Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-14

"Well, personally, I suppose, for the
city is not very we'll policed. for fact.
But that Navajo service-1've taken my
turn at it and can appreciate your feel
ings. 1t is life full of danger, minus
the element of glory.
81 certainly do feel it a relief to be
secure from alarms, not to have my
heart bound into my throat at every
shout or find my hand seeking my waist
belt at the breaking Of twig.
"Not much like your life on the Po.
tomac.
"No. There one felt that if the fates
gave victory to the enemy the worst
that could happen was Imprisonment
and poor fare, with some chance of ex-
change. In Indian warfare defeat means
death and mutilation. The red man
takes no prisoners in action, so one must
win or die. I think I shall like Santa
Fe for change. Is there any society
here?"
Little army society. There have
been few ladies at the frontier garrison
since the war broke out. "
AREN'T the Mexican families social?"
"Among themselves, yes, but not to-
ward US gringos"
"Do you never receive invitations to
their houses?'
"Yes, to meet the men now and then,
but never see the ladies.
"And don't you know any of the
girls?"
"Oh, yes, plenty Of girls-such girls
as attend the bales and fandangoes, but
of the gente finas we know none. "
Never meet them in your calls?"
"Never. have been invited to din
ners, lunches and card parties at several
of the best houses and have been enter
tanned right royalty, too-by the men,
and I've met some married ladies-they
were very hospitable-and q few un-
married ones long past the interesting
age. The lady of the house and a few OF
her married friends sometimes appear in
the salas, but the daughters are invisi-
ble."
"But officers have sometimes married
Mexican girls?"
"NOw and then, but have been CIV
ing you my own experience. "
"How have such marriages been
brought about?''
Accidental meetings, love at first
sight, elopements. Mexican marriages,
you know. are arranged by the parents
of the young people"
"And are consequently unhappy, l
suppose?" said Raymer, smiling curl
ously.
"That is our American idea.'
"Is it false?"
"I think so. Our divorce courts show
the results Of indiscriminate SO called
love matches Did it ever strike yo1
that little more parental supervision
might be desirable and beneficial?"
Doesn't that reflection belong to the
parental age? No; have never given it
a thought. l have always believed in
love before marriage. "
"Yet the cold fact stands, Raymer, y
continued Reed, "that marriages among
the French, Italians and Spaniards are
quite as happy as ours Right here in
Santa Fe I've no doubt that among the
married there is as much domestic hap
piness, love, devotion and that sort of
thing as in any American town OF its
size in the eastern states
"Oh, yes am up on all the current
literature of the subject and have been
chaperoned in New York, Philadelphia
and Lake George! I am not ignorant of
Latin race methods, but believe in our
lovemaking. Don't you, Reed?"
Don't II Am I an American? What
would life be without it? / think the
Mexican youth have missed the gist of
life in not making their union in the
good old Anglo-SaXon way. 1t is like
sitting down to fine dinner with ones
nose stopped and eyes covered. The ef-
feet of odors, floral decorations and as-
thetic arrangement Of glass and china
is lost.
"An original comparison indeed! BIT
1 supposed that contact with our coun-
trymen had broken up those customs i'll
the territories acquired of Mexico. "
"No," replied Reed refectively; 1.-THE
custom has not been abandoned. Indeed
the tendency is i'll the opposite direction,
and American fathers and mothers seem
to be adopting some foreign restrictions
in these matters-more English than
French or Spanish perhaps. 1 think you
mentioned the chaperon?"
"Yes; she is becoming recognized as
the correct thing now; not so strict and
merciless as the Spanish duena, how
ever
Il hope not"
"Do you know any young ladies at
the palace?" asked Raymer, broaching
the subject upon which his thoughts had
been dwelling of late.
"Tbere ar" several usually" replied
Reed "The governor has daughter,
and she has many friends and sorne
cousins who visit her. ~
81 have seen but one, a young lady
with fair hair and dark eyes, 3" observed
Raymcr.
"There are three who answer to that
description. When did you sec herr"
"At guard mounting yesterday and
today q young lady stood at the window
overlooking the sundial. She appeared