Evening star., 1896-07-25

means "doing the bear" To any one
who has seen these. maneuvers the reason
! of this appellation is obvious. The gay
| cavalier whose heart has been touched
by his dulcinea's charms perchance at a
ball on the paseo, stations himself on
| the opposite eide near one of the halconed
windows of her residence. Here he be-
| gins the operation doing the bear''-that
| is, he walks up and down the space of
| four or five yards as a bear in his cage,
| and continues his solitary promenade un-
| til he sees that he has attracted the at
| tention of some one at the window. If
| it be his lady love he blesses his lucky
star but if, on the contrary, it be some
| venerable duena who Immediately scents
Irritation, then woe betide Don Juan, for
| his wooing will be attended with many
| mishaps He ends his walk" abruptly
| to return at different hour on the NOR
| row. If his perseverance is to be reward
ed the object of his admiration, discovering
| that something in the nature of d love
affair is afoot. posts herself at the win
| dow at the propitious moment and realiZ,s
| that the gay cavalier Is paying attentions
| to her She may not have seen him be-
| fore or may recognize IN him the unknown
admirer of the last ball. In either case
| she is pleased to have him hacienda cl
oso' If only to tell her girl friends that
| she has made new conquest. Coquctry
! Is innate in the Mexican maid. Perhaps
| many will say it is a part of woman's ma
ture, be she child of the Montezumas
| daughter of the Puritans. All women
| naturally love admiral ton, but all do aot
| crave it do the girls of the tropics.
| Dona Mariquita shows her approval Of her
! l-othario's attentions by perhaps futtering
| her handkerchief, using her fan by
| sort of mental telegraphy. Should she
| detect a wary step approaching she con-
veys the fact by a look and Don Juan
II axes his exit hastily, only to return the
| next day.
i The second Stage.
After going OH in this manner for fort
| night or So the second stage Of this strange
" ooing takes place. 1t consists in follow
ing the adored one to and from church, at
| the promenade, to the theater, &c. but
always at distance Don Juan has not
yet been presented, therefore must be eau
| tious in his proceedings. In the meantime
| the little maid by a few artful questions
! among her friends finds out all about her
! adnrer and, satisfied that he comes of d
| good family, secretly exults over her con-
| quest. Then the bear operations become
| holder Don Juan, not content to tell his
! love psychically. sends billie doux weight
| ed with a pebble flying over the balcony
at her feet. If she be not detected in the
act of reading it she is indeed a happy
girl. She manages in some mysterious
| n al ner to answer the note and drop it
from the balcony. AS the days roll ON the
the enhancing serenades, which are all
the sweeter for being stolen joys. Cen
elaly at this stage the parents discover
tFat a novio (admirer) is absorbing their
little Mariquitas attention. but, notwith-
standing all their threats, she still man.
ages to see Don Juan, and the love affair
progresses.
Meeting at Last.
Should a gran bale darge balD be on the
taps, then Marquita has just cause to re-
| 1oice, for 1t goes without saying she has
an invitation for the auspicious event, and
likewise Don Juan, and she will thus really
meet her lover for the first time. Robed in
| creamy satin and bedecked with Jewels
| she goes to the long -looked-for ball ana
| lefore much time eIapses Don Juan is
presented to her family and finally to her
! sell But the happy moment has not yet
! come for the lovers. Don Juan has gallant
| speeches to make to all the maiden allnts
and cousins of the family before he darcs
| SO much as address word to Mariquita
VINO Is considered mere child However,
| "heh the strains of the fascinating danza
| rise. the little Mexican maids heart sWells
| within her, for she feels that the third act
| OF her love drama is about to commence
AND SO 1t does, for between the slow mo-
; tons or the danza, so aptly called in Span
| lsh. the dance of the proposal Don Juan
| pours out his love- and the demure little
maid who possibly has heard the sweet
| Old story several times before, receives it
an quite naturally. Nevertheless, before
| the music stops she will have given him
some encouragement and from the numer-
| Gus dances she bestows on him he is recog-
nlzed by all as a successful admirer
Officially Recognized.
| In the m m1antime the bear act' still con.
| tinues but low that Don Juan has been
| presented he is allowed to bow. and seems
nearer his prize. The parents, not i'll
| pleased with the young man, have some
confidential friend Investigate into his fam
| lily connection and prospects, and, if blood
ana nnances are of good quality, then the
friend announces to Don Juan that he will
| be permitted to call. He is from that time
considered as novio official Official or rec
ognizeu lover) and pays his court three or
-FOUR times week, not, be it understood, in
our free and easy American way, but in
the presence of Mariquta's entire family
Ihe engagement ring is slipped on before
every one, and never under any consdera-
| ton does she see her lover alone until her
wedding day, which,, I'M many instances,
Iollows soon after. , 6 fo
! euch IS courtship in Mexico, that land Of
romance and music and love
-@op-+A-
MUSIC OF THE ssISTfNE CHAPEL.
-uL->ts
The Choir A'ways Sings '"t Sight,