Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-07-21
.IscELLANEOUS SELECTIONS ;.
MEXICAN WOMEN.
,r..,m Hon Waddy Thompsons "Recoliecnons OK
tf' Mexico"

.h; circumstances has very great influence on 'Aei
.,eter II easy TO estimate the moral influence
= th..e family unions, to which We are accustomed
o.,d the freside long winter evenings winch are
coed in reading excellent book orin CONVERSATION
rot less instructive
r, v.kiug the streets Of Mexico II would Nc very S
. 1T that eight out Of every persons you meet "onu
. G,. .olders priests friars, leperos and It would
:. aeeul, In decide which class is the most numerous
A Int tho last of these classes not only unpoauco'
hut a charge upon the country 1t does hot seer" - mp
that the whole productive industry OF the eouh' y "
m the Mexicans concerned and excluding me Pron's
Of the labor and capital offoreisners would be s"ceh'
10 support these drones-
wish that could in sincerity say that the ladies of
Mexico are handsome They not, yet are they
ue,y Their however are perfect; and IN the
.,t attributes heart affection, kindness and be-
ocvoence all their FORMS they have no superors-
They are graceful in thing but dancing
That does by nature have the aathori-
10 Of Dogberry that reading and writing do and they
are rarely taught to Dance and still more rarely practice
IT,
think that in another, and the most important point
in the character woman, they very much SANDER
3D. am quite that there is city in Europe OF
IN. same size where there is less immortality Indeed
cannot see how such thing possible Every house in
Mexico has outside door, and porter always at
that The old system of the duenna and constant
ponage observed by every and to extent that
would scarcely be believed. have doubt however.
that whatever other effects those restraints may have.
their moral influence is good The virtue
which they is of the sickly nature Of hothouse
plants, which wther and perish when exposed TO the
weather. Women, instead of being taught to regard
certain impossible be committed. and therefore
not appreened guarded against brought up with
an idea that temptation of opportunity one which
is resisted.
do not think ladies of Mexico general y
well educated. There are however, some shining ex-
ceptions Mrs. Alinontc, the wife of Gen. Amontc.
would be regarded accomplished lady in any coun-
try The of either not reading peo-
plc--Thc ladies' read very little.
The general routine of female life is to rise late, and
spend larger portion Of the day standing in their
windows which extend to the door 1t would be safe
bet hour of the day between and five o'clock,
that YOU would in walking the streets, more
females standing thus at tho windows of than half
the houses At they ride the Paseo, and then go
10 theatre, where they remain until twelve o'clock,
day, and every day in the year repeat the
same routine In this dolce far nents their whole lives
pass away But repeat that in many of the qualities
of the heart which ake lovely and loved, the y
have superors.
The of independence illustrated with many
of female virtue of romantic character, one
of which will mention. And again regret that have
forgotten tho of the noble woman whose virtue
ana love country severely tested. The lady
to whom had each Of whom i'll com
mand of detachment of the patriot army Ono OF
them was made prisoner. and the Spanish General
hands he had fallen, for his mother and said
her, eff you will induce your other to surrender
his army to me, will spare the life of the who is
my prisoner Her instant reply was "No. will not
purchase tho life of by the dshonor of another
and of my country" This fact is historic, and
il more true than history generally is
The ladies' of Mexico dress with great extravaganza,
and suppose greater profusion of "pearl and gold
will not say moro barbarichan in any other country.
l remember that aball at the Presidents, Mr.. Became
gra asked what thought of the Mexican ladies';
they as handsome my country woman?
of course avoided answering the question, told him,
however that they very graceful and dressed much
finer ladies'. He said he supposed and then
asked what thought the material of the dresses OF
the ladies which he pointed out had cost; and then
told he had happened to hear his wife and daugh
aking of Them and that the material Of the dres
blonde. think had cost thousand dollars each
asked on the same OCCASION friend of mine who was
merchant, what he supposed the cost of orna-
the head thickly with diamonds, of the Se
nora A. O.. He told me that he knew very
we'll for he had imported for her and that the price
was twenty thousand dollars, she other dia-
monds and pearls no doubt Of equal value.
have said that there very rarely if anything
like evening parties, tertuias social meetings calls
to spend evening quite unusual except among
very relations then the restraint ana
pionage at all relaxed Persons who have seen
each other, and been attached for years often
the altar without having spent half hour each
crs company Ladies of the better classes never walk
the streets except day the year. the day before
Good Friday, think is. But they make the most of
this their Saturnalia, that day all tie fashionable
streets are crowded with them, in their best Gibbs and
fuckers" and gering in diamonds. The streets arc
always, however swarming with woman of the middng
and lower classes The only article of dress worn by
these chemise and petcoat, satin slippers but no
stockings and rebozo, long shawl improperly called
oy our ladies' mantilia This they over the head
and wrapped close around their chin and thrown
fully their left shoulder Whatever they NAV be in
private people be observant propriety
public one may walk the of Mexico for u year
and be will a LII