The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson . d which was used incommon by the occupants of the house for wash-ing, ironing, cooking, and eating. We occupiedone of these establishments. In the morning little tables, with white cloths,were brought out and set for breakfast in theopen air. The different families would sit at themand drink their hot coffee, eat their fruit and bread,smoke their cigarettes, and talk away as gaily as ifno war were going on. The courtyards were en-tered by a large gate, and hired out to passingcaravans of muleteers or rancheros, who occupiedthe middle of the space. Here t
The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson . d which was used incommon by the occupants of the house for wash-ing, ironing, cooking, and eating. We occupiedone of these establishments. In the morning little tables, with white cloths,were brought out and set for breakfast in theopen air. The different families would sit at themand drink their hot coffee, eat their fruit and bread,smoke their cigarettes, and talk away as gaily as ifno war were going on. The courtyards were en-tered by a large gate, and hired out to passingcaravans of muleteers or rancheros, who occupiedthe middle of the space. Here they also took theirmeals and sold their fruit, vegetables, chickens,and dry-goods of cheap and gaudy-colored stuffs,Mexican blankets, sombreros, and baskets. Thecourtyard at night was a lovely sight. The littlehouses surrounding it were all lighted up within,the doors wide open so that we could see thefamilies, men, women, and children, knitting,smoking, dancing, singing, and playing cards —always for money (everybody gambled in Mex-. JAMES \V. WALLACK, JR. OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON 73 ico); and groups of muleteers in the center wereseated around their camp-fire, which would blazeand shed its light over the scene. I had a greatfondness for this locality, for here I met my firstlove. Her mother was a full-blooded Mexican, buther father must have been pure Castilian, for thegirl was not only beautiful, but her features werearistocratic. She had the prettiest little feet andhands that could be imagined. Her merry blackeyes fairly danced and sparkled with brilliancy,and when laughing she would throw her headback in ecstasy, showing two rows of pearly — that was her name—^was as wild andgraceful as a deer. I was quite in love with her atfirst sight, and when she began to teach me toplay the guitar and smoke cigarettes I was entirelycaptured. She had that rich, olive complexion thatone sees in a pale Key West cigar, and, like thatarticle, was about half Spanish. Her great
Size: 1358px × 1840px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectjeffers, bookyear1890
