The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-07-03
HARLOTTE. N. C. JULY 81 1916.
RECOLLECTION OF MEXICO.
RY WADDY THOMPSON.
Jan published BY Wiley & Putnam. Net Y1k,
and for sale BY Allen MeCarter d Co.
Mexican Character and Customs.

Jaa published BY Wiley & Putnam. Nett YTk
and for sale by Allen McCGrter d Co.
Mexican Character and Customs.
Notwithstanding the general prejudice
which existed IN Mexico against me when
first went there, | was treated, although
some" hat coldly. always and by all classes
with the mos, perfect respect. La this par
ucullr the higher classes Of all countries
are very much alike, but | doubt whether
there Is any other country where the md
ding aud lower classes are so generally
courteous aud polite. There is no country
where kindness md courtesy are more Ger.
tsln 10 NEE, with a proper return. Ii may
ba that three hundred years vnssaage to
their Spanish masters may have gwen the
irdlan population Gu habitual detereuce and
respec, for race which they have always
regarded as q superior one. No people arc
by nature more SOCIAL none less 80 in their
habits. IL is not the fashion to give enter
tsinmen's Of any SORT Aud what regard.
ed rs little remarkable, the members Of
the MeNican Cabinet, most of whom we're
men Of fortune and had ampl5 means a,
hand, not only never gave entertainments
even dInuer parties TO the members of the
diplomatic corps, but never even iusited
them 10 their houses, when invited TO such
parties however by any OF the foreign min
lttets, they never failed 10 accept the lryi.
'alton. Wnh any other people there would
be a seeming meduness IN this. But such
was not the case. No people are more lib
efal IN the expenditure OF money. General
Santa Anna had lwo very large dnpor par
ties shlls, | .as IN Mexico, and two or
three balls; tot heard Of nothing elso Of
the kind, except at the houses oi the for
eigu ministers. Santa Anna dinners were
altogether elegasi, and he presided at them
with great dignity and proptlety. Ga such
occasions he was pyous and hilarious. The
company, without an exception, had The up
pearance aud manners Of gentlemen | sat
newt 10 hun on these occasions, aud his
aIdes-de camp, who were not seaird a, the
table, would occasionally ,rme 10 his scst
aud say some playful thing to him. | was
much struck With the style and intercourse
between them marked By an AtIec',onate
klndnoss on his part, and the utmost re
speci, but al the same time freedom from
restraint, upon theirs.
His ball, we're very runerously attend
ed. Inc company was by no means Sc.
loct. la fact | saw there very iew of tie
hdies belonging to the ntIsl0crncy bat ye
~ many others who had no business there.
TMa, however, IL unavoidable IN a rcyolu.
uonary country like MEXICO. Every Pre-.
ident holds his power by 10 other tenure
than the caprice OF tho army, and no - Tor.
crd, therefore, TO concIiate II. Il cotpo
raj, Who has married tho dug.A,or Of the
washcr"oman Of the regiment, has risen to
the highest station in the army, his wife
cannot be sighted with safety and such
cases have occurred.
| wlsh that could in sincerity say thal
the ladies' of Mexico arc handsome. Thcy
are no., nor are they u.iy. Their mua.
nets, however, are perfect ard ~ The great
attributes Of thu heart, otioctton, Kindness
and benesclcnco 10 oil their forms, the,
have 20 supeuors. They arc emnrn ly
grnct Col in everything bu. dancing. THAT,
does not "como by nature" A. We have the
authority Of DJgberry that reading and VII
ting do and they are rarely taught to
darco, aud still more rareIy practice it.
lhluk tha, IN another, aud the most in
por,sH, point IN the character Of women,
they are very much slsndcrcJ. | am quite
sure that there is no cry IN Europe Of the
same slz3 where there is less immortality.
Indeed, | cannot SEQ how such hing is
possible. Every house IN Mexico has but
one outside door. and q porter always nj
Tint. Tho old system Of the duenna, and
n constant espionage, are observed by eve.
~ one, and TO an extent that would scarce
~ be believed. | have no doubt, however
that halcvcr other effects these restraints
may have, their moral influence is not a
lood one. The virtue which they secure
IS OF the slcky nature Of hot house plants,
which wither and perish when exposed to
the weather. Women, instead of bong
taught TO regard certain acts as impossible
to be committed, and therefore no, appre.
hended or guarded against, arc brought up
with all idea that tho temptation OF oppor'
lunlly Is one v hlch IS never rceis,ed.
do not think that the ladies' of Meslco
are generally very well educated. There
are, however, some shining exceptions.
Mrs Ampnte, the wife of General Almun.
te, would DO regarded as an accomplished
lady IN any country. Tho Mcxicans, Of
either sex, arc not a reading people. The
ladies read very little.
The general routine OF female life is TO
rise late, and spend the larger portion Of
the day standing in their open windows,
which extend to the floor Il would be a
safe bet n, any hour OF the day between ten
and FIVE O'Clock, Iha, you would IN walking
the streets see one or more females standing
/ thus al the windows OF more than half the
houses. At 8 they ride on the Paseo, and
then 90 10 the theatre, where they remain
until l. o'clock, and the next day, and eve.
~ day 10 the year, repeat the same routine
Ia this dolce far nieoto their whoe lives
pass away. But repea, that IN many oil the
qualities Of the heart which make women
lovely and loved, they have no Supor'ofs'
The war Of independence was Illustrated
with many Instances OF female "t'uc Vi
romnntic character, ono OF when VIII
mcmillan. And again regret that have