Evening journal., 1920-12-23
People See New Hope I'm
der Administration Of
Obregon
NO MIDDLE CLASS,
NATION is WEAK
BY RALPH II. TURNER.

quently is expressed by no more than
a shrug Of the shoulders-has been
developed to the highest point. And
yet even the Mexican, despite his feel
Ing OF Indifference and his sense OF
the utility OF everything, Is prepar-
ing today 30 begin life over again. He
Is going ahead In anticipation 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-
tati0ns, is the index 10 the social con
diti0n OF Mexico today. 10 represents
the thought Of Mr. Average Man.
The whole population, with the ex-
cephon OF a few disgruntled pOliti-
clans and military men. is sick Of
revolution; the country has been
looted from one end TO the other.
And so the Mexican makes ready
for another start. People who flooded
into Mexico City from the provinces,
because the capital offered a greater
degree Of shelter from maraudine
rebels, are beginning now 10 retrace
their steps. They are going back TO
the farm or the store. Exiles who
were expelled by one or the other OF
the various regimes since the fan Of
POrfrio Diaz in 1910. are streaming
home from New York and London,
Paris and Madrid.
But the present Is still the period OF
transition. Not until the new govern
ment finds its stride and turns It's at
tentiOn TO a score OF pressing dOmes-
tic and international problems. at the
same time obtaining financial and
moral aid from abroad, VIII Mexican
national life approach a state Of we'll
being. In the meantime. the Mexican
offers further proof - n such were
needed-that human nature remains
the same. no matter how many inter
national boundary lines are crossed.
The Mexican goes TO the movies
american mOviesl, grumbles about
the high cost OF living, and loves his
children.
In Mexico City. a thoroughly mod
ern capital, he attends the theater,
stages an exuberant party" with
about the same regularity as an Amer
lean did in the pre-amendment days.
and goes to the bull fight on Sunday
afternoon. He Is a devOut Catholic,
but has never heard Of blue law. D."
lie probably spends his money more
laVishN than an AnglO-SaXon person
with a similar income. The cost OF
living for a Mexican with COM
Portable income, needn't vary much
from what It costs in the United
states. One thing Just about balances
another lie must pay more for
great many articles. because they are
Imported. but he can maintain whole
corps Of servants for the same eX-
penditure that one would involve from
the Rio Grande north.
Vegetables, fruit and some OF the
meat goat. especially the kid Is
popular), cost less than in an Amer
lean metropolis. Fuel is minor item
In Mexico City, because OF the tenn
perate cline. II the Mexican lives az
a hotel. he may pay anywhere from
50 10 Sc United States currency
day for his room, though ne won re-
ceive the modern accommodations
that most Americans demand. House
rents are high, as virtually no build
ing has been done during the revolu-
tlonary days. 10 Is beginning now 10
one difficulty with life in Mexico
City-the one that most Americans
| encOunter-is the social condition
! that has overlooked any. provision
| for the middle class. The nigh class
Mexican generally limits his business
| activity TO either owning property,
and deriving the income therefrOm, or
playing some part in the management
OF the government Both have been
, paying propositions In the past. The
merchandising business and the Ope-
ration Of mines, oil properties and
/ other resources Is generally IN the
/ hands Of foreigners. The poorer
/ classes get along the best they can.
/ Frequently their condition seems pitt
| ful TO an American. 10 Is common FOR
three or four persons to live, sleep
and eat in one room. The room
| doesn't have 10 be large one, either.
Beans and corn are the chief articles
Of diet. The cotton garments, SOM
/ brerO and a pair OF sandals are the
| principal forms OF raiment worn by
the people Of the poorest class. How
! a Mexican clerk can live on 100 pesos
$500 a month, and present a good APP
| pearance, may seem beyond cOmpre-
hensiOn. but il is done. Almost the
best in Mexican servants may be OBJ
tanned for twenty or twenty-five
pesos monthly.
As result Of the social structure,
an American may hate difficulty TO
avoid the alternatives OF living either
as an oil magnate or a day lab0rer.
For instance. there are no quick
lunch" restaurants in Mexico City.
Dinner, in the middle OF the day, Is an
event which requires the fullest at
fentiOn. Business houses close from
10 3. sometimes longer. The time is
| devoted largely TO eating, and then
| sleeping. After a full Mexican meal,
the slesta is almost Indispensable and
comes easily. as sleep comes TO one
! who is drugged.
| But there's another abb for sleep
/ besides the length Of a Mexican menu.
| Mexico City is about 1900 feet above
| sea level, and the altitude has strange
and varied effects. One requires more
sleep, the doctors explain, because
many organs OF the body are forced
10 work overtime. Also, eggs must be
boiled longer. II ene takes them that
way. Fried, straight up" is not ar
fecied by the altitude. Consumption
OF alcoholic drink is held TO be eX-
tremely dangerous, because OF the al
titude's manipulations with the heart
although statistics show no loss In
consumption for that reason.
The Mexican sense OF hum0r is
highly developed, particularly among
the peon classes There Is the story
for instance, that involves CarusO
when the famous tenor visited Mex
leo City and sang In the bull ring
II was the pargest place available and
was thronged at every performance
the MeXicans OF every social class
having a keen appreciation Of music
Caruso had finished Carmen" The
tremendous applause was followed by
a hush. when a peon, a bull-nght far
. as well as a music-lONer, arose IN nj.
seat and demanded loudly; "OtrG