The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-22
WAYS OF THE MExICtNs
Street Nomenclature Customs In the
Domestic Circle.

Domestic Circle.
The street names of Mexico are some
thing really appalling to the neWeom-
er. Some years ago the streets were
renamed systematically, with numerl-
| cal avenues running east and west ana
streets north and south, and although
the new names are prominently post
ed on all the corner houses, they are
never used except in official documents
Every one uses the old names. Many
| Of these are place names, or streets are
named for some occurrence or tradl-
| ton, or for the character OF the trades
that formerly predominated in them.
The number of names Is Infinitely
multiplied, because each block is re-
garded as a street and has a separate
name. When the name OF a street
continues the same through more
than one block, the various squares are
designated as first. second, third, etc.
Many of the street names seem very
odd to foreigners. Those named for
the deity and religious personages are
numerous. For instance, there is the
Heart of Jesus street and the Street OF
the Holy Ghost; Ave Maria street and
the Avenue of the Love of God. 9th
ers are the Street of the Saint Of the
True Cross, the Arches of Bethlehem,
and the Graves of ST Sunday street;
the Bridge of St. Peter and St. Paul and
the Street of the Crosses Of Sorrow.
Not only are the names of streets UNI
usual, but they are often found in the
most incongruous locations. For in
stance, If you walk down Jesus street
and continue In the second block you
will be startled to find that you are
then on the street of the New Slaugh-
ter House. The Alley Of the Egg and
Potato street are just as likely to be
the prolongation of the Back Of Saint
Teresa street as any other. The Street
OF the Seven Princes may no longer
be inhabited by royalty, but the Ave
nue. of Illustrious Men was named for
real persons. The Street of the Lost
Child derived Its name from popular
tradition. but the Avenue of the Fifth
OF Mary was named for famous r.
tie with the French. There are large
number of the capitals streets named
for living things.
There are the Street of the Little
Bird, Street Of the Fish. Bull street and
Goat street, and streets of the Flies,
Rats and BOOSTERS.
1t is a little startling to newcomers
at first to notice the universal custom
in Mexico of addressing persons of
high and low degree by their first
names. AS soon as friends are at all
well acquainted they address each 9TH
er by the given name. and this is done
not only by those of the same age and
sex, but Unfortunately among young
men and young women, young people
and elder persons. In the latter case,
or between elderly persons. respect
full prefix is used, as Don" Ricardo.
Public characters are also commonly
referred to by their first names, even
the wife of the President of the repub-
lie being affectionately called Carmen
eta by all classes. In the household
the head OF the house is called Don
Jose or Don Manuel by the servants,
and a son in distinction is known as
little ManueD.
1t should not be inferred from the
above, however. that the relation be-
.ween the family proper and the help
8 ever anything more than that of |
master and servant. Far from it. The |
servant knows his place and remains |
n it always, and the master would toll
rate nothing less, though the servant
nay address the master in terms Of |
and the master speak |
With servant in the language of init |
mates and relatives 1t is in expecting |
90 much Of these patient servitors, or
n asking that the Mexican Indian dis
play the same degree of providence |
md foresight as the educated laborers |
If the North, that the American en-
1loyer falls out with them, or at least
Ices not achieve the best results.
Among servants the customs regard |
ng the names given superiors are not |
mike those of the negroes of the
Southern United States. The lowest g.,
classes, or the servants that have
grown up in family, speak to the
heads of the house as nino or nina
masculine and feminine for child, or
call the wife and mother senorita, re-
CARELESS OF the fact that she may have
three-score. The servants dis
tinguish between one of their own
class and a friend of their master or
mistress by such distinctions. II a call
er is to be announced it is a senorita.
regardless Of her age, that is in the
parlor. If a woman Of the common
class awaits the mistress it is a sonora.
A gentleman of the upper classes is
referred TO as senior, while a laborer
will be called muchacho (boy).
The modern City of Mexico will soon
De thoroughly up-to-date in all modes
OF street transportation. The capital
has long been noted for its handsome
horses and equippages, several motor
carriages and tricycles are to be seen
every day spinning along the level
streets; the district railways are be-
Ing thoroughly equipped for electric
traction; handsome line of omni-
buses to one of the suburbs has inst
been inaugurated, that raises the com
plete" sign in the most approved
French fashion when the seats are all
taken; large number of fine, new
public coaches, at 60 cents an hour are
to make their appearance next month
and more than all, concession has
been applied for by a company that In.
tends TO supply the city with automo-
bile cabs.
There are no alleys in Mexico 40
they are known In the United States
and no back doors to houses. Gale.
Jon Is frequently translated as allev
but 1t is literally and in reality little
street, and is so called because 1t il
either narrow or short or both.-Mod-
ern Mexico.