Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1881 — The Feast of St. Augustine. [ARTICLE]

The Feast of St. Augustine.

Tucson Corres. San Francisco Chroncle. The feast of St. Augustine was first celeb* ated in Tucsou August 28, 1768, at the time this mission was dedicated to its patron saint of the above name, and has been celebrated each year since or for over a hundred years. On the 28th of August commences a celebration whicn extends over a period of about three weeks, or as long as the revelers have the means to keep it up. The Mexican population come from all quarters, iu many instances traveling “00 miles to visit their friends aud relations and join in the festivities. Iu the olden days the recreations were of a simple aud innocent character,but now adaitp, since the railroad has brought Americans, who never lose sight of a favorable opportunity to make a dollar, the character of the feast has entirely changed. The grounds are laid off in the shape of square plaza. Around the four sides are neatly arranged booths, some of them gayly, and even handsomely decorated. Nearly in the center is the dancing pavilion—a rough board floor with benches around three sides—rather a rough place for dancing but it iscensidered good enough by its chief patrons the Mexicans, who usually do their fancy steps on a mud floor The entrance and kll around the plaza is staked off in regular lines by posts six feet high surmounted by flaming torches, which give a lively appearance to the whole scene. At almost every Set is a small table loaded down with exican sweetmeats, cakes, and sometimes fruit* The vender utters no sound

1 but sits sullenly smoking a cigarette, only rising to wait on customers^ The great attraction of the evening is the gambling pavilion, which occupies almost one entire side of the plaza. AU around the building is a promenade, and along tins walk are the gambling tables. Faro, roulette, monte, chusets, chuck-a-luck and a dozen other games that only the sporting fraternity have names for are represented. At times the whole building is crowded,aud it is with difficulty that one can get close enough to some of the tables to make a bet or even see what the game is. At the monte games a five cent pieee may be seen waiting its turn for better or worse alongside of a hundred dollar bet made by some one who is flush and who is tapping the bank. The roulette tables seem to be the favorites. One evening I counted five in full blast. There were eager, excited crowds around each game. It is a mistake to suppose that only gamblers and the low’er classes indulge in gambling. Everybody here does it, from the most prominent officials and merchants down to the poorest laborers. The ladies look on, aud frequently their escorts induce them to play just to try their luck. The majority” go to look ou and listen to the music, but they are carried aw’ay oy the scrroundings and are astonished to find themselves betting on games that they never saw before. A corn doctor can be heard aliove the din of a score of other itinerant veulers of quick medicines or spurious jewelry. At the dance pavilion a queer scene is being enacted. A Mexican is bared to the ouff and executing a kind of religious dance. He assumes the most grotesque gestures, keeping time with the music, not by dancing, but by contortions and movements of the body and facial muscles. There are ho lights iu the place, which is only illuminated by the dim glare of the torches around the plaza. Hundreds of Mexicans lean jorward, breathless aud excited, watching the dancer’s every movement, till some quaver in the music brings forth an extraordinary contortion, when, with one accord, they give vent to their feelings in vociferous cheeis aud words of encouragement. They are as insensible to their surroundings as if isolated from the outside world. The saloons, with their long bars, are crowded, and in their private rooms can be heard the merry popping of champagne corks. The ice cream restaurants are dealing out delicacies to suit the palates of their customers, and at the American restaurants you can get almost anything you order. The American ladies look exceedingly neat and pretty in their light.dresses. There is no fear of catching cold here, aud no necessity for a head-covering, except for effect. There is no wind or dust, aud the air is pure, dry and bracing.