THE PLAZA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11684, 13 July 1912, Page 1

THE PLAZA.

A MEXICAN STUDY. The Plaza, or Place, is to be found in the centre of meat towns, and is reckoned as the "hub" of the city. It is laid outlike a gar-clen. .Palms and tree-s cast a precious shadow oil the paths; it lias massed-up beds of ilowers —crimson, purple, and blue; birds of wonderful colours fly overhead, and the liot, golden sun that ever shines on Mexico beats down on the picturesque scene. All these pleasure gardens arc dissected by paths of gravel or grass, -which converge on the circular promenade which rings- in the bandstand. Along the paths, in the welcome shade, benches'run; also round the fountains and bandstand. ' Beyond the garden comes the carnageroad ; there the grandees drive in fine style-. On one side; -divided only from the plaza., by* this road, stands the Governor s house, generally an imposing, building, in pure white, low and long, _with great windows commanding the entire gardens. Opposite stands the cathedral; a little back from the road, its domes or spires gleaming in.the eunliglit. - And on the'.remaining 'sides of the square are the - Portales. These are houses used in the lower storey as shops or cafes; with the first storey built out the width of the pavement, and supported by pillars—portales. Under the shady " walk" ■'thus secured customers of the various cafes sit at their ease, sipping the curious drinks of the country, and smoking the inevitable cigar. 'The plaza has its. hours and its clientele. Dawn sees the beggars or vagrants ,of Mexico curled in vivid-hued —. every. Mexican owns a blanket-: —fast'asleep on the benches or grass.. These, queer creatures: wake, early and shuffle off - to tHejr regular" "pitches," or. -to look -.for work," in. their curiously 'careless., way. Nobody in Mexico minds being out of work; the' beggar of to-day may be the owner of a fortune to-morrow—quien sabe? After the' begsrar-s come the cleaners, removing bits-of, paper from flower beds and paths. Then stately elderly gentlemen arrive; striving ,to keep ccol, in white suits and large shady hats. They . smoke their morning cigars, and read their newspapers, returning komo towards noon for a siesta. .. In the early afternoon the plaza, and the town are sleeping. It ..i6 too hot to walk abroad, .even in the shade of the trees.,.

As the sun sinks a few carriages appear; and some citizens afoot._.venture into the gay- cafes... Soon the entire population, is, awake and making for the plaza arid the daily promenade. : The'band begins, and a fashionable .procession starts circling languidly round'and, round. Quaint and gorgeous dresses may be seen, and m the • Mexican night beautiful eyes look swiftly: into'eyes that, pass; and so the everlasting, story is carried on. : . Soon .after ten begins, a. general exodus, and-the cafes become .crowded. The-arc lights go-out: the bandstand looks like., a: ghost jn the gloom; the stars shine setadily above, and the . last of the crowd goes heme. . .. : 1 - .

Then the -beggars, with...their beds -on their - shoulders, come.- creeping. back, to. find a resting place for yet another night in the plaza<—"Globe." : -