The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-10
pINKS OF POLITENESS
LOANS ARE SUCH EVEN UNDER
M." 's MOST PROVOKING CONDITIONS.

.s.biIity Are shown py persons Oh 'sri-
...-rhe Same In Writing ~ In
speech.
The principal characteristic OF the Mex
~ rrdoubtedly his unchanging cour-
tesy. o,,ta,,, 20 n rhraso
lar every day from the lips of foreign
,'s,os when they enjoy the not unusual
''Sh, Of two natives, ragged beyond de-
slen ",,on nerhaps. who stop horse car In
scrP P.rset and keep 1t standing while each
wy with elegant bows and flowing com
l,''',ents that the other precede him In 60
ing up the STEPS :,
HAfter you, SIT
nNot at all ] am unworthy OF such
high honor. 10 roooaorcs cir"
oIt Is only what Is due your superiority
Walk up, please" "
"Not for all the world. You are en-
titled 10 that preference.
Th,s Goes on for some time, until the
hecins TO move, and both fling them
20, Of once upon the steps, smashing the
o.us ~ another man standing on the plat
s .O.n, an accident that gives rise to new
illusions of good breeding.
ooh sir. how sorry i am to have trod
., vonr feet. I sincerely entreat you to
sycnse my oversight.
"Tevor mind" says the victim, gritting
his teeth and with tears in his eyes, lit Is
a. honor to be trod on by you"
nTbanks for your kindness"
81 am myself in duty bound to thank
you. 49, ,u,,
.Oross the Rio Grande may boast Of their
wealth and their Partisan made trousers,
holes of other lands of their golden tresses
and charming personalities, but no other
nation EQUALS the stately dignity of Next
can courtesy
II Il Is a great luxury to be taught how
N how and what to do under all clrcum-
stances by a gentleman who knows these
things because he belongs to the European
aristocracy and has behind him line OF
ancestors who behaved as well as they
could In such matters, 1t Is surprising to
observe In whole nation, even in the
bumblest classes, courtesy not produced by
artificial means, but gracefully and re-
fnedly practiced as a special endowment of
nature
Persons in other countries are rarely
treated to such scenes as those we have at
TEMPTED to describe, and to many they
might appear exaggerated, but let those
that doubt come and Judge for themselves.
| will cite few authentic experiences in
illustration of the subject
An American young lady was once talk
ing with an old Mexican gentleman and
she laughingly said something about hav
inn some literary work TO do.
Ii was good To see the old fellows i'm
pressve manner and air of perfect SINGER
ity as he exclaimed:
Work Miss such lips as yours should
never mention work. You should be q
queen and wear pearls as beautiful as those
incased in your lovely mouth"
Another young woman was overheard
TO say in English to her mother in the
theater:
"Look at that Mexican girl. Do yor
like herr think her nose is too long ant
her features are too sharp"
Whereupon the Mexican girl said in he
most endearing tone in broken English;
'Miss, as God bestowed on you all TIT
attributes of perfect beauty, very little wa
left for me. Believe me, you are the sweet
est creature have laid my eyes on, and
ing face. f"
Nowhere will the stranger find mor
civility and kindness than among the Mex
leans.
Their houses, their families, their horses
their flowers, their time, even their lives
are placed, figuratively, at least, sat GU
disposition. -
"A los pies de listed, sonora" my lady
Il q l.. H.. ,I1I fTr,,
of salutation from IA gentleman who meet
lady, while If two gentlemen meet the.
address one another as follows: "Beso
listed la mano Il kiss your hand).
The same applies to written correspond
ence. A note from gentleman to lad,
ends in this wise: "Soy de ", sonora
atento sorWdor, Q. SIS. PIP. B." The in
itials are for ''que sus pies besa, ;" and tn
whole phrase stands for II am, my lady
your attentive servant who kisses you
feet"
If gentleman is addressed in writing
only his hands are kissed, not his feet
These formulas are followed not only b.
the richer. but by all classes. AS to tn
poorest, their courtesy toward one anothe
lswidely different from the gruff, booris
intercourse of the plebeians of other ma
tions.
The poor of Mexico cannot frame sen
tence without employing one or NOR
terms of endearment:
Como estas, mi almaY" (How are you
my soulD The words they address eac
other speak of the gentle consideration 70
'he feelings of their neighbors which char
acterizes the race and emanates from spor
taneous courtesy
A Mexican gentleman will never permi
lady to descend the stairs unaccompa
Med He takes her softly by the hand O
oilers his arm to assist her in going dow
.he steps, and only takes leave Of her a
.ne door, when he does not insist In leaS
ing the lady at her own home
Love Is more the business of life in Mez
leo than in northern chimes; perhaps be
cause other people have more diversion
tnan we have. The ladylove Is ardentl
styled the very eyes of me-" but that doe
not prevent the Mexican beau, when stun
oy jealousy, from denouncing love q
treacherous.
since there Is no help, bow befor
you Kiss your feet and depart, p" Is the b'
coming way In which the unrequited love
.akes leave Of the girl that has given hir
The cold shoulder