St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-18

begin with that branch because that is
the particular subject, precisely, which
| have observed first interests all
American gentlemen who come here.
Then, too, it is the direction in which
foreigners are most likely to commit a
faux pas, and the one where blunder
would be most fatal" And she was a
young woman of tact and worldly
knowledge, and the followingis the sub
stance of her eXpOundings on the sub
iect in question. The plan of social in
tercOurSe between the sexes in Mexico
Is conducted Oh an entirely different
system from that familiar to Americans.
1t might almost be said that there is no
such social intercourse. On every pos
Sible occasion of contact between young
men and women they are subjected to
surveillance which is a constant in
suit to the honor of men and the self
respect of women. DiSagreeable as this
system is, it has some very amusing
phases, and by its very novelty can but
be interesting to new corners. In the
streets of Mexican city by day if the
stranger observe youth of presentable
apparel and general air of reputability,
stand for an hour or two, idly gazing at
the windows of a house near by, let
him not marvel at the prosperous air of
Migrants in Mexico; this youth is play
Ing the bear" If on rainy night he
pass, while hurryings homeward, other
young men standing stOckstill in the
shower and murmuring sweet incOher-
encies. apparently into the domes of
their umbrellas, let him not think Bed
lam has broken loose. These are but
'bears," for whom the inclement night
Is an suspicious occasion. An American
RI on, n
visit to her sister, was observed to be
very restless at night, haunting the
windows nervouSly up to about a. H.,
and otherwise manifesting great uneasi-
ness. At last, questioned as to the
anxiety which was wearing her haggard,
she declared her fears that the house
was the contemplated object of burg
larry; for" she said, "a man walks up
and down before it every night, back and
forth, always over the same space except
when he goes and stands by the window
of the Z-residence across the way.
was afraid to speak of it, lest | should
brighten A." an invalid of the
family. But her hearers only laughed
immOderately and said: "Oh! that is
Josefita Us bear." and the term
being explained to the newcomer, she
shortly set up bear on her own account.
w ucu a MCAlCdll UcCOlllcS olldIIlOI6u OIL
girl, he devoteS large share of his
time and attention to making the fact
manifest and patent, not only to her,
but to all the world, on every possible
occasion. At the play, he fixes upon
her his opera glasses, in way that
would bring upon him summary admo-
milton from her nearest masculine rela-
tive, in AnglO-SaXon society. On the
promenade, ETC., he stares at her in the
same pronounced manner. At balls, if
he De anything of an extremist, he
will dance with no other
woman. Mexican balls, be it said
en- PEASANT, do not afford the
opportunities that American balls do
for love-making, promenades, retreats
to hooks on stair-cases, ETC., being taboo,
as the lady must be returned promptly
to her chaperone at the conclusion of
each number. But above and beyond
all these demonstrations is the great
bear-playing performance. AS many
times day as his leisure will permit,
and for as long period as possible on
each occasion, the lover repairs to the
abode of his charmer, and takes up his
stand on the walk before it, now gazing