Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-18
POLITE MANNERS IN MEXICO.
From Don to Peon the Most Unfailing Cour,e-
-sy Prevails.

81
The principal characteristics of the
Mexican is undoubtedly his unchang-
ing courtesy.
"oh. how deliciously polite.'' is a
phrase we hear every day from the
lips of foreign ladies when they enjoy
the not unusual sight of two natives,
ragged beyond description. perhaps,
who keep a horse car in the street and
keep 1t standing while each insists
with elegant bows and flowing com
piments that the other precede him
in going up the steps
After you, sir"
mot at all. | am unworthy Of such
high honor"
II dare not take precedence sir"
1T is only what is due your superior
ity. Walk up, please"
mot for all the world. You are en-
titled to that preference"
This goes on for some the, until
the car begins to move, and both fling
| themselves at once upon the steps.
smashing the corns of another man
stnding on the platform, an accident
that gives rise to new eifusions OF
| good breeding.
"Oh, sir, how sorry am to have
trod on your feet. I sincerely entreat
you to excuse my oversight
Never mind" says the Victim, grit
ting his teeth and with tears IN his
eyes at is an honor to be trod on by
you"
Thanks for your Kindness
81 am myself in duty bound to thank
you"
In fact. dudes from over the sea or
| from across the Rio Grande may boast
| of their wealth and their Parisian-
| made trousers; bellies of rther lands
| of their golden tresscs and charming
personalities. but no other nation
equals the stately dignity of Mexican
| courtesy.
If 1t is great luxury to be taught
| how to bow and what to do under All
| circumstances by gentleman wfo
| knows these things because he belongs
| TO the European Hristocracy ana mas
| behind him line Of ancestors who be-
haved as well as they could ia. such
matters, 1t is surprising Ia observe in
| n whole nation, even in the hnniblest
classes, courtesy not produced by arti-
| fetal means. but graceful ana refined
| ~ practced as special endowment
| of nature.
Persons in other countries nre rarely
| treated to such scenes as those We
have attempted to describe. ana to
many they might appear eNaGgeraten;
| but let those that doubt come anu
Judge for themselves.
| will cite a few authentic expert
ences in Illustration of the subject
| An American young lady wa once
talking with an cid MeSicnn gentle
man and she laushingly said some-
thing about having some literary
| work to do. .
n was good to see the old fellows
| impressive manner and air of perfect
sincerity as he exclaimed;
work, Miss, such as lips as yours
should never mention work. You shoulu
| he n queen and wear pearls as beautifui
as those incased III your ioNeis
mouth" .,,.,
Another young woman was overheard
to say in English to her mother IN the
theater:
Look at that Mexican girl. Do you
like her? thing her nose Is too long
and her features are too sharp"
Whereupon the Mexican gilr said In
her most endearing tone in broken
English: ~
the attributes of perfect beauty, very
little was left for me. BeneVe nie;
YOU are sweetest creature I have lad
my eyes on, and I never get tired OF
looking at your charming face
young man who happened TO be
accidentally struck In one OF ms eyss
by u pretty l6-year-old damsel with
her parasol. said appealingly while the
blood flowed from the wound;
Lovely one, he not cruel seeihg
that cruelty and beauty cannot dwell
together"
Nowhere will the stranger find more
ciyilty and kindness than among the
Their houses, their families, their
horses, their flowers, their time even
their lives. are placed, hguratlvely
speaking, at least, " Mt your dlspos'-
ton"
"A los pies de listed, sonora" (my
lady I am at your feet, is the pre-
scribed form of snlution from gentle
man who NETS lady. While Two
gentlemen meet they address one an
other as follows: ''Beso usted Ia
l. mano" Il kiss your hnnd.
The same applies to written cor
respondenoe. a note from n gentleman
to q lady ends in this wise: Soy dc
". sonora, ntento servidor, q. SIS. Pl'
b." The initials are for que sus pies
besa." and the whole phase stands FOR
81 am. my lady. your attentive servant
who kisses your feet
II gentleman II addressed in writ
ing. only his hands are kissed. not his
feet.
These formula are followed. not only
by the richer. but by nll classes. AS
to the poorest, their courtesy toward
one another is widely different from the
gruff Moorish Intercourse OF the
plebeians of other nations.
The poor OF Mexico n cannot frame Q
sentence without employing one OF
more terms OF endearment;
, Como estas, mi almaT' GLOW are
you, my souD. The words they adj
dresseach other speak of the gentle
consideration for the feelings Of theli
neighbors, which characterizes the rae,
and emanates from spontaneous court
esy.
A Mexican gentleman will never per
NIT a lady to descend the stairs nn'
accompanied lie takes ner so, as
E sist her in going down the steps, ane