Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-11-15
MEXICAN pOLITENFsS,
Why the Foreigner There Should Be
Informed as to the Exact
Meaning OF 1t. .

I
curious incident which once came IN
der my notice. The story is true, and
WILL think, on that account bear rep
etihon. foreigner was once travelling
in the north of Mexico. His business
took him to small town in the interior
at some distance from the line Of rail-
way, and consequently to reach his
destination he was obliged to proceed
on muleback. The traveller arrived late
in the afternoon, and as he was YEARLY
Flooding his mule up the main street of
the pueblo whom should he meet but
Mexican gentleman who had been in
troduced to him in one of the southern
cities OF the republic. The acquaint-
ance, it must be mentioned, was a slight
one, and by no means intimate. The
Mexican, however, Immediately he
caught sight OF him refined in his horse,
dismountcd, and came forward to meet
the other man. The usual preliminary
courtesies passed between them, and
then, as the conversation became more
general, the foreigner fell to admiring
the MeXican's horse in terms or IN
bounded admiration, and at the same
time dilated upon the discomfort os
travelling by mules. presume that this
praise of his horse must have been
pleasing to the Mexican, for he im1ne-
diately in the most affable way posi-
BILE bowed to his companion, and way
ing his hand toward the horse said:
Senior, esta su disposition"
Now the stranger had heard often
enough Of this custom, and therefore
Ignorance could not be pleaded In
deed, if l am not very much mistaken.
he had been heard to make vaunt that
If ever anyone made him an offer in
this fashion he was going to accept it
right away True to his boast, he at
once returned thanks for the giftin the
most conclusive terms. The Mexican,
Of course, was terribly taken aback.
However, he concealed his surprise as
best he could, and made some vague
but polite answer. The truth was, he
hardly believed the man knew what he
was saying. The stranger soon showed
he had sufficient ''brass" to carry the
matter through, and at once added that
he should have much pleasure in send
ing his mozo round for the beautiful
present the next morning. The Mex
lean simply observed that, as he was
the donor, he would attend to that.
And SO they parted. The upshot of
this affair was that about an hour after
this meeting the horse was brought
round to the door Of the strangers ho-
tel by the owners servant.
Now the question arises which man
came out best The foreigner who was
cute enough to make deal" or the
IN wit N,,jx
ness, gave up his horse? For Mexican
to part company with his horse ia
worse than having an eye-tooth pulled
out; but in this case evidently his word
was of more value than his steed. An
other possibility which may have
caused him to act as he did, was that per
haps he did not wish to insult man
who had been introduced to him by one
Of his old friends. OF course, bear in
mind that all this happened in remote
country town, where possibly the old
customs are moro strictly observed
than in Mexico City, where people
are rapidly learning to be more eau
tious and less ceremonious.
This is only one of many such tales.
Some are true and some are undoubt-
eddy untrue. But in any case do not
atall sympathize with those who would
condemn this polite custom as insin-
cere and hypocritical. For an English
man to express himself in this way
would be ridiculous, simply because it
does not happen to be the custom Of
his land; but in the case Of the Mexican
it is quite different. If we consider for
q moment, [ think an explanation Of
this formality can be readily found.
Among ourselves, when anybody ad-
mires our possessions, we as often as
not say nothing or perhaps we smile
deprecatingly and say: "Glad you
like it," etc. On one or two occasions I
have known an awkward pause to fol-
low. Now the Mexican way Of passing
the whole matter off pleasantly is to
simply offer you everything he has, or
the particular object you happen to ad-
mire; few words are then wasted in
harmless courtesies. But what of that;
surely the simplest must know that
the offer is not meant to be taken lit
orally, and therefore on that account
think in common fairness there is no
hypocrisy. Are there not many stock
phrases which society countenances
among US, and are we supposed to take
them literally? Certainly not.-Mex-
lean Herald. "
Dress Notes.
Lace hoods appear upon some of the
1n<. 49,, ii. e