The hydraulic press., 1858-11-06
Advice Of AN Aztec Mother to
her Daughter.

The following admirable passage,
which illustrates the antiquity of good
manners, is part of an original trans
lation from Sahagun's "Historia de
Nueva Espano" which is given in
the Appendix to Prescott's "Con-
quest of Mexico" As the historian
of Cortez remarks, "Itis the product
of the twilight of civilization" hav-
ing been written upwards of three
centuries ago; but it is no less worthy
the regard of the maidens of to-day
than of that ancient Mexican girl
Who received it from her mother when
this continent was to the old one a
land unknown.
The Aztec matron first assures her
'.beloved daughter" her "very dear
little dove" other affection, earnestly
charges her to observe the advice of
her father, and then counsels her as
follows, concluding at much length on
the beauty and necessity Of a chaste
and holy life:
Take care that your garments are
such as are decent and proper and
observe that you do not adorn your
self with much 6nery, since this is a
mark of vanity and folly. AS little
becoming is it, that your dress should
be very mean, dirty, or ragged; since
rags are mark of the low, and of
those who are held in contempt. Let
your clothes be becoming and neat,
that you may neither appear fantastic
nor mean. When you speak, do not
hurry your words from uneasiness, but
speak deliberately and calmly. Do
not raise your voice very high, nor
speak very low, but in a moderate
tone. Neither mince, when you
speak ,ror when you salute, nor speak
through your nose: but let your
words be proper, of good sound,
and your voice gentle. Do not be
nice in the choice Of your words. In
walking, my daughter, see that you
behave becomingly, neither going
with haste, nor too slowly; since it is
an evidence of being pulled up, to
walk too slowly, and walking hastily
causes vicious habit Of restlessness
and instability. Therefore neither
walk very fast, nor very slow; yet,
when it shall be necessary to go with
haste, do so,-in this use your dis
erection. And when you may be OBJ
liged to jump over pool of water,
do it with decency, that you may nei~
Their appear clumsy nor light. When
you are in the street, do not carry
your head much inclined, or your
body bent, nor as little 60 with your
head very much raised; since it is a
mark of i'll breeding; walk erect, and
with your head slightly inclined. Do
not have your mouth covered, or
your face, from shame, nor 20 looking
like near-sighted person, nor, on
your way, make fantastic movements
with your feet. Walk through the
street quietly, and with propriety.-
Another thing that you must attend
to. my daughter, is, that, when you
are in the street, you do not 20 look
ing hither and thither, nor turning
your head to look at this and that
walk neither looking at the skies, nor
on the ground. Do not look upon
those whom you meet with the eyes
of an offended person, nor have the
appearance of being uneasy but of
one who looks upon all with serene
couutenancs; doing this, you will give
no one occasion Of being offended
with you. Show a becoming coun.
tenance; that you may neither appear
morose, nor, on the other hand. too
complaisant. See, my daughter. that
you give yourself no concern about
the words you may hear, in going
through the street, nor pay any re-
gard to them, let those who come and
60 say what they will. Take care
that you neither answer nor speak,
but act as if you neither heard nor
understood them; since. doing in this
manner. no one will be able to say
with truth that you have said any
thing amiss. See, likewise, my
daughter, that you never paint your
face, or stain it or your lips with COL
| ora IN order IN anpoar wall a,nco