, 1878-02-01
Letter from Mexico.

Error COMMERCIAL ADvocATE:-A
week has passed away very pleasantly in
this delightful city. find the same kind
and unassumng hospitality that l now
hegin to look upon AS one of the attri-
butes of Mexican character. There is a
courteous department manifested by them
all TO each other, and also to the stranger
within tncir gates think Que reason
of this marked courtesy tn each other is
because they have got the time to do it.
A Mexican never rushes ahead except he
is ON horseback, and theu his horse tran
sacts the rushing for him--as the Ameri-
cans are 81 prone to do. What time has
a hurried American got to be courteous
in Gro vded thoroughbred Ia his ea-
gerness to get along, he is regardless of
whose corns he treads upon, or who he
incommodes by his strenuous exertions to
pass tnrough the throng. Ali this rush
aud hurry is unknown to the Mexican;
ne has no conception of such waste
of muscular force; but wrapped IN his
quietude he passes calmly and easily
along, greeting kindly all he may meet,
and parting with the usual friendly bless
ing OF "a dios l"-"G0d be with you" 1t
10 the attention given to these minor mat.
ters of gentleness and kindliness that
evince the innate goodness of the heart.
Nor is this line of conduct confined to
the street; it shows itself in the social
circle, in their homes and their neighbor-
8y intercourse, and in its manifestation,
they place before us an example which
we might follow with decided improve.
ment upon our present status in such
matters. If guest in Mexican family
should by chance express his approDa.
tion of any particular article that pleased
him, the reply of the host or hostess
would very likely be: 81 am gYatified to
find that you admire it; please allow me
to present it to you" But it would be
expected that the same degree Of courtesy
would compel the guest to decline accept
log the pruffered gift. There are two an
ecdotes connected with this reculiarity Of
expression that venture to narrate here
to illustrate it. A stranger to this idiom
of the country, when expressing his ad.
mirntiou ot the house, at which he WAS
visiting, WAS told by the owner: III will
be proud if you will allow me to present
it to you," astonished the owner afOre
said, the next day, by sending crowd Of
masons and carpenters to make mate.
tisl change in the architecture of the
building. And when q gentleman who
had ridden out with the lady Il his host,
- har tuvurtona earr;a,a ayprnaaaJ a.;
admiration OF the span OF blooded steeds
and the vehicle in which be was riding,
was aus wered by the request of his accept
Ance OF the same, and sent note t. the
lady the next day, with a profusion OF
tAsnks lor her liberal gift, aud an order
60 deliver them 20 the bearer, he certain.
ly was not more ehagrined st the expla.
nation which ensued, than she WAS aston.
ished NJ the purport Of his note and the
accompanying order. When the matter
wAs fully under5tood, they stood upon
this common grouHd--sae griuncd, aud
be va. ehagrined.
The MeKicaas have hygisuic proyerb
ghsi "Ffuii b. gold In the morning. silver
~ n0lu ani LEAD " uighi" / Nas told
~ old residents here not % eai frait a
cspt early in the day and acting uy1a
this ndSice had a large ha.kstill Of
CFAngei bruughtilt1 our 01ms from tls
orchard early every mlrniug Ny A.
f5uishmeut ran ~ considered similar N
tha, sf ne two would-be acCeptors 81 ths
gifts above hiluned tn, whrn up1n dcsir.
lag 70 pay &c the req OF tlv rnoms gt
I'D sccupi-,i. found % bah bmlIutnc
a. hfucen d1'iAs f1r uIe oraB4rs COO.
sIm-d during the afek, 90 isr tate uf a
balf feal--slN and a quarter Ctut-sagh
cluciudci ihai in tuc tailrr vul.i
boy them a. their lead ysIlat. ..r. sni
puTlhAsc thfm in th- rscnia- Tuk ui
Eank-e tfick.i vhy. the most aa'I sad
stupid Mexican ooeid 20 ail srr.nd tIs
mosi cute laaket, Anl not thina be bad
nlsdc even a slight q ft'
Having obIained mules and an ample
stock Of prDvisi0ns We started our traina
tO~ ard the elO-e q the day. wiih .nsiIuc
lions ~ the mulsts.r, 70 proceed % I