San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-17
GIRL LIFE IN MEXICO.
She Has Considerable Freedom, but 1t Is
of the Right Kind.

of the Right Kind.
Mexican home life is unique. 1t diff
fers very essentially from the domestic
life of the Angio-SaXon race, for it is
founded on respect for parents The in
fuence of the Catholic church is power
full in maintaining a high grade of FAM
lily behavior. There is a sweetness and
a charm about a well ordered Mexican
home which is a 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-
tions, 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 a
moment the thought of permitting a
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, i'll warm weather,
so to the alameda, or public park, when
there is a band concert, but always I'M
der escort. ThCy may go to tertulia,
or evening party, but with some com
potent person. They may dance, mildly
flirt, ON such occasions, but they are al
ways under the watchful eye of rela-
tive. There is plenty of proper freedom
for young girls, and larger liberty in
the cities tnan formerly, but they IRE
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 a
young girl or young woman of any
character or family being upon the
street at night, alone and unattended, Is
unknown. Your daughter goes to visit
a friend i'll the afternoon and stays to
tea. Then the gentleman ana lady c
the house, the gentleman alone or al
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. IL milder cases
the newspapers give minute descriptions
of the "satyr" who has insulted lady,
and the public is asked to take warning.
One fellow, who, i'll an interior city,
made an insulting remark about lady
standing at a window, was conducted to
the alameda, and in view of the chief
part of the towns best society, was held
! duwn on a stone bench and Caned until
he yelled for mercy, and was then or
| dered out of town ON the next train. He
went. In another city "A male teacher,
who was 'too fresh III his conduct to-
ward young girl pupils, was waited on
by 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 in the southern states
of the American Union. There is nc
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 sacredness of
womanhood, and the line is sharply
drawn between honest women and the
other kind.-Boston Herald.