Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-16
ALWAYS COUNTING.
A Very Beautiful Custom OF the Upper.
Crust Mexicans, by Which All
the Charm of
Courtship and Leye.Making is Perpetu.
ated-The Cosy Nests That Are
Sacred to Love.

n correspondent IN mexico HiAlcc as IOl- 1
lows: The Mexicans of the wealthy or WE'LL |
TODD classes have a custom in married life |
which seems to me 8 pretty one. Husband |
and vile have entirely separate apartments, |
and neither is expected to enter the apart /
ments of the other except on invitation. |
These apartments are in the same house, or
al least the same Enclosure, yet they are |
usually separated BY considerable space.
Each has a separate set OF attendants or ser
wants, and nothing seems In common be- /
tween them except the table, at which they |
always eat together, the nursery for the |
children, and the yard court, with its |
flowers, figs and vines. When the husband |
desires the company of his lady in his /
apartments he writes note Of invitation |
in terms Of the most formal and lofty |
pollteness, incloses ii in perfumed |
envelope, seals it and sends it 10 her |
on silver tray in the hands OF 4
servant. The lady acknowledges the invita- !
ton in the same way, and if she accepts, |
which she is probably most likely TO do, she |
appears at the door Of his apartment at the |
appointed hour, in bridal costume, escorted by |
one or more of her ladies in waiting. These |
then retire. The husband receives her at the |
door, leads her TO little table, where he |
treats her to chocolate or tea, cakes, fruits |
etc. In the midst of his apartments he has |
room, furnished in the most exquisite way |
he is capable of, which be holds sacred 10 |
present. This room is his pride. He spares |
no expense TO make it as unique and charm |
ing as possible. They remain with one an
other until the following morning alter |
breakfast when they again separate, to meet |
only at the table, in the nursury or in the |
court. When the gentleman has received his |
lady in his apartments it is not proper |
to leave her one moment until they have |
breskfasted, which does not usually occur |
until 8 o'clock. After the lapse of some |
days. do not know how many-etiquette |
requires that the lady shall return the |
husbands compliment by sending him SIM |
liar invitation, nicely sealed in perfumed |
envelope on a silver tray. He acknowledges |
the invitation with many thanks, and if he |
accepts, which is presumed he is quite sure |
to do, he first INDUCES in bath, prigs him. |
self up in his best array, patronizes his per- |
fume bottle aud his pomades, and at the |
appointed hour appears promptly at the |
door OF his lady's apartments. She is there |
to receive him, dressed like queen, wear |
ing orange blossoms in her hair and on her |
bosom. She conducts him TO little table, |
where he is offered wine and cake, or choco- !
late and cakes and fruit. After this pleasant |
repast she regales him with song and music |
on the guitar. She also has, in the midst of |
her apartments, room which she holds sa-
cred to her husband, and which she never |
occupies unless he is present. 1t may be |
supposed that this sacred room is her pride |
above all things, and to adorn and watch |
over 1t the chief occupation and Joy of her |
LIE. They remain together in the lady's |
apartments until breakfast, after which they i
separate. Thus there is a continual inter-
change OF courtesies and perpetual court |
ship. They tell me that this pretty way of I
doing continues long they live, even if |
1t be 100 or more years.
A Mexican gentleman conducted me |
through his apartments, and also his wife's. |
lie also took me into the room held sacred I
by him to his lady, bat when asked him to
show me the room in his lady's apartments |
held sacred by her 10 him, he declined, say
ing that he could not do so without his Iady's |
consent, aud was cure she would not give |
that. was very sorry / could not see that
room-am sure l world have found it little /
realm OF enchantment. His room, which he
had prepared for his wife in his apartments,
was perfect little gem of beauty. When /
expressed admiration for it his eyes sparkled
and he seemed greatly pleased. He asked
me if we did not do things that way in the
United States, and when told him we did
not he expressed surprise, and looked as il
ne felt that We had much to learn in civill-
zation, though he did not say anything Of
that kind. Certainly it seems to me that the
Mexican way Is long advance in civiliza-
ton lrsnn the "A merle and i E-aa-.S<ad
1t to our ladies to think OF. Let them lead
the way in introducing the beautiful custom,
which must always keep love youthful and
warm in our hearts. We married people
used TO do great deal of counting before
we married, and we found it exceedingly
pleasant Why not keep up the courtship
alter we are married the same as before? II s,
Is our duty to make life as beautiful as we
can, and what is r-ore beautiful and graceful |
than this custom? The husband sees his lady
only when she is all loveliness, and the LADY
sees her husband only when he Is a thorough /.
gentleman in person and department Il
would not fail 10 have highly civiIizinp /.
and refining effect. No man could be the
subject of such custom without soon being !
made chiyalric and accomplished gentle
man OF, even though he were the veriest
olackguard to start out with; aud no lady {
could be the subject OF it without becoming 4
more beautiful and happy. Treated es
queen, would she not soon be a queen in Il
act? The Mexicans, no doubt, derived this
pleasant custom from the old Castilian 6ons. In
Who have for ages been celebrated for their d
ligh-toned and chivalric character Their
aides are equally distinguished for beauty, IN
Lightly, and grace. These traits have been
thoroughly ingrained into the race, and :.
here can be no doubt that much of =,
his is due TO the knightly and c,
Iueenly custom. But the difficulty about =,
Introducing it in this country is that our o.
ouses are not so we'll constructed for il.
he Mexican houses of the higher classes II
lways, 30 far as l have observed, occupy a "
handsome yard or court 10 the middle This
ives great room, with ample space for sepa- re
ate apartments. 1t ia as if there were four n
arge separate houses instead OF one. And
o manage it as the wealthy Mexicans man &C
ge il would require good purse. "l
imagine that the Mexican lady gels away el
nth good deal of money in fixing up her N
usband's room in her apartment. / am W
Did that they are constantly effecting
hanges in its furnishing and decoration, so n
nat the husband is treated to a new scene N
early every time he enters it. At least one. q
bird OF the Mexicans appear to me 10 be AZ
ure Indians; much more Than q third are of n
IL shades between the pure Indian and the n
paniard, and but comparatively small
ortion are full Castilian or Soaniard. / am
cry partial to this upper class who are a -
cry courteous and hospitable race. y,
heir laoies are of singular beanty-s ~
yle of beauty which we Americans ~
re not accustomed TO see. Ii strikes us with u
pleasing sense of novelty, and for this rea- NJ
On we are quite apt to be upset By these
,dies when thrown much in their company.
n the company OF gentlemen hey are very
weet, yet always with remarkable dignity
nd gracefulness of bearing. They epeak 10 I
oft, silken, silvery tones, and have never
Ell heard one laugh aloud, though they
nile great deal. We have heard good
cal about the easy feminine virtue of the
lexicans. l believe il to be like good bt
lany other things that we hear-entirely "
Use. / have never yet heard single ia u
odest word from The lips of a Mexican fe- y
ale or Witnessed SINGLE b.a ,La ] W