St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-01-12
900 isrellanu,
OUR NEW MEXICAN LETTER.

you in my last letter OF Mexican
houses and Mexican living; today
will try to tell little of the social
relations of young people, ana OF
some of their characteristic customs.
The Mexican senorta young LADY,
is as mature at fourteen as are
American ladies at nineteen; after
the age of twenty-five she grows
old rapidly, and she soon loses
the sparkling brilliancy and beauty
that made her so attractive at
an earlier age. The law provides
that the Mexican girl can marry at
fourteen, and it seems to be one OF
the chief aims of every family to see
that the daughters are married as
soon as convenient. Until marriage,
Mexican girls have no freedom at all,
they can never 60 out on the street
alone, and they are not allowed TO
receive gentlemen callers. In pubic
the senorita is always accompanied
bv her mother or some elderly laoy'
and if man should call at the nome
of the young lady, he must III every
case see her in the presence OF some
relative, and then only tor snort
time AS a result of this custom, the
Mexican girl is backward ana oil
6dent to a painful degree in the
presence Of men. She acts as II she
wanted to get away from company,
and in many casesi is hard to carry
on the most trihing conversation
with her. With such a state OF
affairs, it may be asked how the
Mexican girl ever is married at all.
Yet in spite of these difficulties, she
generally marries at an early age
Mexican marriages are often ar
ranged by the parents, the young
people having nothing at all to do
with the matter. When man sees
a girl who STRIKES his fancy" it is
the great problem with him how to
let her know of his love. He dresses
himself in his swell clothes, hne
sombrero with a rim as wide as
large palm-leaf fan, richly orna-
mented coat, and pants with a row
of silver buttons down the sides;
decked in this fashion, he goes to the
house of his lady, and there he walks
back and forth day after day. The
parents of the girl at last inquire
about the man, and if he is deemed
proper person, he is invited to call on
the father and mother. After a time,
he is allowed to see the lady, but
never without the rest Of the family;
so the matter drags along, and ii
the lover is persistent enough, he is
at last accepted by the parents as
the alliance of their daughter. AS
the acquaintance goes on, he may
bring his guitar, or he may hire
band, to serenade his lady love.
Thus far the girl has been mute
factorin all these proceedings; should
she, as is generally the case, be
pleased with her parents choice and
fall in love with the young man, she
is allowed to drop to him from the
balcony of the house a rose or some
flower, that speaks for her. They
have hardly any opportunity to be-
come acquainted before marriage, so
that important feature in the matter
is left for more opportune season.
1t is the custom of the Mexicans
for the man to buy the wedding out
fit and wardrobe of the bride-she
does the selecting, he pays the bills,
The groom is expected to furnish the
house, and no matter how wealthy
or generous the lady's father may be
he never helps in these matters; it is
contrary to the Mexican code o
etiquette. The wedding ceremony i:
performed in the village church
after this, there is a reception at thu
home of the brides parents, to which
all the friends of both parties ar,
invited
AT A WEDDING PARTY.
had the honor not long ago of be
ing present at a wedding party
The square, enclosed by the four wall
OF the adobe mansion, was brilliant
lv lighted by burning pine-knots, am
there were hanging metal lamp
in which fragrant herbs and powder
were burned-the entire court-yar
and the halls of the house were i
this way perfumed with a delicat
balsam-like odor The fg-trees wer
in blossom, and the date and tn
palm gave a tropical, as well a
oriental. look to everything. II