St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-05
Love-uaking i'm Mexico.

When Mexican gallant fixes his affec-
tions upon girl he has generally greater
tribulatiOn to undergo before he can win
her than the Bible lover had who served
seven years. OF course he has no special
acquaintance with her. and may not 90
boldly to the pateInal casa to call upon her.
so he meanderS back and forth before her
windows, day after day and night after
night, until he has succeeded in attracting
her attentiOn-naturally attracting the at
tentiOn of the whole neighbOrhOod as well.
If not that of the police, the family bull
dog and pater-familias' pistol If the
damsels affections are not otherwise be-
slowed, you may be sure she is not slow to
respond, for TO her dreamy and monOtonous
existence romance comes as a boon from
heaven. When she begins TO smile but ever
so cOyly upon him he holder grows. and
losses boquetS between her easement bars
(when the old folks are not looking) with
billets-douX hidden i'm their hearts like
''lOve among the roses" This is called
making the bear" why, do not know.
except that those restless quadrupeds arc
supposed to be constantly pacing to and fro.
Sometimes II is kept up for years. the
faithful Romeo being nightly found beneath
his Juliet'S window. She, secure behind
the cruel bars or aloft upon the balcony,
leans forth i'm the moonlight, smiling sweet
responses to his SeTenades, or renders him
rapturous by improvisinga lovers telegraph
from spool of thread. by means OF which
imprisoned messages may travel between
them, or bouquets and other cages d;amour
be hauled up. One couple of my acauain-
lance has been doing this sort of thing for
six long years. The wedding day is no
nearer than ever. for this Romeo has never
yet spoken TO his Juliet, nor touched her
tiny hand.
During these spOoning days it is aStOnish-
ing how devOutly religious the lovers be-
come, attending church constantly, and
their precious health likewise demands a
vast amount of exercise on the plazas. for
these are the only places where, by any
possibility. they meet. 1t is the custom
among these good Catholics to attend mass
very early in the morning-in fact, to 20 to
church at all times and all seasons-and the
young peoples routes thereto invariably lie
through the plaZaS. Day by day, from the
first glmmer of dawning, young men may
be seen lettering in these fiowery trysting-
places awaiting the arrival of their Dulci-
meas. They glance and smile, but may not
speak to one another. and silently each de-
voted swain follows the maiden of his choice
into the dim old sanctuary, where, VENTURE
to assert, many kneeling lover has wor-
SHIPPED a living saint rather than dead ones
Even after couple are duly engaged and
the patemal blessing bestowed. which happy
climax is brought about by third party,
who negotiateS for the lover with the Young
lady'S family, Romeo is not permitted to see
his Juliet for one moment alone.
In Mexico, as in Spaill and other South
ern countries, a lady retains her maiden
cognOmen after marriage. and though she
attaches her husbands 10 it by means of a
de, is still universally known by her own
family name.
Two separate and distinct ceremonies are
required to satisfy the demands of both
state and church. That of the latter is an
exceedingly long and tedious rite. during
the progress of which the contracting par
ties are obliged TO kneel many times, and
while in that position a heavy rope of white
silk, firmly tied in a true-lover's knot, is
thrown over their shoulders, symbolizing
hymeneal bondage. Great festivities, fire.
quently kept up for days, follow the mar
riage ceremony. The bride and groom
leave the church in separate carriages. he
Fastening ahead TO welcome his wife at the
door of the home he has prepared for her.