Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-07-23

and they are rarely taught to dance, and
still more rarely to practice it.
] think that in another, and the most
important point in the character of wo-
man, they are very much <Iandered. !
am quite sure that there is no city in
Europe Of the same size where there
is less immortality. Indeed, l cannot
See how such thing is possible
Every house in Mexico has but one
outside door, and a porter always a,
that. The old system of the duenna,
and a constant espionage, are observ-
ed by every one, and to an extent tina,
would scarcely be believed. | have
no doubt, however, that whatever 9TH
er effects these restraints may have,
their moral influence is good one. =
The virtn. which they secure is of the
sickly nature of ho'- house plant, which
wi'her and perish when exposed 10 the
weather. Women, instead of being
tauyh, to regard certain acts as ilnpos.
sibIe 10 be- committed, and therefore no:
apprehended or guarded against, are
brought up with an idea that the temp.
tation of opportunity is one which is
neverresi>ted.
do not think that the ladies' of
Mexico are generally very well educa-
ted. There are, however, some shi-
ming exceptions. Mrs. A|monie, the
wife Of General AImonte, would be re-
garded as an accomplished lady IN any
country. The MrxcanS of either sex,
are not reading people. The ladies
read very little.
The general routine of female life is
to rise late, and spend the larger por-
tion of the day standing in their open
windows, which extend to the floor
II would be safe Oct any hour of the
day betweed ten and FIVE o'clock, that
you would in walking the streets see
one or more females standing thus at
the windows Of more than half the hou-
SEES. AT five 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 neinte their whole lives pass away.
But repeat that in many of the quail
ties Of the heart which make women
lovely and loved, they have no superb
ors.
The war Of independence was illus
trated with many instances of female
virtue of a romantic character, one of
which will mention. And again
regret that have forgotten the name
of the noble woman whose virtue and
love of country were so severely tes-
ted. The lady TO whom ! refer had
two sons, each of whom was in COM
mand ola detachment of,he patriot ar.
my. One ofthem was made prisoner,
ard the Spanish General into whose
hands he had fallen sent for his moth.
er and said 10 her, 'lfyou will induce
your other son to surrender his army
to me, will spare the life of the one
who is nv prisoner Her instant re-
| ply was; mo! will not purchase the
life of one son with the dishonor of an
other and the ruin of my country
This fac, is historic, and is more true
than history generally is.
The lacies of Mexico dress with
great extravaganza, and l suppose a
greater profusion OF pearl and gold
! will not say more barbaric-,han in
any other country. remember that
at a ball al the Presidents, Mr.. Boca-
negra asked me wha, / thought of the
Mexican ladies'; were they as hand
some as my own countrywonen? ],
Of course, avoided answering the ques-
ton; | told him, however, that the,
were very graceful, and dressed much
finer than our ladies'. He said be sup
posed so, ant! then asked me what J
thought the material ofihe dresses OF
two ladies which he pointed out, had
cost, and then told me that he had hap.
pened to hear his wife and daughters
speaking of them, and that the material
OF the dresses, blonde, ! think, had
cost one thousand dollars each. ]
asked one on the same occasion, a
friend of mine who was a merchant,
what ne supposed was the cost of an
ornament for the head thickly set with
diamonds ofthe Sonora A. G.. He
toIt: me that he knew very well, for he
had imported it for her, and that the
pnce was twenty-five thousand dollars;
she wore other diamonds and pearls
no doubt ofequal value.
/ ! have said that there are very rare
1ly anything like evening par
ties, or tertullias; social meet.