The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-01
Shops and shopplnr IN MexIco.

Shops and shopping, Of the upper
sort, in Mexico follow French or Eu-
ropean traditions more than American.
Fanciful titles over the doorway are
adopted instead OF o firm name. A
dry goods store is "The Surprise"
"The Springtime," "The Explosion;"
jewelers. the "Pearl" or "FSmerald;"
shoe store, "The Azure Boot" and
"The Foot of Venus" The windows
are tastefully draped and large force
of clerks is seen shoulder TO shoulder
within. These clerks are more demo-
cratic in their manners than Americans
would venture to be. They shake
hands with their patrons if they have
enjoyed slight previous acquaintance
and inquire after the health of Miss
Lolita and Miss Soledad. There are
those of superior social position among
| them, however-some who are met
with at the balls of the Guatemala
minister, for instance. The explana-
tion may perhaps be found in the limit
edschoice of occupations open, which
leaves to many who desire to work no
more important places.
Until of late it has not been eti-
quette for ladies of standing to shop
except from their carrisges-a consid-
erable part of the shopping, as for fr1rni-
ture and other household goods, is still
conducted by the men of the family
just as it was not etiquette for ladies to
change in both these respects is as
cribed to the horse-cars The point of
ceremony, it appears, was founded
somewhat upon the difficulty of getting
about. The American touch appears In
the streets with increasing frequency,
in signs of dealers in arms, sewing ma
chimes, and other of our useful inven-
tions, and of the insurance companies,
a novel idea, to which the Mexicans
seem to take with much readiness. The
principal shopping hours are from 4
TO o'clock in the afternoon. From
till 3, or even 4, little is
done. There is general stoppage of
affairs for dinner. It is t~t short
time since that interesting person. the
commercial traveller, has been known in
the country. The profits of favorably
situated houses, In the absence of keen
competition, have been very large, and
methods of doing business in some in.
stances correspondingly loose. The
Mexican merchant does not necessarily
go into fine calculation OF the pro.
portionate value of each detail of for
eign invoice, but "lumps" the profit
he thinks he ought to receive on the
whole. Some articles, in consequence,
can be bought at less than their real
value, while others, in compensation,
are exorbitantly advanced.
It is the smaller trade, however, and
that most removed from metropolitan
influences, that is the gayest and most
entertaining as a spectacle. How many
picturesque market scenes does one
linger in Each population has its
own market day, not to interfere with
any other. The stone flags of the plaza
or the markell houses, which are plenti
. full and well built, are hidden under q
complication of fruits, grains, cocoa
sacks and mats, striped blankets and
, rebozos, sprawling brown limbs, EN-
{ broidered bodices and kirtles, as il
with an excessively thick, richly col
{ ored rug. A grade above this is the
, Parian, as at Puebla, bazaar of small
/ shops, in which goods, sales-people and
customers are all to be put upon the can
!. vas with the most vivid hues. The
, leading merceria (dry goods hhop) o.
the same important city of Puebla
/ called "The City of Mexico" has {
' facade entirely in glazed tiles upon al
unglazed ground of red, with allegor
ical figures larger than life between thu
Q pilasters as part of the pattern.-HO'
4 per's Magazine.