Wichita eagle., 1888-03-04
9ailg eagle
MEXICAN MANNERS.
UNFAlLlNG COURTESY OF A POLITE
AND PUNCTILIoUS PEOPLE.

Bocrishness of Tourists-An American
Who Had Learned Observation-Disclosures
to Ladies-Almost a Tragedy-A Severe
Test of Courtesy.
In their philanthropic and highly laud-
able efforts to reconstruct Mexico to suit
their own ideas of propriety, Americans
find their Threats swell oftener, perhaps,
than for any other reason, at the excess
sive degree of form and ceremony which
attends, it may be safely said, every trans
action, great or small, in Mexico. 1t is
great mistake, however, to set oneself in
opposition to these things. Mexicans,
like all Latin races, are sticklers for ETH
quette, and they class as rough and under
bred people who ignore the superficial
forms of politeness. In Mexico one finds
land where courtesy goes farther than
coin Of the realm; and this with all ranks
and classes. Mark the street greeting Of
Pelagio and Mercedes, two peladitos Of
the lowest. Off goes the hat of Pelagio
and Mercedes puts out to him her hand,
horny and toll hardened, but friendly and
cordial
'How do you do, Don Pelagio' How
the chlldren-are they well?'
''Ah, Dona Merceditas! | am glad to
see you. And how is your good family
I hope you have no illness or trouble.
Will it please you to make to them all my
humble greetings?'
Poor, half starved, dirty, miserably clad
In rags that scarcely cover their nakedness,
these poor creatures still practice an I'M
fallir,c that T houa nffar, fo,,n2
lacking among our parvenu aristocrats,
sitting aloft on their money bags. And
they responded, too, to this trait in their
superiors more readily than to the chink
of tlacos. This is practically demonstrated
wherever in Mexico Americans do congre-
gate. A little group will be gathered on
q corner, aquadores, public carriers, Inozos,
what you will, and an American will come
rushing past. a block away can be read
in his eye the intention to rush through
that group of low born mortals, who are
certainly dirty and ignorant, but who are
nevertheless entitled to the rights and
privileges of all humanity. Does he scat
ter them in catapult fashion really? All,
mol The mula of the cargador-a heavy
leathern cushion, on which the carrier
supports his burden, strikes him some
how carelessly, but with almost force
enough to knock him breathless. The
aquador Stops some water out of brim-
ming chococol over his worship's natty
garments, and his shoulder will be black
and blue for fortnight from the force Of
his collision with the sturdy mozo. By
stepping into the gutter he manages to
pass them, breathless and raging They
look at each other complacently, grin
e lanf1u anI foil inf y,locn
other gringo approaches. But this one
did not come to Mexico the day before
yesterday. He slackens his pace slightly
his hat, perhaps waves his hand in token
Ct greeting, and says cheerily: ICON su
your leave" The ranks
fall open, hat or two is snatched off,
with ''Pase listed, seno amo''-s'pass, my
perhaps sandaled foot is
thrust out to rub away a spiotch of mud
on the pavement that might soil the shoes
of this courteous foreigner.
When first went to the City of Mexico
/ was quite i'll, and so feverish that used
to stop at every pila or public fountain I
passed in exploring the suburbs, where
dwell the masses-the most interesting
part of the city to the humanitarian. If
W AofO iSl SsobIch lldfclluS
cup l used to dip up the water like the
Of Edwin Arnold's mill
Song''-''in my followed palm''--and
that would always be the signal for a
rush of women Offering me little jarras-
earthern jugs-to drink from, and often
of men Of the lowest orders from horrible
pulque shops, rendering a glass at which
they rubbed assiduously to make it spot
iC - r
learned after one or two blunders-iU was
kindness pure and simple, quite differ
ent from the services for which payment
is expected, and, if withheld, greedily de-
And | am sure that only the
Irish peasantry could turn compliments
rs neat as those bestowed on me in return
for the simple acknowledgment with
which soon learned to requite them.
Again, / one night came out of Orrin's
(the permanent American circus in Mex
Ico) and two men of the canalla INSTRUCTED
the walk. My escort impatiently caught
one of them by the shoulder and slung
him aside for me to pass. Some instinct
impelled me to glance past my friends
and saw q big knife descend
ing about six inches from the shoulder
blade of the American. / threw all my
weight on his arm and jerked him aside so
far that the blow missed him. At the
same moment the other lepero caught his
arm and cried:
You fool, don't you see the ladyf''
"Oh" said the would be assassin. t'it
was for q lady he showed me, was it?
That's all right, then. didn't see her
listed perdcnc" (beg pardon), and he went
On, feeling no affront if it were suffered
Tor lady.
When such traits exist among the lower
classes, it can readily be seen what super
ative polish of manner must prevail
among the higher. Ii cost me no little
mental self fiaGellation to learn to say
Pray cover yourself" to q gentleman who
should pause to greet NE, and remember
more than one pang have felt at having
eft this to be said by my escort to men |
whose silver locks streamed on bleak |
wind or were moistened by small rain, |
yet who would not replace the hat with |
mt instigation. And no greater test than |
his could be offered Of MeXican's pune |
ilious courtesy, careful as they are on all |
lygenic matters.-Y. II. Adds in San
francisco Chronicle.
Entire MotiVe of No