The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-07-23
MEXICAN WOMEN. s., Il / q, /,

to estimate the moral influence ofthese FAM
lily reunions, to which we are accustomed,
around the 6reside on long winter evenings,
i which are passed in reading some excellent
book, or in conversation not less instructive.
| In walking the streets Of Mexico, itwould
be very safe to be. that eight out ofIeyery
iften persons you meet would be officers, sold
Tiers, priests, friars, leperos, and it would be
difficult TO decide which class is the most
numerous. All but the last ofthese classes
are not only unproductive, but "a charge upon
the country. II does not seem 10 me that
the whole productive industry ofthe country,
SO far as the Mexicans are concerned, and
excluding the profits of the labor and capt.
al of foreigners, would be sufficient to sup
port these drones. s " ilif aiA @
wish that could in sincerity say that
the ladies of Mexico. are handsome. They
are not; nor yet are they ugly. Their man
ners, however, are perfect; and in the great
attributes of the heart, affection, benevo-
lence, and kindness in all their forms, they
nave no superiors. They are eminently
graceful in everything but dancing That
does not "come by nature" as we have the
authority Of Dogberry that reading and wr-
lting do; and they are rarely taught 10 dance,
and still more rarely practice.It %
| think that in another, and the most i'm
Portant point in the character of woman, they
are very much slandered. am quite sure
that there is no city in Europe of the same
size where there is less immortality. Indeed,
l Oannot see how such thing is possible
Every house in Mexico has but one outside
door, and a porter always at that The old
system ofthe duenns, and constant espon-
age, are observed by every one, and TO an
extent that would scarely be believed. Il
have no doubt, however, that whatever other
effects these restraints may have, their moral
influence is not a good one. The virtue
which they secure is ofthe sckly nature Of
dollhouse plants, which wither and perish
wheniexpossed to the weather. Women, in
stead of being taught to regard certain acts
as impossible to be committed, and therefore
not apprehended or guarded against, are
brought up with an idea that the temptation
cfopportunity is one which isneyer resisted.
pI do not think that the ladies Of Mexico
are generally we'll educated There aro,I
however, some shining exceptions Mrs
Almonte, the wife of Almonte would, be re-
garded as an accomplished lady in any coun-
try. The Mexicans, Of either sex, are not
reading people. The ladies read very lit
tle 4
The general routine Of female life is tol
rise late, and spend the larger portion Of the
day standing in their open windows, which
extend to the floor II would be a safe bet
any hour Of the day between ten and Eve
O'Clock, that you would in walking the streets
see one OF more females standing thus at the
windows of more than half the honses AT
Eve they ride on the Paseo, and then 90 to
the theatre, where they remain until twelve
O'Clock, and the next day, and every day IN
the year repeat the same routine. In this
dolce far nientetheir whole lives pass away.
Butt repeat that in many ofthe qualities OIL
the heart which make women lovely and low
ed, they have no superors. f 9-liaeqqs s.,
The war Of independence was illustrated
with many Instances Of female virtue Of ro-
mantle character, one Of which win mention.
And again regret that have forgotten the
name Of the noble woman whose virtue and
love Of country was SO severely tested. The
lady to when refer had two sons, each ofl
whom was in command of detachment ofI
the patriot army One Of them was made
prisoner, and the Spanish general into whose
hands he had fallen, sent for his mother and
said to her, "Ef you will induce your other
son TO surrender his army 10 me, | vii. spare
the life OF the one who is my prisoner" Her
instant reply was, "No! I lwiii not purchase
the life Of one son with the dishonor of an.
other, and the ruin Of my country" This
TACT is historic, and is more true than history
generally9is. ses9 ag89a
81 The ladies' Of Mexico dress with great ex-
travagance, and suppose a greater prafu-
sion of"pearl and gold''--Iwill not say more
barbaric---than in any other country 4 re-
member that at ball at the President's, Mr.. |
Bocanegra asked me what | thought Of the
Mexican ladies': were they as handsome as
my own country women? of course avoid
ed answering the question:; II told him, how
ever, that they were very graceful. and dres-
sed much finer than our ladies'. He said he
supposed SO. and then asked me what
thought The material Of the dresses. OF two
ladies whichhe had pointed out had cost ;and
then told me that he had happened to hear
his wife and daughters speaking of them,
and the material Of. the dresses, blonde, /
think, had cost one thousand dollars each. III
asked on the same occasion, a friend of
mine who was a merchant, what he supposed
was the cost Of an ornament for the head,
thickly set with diamonds Of the Sonora "A
G----------a He told me that he knew
very we'll for he had imported it for her, and
that the price was twenty-five thousand dol
lars: she wore ether diamonds and pearls no L