Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-01-06
STRANGE CONTRAST.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UPLAND AND
HOT LAND MExlCANS.

, why the Characteristics of the Peo-
pie In the Two Sections of Mexico
Are So Unlike-Eaects of Two Gem
turtles OF Serfdom.
Ihere Is no country in the world that
presents more strange contrasts of
lanu ana people, habits and customs.
heat and cold, than Mexico. The table.
lands of the country are a mile and n
nan higher than the coast lands, and
between these there are to be found
all gradations of climate. This facf
lends much of the picturesque and
strange to Mexico and gives it n va.
rlety In all things possessed by few IL
any, countries in the world. OF all the
inhabitants Of Mexico, the life of the
people OF the not country is the most
interesting. This is, strange to say. due
TO the fact that there the people have |
ever possessed more Of freedom than in |
the colder localities For two centuries
or more the great mass Of people of the
uplands were slaves. They toiled in
the mines, with guard of soldiers set
over them; they built the public roads:
they worked the ranches, farms and
haciendas for masters who gave them
scarcely more than the food they ate.
The great farms Of the uplands have
ever required sure help, and so each
ranchman had MS serfs. Many estates
hundreds of them. Thus all
individuality was crushed out of the
lower class, and the terrible effect of !
this condition OF things is still evident.
The people Of the hot lands Jared bet
Ter, because there it was much easier =
% make living and much harder to l
hold very large haciendas For this Il
eason the characteristics Of the people Il
ire quite distinct from those Of their II
'rethren Of the upland plateaus. In IL
he not lands many Indians still claim
hold In right of Inheritance from
emote ancestors portions of land each u
his own individual right There pl
20, the mayor Of the village or town 81
Odds office so long as he pleases the al
lass Of the people. In the uplands II
has been the custom of the rich and J"
Dwerful TO distribute offices of all er
nds as part Of their prerogative OF TO
nth and wealth. The lower classes =
the uplands, although they now pi'
I'VE the advantage Of a fairly good a'
lbllc system of education and are be- gu
ming gradually educated. are in the &c
ain distinctively unambitious peo. dr'
:. Ihey were so long in semislavery vi
at they feel that the world of the WI
ddie and upper class people is be- , ,ht
nd them. They have, therefore. no iii
crest Ill anything outside their cir are
OF friends and acquaintances- that hei
III political way. But not so in
ny hot country villages and com. o.
mites. There the Indian has ever
ID more or less a factor In the life no
Ihe community In which he resided
n the uplands there are long Ii
,tches of more mr. loco hono ,,, box
II mountains rising up boldly in the on
aground. In many parts during Dull
dry season the land Is almost bar. nun
OF vegetation. But in the hot CONN., OF
grow tall and shady trees and iect
underground. Everything grows eign
Ost without attention from the LII
OF man. and yet, strange to say. scra
peon, or labOring man, is there hvef
t ambitious and better worker ieit
the peon Of the colder uplands INTO
Is not natural and is only OK. ana
led by the different oondit;a cont
II they have passed the last 400 room
s. Serfdom on the uplands extip- by
led all ambition in tho Low. o,an- pipes
lower class of the hot country VII
le are fond of social TO- i liver
any night or early evening the uucts
throughout one may find groups Whicl
eople in little Indian village Dlas''
req together and entertaining one nus
Ter III front OF some one of the :! w
$ or on the public square. which "ea'l
Mexican town, however small niu
Sses, with music, songs and occa. 'ers
~ dancing Modern Mexico. 'i'iat'