East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-03-08
BEST AND POOREST SERVANT.
THE PEON.

To the average citizen of the
United states the word Indian at
once brings to mind the picture of the
sullen and revengeful redman of the
north. The simple-minded. patient,
docile Indian of Mexico is not in this
class at all. He is eminently peace
full, Bountiful nature and perpetua,
summer combine to palliate his inn
providence. He cannot see the neces-
sity of laying up anything for a rainy
day. 1t rains half the days in Mexico
anyhow, but that only makes the
mangoes larger and cheaper. If he
has no tortillas today. some of his
neighborS have, and they will gladly
share, for conditions may be reversed
tomorrow.
These Mexican Indians make the
best and the poorest servants in the
world. Their greatest charm from
this standpoint is their perfect ap-
probation of their position. Always
polite, never presuming, with hat in
hand, it Is always your servant and
with your permission"
In the household work they ask Il
half holiday once a fortnight with
! never a word of complaint when
working hours last from daylight to
| midnight. So different are these peo-
| pie from the northern Indian that Il
seems an injustice, as has been said,
to call them by that name to those
who know only the Indian of the cold
country. The Mexican Indian does
not want to fight All he asks is to
| be let alone. His politeness and af-
fecrionate nature are inborn. His
! love for children is particularly mark
| ed.
1t is 4 common sight to see a la
| borer in the street with but two pieces
| of white cotton clothing to his back,
| or his name, stop a woman with a
| baby in her arms, and holding the
| child's face between both his hands
! deliver resounding smack and chuck
| ii under the chin. And in the same
unconscious and entirely unaffected
/ manner will young man take his
sombrero from his head and rever-
emily kiss the hand of some ancient
relative in a tattered dress when ha
encounters her in the crowded thor
oughfare.
1t is mistake to think that the
common people of Mexico have no
sense of appreciation, THAI they are
lacking in gratitude as one so often
hears. especially from foreigners.
The trouble is that those who do not
know them expect too much. For the
great part they are uneducated. Their
minds are not developed, They are
but children in many ways. Give
a child a big box of candy; in a few
days it will be gone. A month after
wards you cannot expect the child to
be good on remembrance of the
sweets so long consumed. Instead,
give child a stick of candy every
day throughout the month and he
will every day be your obedient ad-
mirer.
1t is much the same with Juan. You
may fit him out from top to toe with
new clothes at great expense. He
cannot repeat to himself every day
for six months: "Now my master has
given me these fine clothes and |
must be grateful" A cigarette, given
at more frequent intervals, in the
proper spirit, would much more ef-
: fectively keep his friendship and
gratitude.
Do not be afraid that such an act
of companionship on your part would
lead to undue familiarity oil Juan's
} part. He will take off his hat and say
: "Gracias, senor," just as politely the
las: tine as the first. Any old resi-
dent OF Mexico will tell you that i
j is the trusted servant tha' is thC
honest one. Put your servants on thel
g honor and you will fare much bette
, than If you attempt the lmpossibl,
and try to watch everything that il
; not locked up and allow them g
r fnuw that you do not truss them. y
r course, there are exceptions and ther
=. are limits.
The public school system of Mexic
: is becoming thoroughly established
It throughout the republic. The devel
e opment of the Mexican Indian durin
= the next generation will be an inter
esting study. There are many anon
the old residents who feel that tn
education of the laboring classes is
n mistake: that 1t is spelling good serN
ants and humble workmen, and tha
the creation of new wants will M
> make them any happier; that, in fac
= Guadalupe and his wife will hay
,r more trials and sorrows when the
~ want to wear shoes and sleep in
bed than they do now when they e
barefooted and lie down at night o
y. rush mat spread on the earthe
Y. floor.
10 on the other hand. there are mar
evidences that the Mexican Indian hS
- in his makeup the foundation of be
IN ter things. There are numerous col
It. spicuous examples of what men fro
m the lowest ranks, when given educ'
;, ton and opportunity can do. Ol
10 pressed and enslaved as he was fl
Of centuries, the Mexican Indian has ha
re no chance to show what was in hir
r. The twentieth century will give hi
his opportunity. Some of us will
here long enough to see the wor
e. surprised at what he accomplishes.
$4,000 ORGAN FOR CATHEDRA