Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-26
TIE MEXICAN CUPID.
CApERS OF THE CUNNING GOD IN
TaE CACTUS REPUBLIC.
Modern Romeos and Juiiets-" Max.
ing the Bear"-A Mexican Wed
ding-Sociai Customs.


II greater liberty between the sexes may
be regarded as indicative Of progress, Mex
leo has advanced greatly within the last de-
cade beyond those Eastern nations which,
in many respects, she closely resembles.
Her style of architecture. manner of con-
Quoting business and many details Of fam
lily life, are essentially Moorish. Syrian and
Oriental yet her social customs are Judi
cious compromise between the absolute
freedom Of the North and those of lands
where vailed and secluded beauties are
prisoners before marriage and servants af-
forwards. II Mexico ladies of the better
class are never seen upon the streets alone
and are seldom permitted even to go to
church at midday unattended. Their
neighboriy visits. which are incessant-
for their narrow lives are by no means free
from the female propensity to gossip-are
invariably made in bevies or in the care of
trusted servants IN the City of Mexico
and few other cosmopolitan places, it is
the fashion for ladies to sit IN their closed
carriages at the doors OF the shops while
piece by piece, for inspection; but in most
portions Of the Republic ladies
SHOP BY PROXY,
So to speak, servants running to and fro
between merchant and customer till the
latter is suited, or-what is more probable
till she gives up the point and takes what
she can get. Perhaps the reason why one
sees so much execrable dressing in Mexico,
and colors that swear at one another in
ghastly combination, is not that our fair
neighbors are deficient in good taste, but
because they are obliged to depend upon
masculine selections. | remember pretty
little lady in Monterey who was plunged
into the deepest grief because her new ca
sino costume (for the Governors ball, too y
presented az many incongruous hues in
material and trimming as Joseph's historic
coat, and who tearfully declared that all
men are color-blind." Why didn't you
go and match it YOURSELF" l ventured to
suggest. A look of horror crept over her
face - actually a blush upon the olive
cheek, as with yiyacious gestures she e1-
planned how ashamed she would be to do
so unladylike thiDgl
Let no one imagine that these restric-
tions are forced by stern male relatives
upon the ladies of Mexico. Whatever may
be z1dterfGnlitiGs opinions, the softer sex
keep instinctively within prescribed limits,
and would be distressed beyond measure
if compelled to deviate from them though
whether from hereditary habit, or from the
Catholic education that makes conventuaI
life attractive, do not know.
It must indeed be true that Mexican
d" matches are made in heaven" for the
youth of this country have few opportuni-
ties of performing that pleasant business
for themselves. Here the senoritas are not
permitted to go to balls or theaters, toe drive
or promenade on the plazas, or even to sit
in their own parlors without the vigilant
supervision of mother or duennG If our
more matter-of-fact Northern gentlemen
were accorded none Of the privileges of So
cial propinquity, it is greatly to be feared
that an alarming increase OF old maidisn
would result, and corresponding decrease
of matrimonial statistics But
THE OLD, OLD STORY"
As new to-day as when learned by the first
pair in Eden. will be told by Southern
youth despite all restrictions. When a
Mexican gallant fixes his affections upon g
girl he has generally to undergo greater
privation and tribulation before he can
hope TO win her, than did the Biblical
lover who served seven years. OF course
he has no special acquaintance with the
maiden of his choice, and may not go to
the paternal casa to cali upon her like an
honest man, nor press his Sunday suit"
upon her papa's parlor chairs. All that
would be considered dreadfully immoral in
Mexico, and the maiden who permitted it
would loose caste at once. Indeed, he must
meander back and forth before her win
dows day after day and night after night,
until he has succeeded in attracting her at
tention; attracting the attention also of the
entire neighborhood, if not that of the 20
lice or the family bulldog If the dam
sells affections are not otherwise bestowed,
you may be sure she is not slow to lespond,
for to her dreamy existence romance comes
as boon from heaven. When she begins
to smile though never 50 coyiy upon him,
he holder grows and losses bouquets between
her easement bars when the old folks are
not loOkingl with tender billet-doux hid
den in their hearts, like " love among the
roses" This is called making the bear"
twhy do not know, except that those rest
less quadrupeds are supposed to be con-
stantly pacing 10 and fro), and is sometimes
kept up for years, the faithful Romeo being
nightly found beneath his Juiiet's window.
She, secure behind the cruel bars, or aloft
upon her balcony, leans forth in the moon
light smiling sweet responses to his seri-
nades, or renders him rapturous by impro-
yising
= LOVERS TELEGRAPH
From spool of thread, by means of which
lmpassioned messages may travel between
them, or bouquets, and other gage. d amour
be hauled up One couple of my acqaint-
ance have been doing this sort of thing for
six long years, and apparently the wedding
day is no nearer than now, for this Romeo
has never spoken to his Juliet, or touched
her tiny hand Call these not wasted years,
my unrosted friend, but rather the hap
pest season of life-the spring-time of love
whose ideal joys have no returning. To
him that slender string is as Jacobs ladder
leading straight to heaven; and surely an
angel is at the end of it Their sentimental
raptures, when merged into matrimony,
would soon degenerate to the common
place, while now the dream that intoxi-
Gates both, being free from any faint of
grossness or sensuality, is not :" of the
earthly, earthly"
During these spooning" days it is aston
lshlng how devoutiy religious the lovers
become, attending church constantly. Their
health, also, suddenly demands vast
amount of exercise in the plaza, for at
church and on the promenade are about
the only places where. by any possibility.
they may meet. 1t is the custom in this
Catholic country to attend mass very early
in the morning and the young peoples
route thereto invariably lies through the
plazas. Day by day, from the first glimmer
Of dawniug, young men may be seen lott
ering in these howery trysting places.
awaiting the arrival of their dulcineas
They glance and smile, but NAV not speak
to one another, and silently each devoted
swain follows his love into the dim old sane
Luary, where, | venture to assert, many
Sneeling youth has worshiped living saint
rather than dead ones And then in the
plazas, on moonlight evenings, when bands
play and all the town turns out among the |
roses Juliet is sure to be there, and her
starry eyes reveal the inward query of her |
prototype" Romeo Ro- |
neol wherefore art thou Romeo2b aud |
grow tender at his approach. Round and |
round they promenade-the ladies always |
n enc direction and the gentlemen in the |
that they are continually meet |
ng. All this seems rather unsatisfactory /
o Northern ideas but it is to be presumed |
hat heart answereth unto heart" ex-