Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-10


 IL midway plaisance; IN ~ people in costumes
 of all descriptions and some with either demi-toilets or none at all.
 The stage setting is perfection, and, though the atmosphere is not all that could be desired-especially through the terra caliente, the hot lands to be trav- ersed-it would be poor traveller into the interior who would allow this to interfere with his enjoyment of the interesting types on every side.
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 Here one sees the true child of nature who has never known the restraint of clothes. shoes or stockings. The author of "Sartor Resartus'' would find no food for thought here and nothing on which to hang his philosophy, for while the ex- Gemely decollete dress of the grown-ups would make the ball gown of one of our society belles seem Puritan costume by comparison the babies and children pose in the altogether.
 Emerging from the hot country into the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains. with the snow-tipped peak of Orizaba in the distance, a cool breeze is felt; re- freshing mountain streams rush like swift torrent, or peacefully meander
 
 the scene and furnishing laundry and bathing place for the Indian family whose adobe or reed hut is on its banks.
 The peon does not go to bed while his clothes are being washed, but simply takes an air bath while they are drying on the bushes, and joins his family for a social hour.
 If there are a few maguey plants on the banks of this stream, it is bliss in- describable to him. for he can extract the pulque from these for his nightcap or morning constitutional, and wars and rumors of wars do not rob him of a mo- ment's rest.
 It matters not if one be artist, sociolo- gist soldier of fortune, or simply a globe trotter pleasure bent, he will find enough and to spare of every variety of climate, scenery and peoples in travelling through this country.
 
 So little have the centuries changed it that if Gen Winfield Scott were alive and could lead the way to Mexico City he would enjoy some improvements but find few changes, and would encounter the same mode of life that he found when he marched through it in 1s47 and that Cortes found when he took the same route, nearly 400 years ago.
 Now, as in the time of the Spanish con- quistador, cargadores are used to trans fer luggage, household effects and take lI difficult for even burro to go
 On landing in Vera Cruz the traveller is quickly surrounded by these little lean looking brown men-and women, too wildly gesticulating and soliciting patron age. There may be a transfer wagon near at hand, but the cargadore is taken IT Tor no other reason than to eliminate one of the dozen hanging at ones heels They carry on their backs anything from large-sized dress trunk to the en- ure 1urnishings of a small American apartment, their load frequently so en- veloping them that as they run along, winding in and out among the traffic of a crowded street. all that is visible is a pair of thin muscular legs and feet seem ingly pinned to the bottom of a trunk or box
 These cargadores, messengers and agua- dores In Mexico have dynamics down to such a fine point that they could wind In and out Of a crowd at Broadway and 34th street in way that would make a New York policeman's hair stand on end And an aguadore, or water carrier can go through a crowded thoroughfare with two large open-mouthed water jugs filled to the hrim and attached to either end of yoke and another large jugful on his head and never spill a drop.
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 Moving day in Mexico is filled with in- terest to the tourist, and particularly so if the event takes place in one of the vi viendas, or tenement houses. Instead of a moving van or a handcart the carpa- dore is employed, and will trot u pand down three or four flights of stairs with the greatest ease.
 The apartment or tenement houses were frequently palaces or hospitals in the time of Spanish rule, and are now regular hu- man beehives, the great chambers being subdivided into tenements of four or five rvomS
 These places are like little villages all within themselves, sheltering shoemakers cahinetmakers, dresSmakerS, Weavers carpenters and any other workmen one may have need of, even to an evangelista, public letter writer, all plying their trades in this building and using the large patio as social center for man and beast It is here the occupants assemble to hear the news gossip a bit about new arrival. Every one takes a pride in the flowers in the patio, and every avail able space Is used in which to set tin cans, pots or any receptacle in which towering plants will grow. And they do grow luxuriantly and help to hide the squalor of the surroundings.
 In the richer parts of the towns this courtyard will be so gay with flowers that it will look like painted Jezebel Haunting her splendors in the face of the cool green palms and ferns, and on moonlit nights is like fairyland.
 A family of seven will occupy room less than eighteen feet square in one of