Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29

men having been killed in the wars
against the domination of the piaz
government 1t is true that good
many Of the Indians We're slaughtered
before the central authority was rec
oGniZed. but the disproportion between
the sexes is not very large The post
ton of the men is really Inheritance
of old tribal custom. Since so little
work is required of them the mon
accept their status quite philosophical
ly. When they become too lazy or
when another man proves more at
tractive the Tchuana women divorce
their husbands with little c"remony
The headgearooF the women tn.
'huipile, as ii is called, IS a lamp
shaped creation which rivals anything
that a. Partisan milliner could concoct
Sometimes II is worn in the marker
place but oftener on the street and
during ceremonial occasions.
Tehuantepec has. or used TO have. its
local celebrity This celebrity was
poet and a mad poet at that. ! have
the card which he gave NE some wears
aGo-'A. Delint G.. In addition to
being a poet, Senior Delint was
nonopoliSt. for he controlled the boot
hacking privilege OF the town. Not
that he hlacked boots himself. He WAS
attended by his squire. - sturdy boy,
who performed the manual labor. Him
self attired in IA high peaked hat and a
flowing cloak. after the manner OF A
Spanish cavalier of the seventeenth
century, the poet would go from plac.
to place in the performance of his
public functions Tho streets OF
Tehuantepec are very sandy and no
one ever gets from the railway sta
tion to the hotel without wanting a
shine, so the business was good one.
did not know of the poets fantasy un-
til a little group gathered in the patio
Of the hotel. apparently expecting some
and whispered to me- that it was Gus
tomary for the stranger to ask the poet
to read some of his verses. At the same
he indicated the proper individual who.
having collected from me the price Of
the shine. was also waiting.
I politely asked him if he were not a
poet. In reply he handed me roll OF
foolscap covered with beautiful script OF
the old Spanish manuscripts. The pen
manship was perfect and was tn.
spacing of the verses. The manuscript
really might have come from the archives
of a Spanish historical society except
that it showed the finger marks of too
much handling.
Responding to my request the poet took
his place in the center of the patio and
began the recital while I kept the manu-
script Some of the verses while high
sounding were not bad and the rhythm
was perfect
As he proceeded the poet grew more
intense. He detained the verses with
passion if not with spirit The hearers
in the meantime. if not enthralled, were
attentive and respectful They had heard
the verses often that they knew them
as well as the poet himself.
Suddenly the recital ceased. The poet
dashed his hat to the ground and stamped
his feet. ''Plaudits, gentlemen, lie cried
excitedly. Al once we took the hint and
applauded. Then he resumed the re-
citaI. I thought another outbreak was
coming and catching the eye of one OF
the hearers startG TIL applause again.
The poet paused with evident pleasure.
Then he bowed in the most stately man
ner, took the manuscript from my hand
and quietly walked away.
The mad poet had history and they
told it TO me. but it is not of much con-
sequence. I still have the little paste
board advertisement with which he pre-
scented me. Translated into English
blank verse it ran in this manner:
Sensation:
Calico discovered that the world moves
Columbus discovered the world.
Magellan circumnavigated the globe.
And ], A. Delint C., shine shoes
At all hours.
Happy and contented-
If he is still living, the mad poet Of
Tehuantepec is with the government and
against the revolution. for they told me
that in local affairs he had announced
himself as candidate for alcalde
mayor on a conservative platform.
CHARLES NJ PEPPER