New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
BYlFLoRIAN sCHAFFER.

Mexico. so prominently thrust into the
worlds lmeught recently by the attempts
at revolution against the government of
president Diaz. presents a curious MKT
ure Of progress and conservatism.
Father Sahagln. in his History OF New
Spain" tells us. that the Aztecs had rehg-
ious ceremonies consisting Of songs ana
dances in which both sexes joined, and OF
procession of women and children crowned
with garlands.
Though nearly four centuries have passed
sjnce the time so faithfully recorded by
shc Franciscan friar. yet to-day, in MeXl-
TO. sirnilar.ceremonIes. in which pure blood
ed Aztecs participate, may st!H he VII
s.essed.
This will probably surprise many VINO
nr. not aware that our immediate neigh
ror is one of,the most interesting countries
Nm the world. For there the'diferent trlpes
%. Indians wear mach the same dress as
did their ancestors before the conquest IL
a5l9. eat the same food. speak the same
Language. make and use the same lnple-
Gnents. and follow many more OF the Same
lCustoms.
The Roman Catholic Church has. how
7cver, effected 20, some extent change IN
the deities and. bn the forms OF worship
hut much Of theSold remains, and the MeXi-
lean Indian now sings and dances before
The Virgin as dii his forefathers before
.ouetzalcoatl. god % the air.
The fiesta" Of Tlaltenango attracts "a
large concourse. EnGians within a radius
iof a hundred miles. clad in their cleanest
and best. having lef1 their villages two or
three davs before. some on foot, some on
lburros and sou2e on ,horses I'll the road
rUays with a gayly dressed, lively but
Iroiseless throng They are accompanied
Iby their children. their dogs and their
wives. named in the Norder they occupy in
lshe affection Of their lord. Nearly every
lone carries a burden resting on the back
land suspended by a strap1passed across the
Observation-Disclosures for salclor barter, usually
lof their own simple manufacture or else
1he fruit Of their gardens or orchards.
The roads are also dotted with profes-
Itional beggars exhibiting their valuable In
lfruities al obtrusively as. some bellies their
equally precious attractions. The toll they
demand is cheerfully paid blythe pilgrims
,who, remembering the injunction Of the
Church, He who giveth 10 the poor lend
eth 90 the Lord" show theirsfaith in such
promising investment SOEbeggars con-
tinue 20 thrive and multiplysin benighted
communities.
Reaching Tlaltenaugo from Cuernavaca
on September s last, / found a rope
ktretched across the road and guarded by
q native with a gun. for the purpose OF
stopping all vehicles and beasts Of burden
4 Jassed under II and followed the crowc
that slowly wendcd its way between two
l,ows OF booths and Of mats laid on The
xround There were displayed the variou,
articles likely TO tempt the poor peor
and his wite-mainly cheap trash, made ir
Germany" which, regret 20 see. is gradu
eiiv 6isplacing native manufactures, though
{, has not yet eliminated the sombreros
oats. the palm fibre baskets, the lacqueret
calbashhes, the pottery. the vlolins and
The guitars,
The yiol!ns are Of rude workmanship anc
l,a,ner from the European instrument II
having three gut strings Of the same size
like the usual A string, and smaller one
az metal. corresponding 10 our + strlhg
They are decidedly primitive ana INFERIOR
which the guitars are not
The entrance 70 the atrio. or chufchya'u
to,as almost obstructed by the numerous
',,oo,bs for the sale of candles, which every
,ilerim is expected 10 buy. After MAKING
mis- obligatory purchase he revere"uy q"
,.rs the sacred edihco. and, dipp.ng his IN
gers in holy water makes the pecu4'1'i' y