Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-26

ment alone. With the parents con-
sent he may call at stated intervals and
converse with her in the presence of
the family; but, though the betrothment
is legal ceremony, witnessed and record
ed, and almost as binding as marriage
itself. not until the hymenial knot is Sc
cureiy tied can he exchange word with
her in private, or attend her anywhere in
public Such trihiag details as getting ac-
quainted with her tastes and temper are re-
served for connubiai bliss. And however
unsuitable the union may prove, there is
no release but death in this Catholic coun-
try, where divercement is impossible. Nat
urelly domestic tragedies sometimes occur,
but truth com pels US to admit that they are
far less numerous than IL our own land,
where every opportunity is afforded for
thorough acquaintance before marriage.
The reason lies in the different education
of the weaker sex. In Mexico there are no
strong minded females, no grasping after
uuattainable spheres" nor struggling for
rights which include the wearing of I'M
rentionables. Girls are not cultured up to
the Bestonian poiT.t in occult sciences, but
tire utmost limit of their learning is a little
music, :. snattering of drawing, and per-
haps q language or two besides their own.
Their dainty fingers can execute maryels of
lace work and embroidery, and sometimes
| can fashion their own garments. They are
| thoroughly eonversant with the lives of all
| the saints and saintesses, and the minutesJ
details of church requirements can repeat
catechisms and oriSones by the yard, and
| have been carefully nurtured in the idea
| that
THE cHrEF END or WOMAN
/ Is to become obedient wives, and TO per-
| form all the prayers and penances that may
be needed to secure heavens clemency for
! their sons and husbands. Their gentle
hearts are by nature filled with Earmest
tenderness and womanly devotion, and the
| husband must be brute indeed if he can
| not manage such better half" who has
no wish to rebel.
! In many Mexican cities it is the custom
| TO announce the engagement by means of
| printed cards-similar to that used for we'd
| dings, funerals and horrds for the dead
| Among my numerous collection here is
one in faultlesS Spanish. which says that
| Senior Don Maurio Narcisso, of Sepulvideo,
and Senorita Dolores Refugee Villasena, of
| Zarale, have contracted matrimony" ii. e.
are betrothed), and have the honor to offer
| themselves 6 O sn disposition de U''-at the
readers disposal In Mexico, as in Spain
and other southern countries, lady re-
tains her maiden cogromen after marriage,
and, though she annexes her husbands by
means of a de, is still universally known
| by her own family name.
The wonder is that anybody ever gets
married in Mexico. Not only are there the
| dangers and difficulties of sub rosa court
| ing which | have endeavored TO describe,
! but marriage here means the expenditure
of more money than the average youth can
| acquire till his salad days are safely
| over Here, as elsewhere, bachelorhood
I becomes chronic in course of time, and few
afflicted with it till middle age care then to
brave the perils of.matrirnony. Therefore,
| Mexico is full of eligible unmarried men,
and the surplus woman of the north
| cannot do better than emigrate hither. Ac-
| cording to Mexican custom, the prospective
bridegroom must not only furnish house
| beforehand, but must purchase all the
| wedding rousseau, even to reInotest access
| sories of the toilette which may be needed
| in years to come. He is also expected TO
! family, and all Immediately concerned, be-
| sides defraying the expense of wedding
| festivities. 1t must be remembered that
EVERYTHING COSTS ENORMOUSLY HERE
As compared to our prices, household fur
.niture and goods OF all kinds being i'm
| ported at great expense in transportation,
as there are comparatively no n1anulactor-
| les, few railroads and the duties are simply
outrageous. Fortunately for the groom 8
depleted purse, there is no going off on
wedding tours, the presence of anything
! but stage or mule transit being of TOO re-
| cent date to have established fashion
! for such foolishness.
| Two separate and distinct ceremonies arc
required TO satisfy the demands of both
| Church and State The former is an ex-
ceedingly long and tedious rite during
which the contracting parties are obliged
to iSneel many times. While in that posi-
ton white silk rope is thrown over their
| shoulders, symboliZing hymenial bondage
| as it ties them firmly together. ! have
never seen or heard of bride among the
| upper classes in Mexico who was not mar
ried in white silk or satin, with the tradi-
| tional veil, orange blossoms, etc, and l
| doubt if one would consider herself legally
welded if otherwise alfred True, the
! frightened Romero generally manages to
| put his foot through the flowing veil, if he
doesn't actually knock his bride over at
the altar by treadiDg on her train while
| poor Juliet struggles helplessly in the en-
| tanglement of her delicate draperies in
kneeling and rising. Not unfrequently the
bridal costume (ordered by the groom with
| the rest of the trousseau) fits decidedly too
quick" or hangs like that oft-quoted shirt
on bean-pOle. L have sometimes sincere
| ly pitied
A POOR LITTLE BRIDE,
| Whose perhaps splendid outht-purchased
with the layishness of premarital love.
which scornes expenses as never afterwards
comprises many rich dresses, in which
she must array herself for an indefinite
number of years, however unbecoming
| they may be, or if they give to her the
graceful contour Of a meal-bag tied in the