The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-03
MEXICAN COURTESY.
Some of the Extravagant Expressions
of Ordinary Politeness.

of Ordinary Politeness.
New York Tribune: The principa
characteristic of the Mexican is undoubt-
/ edly his innate and unchanging courtesy
on, how deliciously polite! IS phrase
we hear every day from the lips of for.
eign ladies when they enjoy the not I'M
usual sight of two natives, ragged be
yond description perhaps. who stop q
horsecar in the street and keep il standins
while each insists with elegant bows and
| flowing compliments that the other pre-
cede him in going up the steps
After you. sir.
Not at all l am unworthy of such a
high honor"
4 dare not take precedence. sir
1t is only what is due your superiority.
Walk up. please
Not FOR all the world. You are en-
titled TO that preference"
This goes on for some time until the
car begins to move and both fling them
selves at once on the steps smashing the
cOrns of another man standing on the
platform. an accident that gives rise TO
new illusions of good breeding.
"Oh. sir how sorry / am to have trOd
on YOUR feet; sincerely entreat you TO
excuse my oversight"
Never mind" says the victim, gritting
his teeth and with tears in his ewes; 1T
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 the sea or from
wealth and their Parisian-made trousers:
bellies of other lands of their golden
tresses and charming personalities. but
no other nation equals the stately dignity
of Mexican courtesy.
If it is a great luxury to be taught how
to bow and what TO do under all circum-
stances by a gentleman who knows these
things because he bel 1ngS to the EurOps an
aristocracy and has behind him line
of ancestors who behaved as well as
they could in such matters. it is surpris-
Inc TO observe in a nation. even in the
humbleSt classes. courtesy not produced
by artificial means, but gracefully and
refinedly oracticed as special endow-
ment of nature.
Persons in other countries are rarely
treated to such scenes as those we have
attempted to describe. and to many they
might appear exaggerated. but let those
that doubt come and judge for them
selves
I viii cite few authentic experiences
in illustration of the subject:
An American young lady was once talk
ing with an old Mexican gentleman. and
some literary work to do.
1t was good to see the old fellows i'm
pressive manner and air of perfect sin
cerity as he exclaimed:
Work Miss. such lips as yours should
never mention work. You should Be a
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 you like
herr ! think her nose is too long and her
features are too sharD.'
Whereupon the Mexican girl. said in her
most endearing tone. in broken English:
Miss as God bestowed on you all the
attributes of perfect beauty. very little
was left for M. Believe me. yOu are the
sweetest creature / have laid my eyes on.
and I never get tired of looking at your
charmn.. face"
A young man who happened to be ac-
struck in one of his eyes by
pretty 1s-ysar-old damsel with her PARA
sol. SAID arpealingiy. while the blood
fowel from the wound:
Lovely one. be not cruel. seeing That
cruelty ana beauty cannot dwell to-
gether,''
Nowhere will the stranger find more
genuine civility and kindness than among
the NeNicaLs.
Their houses. their families their
horses their flowers. their time. even
their lives. are placed. figuratively. at
least. at your disposition
"a los pies de V. sonora (Ny lady, I
am at your feet). is the prescribed form of
salutatiOn from 4 gentleman who meets
a lady: while if two gentlemen meet they
address one another as follows: ''BesO a
V Ia mano" q kiss your hand).
The same applies to written correspond
ence- A note from a gentleman to lady
ends IN this wise: 'Sov de V. sonora.
atentO servidor. Q. SIS. PIP b" The in
itials are for que sus pies besa'' and
the whole phrase stands for. L am. my
lady. your attentive servant, who kisses
your feet
If a gentleman is addressed in writing.