Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-08
COURTSHIP In MEXICO.
TIE METHOD OF "PLAYISG THE
BEAR.'
Interesting Customs of Love, Court
ship and Marriage Among HEX
lean Beaus and Bellies.

done on the street. When evening kindly
lends its sheltering cloak, even though the
moon shines full-faced at the many love
scenes she is witnessing, the girl opens her
easement window and with guitar in her
hand or dreamily watching the stars, she
awaits her lover. If 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 if she is con-
signed to room above, she steps out on
the balcony. If the distance is not too
great, they can still converse, but other
wise, with the aid of pencil, paper and
tiny cord, they manage to spend the evening
blissfully without burning papa's coal and
gas and staying 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
yeung man to move on" If the house is
! secluded TIE lover tells his devotion in mu-
steal strains. Night is not only devoted to
love-making, but in the broad light of day
the Young man will stand across the street
and from the partly opened easement of
the fair one are visible hand and a 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 a
large dictionary. 1t is not likely there ex-
lists a Mexican who is not an adept in the
sign language Counting is too vulgar
word for them so they call it-translated
in Euglish-playing the bear.
Sometimes they play the bear tor from
seven to fifteen years-that is, if the
parents are very wealthy-and even then
not get the girl, for with all their passion
ate love they number many fiirts. Often
one girl will have two or more playing the
bear at the same time. If they chance to
meet they inquire fiercely, Whom arc
YOU after ?" If the answer demonstrates
the same girl. one will request the other to
step aside. If he refuses a duel follows
! After that the girl is bound, by the custom
Of her country, to relinquish both. If
brother or father discovers bear" the
latter must submit to a thrashing from
| their hands if he desires to still retain the
/ girls love. If a father notices the attention
of bear" and looks with favor upon
him, he does not disturb the playing"
When he concludes that he has served long
enough he is invited into the house This
means the same as if he had asked for her
! hand in marriage and had been accepted.
He is the intended husband, but never for
a 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.
/ young American had been received in
| great favor by Spanish family; probably
! the old man thought he would like an
/ American for a son-in-law. However.
! young America was not going to waste any
/ time sitting in the house with the old folks,
/ So he politely requested the object of his
/ admiration to go to the Italian opera. She
graciously accepted. When he went to the
house he found not only his lady-love but
the entire family prepared to accompany
/ him. The deed was done; he could not
back out, and for the privilege of talking
| to the mother, with the daughter sitting on
! the other side casting lovelit chances from
( her splendid eyes, he paid $I3. He was
disguised, and accordingly gave up his
chance of being q member of a Mexican
| family.
| If man gets impatient and feels like
becoming responsible for the price of his
/ sweethearts bonnets, he asks the father
| If he is rejected he can go to q public Off
! cial, swear out notice to the effect that
his and the girls happiness is ruined by
/ the fathers heartlessness. He then Sc
| cures a warrant which gives him the priv
! ilege of taking the girl away bodily from
/ the house of her parents. This is Mexi-
can elopement. If, on the other hand, he
! is accepted, the wedding day is named and
| agreements are drawn up as to how much
will be the daughters portion at the death
! of her parents. Before that period she re-
ceives nothing. The intended husband
! furnishes the wedding outfit, and all the
wearing apparel she has been using is re-
/ turned 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 a civil marriage
| is performed by public official. This by
law makes the children of the couple legit-
innate and lawful inheritors of their
parents property. This is recorded, and
in few days-the day following or
month after, just as desired - the mar
riaSe is consummated in the church. Be-
fore this ceremony the bride and groom
are no more allowed alone together than
when playing the bear. At a wedding the
other day the church was decorated with
$500 worth of white roses. The amount
can be estimated when it is stated roses
cost but four reals fifty cents) per 600.
Their delicate perfume filled the grand,
gloomy old edifice, which was lighted BY
| thousands of large and small wax candles.
Carpet was laid from the gate into the
church, and when the bridal party marched
III, Tue Dlpt DdIu DUfSt IOrtn In
one joyous strain The priest, clad entirely
in white vestments, advanced to the door
to meet them, followed by two men
in black robes carrying different arti-
Giles, small boy in red skirt and lace
oyerdress carrying a long pole topped off
with Il 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 blossoms. Over
this, falling down to her feet in front and
reaching the end of the train back, was a
point lace vail. Magnificent diamonds
were the ornaments, and in the gloved
hands was a pearl-bound prayer-book. She
entered a pew near the door with her
mother-who was dressed in black lace
on one side and her father on the other.
After answering some questions they
stepped out. and the groom stood beside
the bride with groonsman and bridesmaid
on either side, the latter dressed in dark
green vei ct, lace and bonnet. The priest
read luas; while, and then, addressing the
girl frs, asked her many questions. to
which sac replied Isl, Senor' Then he
questioned the groom likewise Afterward
he handed the groom a diamond ring.
which HE latter placed on the little finger
OF the left hand of the bride The priest
put similar ring on the ring-finger OF the
right hand of the groom, and plain we'd
ding ring on the ring finger of the brides
right hand. Then, folding the two ringed
hands together, he sprinkled them with
holy water and crossed them repeatedly.
After the priest finished mass he blessed
| and sprink.ed them once more. Then
from plate he took seventeen gold dollars
the groom had furnished and emptied
them into his hands. The groom in turn
emptied them into the hand of his bride,
and she gave them to the priest as gift to
| the church and token that they will al
ways sustain, protect and uphold it. Now
the ceremony, which always lasts two to
| four hours, is ended, and the newly-mar-
ried pair go into an adjoining room to re-
| ceiye the congratulations of their friends.
The marriage festivities are often kept up
for week. After that the husband claims
his bride, and right jealousy does he guard
her. Her life is spent in seclusion-eating.
drinking, sleeping, smoking The hus-
band is desperately jealous, and the wife is
never allowed to be in the company of
another nan. Life to Mexican lady, ac-
cording to an Americans views, is not
worth living.
Motion at Rest.
One of the most astonishing of the many
MO fTil Of tIa !,