Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
GIRL LIFE IN MEXICO.
She Has Considerable Freedom, and
IL IL of the RImhf Kind

Mexican home life is unique. says the Bos-
ION Herald; 1t differs very essentially from
the domestic life OF the Anglo-SaXon race,
for 1t Is founded on respect for parents.
The influence of the Catholic church is
powerful in maintaining a high grade Of fam
lily behavior. There is a sweetness and n
charm about a we'll ordered Mexican home
which Is a revelation TO northern people
who have imbibed a false idea of matters
there. The women of the best Mexican Gam
lilies are naturally of a gentle disposition,
but they ommand ODE Hence, and rarely
spoil their sons. whom they idolize. There
are exceptions. but they are not enough to
break down the general social discipline.
As for the girls, no reputable Mexican
father or mother would allow for a moment
the thought of permitting a girl Of any age
10 be on the streets after dark unless ac-
companied by an older person, a trusted
servant or elder brother. So, even among
girls of the humber class, there Is no street
strolling in the evening. They may, in
warm weather, go to the alameda, or public
park, when there is a band concert, but al
ways under escort. They may go to a ter
tulia, or evening party, but with some com
petent person. They may dance, mildly
firt, on such occasions, hut they are always
under the watchful eye Of a relative. There
Is plenty OF proper freedom f5r young girls,
and a larger liberty in the cities than for
merly, but they are not allowed to run about
without escort. and a very careful eye is
kept upon them by parents and relatives,
even to distant male cousins. Such a thing
as a young girl or young woman of any char
acter or family bsing upon the street at
night, alone and unattended, Is unknown.
Your daughter goes to visit a friend in the
afternoon and stays to tea; then the gentle
man and lady OF the house, the gentleman
alone or an old servant brings her home.
So the streets of this big town are never
the scene of foolish, Eighty girls being fol-
lowed and picked up" by strangers.
And as for men who insult young girls
and women, the remedy is usually a sudden
and fatal one. In milder cases the news
papers give minute descriptions of the
"satyr" who has insulted a lady, and the
public is asked to take warning. One fell
low, who, in an interior city, made an in
sulting remark about a lady standing at a
window, was conducted to the alameda, and,
in view Of the chief part of the towns best
society, was held down on a stone bench
and caned until he yelled for mercy, and
was then ordered out of town on the next
train. He went. In another city a male
teacher, who was too fresh" in his conduct
toward young girl pupils, was waited on by
a deputation of gentlemen and asked to favor
the city by his permanent absence. He, too,
went.
The etiquette regarding the protection of
women from molestation and insult is such
as prevails in the southern states of the
American union. There is no fooling on the
streets, in the theaters and public places
with respectable women. There is some
thing left there of the old Spanish idea of
the sacredness of womanhood. and the line
is sharply drawn between honest women and
the other kind.