Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/390

384 Among the many brilliant renderings of musical compositions, wasthe remarkable performance on the violin of two boys of twelve and thirteen years. Without book or break they played throughout the music of Il Trovatore with marvelous technique and admirable expression.

The exercises of the evening closed with a superb banquet given in the comedor grande. The flow of wine was only equaled by that of wit. The Mexicans seldom indulge to intoxication; their frequent potations "cheer but not inebriate"—only add brilliancy to their conversation without clouding the intellect.

In all that elegant assemblage I was the only American guest present, of which distinction I was justly proud, and endeavored to wear with becoming dignity the honor of being the sole representative of our great nation.

My embryo book was made the subject of many kind toasts drank to its success, and the hope was expressed that its effort toward bringing in friendly contact the two nations, would be appreciated by my own people.

One of the most erudite and brilliant of the literati in Mexico is Ignacio Altimirano, who is also an eminent jurist, and was at one period a judge of the supreme court. Altimirano is a corresponding member of the Spanish Institute, also of several literary societies in France, England, and Germany.

He is a pure descendant of one of the Indian races. He won the prize in his municipality in Oaxaca, and his education was completed at the "Instituto Literario" at Toluca. On going there, some one observing his marked Indian parentage, laid his hand kindly on his head and said: "Nothing will ever come from this brain." The utter fallacy of the prophecy is too well known, both in this country and in Europe.

The most popular poet in the republic is the venerable Guillermo Prieto, who may justly be styled "the Mexican Beranger." He has also been called the Robert Burns of the republic, and, like the Scottish poet, he sings the songs of the people. Identifying himself with them in feeling, he is able to express their every emotion, and in