The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
PoLIrENESS IN OLD MEXICO.
ExtravnEnnt ways in which It Ii shown ~
Persons OF Various Glasses.
From the T,ro RsD,ibNcs. IA

Tho principal characteristic of the MexiceA
is undoubtedly his unchanging courtesy.
ooh, how deliciously politel' is q phrase we
hear every day from the lips Of foreign ledie6
when they enjoy the not unusual sight of two
natives. ragged beyond description, perhaps
who stop a horse car in the street and keep 10
standing while each insists with elegant bows
and flowing compliments that the other precedo
him in going up the steps. II
after you, sir" q
mot at all. Lam unworthy of such . high
honor" .-.. 80
II dare not take precedence. SIR" ,ta
ut is only what is due your superiority
Walk up, please" .r
mot for all tho world. You are entitled 10
that preference" 1913
This goes on for some time. until the car be-
gins to move. and both fling themselves at once
upon the steps, smashing the corns OF another
man standing on the platform. an accident THAI
gives rise to new eirustons OF good breeding.
feet. sincerely cntreat you 10 excuse my
oversight.
teeth and With tears in his his cyes. HI Is an honor
to be trod on by you"
Thanks for your kindness.
Il am myself in duty bound to thank you
In fact. dudes FROM over tho sea or from
across the Rio Grande may boast of their wealth
and their Parisian;made trousers; bellies of other
lands. OF their golden trcsscs and charming per-
sonalities, but no other nation equals the state
II it is a great luxury to be taught how to
bow and what to do under all circumstances by
a gentleman who knows these things because
he belongs to the European aristocracya and has
behind him a line Of ancestors who behaved as
well as they could in such matters. 1t is surpris-
ing to observe in u whole nation, even in tho
humblest classes; courtesy not produced by nE,
practiced as a special endowment of nature.
Persons In other countries are rarely treated
describe, and to many they might appear OK.
aggerated, but let those that doubt como and
II will clio n few authentic experiences in a..
lustration of the subject:
A American young lady was once talking
with an old Mexican gentleman and she laugh
ingly said something about having some liter
it was good to see the old fellows impressive
manner and air of perfect sincerity as he ex-
"Wori! Miss, such lips as yours should
and wear pearls as beautiful as those incased
Another young woman was overheard to say
in English to her mother in the theatre:
Look at that Mexican girl. Do you like
herr I think her nose is too long and her fea-
lures arc too sharp ,
endearing tone in broken English: 49,.
Miss. Us God bestowed on you all tho attrf.
me. Believe me, you are the sweetest creature
I have laid my eyes on. and meyer get tired Of
LOOKING q young an yo man ana Who hsp 5pen; to be aociden.
tally struck in one of his eyes by a pretty ~
}nsly While the blood flowed from the wound:
Lovely one, be not cruel. seeing that cruelty
and beauty cannot dwell tOBetner.' .-s
Nowhere will the stranger find moro civilitY
and Kindness than among the Mexicans.
Their houses. their families; their horses, theiR
flowers. their time. even their lives. are placed.
fgurativoly. at least, Fat your disposition" X
IA los pics de usted. senora,.' Cmylady,, am 40
your feet is the prescribed form Of salutation
from n gentleman who meets a lady. while
II two gentlemen meet they ADDRESS one an.
other as follows: "Beso a listed la mano II kiss
The same applies to written correspondence.
A note from 9 gentleman to q lady ends in this
wise: ".SOU dr w., sonora. dtenfO SerpidOr, q.
S: PIP; e, Th SS initials are for ORG ,au 81 sps pies
my lady, your attentive servant who kissea
If n gentleman is addressed in writing only
his hands are kissed. not his feet.
,,c These n formula hH a, are followed; not no on, only by The
heir courtesy toward one another is widely;
different from the gruff, boorish intercourse
The poor Of Mexico cannot frame a sentence
without employing one or more terms OF enc
Como estas, mi ALMA" How are you, my
SOUL. The words they address each other
speak Of the gentle consideration for the feel
A Mexican gentleman will mover permit a
takes her softly by the hand or offers his arm to
assist her in going down the steps, and only
not insist in leaving the lady at her own home.
Often in their ramblcs through tho large cities
recourse to their sometimes scsnt knowledge Of
Spanish to be putin the right road. An in.
NhIltDlt " H'Il Wv hllk hthltbbCD
a man not of the lowest class-is the result.
LOvc IL more the business Of life in Mexico
than in Northern climes; perhaps because other
people have more diversions than we have.
The lady love is ardentiy styled "the very eyos
OF me- but that does not prevent tho Mexican
beau, when stung by jealousy, from denouncing
love as treacherous.
'Since there is no help. ] bow before you. kiss
your feet and depart is the becoming way in
which the unrequitcd lover takes leave Of the
girl that has given him the cold shoulder.
All hope is over, love il stretched upon HE
bier: hut tho Mexican whom n beauty %despises.
although naturally aDgercd, at tho slight. pro-
tends 10 feel more kccnly than anything the nm
noynCe he has given her with his unremittinR
attentions. Excuse me, fair lady. for having
1ut you TO the trouble OF repclling The audacious
revelation Of tho feeling You have weakened In
my BOSOM such IL the mild form in which he
gives vent 10 his rage and despair.
Race, Of course, has had its influence in pro-
moiing tins spirit Of courtesy and Civility. 1t
Is nm Inheritance from the old colonial days,
The descendants Of rho NicCrOJ hni ''oidores"
of New spain acquired by the exercise of power
and wealth u certain advantage of manner and
tone transmitted through several generations to
the MeXicans of to-day, and high breeding waA
the result in all classes that came in contact
with tho old Spanish cavaliers or with their Off
spring.
1t may be set down as a certainty that no so.
cicty IL more refined than that where Il poor
pGOn has the manners of n gentleman.