The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-11
MONDAY MORNING, AFRIL IL.
Mexican Society.
lCorr. New Orleans Democrat.]

lCorr. New Orleans Democrat.l
There exists no other society on the planet,
not..even in India, where there is more distinc-
ton of caste and class than is found in Mexico.
On the Gulf coast, by consequence of the un-
fortunate Inauguration of the white and the
Indian and the Chinese and the black races,
there are said to exist at least dozen separ-
ate classes of humanity, Of different colors, or,
at least of different characteristics In the capt.
tai such is not the case. There are Castilans
and Creoles or children of Indian mothers and
Spanish fathers and full-blooded Indians. The
Creoles are noted for their Intelligence, their
symmetry of form and feature and their per.
sonal courage. Their complexion NAV be said
to resemble that Of the far-famed caballeros of
Andalusia. The males are tall and shapely.
while the ladies are generally very beautiful,
are we'll formed, possess delieasely nodded
bands and feet, and the most beautiful eyes of
any of the human fsmily. The bellies of the
south of France, of the mountains and plains
of Spain, of the sierras and coast of Portugal,
and of the famous cities of Italy must yield to
their charming sisters of the Latin republics
in the beauty, shape, size and expression of
the eyes. They are SO expressive, glance
from between their long frinses seem to melt
into the very sonl.
The term "0jos Creollos,o or Creole ewes.
has become provefb, white few, very few
travellers from the hyrefborean regions have
returned from their Mexican tour heart whole
while very many who returned carried with
Shem the holy balm for wounded spirit. The
better class of Mexicans are, in the highest &C.
ceptance of the term, gentlemen. They are easy
and ;:nrestraned in their manners and are eX-
tremely polished and polite. They are very
intellectual, and are invariably well educated;
can speak several languages, perform on the
piano and guitar, and are genessi!y writers
and poets-no mere scribblefs but poets, es-
saiests and authors OF ability. Indeed it
would be difficult to find a race that exhibits
such singular paradoxes of genius.
The most celebrated mathematician and mil
MARY engineer has written the most successful
play. The most famous partisan officer of the
war OF the French invasion produced the most
popular sentimental novel, while the greatest
Mexican fnancier and political economist has
given to the world the most touching and bear
saful poem ever published in Latin America
Many of the younger authors whose ages
range between IS and 25 years, have acquired
local regulations. Were they Europeans or
Americans, their names would be pronounced
with respect and admiration throughout Chris
tendon.
The Mexican ladies are exemplary wives and
fond and loving mothers. Their home to them
is their entire world; their husbands the idols
of their hearts, while their children are the
angels which make their homes their heaven,
Yet, strange to say, there is no word in the
Spanish language that can expires: the idea
conveyed In our dear old hearty Anglo-Saxon
word home" The nearest approach to it is
found in hcgar, which may be translated
-'hearthstone" or hearth simply. Yet not
outstanding this, the ties of family are more
binding in Mexican society than among any
other race under heaven. The repentant out
cast knows that he or she can always return to
the friendly shelter of the family roof. While
the prodigal son invariably finds the arms of
the INDUCING and forgiving parent open to re-
oeiye him, for among the Spanish Creoles
blood is, indeed, thicker than water,'' and
tears of affection which stream from a moth
er's eyes have often wiped away the stains on
an erring daughters reputation. In Latin
countries one false step is not go often followed
by parents curse, nor is the door shut to the
return of one who may have, in the senseless
parlance of society, irretrievably fallen.