The Raymer enterprise., 1916-10-19
STRIKING picture Of native life meon sympathy they
Guanajuao the their mode living
chest mercua Mexico shall the
in

II
given in a communication to
the National Geographic society by
Frank Fl. 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 architec-
lures strangely blended In the same
edlfice; stately buildings; imposing
markets; stores of all descriptions
and dwelling places, rudely bare, vari-
ously colored with neutral tints Of cal
chime, their grated windows and open
doors exhibiting 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 cobblestone streets are crooked
and narrow: so narrow, In fact that
eaballeros must take to the sidewalk
to permit Of the passing Of any kind Of
vehicle. The dingy tram cars drawn by
relays of mules. three abreast, beaten
into subsection 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, herd
Of patient-plodding burros loaded down
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 hands; a cargador trots along
tirelessly with his awkward burden, in
this case a sewing machine; more bur-
ros overloaded with charcoal: another
pack struggles under the weight of
sacked ore from the mines; still an
other bearing grain to the market, and
the street car demanding loudly clear
track; funeral procession where
laughing children carry baby's cas-
ket. swaying from side to side to the
accompaniment of anything but appro-
pirate music, and behind the mourners
In silent solemnity.
Strangely superstitious are these
people. Grossly ignorant, constant in
their faith, pathetic In their simple
ity. kindly and respectful, their life is
epitomized in the verse:
Let the world slide, let the world go
A fig for care and fig for woe
II can't pay. why l can owe,
And death makes equal the high and
low"
Hanging Judas lscariot In Effigy.
Tis Eastern Sunday morning. am
awakened at early dawn by the footing
Of tin horns, accompanied by the SO.
norous screeches of bass viols and fid.
dies as sounds are sawn from their
strings; by the shufiling Of sandaled
feet over the stones Of the street. and
by the babel Of voices Of passing poems.
Church bells clang, sirens scream,
whistles wildly mingle In the melody Of
merriment; fms>is not this the day
when Judas Iscariot Is to be hung In
efigy.
A grotesque dummy figure is pa.
raded through the town. followed by
the jeering and cheering crowds, who
have risen early to give expression to
their righteous indignation against the
betrayer. After circllng the city the
procession halts, Judas Is promptly
yanked by the ropes from the bearers
and bangles in midair. a sorry sight,
spit upon. cursed. condemned. con-
signed to everlasting purgatory, to
which place, at sunset, he Is sent by
the explosion Of dynamite concealed
In his carcass. Ribaldry runs riot as
the day advances, and night falls on
an exhausted though happy people.
What matters II the prison is over.
crowded that night or that the supply
Of pulque or mescal Is depleted almost
to the degree OF exhaustioni i
To the casual visitor from the
States the habits and customs Of these
lowly people are strange, but fasci.
nsnng. They do not need our com.