. A glimpse of old Mexico; being the observations and reflections of a tenderfoot editor while on a journey in the land of Montezuma . to five millions. And in their contact with European civilization, the nativeraces acquired nothing worthy of mention. Their Christianity isstill little better than a superstition, founded, not on a belief inGods infinite love and mercy but on the dread of what He may doif He gets mad. Not the slightest effort was made to educate themand it is perfectly safe to say that twenty-fi^e years ago not one in 36 A GLIMPSE OF OLD MEXICO a thousand was able to read or w
. A glimpse of old Mexico; being the observations and reflections of a tenderfoot editor while on a journey in the land of Montezuma . to five millions. And in their contact with European civilization, the nativeraces acquired nothing worthy of mention. Their Christianity isstill little better than a superstition, founded, not on a belief inGods infinite love and mercy but on the dread of what He may doif He gets mad. Not the slightest effort was made to educate themand it is perfectly safe to say that twenty-fi^e years ago not one in 36 A GLIMPSE OF OLD MEXICO a thousand was able to read or write. In no sense was their con-dition improved. Cortez found the native races clad in cotton fab-rics and cotton is the dress of the lower orders to this day. Theyused the most primitive agricultural implements—a sharp stick tomake holes in which seeds were deposited, a wooden spade andsometimes, a wooden plough—and these are still employed inmany parts of Mexico, though in other sections modern appli-ances have replaced them. Even their food has been modifiedvery slightly. The native beans, or frijolis, tortillas or baked. Peons Shelling Corn. The Grain Falls through the Frame and the WindSeparates the Chaff. cakes of maize, chili peppers, tomatoes, together with indigenous A OF OLJ> MPIXfCO 37 fruits, are the great staples they were four hundred years ago andare prepared for consumption the same way. In every well regu-lated peon household, you will find the Aztec metate or stone onwhich the corn is hand ground and the ancient pottery vessels inwhich their food is cooked. It is scarcely conceivable that the experience of four such cen-turies would fail to leave an evil impress on the national characterof any people. For my part, the only wonder is that they did notrevert to utter barbarism when finally left to themselves, just asmany races ha\e done after being long held down by the stronghand of physical restraint. It is not an agreeable task of enumer-ate
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