Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-27
ROMANCE IN MEXIC0.
THE MANY CONDITIONS WHICH LEND
SPEED TO cuPIo'S SHAFTS.


How the Mexican Lover Courts at Long
Range the bard
ing the Lady's Heart with Huge BOu-
quets of Fiowsrs-The BstrothaI.
/. The weather Is delightful here. The
evenings are mild With the moon at the
full, the sky cloudless and serene, balmy
breeze blowing from seawards, nothing is
finer than to sit and smoke in the open cor
ridors Of the hotel. or stroll in the patio and
gaze at the spangled yoult above. These
large interior courts of all Mexican houses,
often planted with tropical flowers and
fruits, give sense OF security and seclu-
sion particularly favorable to an evening
walk No wonder the little god Of love en-
trenches himself in thsse enchanting re
treats, and delivers his feathered shafts
with unusual success. The truth is. the
climatic conditions that obtain in this
sunny land are dangerously conducive to
the tender passion. Never We're there
| lovers moons rs now shine nightly above
our heads. Never did zephyrs so seductive
and stimulating fan mortal cheeks. Never
was the scenery more charming than this
Of the mountain girt valley, and the majes-
tic volcanoes looking calmly down from
their snow clad heights. The very air is
80 full of ozone that it necessarily inclines
the heart Of youth and beauty TO thoughts
of love.
THE MEXICAN MAMMA's wATCHFULNEss.
The Mexican mamma is fully aware of
this, and the black-eyed senoritas are not
allowed to walk arm in arm with their
D -
public resort The atmospheric conditions
are too intoxicating to the passions. Tenn.
perance in love is virtue as diligently
enforced in Mexico as temperance in drink
with us, and with about equal success.
The Mexican lover Is denied the interior
Of the house where lives his inamorata
altogether. If inclined to assume this
time honored role, he proceeds in totally
different fashion from his ld-hearted
neighbor Of the north To manifest his
preference for particular fair one, he
grayely PAGES up and down in front of her
house-"playing the bear" as it is called.
He is dressed in his very best, a glistening
silk hat on his head and dainty bouquet
in the buttonhole of his coat. The senori
Ia, catching glimpse of his manly form
through the close blinds; soon appears on
blt Will icE slSlSIs Ahus
friends.
The street is dusty, the pedestrians
crowd and jostle by, the distance interven-
ing between the amorous pair would dis
courage a northern Romeo, but the pent
up fires Of the Mexican's heart made them
selves felt despite such obstacles. There
are no whispered words, gentle hand press
ures, and kisses caught on the wing IL
l. N.aFWr
perment of the southern does not admit Of
liberties harmless enough among the
races Of chillier blood. While playing the
bear" he is not idle in other respects. By
the judicial use Of money he has won the
good will of confidential servant Of the
house, and through this medium bonn
bard's the lady's heart with huge bou-
quets Of flowers as fine as his purse will
allow him 10 buy. The language Of flow
ers Is known and more largely utilized in
this country than anywhere else. Per
haps in their kindly shelter he conceals
perfumed note, to which the pleased pro
testations of the fair one, reported by the
servant, will be his only response.
AN ATTENUATED LOVERS PARADISE.
II it is the opera season it is his pleasure
and his duty to place a box at the dis
posal of the senorita, not TO be occupied
by himself,-Oh no! but by the father and
mother and family friends. The lover
seats himself in the pit, at proper dis
tance from the box, again arrayed in his
best A decorous bow as he takes his
seat, another when he leaves, and play
of eloquent giances between, is the only
draught of love that iron custom allows
After the theatre all repair separately TO
the restaurant, the lady and her friends
sitting at one table, and he and his friends
at another, but he is allowed to settle the
bill for all Perhaps this riie-range
method Of making love continues for a
year or two, with nothing more favorable
TO real intimacy than an occasional dance
together at ball, or a carriage ride in
company with mamma, or faithful at
tendant-a lovers paradise so very atten-
uated that it is doubtful whether a beef
eating American could long survive in it.
But love crosses oceans and laughs at
bolts and bars. Real progress is made,
and at last the suitor ask to see the pa
rents and is admitted, perhaps for the first
time into the house which he soon hopes
to call home" He states his love for the
daughter, the prospects financial and
otherwise upon which he bases his ability
TO marry, and asks for a formal recogni-
ton of his rights. The daughter is sum-
moned and allowed blushingly 10 indicate
her preferences, and the bethrotal is for
mally sanctioned. Even the conventional
rules keep the lover almost a stranger to
his sweetheart. Not till the priests have
sanctioned their union with the rites Of
the church are they allowed free and un-
restrained social intercourse.-Mexico Cor.
Cleveland Leader