The sun. [volume], May 17, 1914, FOURTH SECTION PICTORIAL MAGAZINE, Page 7, Image 37

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916

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THE SUN, SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1914.
CHARACTER OF THE MEXICAN PROPER AND IMPROPER
Account of His Oriental Nature the Mexican's
Is a Puzzle to the Foreigner Strong
Drink Their Curse
Mind
T
pfon
"nr.
In
pill -pan
r
an
ili.-in
to t'i
lhat
ran
ttat'i
nrm
JU!l
m!nil
u. T
Thi .r
Am i
f pan a'
A- .11
a
ly n
no '
M(M.
they " '
im n .i
im
ii'n
th.' C :
t)u ' '
nin'li l:
i: are only two kinds of
.ins outside tho few nrla
,its, the good and the ImicJ,
n other word the Indian
'i despicable hnlf castes or
.icordlng to Hamilton Fyfc
i ntitled "The Heal Mexico,"
y Mctlrldp, Nnst and Com-
one key, and one only, to
..indlng of the Mexican In--ay
In the chapter devoted
I, -t. That key Is to rrallzo
.1iritnnd him fully one never
- nut a (Mrndox. It Ik n plain
' fact. To Europcnns (of
i '.mlo Americans In thnt
Mexican mind Is a mystery:
h a mystery nB the Chinese
V'latlcs are a puzzle to
do not reason ns we do.
N are divided Into compart
..ppcar. Whether the In-
peopled Mexico before the
une were descended from
n i: rants or whether Asia
1 ii the twilight of the world
hii the American continent,
'. ct tell. Hut clearly the
n Asiatic In the sense thnt
peoples of Asia had com-
i lo forced to this conclu-
prevalence In Mexico of
and Japanese and Burmese
When I saw the Twenty
tuent, the most trusted of
nil. n i trade In Mexico city I cried
nut a' i ' Hrltlsh olllccr wtio wats
viit'i m f-'t at the same Instant the
cime i., 'ue of speech "They might
! J.i, use" Beetle browed, with
l.r vv.' "et In expressionless faces:
rt of stature, firmly set upon
tiny proclaimed an unmls
. '.iMonshlp. It la not often
f( so many of the same
tier, hut In almost nil parts
ritry one notices frequently
. might le Orientals. A Tc
w.iman smoking a cigar
.. i.isily for "the Burmese girl
n the road to Mandalay.
.I'u.rcrs In linen drawers trot
;u their tasks with n sullen
you could fancy yourself In
r Japan.
r
Jtocky -llit.r
(
tak.it
that .n
typo t -
rf ('.
Itfur."
hu.in'. i
rou M ,
'
tin? a
at.vr :
Ch -,i
T!n trusted Mexicans are generally
pur. l.U.ins. They may not he nlUe
tow or read. They may keep their
mar - accounts by tying knots In
a p.. of string. They may bo botlr
Ijrnrr nt and Incurious of all that lies
I 1 the range of their dally expe
rlc Hut, partly because they arc
itt.ii ' od to their masters, partly tie-
.111!-. "iey believe that any delinquency
s , . . n to be found out by "white
mi. prove themselves good
' . n ints. "Leave their
r. I , i in. r v, nun alone, treat them
1 .i. ill a' ie nil Justly, keep
.! iv i fr them, don't excite
'via ' firing Into their heads Ideas
i t'uy are not ready, then the
- ir. as good creatures ns you
i anywhere." That Is what n
1 me who has lived nmong
ml employed them for a great
ars.
Pi r. s their cure. Pulque, mcs-
il 'i. . y spirit distilled from n cac
u ri . aguardiente, the brandy that
'mm? : Khulla (tekeela), which Is fer
luntt l i I'que men and women nUke
' . fur all these poisons. They
rtdiUn i mselves nlso with a drug
V.'.td i. ir.hunnn. This lias otrange
am t. n ii. effects. It appears to mitke
(hof swallow It do whatever Is
uppetn in their thouglits. At EI
I'as.. on came across the Internal.-"
i ise firing a rifle at all and
.unln Mm. h talk ngalnst the American-
1 . doc of marihuana had de
eldcl t.i invade the United States
y Thf, brldgekecper quickly
I1"' ' in the poor wretch.
TV t.ition of mental grasp Is
t'trm. ' their having very little
"n't -no or distance and by their
Inattcn- . to anything which does not
iwrn , concern them. I asked n
"ountrv ,y who was guiding me the
nanus ' several birds we aw. lie
r"M tell me one of them. At
"nothf a.-o a dam was being built:
I'fcn v.ng close by knew nothing
hatt. ,),mlt ti a,, n a sucn
"c ' an-wer was a humble "How
"uM T now. senor?" Yet he knew
f'j : at about the habits of the
"lid f we were after. Like animals,
e and t. kind are often quick and
'vr r the processes -which win
'htm food.
Ukc mals too they only do work
nn'ip --npply their simplest needs.
p iid very little, thnt Is true.
"eil not be pitied on thnt
r dwellings are of "adobe"
I or of bamboo, mere huts
en feet by twelve: tho roof
i wooden shingles or roughly
'ied; the floor of earth,
sslons are n stove, n few
ns, n pestle and mortar, n
nd a platter for the, making
They need little money for
"e eondltlons, and few of
my desire for change. If
i "id more they work less.
" 1 to get more out of them
i y their needs, Induce them
r gramophones and sewing
t the fashion among them
'"thes, boots, watches; per-
I" sleep In beds, .sit on
ff plates and live In houses
f-Kglng It" in hovels. That
-s glibly called civilization:
wdl U- applied In course of
ui t
nr.
'tniuli
rfl. m '
overt''
rush
Their ;
I'ots
folllnt-
f tnr
life r
'htm
'.()
Th, ,
tu 1)
tO F...
Tl.1i h
iimli
'hain.
nstcn
s t ,
ho do
I'carp
A r, ,,
laUr it
They are often clever artisans, mechan
ics, masons, cnrjienters, electricians, nnd
so on. Their children wear shoes nnd
stockings, mny he sent to some third
rnte school In the United States, grow
up Into the middle class. Hut of the
mass of town Indlnns It may be said
that their last stute Is worse In every
They practise fraud In the smallest
ns well as In the largest affairs- Hon
est Ministers and Government officials
arc exceptional.
Neither Spaniards nor Indians Inck
courage. They can die bravely. At
Monterey I saw peon soldiers wnlk
calmly across n lire swept square. They
knew, no doubt, what bad shots the men
relx-1 commando. They took no pre
cautions, sent nhend no scouts. Sud
denly they were fired on nt very close
range from the roadside nnd several
were killed. Then were only a few
rebels, but the Iturales galloped ibnck
nnd told how they had fought desper
ately ngalnst tremendous oddsl
Worse than cownrdly was the be
havior of another troop of Hurnles sent
to guard n mine In the Htate of Jalisco.
When n band of Insurrectos came In
sight, an Kngllshmnu tunned Harrison,
who was In charge of the property,
asked them whether they would stay
and tight or run. They snld they would
run. Mr. Hnrrlson therefore met tho
The Good Traits in the Indian Peon and the Lack of
Them in the Despicable Half
Breed "Greaser"
with elaborate enro nnd sometimes with
taste. Their hair Is dressed to perfec
tion. In n small town with no other
evidence of wealth, this Is surprising.
Hut If you could follow them home you
would find that many of them lived In
conditions not fnr removed from squalor.
The Mexican woman usually spends
tho earlier part of the day the whole
tlon lietween classes. In Mexico the
relations between nil soils nnd condi
tions of men are fnr more human thnn
In the United States or In Knglnnd.
A cabman has no hesitation In nsking
his fare for n cigarette if he wants one.
I have wen a train "auditor," who
corresponds roughly to nil Kngllsh
"guard," sit down by nn olllcer In a
tlieiiiBtUt-M in the scale of
a higher standard of living.
La Ley Fuga, or the fugitive law, providing that any prisoner attempting to escape from a guard shall be shot, hides many a plain murder in Mexico. Any man, a
common thief or bandit, not worth bringing to trial, or even a rich ranch owner in political disfavor, may be arrested by the Rurales on some small pretext or none at all.
They set out with him across country, supposedly to some prison, but arriving without him, give out the stereotyped report, "Shot for attempted escape."
way t'han that from which they were
taken. It Is no use supposing that In
dians enn bo developed en mnsso Into
Europeans by being "educated": still
leBS can they be. expected for many
years, to como either to understand or to
mako use of ft constitution on Euro
pcan lines.
Between tho mass of Indian peons in
Mexico nnd the few aristocrats who
still claim pure Spanish descent come
tho half castes. If nt this time of day
any persuasion wcro needed, they
would persuade one that tho ming
ling of rnccs Is a. crime. They havo in
herited tho vices of both Spaniard and
Indian without nny of their virtues.
They havo neither tho Spaniard's dig
nity nor tho Indian's simplicity. They
nro proud without having anything to
Im proud of; punctilious oven trifles,
but cnsunl In matters of moment: cow
ards lioth physical nnd moral, In spite
of their braggadocio: mean and crafty
nnd "crooked" lieyond belief. "A Mex
ican would ulways rather earn BO cents
by a trick than a dollar by honest
work." That sums them up not unfairly.
on tho other sldo were, hut still, when
bullets aro zipping through the air It
Is not easy to bo unconcerned. A liner
quality of courage, than thnt was dis
played by a group of boys of good
Spanish families In Monterey, who
were captured by Orosco and shot lie
cause they would not cry "Viva Car
ranza" and nbjuro their cause. It was
not lack of Imagination, but sheer grit
which made them brave. The mestizo,
on the other hnnd, Is usunlly afraid. In
a train one day a few rebels came
through demanding thnt revolvers
shnu I lie given up; they needed them.
Tho Mexicans who wore them could not
unbuckle tho cases from their hips fast
enough. A short, squnro American rail
way man sat nmong them. "Have you
a pistol, senor7" Ire. was asked. "Yes,"
ho said grimly, "nnd If you want It
you'll have to toko It." Tho robels
looked at him and left him alone.
Along with this unreadiness to rlBk
their skins goes a bombastic exaggera
tion -of dangers. From a place called
Wndley in the State of San Luis I'otosl
there rode out one day a body of Hu
rii'ts (mllltnry police) to hunt out a
rebels when they arrived nnd was mak
ing terms with them when the Hurnles
opened tiro from a hill above nnd killed
four men. Never was man nearer death
than the Englishman In that hour.
Fortunately he was known to some of
the rebels, who vouched for him, say
ing that ho could not bo Involved In
such trenchery. His life was thereforu
spared. The Rurales were chased Into
tho woods, sevcrn) were killed, tho rest
were deprived of their rifles nnd ammu
nition nnd even of their clothes. Then
they sent In a report saying they had
defeated the rebels severely: nnd that
report appeared In the newspapers. So
Is the country deceived,
The Oriental nature of the Mexican
appears In h's treatment of women.
They are regarded as ministers to his
comfort nnd his pleasure, nnd they
seem contented enough. They go out
very little. In the plnzas on Sunday
evening, und In mnny towns on a week
night ns well, they walk round nnd
round, or sit In the lamplight, listening
to the bond, which, ns n rule, is good,
for to this extent the Mexicans are a
musical people. Their luileU are made
day If she does not go out or receive
visitors in n slovenly wrapper.
In well to do families the girls are
usually without any occupation, They
sit about for hours unemployed, not
wanting employment. Their thouglits
run nnd their talk pivots upon men.
Marriage is their ono Idea. After mnr
rlugo they cease to trouble about their
uppeu ranee. They age quickly nnd
grow stout. How fnr off fhey remain
from the habits of American and Euro
pean women may bo Judged by their
mourning customs. For nt leust six
months, usually for a year, after her
husband's death a widow Is not seen In
the streets. For twelve months sho
wears heavy crape, then for another
year lighter black, then for a further
period black and white,
Mnny women still keep tip the prac
tice, of driving In closed carriages,
which in the glorious Mexican climate
must be torture.
Yet one can sec n bright side even to
the Mexican's unwillingness to c "opt
the standards which civilization Im
poses. In more civilized countries
thc-re Is ,1 pretty clear line of eepara-
throngh. The same Is true of Hitssla
an additional argument In favor of the
suggestion 1 have already made that
these two countries are, beneath a thin
crust of modernity. In much the .nmc
stage of development the stage through
which Britain passed during the Wars
of the Hoses, live and a half centuries
ngo.
No Mexican house Is untidy I speak
now of what would in England be called
"gentlemen's houses." The Indlnns live,
mostly In wooden shacks or flimsy
huts which they make themselves. Let
me quote 11 description from "Viva
Mexico," one of the best books ever
written about this or nny other country:
"A sm.tll inclosure of bamboo, four
teen feet by twelve perhaps, the steep,
pointed roof covered with rough hand
made shingles of n soft wood that soon
rots nnd lenks. The bamboo, being no
inoie than u lattice, nffnrdr, but alight
protection from a slanting rain and
none whatever from the wind; the dirt
floor, therefore, Is damp everywhere,
nnd near the walls muddy. At one end
Is n 'brnscro,' not the neat, tiled affair
for charcoal, with holes on top and
draughts )n the side, that one sees In
towns, but a kind of box made of logs,
raised from the ground on rough, leg
nnd filled with hard earth. A small tiro
of green wood smoulders In the ccntro
of this, filling the room from time to
time with blinding smoke, nnd nrnund It
are three or four Jars of coarse brown
pottery nnd n thin round platter of un
glazed carthenwnrc on which are baked
tho tortillas. Near by Is 11 black stono
with a slight concavity on Its upper sur
face and n primitive rolling pin of tho
name substance resting upon It. On the
floor In the corner nre some framed pe
tutes, thin mats woven of palm or
rushes. This Is nil, nnd this Is home.
At night the family huddles together fur
warmth with nothing but the 'pctntcs'
between them nnd the damp ground.
They sleep In their clothes and try to
cover themselves wl:h their well worn
sa rapes (blankets)."
That conveys. I think, on exaggerated
Impression of discomfort. In a cold or
damp climate such a dwelling uould bo
utter misery. The climate of Mexico Is
during the greater part of the year hot
and dry. Un the high tablelands tho
nights, It is true, nre chilly, but I hnvo
slept In huts with only n light rnlncont
around me and not felt the need of any
other covering. The Indlnns, like all
other peoples In a state of nature, adapt
their houses to their conditions of ex
istence. Yet there Is one unfailing charm
about Mexican houses. Thnt Is tho
charm of flowers. All Mexican love
flowers. Their homes usually present
to the street bare, unlovely walls, but
very often you get a glimpse of n patio
where the sunlight flickers on green
leaves nnd vivid blossoms. Always yo.t
may count upon such un Interior even
If you cannot see it. These peeps Into
gay garden courtyards nre what 1 re
member when I think of Mexican
streets. It Is the custom to build houses
round n green plot open to the sky.
Sometimes there Is n loggia round this,
n loggln Into which all the rooms open
(there being no "upstairs"), and when)
the household lives In warm weather,
cooled by the plash and tinkle of n foun
tain In the centre. Or else the ground
floor mny be given up to olllces or
stabling, nnd, mounting a stairway,
you come to n broad balcony screened
from the sun by thick trails of flowering
creeper. Delicious to wake up at half
past 7 of a November morning nnd
luxuriate In hot sunshine ns you gn
across the patio or round the bnlcony
to your bath.
Mont hotels nre built more or less
on this plan, which almost makes up
for the hardness of their pillows. Tho
Mexican Idea of a pillow Is that It
should by Its extreme discomfort pre
vent you for ns long ns possible from
falling asleep. Otherwise hotels nre
tolerable. The food Is usunlly pleasant
enough. Mexican dishes nre alwayw
highly seasoned, sometimes painfully
"hot 1' the mouth." Hut a "mole,"
which Is n fowl or n turkey served
with a thick, dark brown, slightly
sweet sauce nil over It, Is a good as
nny curry. They have attractive modm
of cooking pork, for those who aro
hardy enough to cat It, In Mexico.
There Is nlwnys fruit nnd nlwuys drink
able coffee.
Woman servants nro called "crladas"
and wear their hair down, either In
tails or falling loose around their shoul
ders. They con be trained into clever
cooks, neat waitresses and careful
housemaids, but It is not often that
they are so trained. Much patience Is
needed. It is useless to expect too
much of them. If they are scolded or
worried, they simply leave without
warning. They must be allowed to do
their work more or less In their own
way. Certain habits have to bo
checked. 1 suppoe nearly all cooks
life their fingers to test the tempera
ture of soup. Mexican servants prac
tise even more unpleasant trick until
they nre taken in liaml,
They are sometimes Inclined to pil
fer, mole from curiosity, I believe,
than from n thieving propensity. Hut
It Is n libel to call them nil dishonest,
ns mnny people In Mexico do, They
have odd Ideas which may mnke them
appear dishonest when they nre not
so. For Instance, a woman who washed
for an acquaintance of mine In Mexico
City told him one day she was going
to live In Tolttea. lie 'p.ild her nnd
said goodby. A little later he discov
er! il that Ills !in 'i press was short
of several sheets, pillow cases, Ac; hi
also 1.1 ssed ni. tie sh.i'ts. Naturally he
concluded that the washerwoman had
stolen them. Three months nfterward
she called nt his olllce and snld that
she had left the missing articles at his
rooms nnd would he please pay her?
She had taken them to Toluca, washed
them, and kept them until she had
an opportunity to bring them back.
Time meant nothing to her. Besides,
"lie had so many."
T
railway carriage, and neither think nny
thlng of It, There Is scarcely any snob-
lierv In AffVh'o: thnt Ik one rtnHiiti for
Its being such a pleasant land to trnrrTt1' '"""" vines ""e ceiu
Barbers of the World
HE barber shops of the United
States nnd Canada are the finest
in the world nnd charge tho
highest prices. Comparatively few cities
of Europe use Ameiican chairs and
many of these run their barber shops
In connection with men's furnishing
stores.
In most European cities n haircut
and a shampoo costs d cents, nnd In
parts of London n shave costs four
is charged for a shave and two cents
for 11 haircut, and In Turkey barbers
take their entire pay In tips.
Many Clerman barbers make wigs nnd
switches while waiting for customers
and many French barbers do Indies'
hair dressing. Austilan barbers urn com
pelled to serve apprenticeships of four
years, on pay beginning nt 41 cents a
week nnd ending nt $1.02 a week, before
they can own their shops.
Syrian barbers seat their customers In
straight backed chairs before tiny wnll
mirrors, nnd tlx queer shnped pans
about their throats. Then they rub on
with their lingers lather made from
cheap soap,
In India your barber calls nt your
bouse and shnves you every morning
for $2 a month.
In China the barbers carry stools,
fmall tubs, razors nnd scissors about
the streets, slopping on the sidewalks
to perform their work, Just ns scissors
grinders do In America.