The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-03-30
The Has KIN u TIER
PICTIJRESQ QUE MEXICO

ri lTIJRESQ
Il--The Women
BY FrederiS
If the nations of Europe should
! fight until such numbers OF men are
! slain that the responsibility for car
rying on all business and govern
tnent rested with the women, a GER
tain corner OF Mexico might furnish
them with "a striking example OF q.
Y community in which just this thing is
accomplished most successfully. For
/ Tehauntepec, one OF the most inter
esting towns that tourist is likely
Ito encounter in life of travel. has a
population OF 1900 women and but
500 men. Because Of the predomi-
nance in the numbers OF the women.
all the affairs OF the community, both
commercial and governmental, have.
been turned over TO them. And
py above almost any town in the ma
/ ton.
The j sthmus OF Tehauntepec is the
waist line of Mexico. Where it Is
norrowest the waters of the Atlantic.
and Pacific come within 125 miles Of
each other. Across this neck of land
the pioneers of 40, bound for Cali
fornia travelled in great numbers as
it was shorter cut than Panama.
Twenty years ago arailroad was COM
pIeted across the isthmus and for
Ten years this has been hauling great
quantities of freight from the steam
ers on one side to those on the other.
With the completion OF the Panama
t,-,,f INktGa
diverted. and just now the revolution
lists have torn UP sections OF this
short, transcontinental railway. But
it expects, when peace is restored, to
still compete with Panama. q
Where this railroad climbs to the
hogback OF the continent, at an ele-
Walton of not more than 100 feet
above the sea, are to be found the
far-famed women of Tehauntepec.
They are descendants of the Mayan
tribes, the most highly developed ma
tiyes of America, the builders OF the
magnificent ruins that still survive
in the jungles of 1ucatan. a little
further south They have always
been people OF a peculiar develop
ment all their own. 1t is a matter of
general agreement among men of
much trastel that they are among the
most beautiful women in the world.
That Tehauntepec is city Of
women is evidenced Sas soon as the
tourist aliShts. 1t is but short
! Journey from the station. through
the palm bordered streets that wind
among the squat, adobe house, to
the market which occupies the CEN
| trail square OF the town. Here. un-
der a vast shed, are hundreds of
booths In which are sold the native
4 FRI ife I,a Few iala r,f
| apparel that are worn, and the orna-
lments of which these women are
most fond. Every booth is presided
over by a woman. In side streets
| there are little stores, and these are
always in charge of women. In the
commercial life Of the town man is
rarely seen. Yet the tide of trade
flows strong, and there are many
evidences Of prosperity There is less
begging in Tehauntepec than in any
4 other town in Mexico.
The traveller who gossips with the
proprietress of one of these stores is
likely to lead her into the display of
her especial treasure which is sure
pended innumerable gold coins OF the
currency Of the United States. One
of these women has such necklace
representing $4,000 in such coins.
When American prospectors began
crossing the isthmus in a 9, these ma
tives first began collecting this sort
eof money Today an American gold.
coin sells at a premium in Tehaunte-4
rec. and the casual traveller can real
ize a profit of from two to five d OIL
lars on a ten dollar gold piece. For.
these women have the wherewithal to
buy.
The distinguishing feature of the
costumes of the women is the pecu-+
liar headdress they wear on any for
NAL occasion. 1t consists Of huting
OF white material a foot and half.
deep worn over the head and down
the back something in the manner Of
the Indian war bonnet. The ruf1ess
are stiffly starched and fare out and
! back until the bonnet is four feet
wide. 1t would be the most inconve-
nient headgear in the world to wear
in theater or a crowded street car
But it seems to@set off the peculiar
qualities of the Tehauntepec ny oman,
| her copper yet transparent skin, her
strong and Wel1-rounded face and
figure. 1t rarely happens that there
/ is a celebration in Mexico City that Is
of nature to be regarded as nation
al, that is not attended by some of
these women o 8 Tehauntepec in full
IEregalia and necklaces or American
gold pieces. President Diaz, for in
stance. always had such delegation
at the palace on independence Day
Tehauntepec is still unspoiled by
the tourist. In most of the towns.
that are more accessible, the children
In particular have been converted in
| to beggars by the habit OF the tourist
Of distributing small coins. The lack
of, poverty In Tehauntepec. combined
with its ISOLATION. has prevented this.
There are no Americans here The
PARTY Of visitors might happen to ems
ltcounter mining engineer from the.