Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-24
MEXICAN WOMEN.
The Nan who Marries WEEDS All the Fee
male Relatives.

From 10 MericIn Later.
Tourists and newspaper men who dur
Ing their brief Visit to Mexico have had
but limited opportunities for seeing the
domestic life OF the higher class, have
conveyed to our countrymen and 70 Euro
peans the idea that Mexican ladies of
even the most aristocratic families are eX-
tremely ignorant. This is a most egregI-
Gus blunder. During the last twenty five
or thirty years IL has been customary
here to engage accomplished foreign gov
ernesses and able tutors for young girls;
therefore, the ladies' OF aTistocratic fami-
lies are good llnguists, excellent must
clans, and are on par with the cores
ponding class in Spain and France. II is
true they never attempt "classic
course" or dream of initiating our Bos-
tonian damsels in scientific studies;
nevertheless, in all those accomplish
ments which render social intercourse
agreeable and hOme-iiks delightful, they
are quite equal to American and English
women. However. it must be admitted
that Mexican ladies rarely utilize their
talents, and, during the sixty years mat
intestine commOtiOns and foreign wars
never been educated with view 70 pro-
vldIng against reyerses OF fortune. This
lack OF precaution. this seeming inabili-
ty. ia not their fault, but is due TO the pre-
Valence of an old Spanish custom which
virtually Obiges gentlemen TO provide for
their destitute female relatives and shield
them from contact with the world. Fer
example: .u
If a Mexican lady is widowed and
has no means, a family council is held,
her male relatives or those Of her deceased
husband charge themselves with the edu-
cation Of her sons and provision Is made
for her and her daughters. Even if the
widow and young ladies should be ac-
complished they are not expected TO work
for their bread, and the aid rendered them
is calmly accepted as hereditary right.
On the contrary, il widowed mother is
wealthy she cannot be Independent. Gus
tom exacts that the care Of her property
and the education of her sons shall be
delegated to male relatives, and, unless
she is really an old woman with adult
children, she must either reside with her
kindred or keep some staid, matrOnly
person in her household by the way OF
protection against criticism or scandal.
Mexican gentlemen are so thoroughly
imbued with the idea Of wOm0nly help
lessness that they do not seem to regard
the charge of r bereaYed family as an un-
natural or unjust burden, but accept all
the duties il involves as really sacred OBJ
legations. one strong proof Of the chiy-
alric nature OF Mexican gentlemen is that
the estates OF widows and orphans are
almost invariably honestly administered.
Matrimony is serious affair here, be-
cause, owing to the knightly courtesy Of
the men and the helplessness Of the VIC
men, man, in order to obtain the hand
Of his lady-lOVe, virtually contracts TO
befriend all her female kindred; neyerthe-
less-badinage apart-it is beautiful
custom.
One sees many newspaper comments on
"the languor and idleness of Mexican
ladies' The charge may be made against
those VINO inhabit the ''tierra callente"
or tropic regions, but as regards the
ladies OF the cities in the ''tierra tenn
plada," or high plateau, It is unjust. In
the capital they pay even more attention
TO domestic affairs than wealthy Ameri-
can ladies usually do, because society
makes fewer demands upon their time,
and fashion does not Oblige them to spend
their summers in gay watering.places or
winters in Europe. Domestic life in Mex
leo is charmingly simple and really
worthy of imitation, except in one re-
spect-rarely do ladies here suckle their
infants. This sacred duty Of motherhood
is usually delegated to Indian nurses.
For this omission the physicians are
chiefly responsible, because they assure
their aristOcratic patients that this drain
upon their systems is too severe, etc.
AS a general rule the ladies of Mexico
are gentle, artless, and amiable. A "prO-
tessonal beauty or married belle" is
not tolerated. Either would soon be Os-
traeised as an improper character.