Wichita eagle., 1888-09-25

Waived.
An American, Just arrived in the city OF
Mexico, made, as he thought, a sensational
discovery. He was going out of his hotel
one afternoon, when the actions of a Mexican
in an upper window across the street attract
ed him. The Mexican was well dressed His
silk hat was glossy. His little high heeled
boots were polished, and he carried an orna-
mental walking stick. He was keeping back
from the window with the evident design of
concealing himself from general view, and
at the same time was trying to get somebody
in the upper part of the hotel to look his
way.
"a masher!" the American said to himself
"And mighty bold one" he added, after
| watching the antics for ten minutes and fail
ing to discover that any response was made
to them.
The next day about the same hour the
American repeated his discovery. Mr.. Mexi-
can, in all his glory, was at the upper Win
dow, and the one sided pantomime for the
benefit of somebody in the hotel was still
going on This hotel was the one most
patronized by visitors from the states The
American minister was living there So
were the representatives of big American
syndicate engaged in consummating land
| deal. Altogether there were probably as
many American as Mexican guests What
| If this persistent gallant was trying to force
his unwelcome attentions upon an American
/ ladyl The thought was enough to start
ehrob of patriotic Indignation. The Ameri-
can vent on about his business, but he said
to himself, with menacing look toward the
supposed masher, Somebody will be kicked
/ down stairs before he is much older"
That night Mr.. Fresh, the American, got
together two or three of his fellow country
men at the hotel, told what he had seen and
invited suggestions as to the proper remedy.
The Americans listened, looked at each other
and grinned. There was one in the party q
six footer from West Point. In his minds
eye the discoverer of the masher had already
seen the big lieutenant administering puns
ishment to the impudent Mexican But tho
widest grin of all was that which spread over
the army mans face.
'My friend, said the American lieutenant,
you've run up against case of hacer ell oso.
In other words, you now know what doing
the bear act means in Mexico"
One of the curious social customs Of the
sister republic bars the door when two young
people become engaged to be married
Thenceforward the lover visits his beloved
only in the presence of the rest of her family
and at formal intervals. In lieu Of sitting
up" with his girl he "does the bear actn
This consists in finding an advantageous
position which commands view of the SEN
orita's window, and taking possession of it
during leisure hours Long loving looks are
exchanged, also pantomime, and OCCASION
ally when the street is deserted the maiden
will come from behind the lattice, and stand
ing on the balcony carry on rather re-
strained conversation with the wooer on tie
pavement below or perhaps across the street.
This is what is called ''doing the bear act"
The young Mexican whose queer conduct
opposite the hotel had excited indignation
was not masher, but an exemplary young
gentleman of most honorable Intentions He
was the accepted lover of high born SEN
orita, whose father had apartments in the
hotel, and he was pursuing his courtship ac-
cording to the customs of his country It
would have been a sad mistake to have
kicked him down stairs, and might have led
to international complications
Sometimes engagements are protracted in
this country by circumstances over which
the lovers have no control. In these cases
THE bear act" goes on season after season
until everybody for blocks around gets in the
way Of expecting to see the faithful swain
put In his appearance at a certain hour Of
the day and misses him almost as much IS
the girl does if he stays away. Instances
where lovers have kept up this wooing at q
distance for three and four years are told of.
The custom is not often waived But bluff
old Gen Mier y Teran set society at defiance
not long ago. His adopted daughter had be-
come engaged to worthy young gentleman.
The latter had hired the use of a room in a
house across the street and had begun to carry
on the usual pantomime.
'Tell him to quit that" said Gen. Teran to
the ladies of his family, land to come here
and see the girl whenever and as much as he
likes They are going to be married in
couple of months and there needn't be any
nonsense about it,
The young man came. Everybody talked,
but the comments didn't bother the old gem
eral half as much as the buzzing of so many
flies would during his siesta
An American railroad engineer on the
Mexican National. who married a Mexican
lady, told how he put his foot down against
the idea that an engaged couple must be al
lowed no privacy. After it had been ar
ranged that there was to be a wedding he
went TO see his betrothed. The members Of
her family, one and all, came into the room
Immediately and endeavored to make things
agreeable for him. They sat him out and he
went away disappointed The second visit
was no different Mother, sisters brothers
and even the father remained in the room
all the time
The third time called" said the engi-
neer, II took the old gentleman one side and
reasoned with him He said it was the Gus
tom of the country not TO leave engaged peo-
pie by themselves I told him it wasn't the
custom of my country, and / didn't Like it.
II I was 70 be trusted with the girl after
marriage l could be trusted with her before
II [ couldn't visit the house and see her by
herself / would stay away for good. That
brought the old gentleman to terms He
consulted the rest of the family and then an
nounced the decision-that was to be per-
mitted to do my counting the American way.
After that when / went 20 call the other
members of the family would greet me all
round and then get up and file out Of the
room, formally and solemnly, as il they were
doing something very serious When got
ready 20 leave. the whole family. under the
lead Of the old gentleman, would march IA
and bid me good night The programme WAS
& little embarrassing at first 1t was carried
out in such way as TO make me feel that
great deal was being conceded to me-
The engineer, who is an intelligent man,
went On TO talk about his relations with his
wifes family after marriage He said they
always made him feel at home when be VS.
lied there. and he gave it as his conclusion,
from personal experience and general OBJ
servation, thst the Mexican nother-in-law Is
8 model When the senorita becomes thu
seoora she is expected to cIeave 70 her bus