The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-13
~YUcATEcAN ETIQUETTE.

YUcATEcAN ETIQUETTE.
Some OF the Commendable Traits Of o.,
SpAnish-Ameriean NeighbOrs.
Yucatan gentlemen higher in the 10
cial scale than John the Baptist are less
extravagant in their expressions of gal.
lantry. In saluting ladies they still
observe the Spanish form a los pies de
msted. lat your feet:" to which figure
of speech the correct response is Bes0 q
usted la manO. Il kiss the hand to
you" In closing an ordinary letter OF
business or friendship every body in
this part Of the world always adds b. S.
NJ, meaning beso u mnnOs. Il kiss
your hands," The Spanish-American
like his Latin brethren across the sea.
talks quite As much with hands and
eyes as with his tongue, and shrugs his
shoulders as frequently As a French
man. One of the prettiest of the many
gestures in general use here is called
the beSO SOpIado-thrOwing kisses by
gathering the fingers Of the right hand
into a close group, touching the lips.
then throwing them out like a fan. at
the same time blowing on the hand rs
it is Outstretched toward the person for
whom the demonstration is intended.
thus signifying that five kisses are given
at once.
Gentlemen manifest their apprecia-
ton of female beauty by gazing intently
into the faces Of the ladies. whether in
the street. in the church or at the
opera. This custom, which elsewhere
would be resented as an impertinence.
is here accepted. As it is meant, merely
as q fattering tribute to the fair ones
charms. Between acts of the opera
men rise to their feet. and with lev
eled glasses. pay admiring homage to
those dark-eyed~ senOritas whose beauty
has attracted them. Then the pretty
language of the fan comes into play.
and the well-pleased maidens carry
away blissful memories of gallant
knights and ''eyes that spake again"
In ascending q stairway the lady
takes the gentleman's arm. as at the
North; but IN descending he always
goes a step or two ahead. holding her
firmly by the hand. to avoid accidents.
with As much sOlicitude rs if she were
an invalid or a cripple. The same
careful attention is offered to the veriest
stranger. Is naturally. and with far
more regularity and promptitude than
our " cOuntrymen show in relin-
gushing a seat in a crowded car to one
of the weaker sex. On leaving the
house after having made q friendly call.
the salutatiOn with the hand the Oft
repeated bow and the "a los pics de
are continued just - long as
one is in sight. and instead of finding
any thing tedious and wearisOme in
lOng-drawn-Out civility. one feels
as if he had been transported back to
the days of chivalry.
One highly cOmmendable trait of Yu-
catecan character is that they will
never say any thing disagreeable to
you. either on their W account or in
repeating the gossip to others. For in
in abiding ~ ones age. the
greatest delicacy is always exercised.
If one is considerably advanced in
years he is spoken Of As oiejito-''a lit
tie old" A girl may remain unwedded
thirty years or more before she is on
sidered u soAtera. u. in plain English.
an old maid; and after that nothing
offensive is ever said than that
she is ''rery f~astidiosa." every difficult
to please" and they sometimes add
that she is good to dress the saints"
meaning that, having no family of her
to make garments for. she may
her time to the holy work of
making vestments for the sacred i'm
ages.-Fannie B. Ward, IN Troy IN.
~ Times.