A DIPLOMAT'S WIFE IN
MEXICO
"No foreign nation can be permitted to interfere in the interior matters of Mexico." If Carranza says that, certainly Huerta cannot say less. So there we are. Though nothing was further from his purpose, Mr. Lind has absolutely knocked any possible negotiations on the head by the noise and publicity of his arrival in the city of Montezuma and Huerta. The Latin-American may know that you know his affairs, and know that you know he knows you know; but he does not want and will hot stand publicity. This morning I went out "junking" at the Thieves* Market with Lady C. It seemed to us that all the rusty keys in the world, together with all the locks, doorknobs, candlesticks, spurs, and family chromos were on exhibition. We were just leaving when my eye fell on a beautiftil old blue-and-white Talavera jar, its metal top and old Spanish lock intact. After considerable haggUng I ended by giving the shifty-eyed Indian more than he had ever dreamed of getting, and much less than the thing was worth. Drugs, sweetmeats, and valuables of various kinds used to be kept in these jars. Greatly encouraged, I dragged Lady C. to the Monte de Piedad. AH foreigners as well as natives frequent it, hoping, in vain, to get a pearl necklace for what one would pay for a string of beads elsewhere. One of the remotes, or auctions, was going on, and the elbowing crowd of peons and well-dressed people, together with the familiar Aztec smell, made us feel it was no place for us. The diamonds and pearls here are mostly very poor, and the great chunks of emeralds
monthly
with their thousand imperfections are more decorative than valuable. The fine jewels of the wealthy class have come mostly from Europe, though shrewd buyers are on the lookout for possible finds in the constant turnover of human possessions. There are beautiful opals SS