Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-03
D oooeooeoo Q 60 Q . Q . Q o Q

York have Just learned today that
these street car receipts, a hundred or
more Of which have thrown away
during the past two weeks; are each
good for q chance in a lottery that IS
pulled off the first Of each month, and
Of which the chief prize Is 5000. Pos
sibly my ignorance will cost me the
prize, but from what hear OF the
manner In which this lottery Is con-
Quoted, l am probably as we'll OF as
though l had kept all my tickets.
Carriage fare in Mexico City Is
cheap, ranging from Is cents to 81
Mexican per hour, depending upon
whether you take hack with red or or
a blue stripe. On Sundays and holi-
days, the rates are from so to 100 per
cent higher; but 1t is always expected
that small foe in addition to the reg
ular fare will be paid to the driver
In the Mexican hack, however, the
number of passengers, whether one or
as many as can crowd. into IT, makes
no difference in the price to be paid.
Mexico City is built on the old Span
ish style; the walls of the houses COM
ing out to the street line. There are
no alleys, and everything enters a
house by the front door, even the
horses and carriages. The yards or
''patios' are inside the houses instead
of the houses being within the yards,
as is usually the case in the United
States. Recently in the American sec
ton some modern homes with lawns
surrounding the houses, have been
built, but they are an exception to the
rule; and 1t is stated that they are not
satisfactory. There is nearly always
a.reason for distinctive customs in any
country, and it Is said that one OF the
reasons for building the walls out to
the street line, as is universally done
here, Is not only to keep out trespass-
ers but the dust which is very much in
evidence in the dry season. A number
of modern fiat buildings have recently
been constructed and more are being
built Rents are exceedingly high,
both for residence and business prop
critics.
Politeness is distinct characters.
tic of the Mexican people. have new
er before been in any place where
handshaking is so universal as 1t Is
here People shake hands almost al
ways, both when they meet and part
whether they are at church, at home
In the stores, on the street or in the
. street cars On several occasions
!, have spoken to strangers on the street
cars and on leaving the car they would
/ be particular to shake hands with me
, A courteous answer is always ready
for every inquiry, and the people viii
go out Of their way to assist strangers
in obtaining what they want.
Drunkenness is fearfuliy prevalen
: in Mexico among the very poor. Pull
que, pronounced poolkay) is grea
! curse. This intoxicating beverage
! which looks like watery milk. smells
3 like sour yeast and tastes like fury
5 is drawn from the maguey or centur.
!. plant 1t will not keep over twenty
! four hours and cannot be shipped an.
: distance. It's use is confined to thu
. table lands. but here in Mexico Cit.
: it is sold in numberless "pulquerias
:. and as the stuff only costs 8 cent
= Mexican, one and half cents on
q money per glass. or even less in SOM
!. places, it is drunk in vast Quantitie
y by the poor, whose wretched home
!. and lack Of all the comforts and w
=. MiSuI SLY, lliJSI vCl ltlt HuSScSoiSlSo "
4 life, drives them to dull their sens
!. bilities in the .stupor of the intoxica
ton that comes from "pulque."
d
$ The bull fight still exists, but onl
y in Mexico City, and four or five othe
places in the republic. 1t occurs O
g the afternoons of Sundays and hol
: days The government desires an
/ has tried on several occasions to abo
!, ish this cruel sport, but the publ
Y clamor has been too great and 1t
E said that there is even some comper
: sation in the bull fight. At the tim
- when 1t was suppressed there was
2 marked increase in drunkenness o
: Sunday afternoons.
!: Some of the streets Of Mexico Cit
: : are fearfully and wonderfully named
= For instance made a call last ever
:. ing on friend who resides at Numer
y 2611 Gale IA Sor. Juana Inez de
- Cruz. This translated means Numbe
2611 of the fourth block of street Isl
: ter Jane Inez of the. Cross The
= there is another called Gale de r.
y tones, which means Street of th
= Rats; also Gale Zapateros or street {
the shoemakers, etc. 1t is very diff
cult to find ones way about Mexic