The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-12-18
BY RALpH II. rrRNRR


come keenly philosophical in a coun
try where revolutions have been fea
tured throughout that country's his
tory.
Everyday philosophy in Mexico
therefore a philosophy which fire
quently is expressed by no more
than shrug of the shoulders has
been developed to the highest point
And yet even the Mexican, despite
his feeling of Indifference and his
sense of the futility of everything, is
preparing today to begin life over
again. He is going ahead in antici-
patton Of a new deal" believing
that he and his children have
greater cause for hope than at any
time in the last ten years
That spirit with its varied manifes-
tations, is the index to the social
condition of Mexico today. 1t repre-
sents the thought of Mr.. Average
Man.
The whole population, with the
exception of few disgruntled politi-
clans and military men, is sick of
revolution; the country has been
looted from one end to the other.
And 50 the Mexican makes ready
for another start People who flooded
into Mexico City from the provinces,
because the capital offered greater
degree of shelter from marauding
rebels, are beginning now to retrace
their steps. They are going back to
the farm or the store. ExiIes who
were expelled by one or the other of
the various regimes since the fall
of Porfirio Diaz in 1910 are stream
ing home from New York and Lon
don and Madrid.
But the present is still the period
OF transition. Not until the new gov
ernment finds its stride and turns
its attention to score OF pressing
domestic and international problems,
at the same time obtaining financial
and moral aid from abroad, will
Mexican national life approach
state of well-being In the meantime,
the Mexican offers further proof if
such were needed-that human ma
ture remains the same, no matter
how many international boundary
lines are crossed. The Mexican goes
TO the movies american movies),
grumbles about the high cost Of liv-
ing, and loves his children.
In Mexico City, thoroughly mod
ern capital, he attends the theatre.
stages an exuberant ''party" with
about the same regularity as an
American did in the pre-amendment
days, and goes to bull fights on Sun
day afternoon. He is a devout Catho-
lie, but has never heard of a "blue
law" He probably spends his mon
more lavishly than an AngIo-Saxon
person with a similar income, needntf
vary much from what it costs in
the United States. One thing just
about balances another He must pay
more for a great many articles, be-
cause they are imported, but he can
maintain a whole corps of servants
for the same expenditure that sne
would involve from the rio Grande
north.
Vegetables, fruit and some of the
meats (goat especially the kid, is
POPULAR, costs less than in an
American metropolis. Fuel is min
or item in Mexico City, because OF
the temperate climate. If a Mexican
lives at a hotel, he may pay any
where from So to So. Omitted States
currency day for his room, though
he won't receive the modern ac-
commodations that most Americans
demand. House rents are high, as
practically no building has been
done during the revolutionary days.
It is beginning now to revive.
One difficulty with the life in
Mexico City-the one that most
Americans encounters the social
condition that has overlooked any
provision for the middle class. The
high class Mexican generally limits
his business activity to either own
ing property, and deriving the in
come therefrom, or playing some
part in the management OF the gov
ernment. Both have been paying
propositions in the past. The mer-
chandising business and the opera
.tion Of mines. oil properties and
other resources is generally in the
1ands of foreigners. The poorer
classes get along the best they can
Frequently their condition seems
pitiful to an American. 1t is common
for three or four people to live
sleep and eat in one room. The room