Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-10-27

A STRIKING picture of native life
~ in Guanajuato, the treasure
~ chest of mercurial Mexico, is
given in a Communication to
the National Geographic society by
Frank H. Probert. Mr.. Probert reveals
the Mexican poems as they are known
only to the American who has lived
among them.
Leaving the walled inclosure of the
railroad yards, says he, one looks down
on the apparently cramped and crowd
ed city of Guanajuato, capital of the
richest of the south central states of
Mexico. Hard by, to the right, is the
bull ring, the scene ON Sundays and
fiestas of farcical combats between
two-legged brutes and four-legged
beasts.
In the soft sunshine of summer days
the first vista of the city is striking in
deed. Churches of magnificent proper
tiOns; ancient and modern drchitec-
lures strangely blended in the same
edifice; stately buildings; imposing
markets; stores of all descriptions !;
and dwelling places, rudely bare, vari-
ously colOred with neutral tints of cal
cimine, their grated windows and open
doors e..hibitinS to all the sparSely
furnished interior where bird, beast
and human eat and live together. The
sordid squalor of the many contrasts
strikingly with the oppressive opu-
lence of the few.
The cobblestohe streets are crooked
and narrow; so narrow, in fact that
caballeroS must take to the sidewalk
vehicle. The dingy tram cars drawn by
relays of mules, three abreast, beaten
into subjection by the stinging lash
or coaXed into action by the curses of
the youthful drivers, whose vernacular
is wonderfully expressive and effec-
tive; indeed, doubt if anything but a
mule can really appreciate the depth
of feeling and Irresistible persuasive
ness of the vile expressions.
Odd Sights in the Streets.
What strange sights one can see In
these main arteries of the city!
have set my camera on the balcony OF
my room at the Woods hotel and will
snap what passes by. At first, a herd
of patient-plOdding burros loaded dowr
with slabs of the pale green sandstone
quarried near by and used for build
ing purposes; legless cripple shuffies
along on a board, propelling himself
with his hapds; a cargador trots along
| tirelessly with his awkward burden, il
! this case a sewing machine; more bur
rOs overloaded with charcoal another
| pack struggles under the weight o-
| sacked ore from the mines; still an
other bearing grain TO the market, anC
! the street car demanding loudly a cleal
| track; a funeral procession wher,
laughing children carry a baby's cas-
! ket, swaying from side to side to tn,
accompaniment of anything but appro
pirate music and behind the mourner
in silent solemnity.
Strangely superstitious are thes
people. Grossly ignorant, constant il
their faith, pathetic in their simple
ity, kindly and respectful, their life i
epitomized in the verse:
"Let the world slide, let the world go
A fig for care and fig for Woe!
If, can't pay, why 1 can owe,
And death makes equal the high an,
low"
Hanging Judas Iscariot in Effigy.
'Tis Eastern Sunday morning. an
awakened at early dawn by the toOtin
of tin horns, accompanied by the sc
norous screeches of bass viols and fid
dies as sounds are sawn from thei
strings; by the shuftiing of Sandale
feet over the stones of the street, an
4 by the babel of voices of passing poems
Church bells clang, sirens scream
whistles wildly mingle in the melody O
merriment; foN is not this the da
when Judas Iscariot is to be hung il
etfigy.
4 groteSque dummy figure is pa
| raded through the town, followed. b.
the jeering and cheering crowds, VIII
have risen early to give expression t
their righteous Indignation against tn
betrayer After circling the city tn
procession halts, Judas is prolnptl
yanked by the ropes from the bearer