehicles are open vietorias.
but the rates for them are the same.
There Is just one point upon which the
uninitlated Ia likely TO trip There are
scores OF "festas." holidays on the
Mexican calendar. and on fiesta" day
the usual rate ls almost doubled.
The drivers are unexceptionally
dense and II one makes the slightest
mistake in pronunciation they throw
mp their hands in despair, and resort 70
the universal Mexican fataIistic express
sion; "Quien sabe2" The only euuiva-
lent IN English which would indicate
the same amount OF indifference and
despair IL. God knows"
or course. the cabbies all try to cheat
the "tourista," but an appeal TO a gem
darme will quickly bring the cabby to
his senses. The gendarme IN Mexico
City Is armed with revolver hanging
In holster on the left side. and he has
no compunction about bringing a cabby
to time with a flourish OF that weapon.
Az night the gendarmes stand in the
middle of the street with lantern be-
tween their feet. They maintain the
same position for hours. but even II they
70 away. the lantern II sacred. Woe
10 the cabby who runs over It. A con-
vlvial Yankee who once facetfousiy
kicked one Of the lanterns was stabbed
by the policeman. Fortunately the
United States was represented in the
person Of Ambassador Clayton. and he
understood the honor in which the po-
lice lanterns are held. and managed to
smooth over the dificulty.