The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 6, 1901, Page 5

S Aacienda pear T\ Flermoyil lo. { e ows, opening T on the str er story w h ornate provided wi conies e those of the lower exierior ty as to v 1 of its seve d windows « icilc one of th and, s li ge, acquiring h floors being tile, over al s rarely Leing of pot- courtyard N Amgjue(} S AR devotee, during the Initial stage of his at- fons, is known as her “bear,” and evening from dusk till midnight, for as long a period as she chooses to dic- tate, he must conform to the require- ments of his role by standing in an atti- tude of wrapt adoration on the opposite side of the street in w of her window. In the case in question the young man recognized but one impediment to his progress, which ijas his unfamiliarity n connection with zn at THE SUNDAY CALL ‘with the language of the land. This, how- ever, he circumvented by employing 2 mediator, who presentéd his suit, brought about a formal introduction and eventu- ally secured a proposition from the senor- ita. This was to the effect that the young man must play “bear” for her throughout a period of three weeks, at the expiration of which time he might appear at a stip- lated hour outside her barred casement. He was, moreover, furnished with a dia- gram showing the front elevation of the house whereon the sacred window open- ing from the senorita’s boudoir was min- utely indicated. After carefuily weighing the matter in his mind the young man decided there was a possible chance of his devotion outliving such an ordeal and determined to see it out. In due time the allotted three weeks passed by and it is presumed that he'car- ried out his part of the agreement in a thoroughly straightforward manner, for there had certainly been a muffled figure in statuesque posture regularly on duty throughout the prescribed period- With eager expectancy the enamored swain advanced to the stipulated win- dow. A faint light glimmered through a T gt s e narrow opening in the casement. “Ah! she had not forgotten his coming.” Gently he tapped on the nearly closed shutter. No response. He waited a moment, then cau- tiously pushed open the blind, when lo! there was revealed to him the interior of a box stall, wherein, tied closely up to the window was a solitary sad-featured Mexican burro. Made fast to its stubby forelock was a white placard, on which, by the light of a candle placed convepient- 1y near, the crestfallen youth deciphered the legend, “Welcome." The ladies of a Mexican household never concern themselves with the marketing, invariably leaving that duty to the serv- ants. The latter visit the large markets early each morning, where such provisions v o * are rarely as are required for the 8ay are purchasea. The butcher, in cutting up his meat, never uses a knife or saw, but relies entirely upon his cleaver, ‘with which he severs a shin bone or slices off a tenderloin with equal fac y. Moreover, he never wraps his wares in paper, but deposits them side by side with the other edibles in his cus- tomer’s basket. A Mexican meal is always served in cours; usually including two kinds of soup and several varieties of meat, scl- dom more than one vegetable and but one dessert. Bread is placed uvon the e in the loaf and is broken i d, while butter is noticeable through absence, being used only in the preparation of the meal. Knives and forks employed excepting by the upper ¢ the food being conveyed to the mouth by means of thin bits of corn- cake, known as tortillas. So adroit are the people in this quaint custom that it seldom happens their fingers come in di- rect contact with their victuals. The Mexican people are devor of hcwe life; and fee” of them get boundaries. They are of enterfaining th and the hospi- tality of a Mexican host or hostess is a world-wide proverb. To such an extent is this true that in, many of the towns Lotels unknown institutions, even strangers being assured bf entertainnment in almost any household. Of corresponding uniqueness to the urban homes of Mexico is the life that obtains on the great haciendas of the rural districts. ‘While-engaged in securing material for this sketch the writer recently made a visit to Aranjuez, one of Mexico's most beautiful country places, situated near Guaymas, in the State of Sonora. Here the most idealistic phases of life on a rep- resentative hacienda were experienced. The place had been named after the coun- try seat of the King near Madrid; and the fact that, with all its prseent loveliness, redeemed from the des- ert in the midst of which, like a veritable oasls, it lies, renders its regal title all the more appropriate. Notwithstanding the air of indolences which to a greater or less extent pervades the Mexican hacienda, there is combined with it d counter atmosphere of luxurious ease that is deliciously infectious. The country® dwelling, or casa de campo as it is commonly designated, is invariably bullt on a plan best calculated for the comfort of its inmates, its chief charac- teristics being the broad, cool verandas and graceful arcades surrounding its ex- terfor, the deepset windows and delect- able courtyards. The surrounding planta- tion, . which is usually measured by the square league, is inclosed by walls of loose stone or hedges of the maguey plant. The sharp, bayonet-like leaves of the latter render it quite as impassable as, and far more attractive than, the barbed-wire fences of the north. Thé greater portion of the rich land, however, serves only for pasturage purposes, cultivation being re- stricted to occasional spots and patches. The implements used in tilling the soil are generally of the most primitive sort, the plow being fashioned entirely out of wood, with but one handle; and to this is yoked, by means of a board bound across their horns, a pair of domesticated Mexi- can steers or lumbering oxen. The peon who follows this novel equipage or goes to sleep under a convenlent banana tree is genérally attired in a broad palm-leaf sombrero, with an inordinately high are crown, white cotton pajamas and leathes sandals. For his rather doubtful services this seigneurial vagrant is paid at the rate of twelve cents per diem; but he s nially happy, nevertheless, and his are guite sufficient for the support elf and family, besides providing him with the ingredients for his beloved cigarette and an occasional copa of pulque wherewith to stimulate his unfailing affa- . he living of these simple ranch folk is frugal in the extreme, consisting mainly of the various fruits of the coun- ijoles or Mexican beans, and the in- With the better element the hacienda the table fare is quite rent, representing the choicest and d cuisine that can be provided. Such products of the hacienda as are not preserved for its own use are takenm to market upon the backs of small native burros, capable of carrying immense burdens, by mea of ponderous wooden ox-carts, relics of antiquity rarely to be found in use in any other civilized country. The different seasons witness but little variation in the lethargic renity of hacienda life in Mexico, whether it be harvest or seed time, the gathering of grain. And if, perchanee, possessed of & mad ambition to hasten the packing and shipment of his consignment, he is merely put off with the courteous and delusive assurance that hi$ desires will certainly be attended to—pseudo-manana. The word haste is entirely unknown to the vocabu- lary of the haciendado. Why should there be any hurry when the whole infinite fu- ture is at his disposal? All the elements of a small manufac- turing village are embodied in the average hacienda. There are mills for the re- duction of cane to sugar and the ¢éreals to flour and meal, gins for tje curing of cotton and looms for its manufacture into or textiles. There is a distillery for the preparation of mescal and tiquila, the national beverages; a general store, & chapel and a community school. And this little principality is owned and presided ovet by a courtly caballero, who is far more solicitous regarding the welfare and happiness of his small army of depend- antes or the stranger within his gates than of the revenues of his broad estats, which at the least are sure to be amply sufficient for his needs. The dawn of the new century is wit- nessing the advent of many changes in Mexico, but in not a few instances will the inherent customs of the land with- stand the tide of progressive ideas. And long after the sun of an advanced ctviliza~ tion has penetrated the most remote recess of her primeval bowers, the tooth- some tortilla and resourceful burro will remain two Indispensable factors in the dreamy lives of her children. Exploration has now revealed relics of Menes, the founder of Egyptian mon- archy, fashioned more than 600 years ago. Till quite recently he was regarded as purely mythical. There has also beem discovered the forearm of the Queen of Zer, the successor to Menes, still in its Wrappings, with four splendid bracelets intact. This brilliant and exquisitely fin- ished group of jewelry is 2000 years older than the jewelry of Dahsshur, the oldest yet khown, and had the great advantage of being carefully examined, as it was found and restrung in exact arrange- ment. The arm of the Queen had been brokeén off by the first plunderers and lal@ in a hole in the wall of the tomb, and there remained neglected by four parties in ancient and modern times, who sue- cessively cleared the tomb.