, 1886-05-07
ROMANCE IN MEXICO.
THE MANY CONDITIONS WHICH LEND
SPEED TO cUPiD's SHAFTS.
How the Mexican Lover Courts at Long
Range-"PIayIng the Bear"-Bombard-
ing the LAdy's Heart with Huge Dou-
quetz of Flowers-Tho Betrotha1.

ing the Lady's Heart with Huge Bou-
quetz of Fiowers-The BetrothaI.
The weather is delightful here. The
evenings are mild. With the moon at the
fun, the sky cloudless and serene, n balmy
breeze blowing from Stewards, nothing is
liner than to sit and smoke In the open cor
ridors Of the hotel, or stroll In the patio and
gaze at the spangled voult above. These
large interior courts OF all Mexican honses,
often planted with tropical flowers and
fruits, give u sense OF security and seclu-
sion particularly favorable to an evening
walk. No wonder the little god Of love en-
trenches himself in these enchanting re-
treats, and delivers his feathered shafts
with unusual success. The truth Is, the
climatic conditions that obtain in this
iunny land are dangerously conducive to
he tender passion. Never were there
overs moons AS now shine nightly above
our heads. Never did zephyrs so seductive
and stimulating fan mortal cheeks. Never
was the scenery more charming than tins
Of the mountain grit valley, II the majes-
tic volcanoes looking calmly down from
their snow-clad heights. The very air is
so full of ozone hat It necessarily i~nclincs
the heart OF youth and beauty to thoughts
of love.
HE MfAitAN MAMMA MAIttfl
The Mexican mamma is fully aware of
this, and the black-eyed, senoritas are not
allowed to walk arm in arm with their
lovers in the gardens, parks, and places of
public resort. The atmospheric conditions
are too intoxicating to the passions. Tenn
perance in love is n 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 a totally
different fashion from his cold-hearted
neighbor of the north. To manifest his
preference for n particular fair one, he
gravely PAGES up and down in front Of her
house-"plnying the bear rs II is called.
He is dressed in his very best, a glistening
silk hat on his head and a dninty bouquet
in the b%uttonhole Of his coat. The senori-
tn, catching n glimpse of his manly form
through the close blinds; soon appears on
the balcony with her sisters and lady
friends.
TIL 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, aud kisses caught on the wing il
Mexican courtship. The tropical tenn
perInent 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 n 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 to 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 n
perfumed note, to which the pleased pro
testations OF the fair one, reported by the
servant, will be his only response.
An ATrESUArED LOVERS PARADISE.
If it is the opera season 1t Il is his pleasure
and his duty to place a box at the dis
posal of the senorita, not to be occupied
by himselfi-Oh mol but by the father and
mother and family friends. The lover
seats himself in the pit, at a proper dis
lance from the box, again arrayed in his
best. A decorous bow as he takes his
seat, another when he leaves, and n pluy
of eloquent glances 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 rifle-range
method of making love continues for n
year or two, with nothing more favorable
to real intimacy than IN occasional dance
together ut n ball, or a carriage ride in
company with mamma, or n faithful at
tendant-a lovers paradise so very atten-
uated that It is doubtful whether n beef
eating American could long survive in it.
But love crosses oceans and laughs mt
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.n He states his love for the
daughter, the prospects financial and
otherwise upon which he bases his ability
to marry, and asks for n formal recogni-
ton Of his rights. The daughter is sum-
moned and allowed b%lushingly to 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 ave
sanctioned their union with the rites OF
the church are they allowed free and I'M
restrained social intercourse. -A.eNlco Cor.
Cleveland Leader.