The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-01
WOMEN OF YUoATAS.
They are Supposetlt) Find Their
HIghest-Plt assures i'll Religious
re! fOFmanceS.

It is said that the female population
of Yncata stands as two to one.
Everything, however. seems to have
been especially Designed for 'be benefit
and enjoyment OF the masculine third
of the community. o1liyious CT that of
tie majority. The piazas, the paseos,
tn casinos, the cafes, the social life, are
ali for the amusement of the men while
the women are supposed 10 find their
highest pleasure in religious perform
ances and secIusion OF home. They
are looked upon by the lords oicreation
in much the zane j ut that the Turk
regards the inmates OF his harem-ob,
jects to be pstted or abused, treasured
or neglected, according as they minister
to his enjoyment or fail to please; but,
at all events, to be Kept jealousy out of
sight of oth9r men, and supposed to
have wishes, iast, $ or preferences of
their UWu.
AS vuie. tho women take kindly to
,h cir chains, baVing ever heard or
known Of any other IL ode of living
and whe l. as III rare cast s, she rebels it
only does her infinits harm by increas-
ing the harshness OF her master.
Though ms ,nctiYely V1rtuOus, SO far as
taithfuiness 70 10 dc ath to one man is
concerned, rneit standard OF morality
is not very hi "a, and the onsigaS (friend)
of married meI are considered 10 be as
good as anyb ,dy. The nature of
Yucateean women is not intense; it is
only warm, weak and INDECENT.
rnough. as children. esp, cially among
the lower classes, they go absolutely
1uciutbed ill nearly half grown, ,as
adults they are fully as modest in ap-
pearance. as their northern sisters.
Whatever their inward thoughts may
be. cannot say A young AmeTican
writer lately here who, doubtless. OBJ
served the girls more intelllgrntiy than
your correspondent could do, says OF
them: They can no more help show
ing the pleasures young mans presence
showing that they like the sunshine;
nut they look dtmure as kittens, and
when gaZ d at drop their liquid eyes
like yestsl nuns"
Because OF their hampered and
secluded lives they enter with double.
Zest Tito such simple pleasures as are
afforded them. Ii is said that all en-
gagemepts in Yucatsu high lie are
made during some religious fiesta, in
the ballroom or ct the gaming table.
Most Zealously do they improve those
fsetiDg hours when they can have the
rare pleasure of dancing with their
lovers, or even of looking at them over
the heads of others. They yield them
selves to the sweet abandon of the oc-
casion, aud feat through the SLOW
measures of "the macy" in the arms
of their cavaliers listening eagerly
to heneyed words that may be
whispered in their ears, despite the.
pressure of lynx-eyed mammas and
duennas No people in the world pos
sess more charming manners, both In
public and private, than the high ciess
Yucatecan; but. as in other parts of the
world, no doubt, the suave pcfteness
of calm return may cover depths of
passion and despair, heart-throbs and
heart aches. high hopes and bitter dis
appointments even in The midst of
mirth and music.
Among the women, favorite saint is
Santa Lucia, who is one of the hottest
in the calendar, celebrated for her
power OF working miracles in favor of
lovers. If any young man prays to her
for wife, or any young woman for &
husband, it IS believed that he or she is
sure to receive the object of such sup
plea i0n. More than once has il been
7oIemnly limited to me that doubt On
this SUBJECTS sinful, and case after case
is cited OF marriages made in which
one had fallen IN love with the other,
who was perhaps ignorant of it. or even
disliked the other person, yet ives
finally brought to terms through tie
powers of Santa Lucia
Record.