The herald., 1895-05-12

| promptly and cordially. Among other
nngs received was Merida paper. con
! tanning an interesting article by the
! gifted writer. Rodolfo Menendez.*
He commence, his article with some
| pretty lines. en- bodying the great truth
that the mother makes the man. lie
suggests that all persons send to the
writer any information in their possession
regarding famous Iucatan women, OF all
classes and times; but this will come too
late for the present writing. Among the
native. as among the Spanish women,
I there have been notable herolnes anu per
sons of many intellectual gifts; but. as
the foregoing pages show, their oppor-
tunities have been limited until lately,
Throughout its long years of tragedy
the women Of Iucatan inspired the men
to stand firm and strike hard for liberty
and right; never shrunk from sharing
danger and ,rdship. and were always
patient and devoted counseleIs and help
mates.
Ii the Indian woman has any failing,
| do not know it. She is industrious,
modest, loyal, loving, patient, resigned
and the embodiment of cleanliness. The
meztiza is not wanting in these same
qualities, but having some white blood,
has tendency to vanity and love of lux
ury. two weaknesses from which the
Maya woman is perfectly free notwith
standing her scrupttlous neatness.
The white woman? Many ar. her tai.
ents and virtues. | cannot do better than
quote Mr.. Menendez: There is in Yuca-
tan brilliant constellation of women
notable for excellent qualities, physical.
moral, intellectual and artistic. The
woman in Iucatan and Campeche is not
only the angel of the heart-man's sweet
est compSnion-but is also actively useful
in many industries. They make pottery.
hammocks. hats. cigars. lace, enbroid-
cry, candles, chocolate. candies. bread.
They are expert dyers, excellent cooks,
laundresses and needle women; good
housekeepers and nursers of the sick and
of children. They successfully cultivate
fruit, vegetables and flowers for sale.
They are able saeswomen. clever man
ayers OF capital and successful in mercan-
tile pursuits. As midwives tlicensed)
they are apt and reliable. They occupy
important positions in primary and high
schools. There are many gifted writers.
poetes,es, musicians and painters. There
are also women who follow the industry
OF bookbinding and typography as well
as other arts ami undertakings.
"Untl a few years ago the social evil
was unknown in Iucatan. Foreigners
introi iced it in Merida. Progreso and
Campeche. Its unfortunate victims are
nearly all foreigners
The Yucatan woman is an excellent
WIFE good daughter affectionate sister,
sincere friend amiable. Industrious for
in studying the arts and sciences: partlc-
ularly fond of music and dancing. BY
which 1t is plain that the Iucatan wo-
man uphods rs good a civilization rs she
knows. Ana added to all the foregoing
which the writer fully endorses, another
lovely quality is to be mentioned. The
Yucatan woman is always good to those
OF her own sex, shielding their reputa
tions and whispering no evil of each
other. For tins she is woman to be
honored the world over, and for this |
love her with all my heart!
To sum up-we find that the women in
Iucatan, first the Maya. then the Span
ish creole and their offspring whose blood
is mingled with the native race, presents
tair record, always striving to do her
best and living up to her highest knowl-
edge OF right.
1t is to be regretted hat it has been
necessary greatly to cur,ail this sketch to
bring it within the space allotted to the
subject. for Iucatan has remarkable
history.
so this gentleman we are indebted for our
Information regarding the schools. OF which |
subject he has treated very thoroughly in his
"Mcmoria Sobre la instruction Publica en- cl
Estado de Yucatan," Merida, 1889