Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-09
Courtsliip In Mexico.

!; The part man plays in courtship i
Mexico is called "doing the bear" whic
Is translation of "hacer el oso." 1t /
quite common expression in Mexico t
say, III am doing the bear to Miss-So and
so, or for the girl to say, "That youn,
man is doing the bear to me-" "Huce
ell oso" consists i'll passing up and dow
the street where the object of the gentle
mans admiration resides between th,
hours OF five and eight O'Clock every af
ternoon, with his eyes fixed ON the bal
cony, where she is standing, if she wishe,
to encourage him or some other 1850.
He can pass on foot or on horseback, bu
the latter position is more effective, as he
is nearer the balcony, and looking up
from under the wide brim of his Mexican
Int is very impressive. Then he goes tc
the same church and the same mass as
she does and looks at her all the time she
is praying, and he ought to do the same.
If he sees her in the theatre he never
takes his eyes from her face, md is utter.
ly regardless of oil that is going on on
the stage. He follows her also on horse.
back to the public drive, or Mexican
Central Park, glancing at her from under
his ''sombrero jarano." He walks after
her i'll the street when she goes out shop
ping accompanied by some elderly lady /;
in fact, he follows her everywhere. with.
out ever speaking to her, unless he hap.
pens to dance with her in ball room. II
he receives great amount of encourage.
ment, then he passes up md down the
street where she lives, not only in the af-
ternoon, but at other hours Of the day,
and stands for an unusual length of time
IN doorway on the opposite side of the
street making signs to her with his hand
kerchief and with the smoke Of his cigar.
In Mexico, Joined othe language of flow
ers and OF the fan, there is also a lam
guage OF the handkerchief and of the
cigar. When he finds he cannot express
all he wants to say to her with these signs
then he writes to her, and when tits quite
dark he throws his notes ON the balcony.
tied to small bouquet SO they may fall
well at the feet of his lady love, or he
pays some servant TO act the part of Mer-
curry, and in that'way sends aud receives
letters. This epistolary courtship some
times lasts tor years, and very often comes
to nothing. Before visiting the house
some person of influence proposes the
young man to the father or mother as n
'fiance' for the young lady, and ii they
accept MN, then he Is allowed to visit.
and only sees and speaks to his intended
wife in the presence of the entire family.
So you see that insevery case the Mexi-
cans are obliged to do the bear 1t re-
quires nm immense amount of patience, n
special study of the manner of using the
eyes, and II great abnegation to do the
bear as it ought to be done. Patience is
tried by standing for hours in doorway
the eyes must be able to express n great
deal at considerable distance, and alb.
negation is proved by walking and stand
ing in the street, in the sun and in the
rain, AZ the weather is no excuse whatever
Tor not finding the 1850" at his post. If
man wants to win the heart of Mexi- |
,an beauty he must muster up courage
md go through this routine, as it is i'm
possible to gam her affections without
loing the bear to her.