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

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RECOLLECTIONS OF MEXICO
BY wADDY THOMPSON.
Kindness and Conrttsy-Socie:y O
Dinner Parties and Entertainments
Mexican Ladies' wanting in Beau
ty-Do not dance weII-Charily-
Routine Of daily Lfe-Costliness o.
Dres>-In tie Streets-W Women ge.
Morally Smoke--A day in the Coun-
try.
Notwithstanding the general preju-
dice which existed in Mexico against
me when first wen, there, was ,rea-
ted, although somewhat, coIdly, always
and BY all classes with the most perfec,
respect. In this particular the higher
classes of all countries are very much
alike, but doubt whether there is any
other country where the middling and
lower classes are so generally courte-
Gus and polite. There is no country
where kindness and courtesy are more
certain to meet with proper return -
1t may be that three hundred years OF
vassalage to their Spanish masters may
have given the Indian population an
habitual Difference andrespe.l for race
which they have always regarded:s a
superior one. No people are by ma
.tnre more social, none less so in their
habits. 1t is not the fashion to give
entertainments ofany sort. And what
regarded as little remarkable, the
members of the Mexican cabinet, most
Of whom were men nf fortune and had
ample means at hand, not only never
gave entertainments, even dinner par
ties to the members Of the diplomatic
corps, but never eve, invited them to
their eS,-whel invited to such
parties however by a ny of the foreign
ministers, they never failed to except
The invitation. Witt any other people
there would be Sc ming meaanness
in this. But such Wis not the case
No people are more .5eral in expend-
iture of money. Grls raj Santa Anna
hadtwo very large dinner parties willis,
was IT. Mexico, and two or three
balls; but ! heard of nothing else OF
the kind, except at the houses of the
foreign ministers. Santa Annals din.
ners were altogether elegant, and he
presided at them with great dignity and
propriety. On such occasions he was
joyous and hilarious.
The company, without an exception,
had the appearance and manners Of gen.
tlemen; ] sat next TO him on these coca
sions, and his aids de-camp, who were
not seated at the table, would occa.
sionally come 10 his seat and say some
playful thing to him. ! was much
struck with the style and intercourse
between them; marked by an affrc.
tionate Kindness on his part, and the
utmost respect, but at the same time
freedom from restraint upon theirs.
HIS balls were very numerousIy at
tended. The company was by M
! means select. 10 fact saw there We
u ~ few of tn, ladies' belonging to tn,
sristosracy; but very many others VIII,
had no business there. This howev
e., is unavoidable in a revo'ntionar,
country like Mexico. Every Presi
dent holds his power by no other ten
ure than the caprice Of the army, AM
he is forced, therefore to conciliate it
If corporal, who has married III,
daughter Of the washerwoman Of III,
regiment, has risen to the highest sta
ton in the army, his wife cannot b.
sighted with safety and such case
have occurred.
] wish that ] could in sincerity sa,
that the ladies' of Mexico are handsome
They are not, nor yet are they ugIy.-
Their manners, however, are perfect
and in the great attributes Of the heart
affection, kindness, and bsnevolence il
oil their forms, they have no superiors
They ase eminently graceful in every