Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-03
MEXICAN MANNERS.
COURTESY OF A POLITE
AND PUNCTILlOUS PEOPLE.

Ioorishness of Tourists-an American
who Had Learned wisdom-Politenes,
to Ladies-Almost a Tragedy-A Severe
| Test of Courtesy.
In their philanthropic and highly land
able efforts to reconstruct Mexico to suit
! their own IDEAS of propriety, Americans
/ find their thrOats swell oftener, perhaps,
| than for any other reason, at the eXceS,
sive degree of form and ceremony which
attends, it may be safely said, every trans
action. great or small, in Mexico. 1t is a
| great mistake, however, 10 set oneself in
opposition to these things. MeXicans,
! like all Latin races, are sticknrs for er-
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. OF 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
did you pass the night? How is your wife
the children-are they well;"
"Ah, Dona Merceditas! | am glad to
see you. And how is your good family?
hope you have no illness or trouble.
VIII 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 un-
failing courtesy that have too often found
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
corner, aquadores, public carriers, moZOs,
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 really9 All,
no, 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 slOps some water out of a brim-
ming chococol over his worship's natty
garments, and his shoulder will be black
and blue for fortnight from the force os
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
silently and fall into place again as an
other gringo approaches. But this one
did not come to Mexico the day before
yesterday. He slackens his pace slightly
us he comes near them, perhaps touches
his hat, perhaps waves his hand in token
of greeting, and says cheerily: Con su
licencia''-''by your leave" The ranks
fail open, hat or two is snatched off,
with "Pase usted, seno amo"-''pass, my
master''-and perhaps sandaled foot is
thrust out 10 rub away 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
passed in exploring the suburbs, where
dwell the masses-the most interesting
part of the city to the humanitarian. If
CHANGED to have forgotten my travelling
cup, | used to dip up the water like the
Bhagbhati 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-Io drink from, and often
of men of the lowest orslers from horrible
pulque shops, rendering a glass at which
they rubbed assiduously to make it spot.
less. This was no question of a tip, as
learned after one or two blunders-iU was
kindliness pure and simple, quite differ
ent from the services for which payment
is expected, and, if withheld, greedily de-
manded. And l am sure that only the
Irish peasantry could turn compliments
as 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 s
(the permanent American circus in Mex
ico) and two men of the canalla obSIructed
the walk. My escort imratiently caught
one of them by the shoulder and slung
him aside for me to pass. Some instinct
impelled Inc to glance past my friends s
shoulder and | saw 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
comrades arm and cried:
You fool, don't you see the LADY,"
"Oh:n said the would be assassin, at
was for lady he showed ME, was it?
That's all right, then. didn't see her
usted perdone' (beg pardon, and he went
on, feeling no affront if it We're suffered
for a lady.
When such traits exist among the lower
classes, 1t can readily be seen what super
lative polish of manner must prevail
among the higher. 1t cost me no little
mental self flagellation TO learn to say
Pray cover YOURSELF to a gentleman who
should pause to greet me, and remember
more than one pang I have felt at having
left this to be said by my escort to men
whose silver locks streamed on a bleak
wind or were moistened by small rain,
yet who would not replace the hat with
out instgation. And no greater test than
this could be offered of MeXican's pune
tilious courtesy, careful as they are on all
hygienic matters. H. Adds in San
Francisco Chronicle.
Snoring and Dancing.
A pair of lunatics disturbed all the sane