The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-02-27
GIRL LIFE In MEXICO.
She Has Considerable Freedom, but It Is
of the Right Kind
AVID IRE CuRR


of the Right Kind.
Mexican home life is unique 1t diff
fers very essentially from the domestic
life of the Anglo-Saxon race, for it is
founded on respect for parents The in
f1uence Of the Catholic church is power
full in maintaining high grade of fam
lily behavior. There is a sweetness and
charm about well ordered Mexican
home which is revelation to northern
people who have imbibed false idea of
matters here. The women of the best
Mexican families are naturally of gen.
tie disposition, but they command ODE
dience, and rarely spoil their sons,
whom they idolize. There are excep-
lions, but they are not enough to break
down the general social discipline.
AS for the girls, no reputable Mexi-
can father or mother would allow for
moment the thought of permitting q
girl of any age to be on the streets after
dark unless accompanied by an older
person, q trusted servant or elder broth
er. 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 band concert, but always un-
der escort. They may go to a tertulia,
Or evening party, but with some COM
petent person. They may dance, mildly
flirt, on such occasions, but they are al
ways undCr the watchful eye of a rcla-
tive. There is plenty of proper freedom
for young girls, and larger liberty in
the cities than formerly, 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 thing as
young girl OF young woman Of any
character II family being upon the
street at night, alone and unattended, is
unknown. Your daughter goes to visit
Il friend in the afternoon and stays to
tea. Then the gentleman 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, fiighty girls being fol
lowed ard picked up by strangers.
SaIi' a. l'I IltIl NID lllSull young
girls and women, the remedy is usually
q sudden and fatal one. In nlildcr cases
the newspapers give minute descriptions
of the ''satyr'' who has insulted Il lady,
and the public is asked to take warning
One fellow, who, III an interior city,
made an Insulting remark about lady
standing III window, was conducted to
the alan da, and III view of the chief
part Of the town $ best society, was held
down on Il stone bench and caned until
he yelled for mercy, and was then or
dCrcd ont Of town on the next train He
went. In another city a male teacher
who vas "tco fresh i'll his conduct to-
ward young girl pupils, was waited on
by IL deputation of gentlemen and asked
to favor the city by his permanent alb
sence He, too, went.
The etiquette regarding the protection
Of women from molestation and insult
is such as prevails i'll the southern states
of the American Union. There is no
fooling on the streets, in the theaters
and public places with respectable wom-
en-. There is something left here of the
old Spanish idea of the sacredncss of
womanhood, and the line is sharply
drawn between honest women and the
other kind. Boston Herald