Sunday in Mexico

The day of all others sacred to devotion among a civilized people, is a day of unusual festivity in Mexico. It would seem that every other day in the week is passed in listlessness and indifference; but all that is gay, animated, and amusing, is reserved for Sunday. A correspondent of the New Orleans Tropic, after noticing the crowds of beauty and fashion which throng the cathedral to morning mass, describes the gay scene when the mass is over. All, says he is bustle and animation. At a corner of the great square are suspended large placards on which the nature of the day's amusement is depicted in every variety of color. Here is a pictorial illustration of the most prominent attractions at the great theatre [theater], which, in common with all the rest, is open twice on this day. A little further on is a full length figure of Figaro, which draws your attention to the fascinating allurements of the opera. The bull fights next solicit your notice, announcing the most terrific particulars. Nor are the minor theatres [theaters] behind hand in presenting their attractions. Endless varieties of other exhibitions put forth their claims. A balloon ascension is advertised for the afternoon. One would suppose, too, that the old Roman gladiatorial shows were revived; for at one spectacle is a contest between a man and a beast. Cock fights, dog fights and fandangos are announced in every quarter of the city. Horse-racing, the circus, jugglers, posture-masters, tumblers, fire-eaters, monstrosities, concerts, cafe gardens, fencing matches, pigeon shooting, gymnastic exercises, country excursions, and balls graduated to every pocket, form but a fraction of the entertainment to which this day is devoted. In the afternoon the public promenades are thronged and the long array of equipages, with the rich and gay dresses of the senoras, is calculated to convey an imposing impression of the wealth and luxury of the city. In the evening the theatre [theater] presents a spectacle which probably few theatres [theaters] in the world can parallel. The beauty, elegance, wealth and luxury of Mexico seems concentrated in one brilliant focus. The finale of the day is generally wound up by a splendid display of fire-works; and thus concludes a Mexican Sunday, and in no other part of the world, probably, is a Sunday so spent-not even in Italy.-Sunday Times.

(->) Let me ask how much worse the citizens of Mexico act than the citizens of New York,

London, or Paris. O ye hypocrites of the nineteenth century, who does not know the Chistian [Christian] nations make a holiday of Sunday?-All may fall to the ground, put their hands upon their mouths and cry, unclean! unclean!