Butte semi-weekly miner., 1886-05-12

'.PLAYNG THE BEAR"
Customs of Love, Courtship and Marriage
Among Msxican Beaus and Bellies.
All the courting in Mexico, says CORES
pondent OF the Pittsburg Dispatch, 10 done
ON the street. When evening kindly lends
it's sheltering cloak, even though the moon
smiles fullfaced at the many love scenes
she is witnessing, the girl opens her case.
/ or dreamily watching the stars, she awaite
her lover. II her room is on the ground
floor she is in paradise, for then they can
converse-he can even touch her hand
through the bars. But il she is consigned
to q room above she steps out on the
balcony. If the distance is not too great
they can still converse, but otherwise with
the aid OF pencil, paper and tiny cord they
manage to spend the evening blissfully with
out burning papa's coal and gas and stay
ing up until unseemly hours.
The lovers are unmindful of the people
who pass and repass, and the kind hearted
policeman never even thinks of telling the
young man to ''move on" If the house is
secluded, the lover tells his devotion in
7 musical strains. Night ls not only devoted
! to lovemaking, but in the broad light OF
day the young man will stand across the
street, and from the partly opened case
ment of the fair one are visible hand and
la nose-of course, she has full view, but
that is all that can be seen of her. With
the hand they converse in deaf and dumb
language, which, added to their own signs,
makes large dictionary. 1t is not likely
there exists Mexican who is not an adept
in the sign language. Courting is too vul-
gar a word for them, SO they call it-trans-
lated in English-playiDg the bear.
Sometimes they play the bear for from
rents are very wealthy-and even then not
get the girl, for with all their passionate
love they number many firts. Often one
girl will have two or more playing the bear
| at the same time. If they chance to meet
they inquire fercely, Whom are you
after?" If the answer demonstrates the
same girl, one will request the other to
step aside. II he refuses a duel follows.
After that the girl is bound, by the custom
brother or father discovers q ''bear," the
latter must submit to a thrashing from
their hands if he still desires to retain the
girls love. II father notices the atten-
tion of "bear" and looks with favor up
on him, he dose not disturb his ''pla ying."
| When he concludes that he has served long
enough he ia invited into the house. This
means the same as if he had asked her
hand in marriage and had been accepted.
He is the intended husband, but never for
moment is he alone with his fiancee. He
may aspire to take the drivers place some
times, or to take the entire family to the
| theater.
A young American had been received in
great favor by Spanish family; probably
the old man thought he wonld like an
American for son-in-law. However.
young America was not going to lose any
time sitting in the house with the old folks,
| so he politely requested the object OF his
admiration to 60 o the Italian opera. She
graciously accepted. When he went to the
house he found not only the lady love, but
the entire family prepared to accompany
him. The deed was done; he could I OF
back out, and for the privilege of talking to
the mother, with the daughter sitting on
the other side casting love-lit glances from
her splendid eyes, he paid $43. He was
Disguised, and accordingly gave up his
chance OF being q member OF a Mexican
family.
If q man becomes impatient and feels like
becoming responsible for the price OF his
sweetheart's bonnets, he asks the father
If he is rejected he can 60 to a public Off
cial, swear out a notice to the. effect that
his and the girls happiness is ruined by the
fathers heartlessness. He then secures
warrant which gives him the privilege of
taking the girl away bodily from the home |
Of her parents. This is q Mexican elope- |
ment. II, on the other hand, he is accepted, |
the wedding day is named, and agreements
are drawn up as to how much will be the |
hQnDhfQr'a nnrfinn ot tho 1oofh of har
parents. Before that period she receives |
nothing. The intended husband furnishes !
the wedding outfit, and all the wearing |
apparel she has been using is returned to |
her parents. She has absolutely nothing. |
The groom buys the customary OUTFIT
white satin boots. white dress and veil.
A Mexican wedding is different from any
other in the world. First civil marriage |
is performed by public ofiial This by |
law makes the children of that couple leRiti- |
mate and lawful inheritors of their parents |
property. This is recorded and in few |
days-the day following or month after |
just as desired-the marriage is con-
sumated in the church, Before this cere-
mony the bride and groom are no more |
allowed together than when playing the
bear. At wedding the other day the
church was decorate with $500 worth of |
white roses. The amount can be estimated
fifty cents) per 1000. Their delicate per-
fume filed the grand, gloomy old edifice,
which was lighted by thousands oflarse and
small wax candles. Carpet wis laid from
the gate into the church, and when the
bridal party marched in, the pipe organ and
band burst forth in one joyous strain. The
priest, clad entirely in white vestments,
advanced to the door to meet them, fol-
lowed by two men in black robes carrying
different articles, small boy in red skirt
and lace overdress carrying a long pole
topped off with cross. The bride was
clad in white silk trimmed with beaded lace
with train about four yards long, dark hair
and waist dressed with orange blosso u.s.
Over this, falling down to her feet in front
and reaching the end of he train back, was
q point lace veil. Magnificent diamonds
wee the ornaments. and in the gloved
hands was pearl-bound prayer book. She
entered a pew near the door with her
was dressed in black lace-on
one side and her father ON the other. After {
answering some questions theybstepped out,
and the groom stood beside the
bride, with the groomsman and bridemaid .
On either side, the latt dressed in dark .
green velvet, lace and bonnet. The priest 4,
read a long while, and then, addressing the {
slrl first, asked her mary questions, to &
which she replied "Si Senor." Then he I
questioned the groom likewise. Afterward I
ne handed the groom ola mond ring, which |
the latter placed on the little finger of the '
eft hand OF the bride. The priest put ,
similar ring on the ring-fnger OF the right G
1and OF the groom, and PLAIN wedding q
ing on the ring-6nger of the brides right G
'and: Then, folding the two ringed hands \
'ogether, he sprinkled them with holy water l.
Ind crossed them repeatedly. q
After the priest finished mass, he blessed
md sprinkl-d them once more. Then from
plate he took seventeen gold dollars the
room had furnished and emptied them a
nto bis hands. The groom in turn emp d
led them into the hand Of his bride, and a
he gave them to the priest as gift to the '
hurch and token that they will always i
ustain, protect and uphold it. Now the t
CEREMONY, which always lasts from two to
our hours, is ended, and the newly married
,air 60 into an adjoining room to receive
he congratulations of their friends.
The marriage festivities are often kept up
or week. After that the husband claims p
lis bride, and right jealousy does he guard I
Ter. Her life is spent in seclusion-eatinp. q