Page:Life in Mexico vol 1.djvu/345

Rh would be struck with surprise at its apparent wealth. Everything connected with the church is magnificent.

This evening the Señora A came after it was dark, in a Poblana dress, which she had just bought to wear at a Jamaica, which they are going to have in the country; a sort of fair, where all the girls disguise themselves in peasants' dresses, and go about selling fruit, lemonade, vegetables, &c., to each other; a very ancient Mexican amusement. This dress cost her some hundred dollars. The top of the petticoat is yellow satin; the rest, which is of scarlet cashmere, is embroidered in gold and silver. Her hair was fastened back with a thick silver comb, and her ornaments were very handsome, coral set in gold. Her shoes white satin, embroidered in gold; the sleeves and body of the chemise, which is of the finest cambric, trimmed with rich lace; and the petticoat, which comes below the dress, shows two flounces of Valenciennes. She looks beautiful in this dress, which will not be objected to in the country, though it might not suit a fancy ball in Mexico.

June 27th.—I was awakened this morning by hearing that two boxes had arrived from New York, containing books, letters, &c.; all very acceptable. We also received a number of old newspapers by post, for which we had to pay eighteen dollars! Each sheet costs a real and a half; a mistaken source of profit in a Republic, where the general diffusion of knowledge is of so much importance; for this not only applies to the introduction of French and English, but also of Spanish newspapers. Señors