Evening journal., 1897-02-24
GIRL LIFE IN MEXICO.
She Has Considerable Freedom, but 1t Is
Of the Right Kind.

She Has Considerable Freedom, but 1t Is
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
duence Of the Catholic church is power
full in maintaining high grade Of fam
lily behavior. There is q sweetness and
a charm about we'll 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 a gen
tie disposition but they command obe-
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 n
moment the thought of permitting q
girl Of amy age to be ON the streets after
dark unless accompanied by an older
person, 4 trusted servant on elder broth
cr So, even among girls Of the humber
class, there is no street strolling in the
evening. They may, in warm weather,
so to the alameda, OF public park, when
there is band concert, but always nm
der escort. They may go to a tertulia,
or evening party, but with some COM
petent person. They may dance, mildly
firt, on such occasions, but they are al
ways under the watchful eye of a rela-
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 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 alonc and unattended, is
unknown. Your daughter goes to visit
a friend in the afternoon and stays tC
tea Then the gentleman and lady Of
the house, the gentleman alone or an
old servant brings her home. So tho
streets Of this big town are never the
scene Of foolish, fighty girls hoing 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 niilder cases
the newspapers give minute descriptions
of the 'satyr" who has insulted lady
and the public is asked to take warning
4 One fellow, who, in an interior city
made an insulting remark about lady
standing at Il window, was conducted t,
the alameda, and, in view Of the chic
part of the town S best society, was helC
down ON a stone bench and caEcd unit
he yelled for mercy, and was then or
dered out Of town on the next train. III
went In another city a male teacher
who was too fresh III his conduct to
ward young girl pupils, was waited o.
by deputation Of gentlemen and asl1e'
to favor the city by his permanent alb
sence. He, too, went.
The etiquette regarding the protection
Of women from molestation and insul
is such as prevails in Che southern state
Of the American Union There is u
fooiing on the streets. in the theater
and public places with respectable WON
On. There Is something left here of th
old Spanish idea of the sacredness q
womanhood, and the line is sharpl
drawn between honest women and til
other kind Boston Herald.