The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-13

lahermosa, noted the same pleasant hab-
it, The duchess, a very great lady, who
had been ambassadress In London, on re-
turning home from Italy, spends mornings
In the kitchen of her country house talk
ing with the old servants. II was all zen
familia." Everybody win recall Don
Quixote and his equally immortal squire,
and how free was Sancho in his COM
mentsl And yet there was never any loss
of respect of man for master
The porter, or doorkeeper, in old houses
in this city is a most respectable being.
He is nicely clothed aud has an air of
protector of the family. The children of
the house confide their griefs 10 him, and
the young gentlemen of the family whom
he accompanied to school a dozen years
ago, they holding his hands as they went
through the streets, stop and chat with
him, as the old American business. man
win with his confidential ana trusted
bookkceper.
One of the wealthiest men in Mexico has
his office in a huge building up near the
cathedral One morning / had occasion
to call on him and found his chief ac-
countant giving entrance to the masters
inner office to a group OF aged women,
all poor, but most respectable persons.
Don s., a name of import here, was hand
ing each OF them a pile OF dollars, a
months dole. The women were suporan-
nuated servants of his household, long
past active occupation. A young and
wealthy lawyer, of fine old family, pen
sions a lot of family servants who were
with his father and mother, and hears
all their stories of i,lness pathetically.
1t is a tradition of his family not 10 allow
a faithful servant TO descend to hopeless
poverty To have been of ia familia"
confers a right to substantial aid in de-
Ginning years.
Some families, once wealthy, retain one
or two old servants who have accompanied
them in their humber circumstances, UNI
willing 10 leave them
The modern race of servants are not Of
this fine strain. They are tickle time
servers only.
A Big importing merchant, who used to
live on the west coast. has in his ware
rooms some big fellows who bale and un-
bale, pack wagons, etc. They are trusted
men who came with him 10 the capital,
and would sell their lives for him He
needs no more loyal bodyguard. / am
sure if he said to one, Take Senior Lopez
and throw HIM out OF the window" that
Senior Lopez would go out head first
Possibly the caste difference, so marked
here, contribUtes to this strong tie between
families and their servants. l am speak
ing of the people, well to do, who have
ICldiutd lOI ioAS years tiitiI GENIE
In a land OF no hurry, of well-iiXed
ways, or permaneney and solidity such as
in Mexico these things are possible, There
Is stability to family life, and in the fine
old houses, big and square, and ever hos
pitable, comfort reigns, ard sense of
ancient peace al,s. thA very sair.-aThe sorts
and daughters of old servants occupy tho
places OF the dead'or superannuated. Iiv-
eryboly knows everybodys ways. the
aH.4F. -
city is realized as far it may be in
mutabe world.
The social status Of women?" Wen,
that is easily answered. This is not
land of woman's rights and of agitation of
the problem of the relation Of the sexes.
Woman here IS regarded as born for mar
riage and motherhood TO be mistress of
home and RUE therein. And II is an ideal
very generally realized. The vast majority
OF Mexican women are happy; their kindly
faces show it, They are competent
housekeepers lovers themselves Of good
living and sweet aud good in all relations
of life, as mothers, wives and friends.
They would find nothing "hopeless" ia
their domesucity Indeed, hey would
shudder al being forced into a semi-public
existence. Their wonderful loyalty 10
their husbands s sometimes TO be remark
ed. Often they are faithful to some poor
stick who is Of no earthly use. In riches
and in poverty the same. always uncom-
planning. generously loyal forgiving the
seventy times seven, and more
Speaking broadly it may be said that
Mexican family lie is very happy. TIE
secret is the unity Of feeling, the strong
family tie The Spaniards resident here
show the same trait. The average Span
lard, like the Mexican. finds pleasure in
his home. lie works hard and has but one
idea, TO push on the fortunes of his family.
Many OF The mos devoted, almost pam
fully domestcated men | known. are
Spaniards Of old Spain Family IS there
mania, and this is MOI exagserating.
The dissipated Mexican, the occasional
drunkard and confirmed rake, viii be he'd
up to the Visiting foreigner by the unin-
formed as the type of the Mexican father
and husband, who prefers any place but
home This is sheer rubbish. Tho cur
rent OF family life in this country fer the
most part runs deep Among Mexican mon
Of my acquaintance. men Of culture and
position, their Worship Of their wives is a
matter to be marvelled at. They literally
live for their wives and children. All they
possess is for them. And any one who has
any knowledge of the Spanish character
viii confirm this view Of home fife in
these lands.