The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-05
Graphic Pen-Picture Of An Esxtraordinary
People.


DlDle, al yOu Ad'O Vuo, Gua AUUk aC
the ancient pictures Of the beggar, the
water carrier, the gentleman, the
slave, and you5have picture Of Old
Mexico. The Jack, the mule aud the
OK are beasts Of burden. "Fear work
and be contentsd" is the native motto.
The warm climate makes nature s
clothes good enough for the poor. The
masses delight in selling something
for living. ; A fruit stand on the
corner. fly bush that wags with o
capital Of eight pennies constitute 9
business. An enterprising Mexican
walked up to g fruit seller and said:
How much will you take for your
OUTFIT" The woman looked at him
and replied: II wont sell you the
outfit, because T would have nothing
TO do the remainder Of the day."
A Mexican gentleman in the days
Of his courtship spends the most In
dustrious part Of his life. The patti
ence of an American would never win
Spanish lady. Across thirty-foot
street from our residence there lived q
wealthy lady, who had two courtable
daughters. Young men would stand
upon our doorstep every evening, gag
ing across the street through the win
COWS upon the fair ladies. It was al
ways mystery to me how the two
ladies knew which one was being
courted and by whom. I became
deeply interested in the affair and was
highly pleased, from the fact that our
front door was well guarded every
night without charge. The first stage
Of Mexican courtship consists in
playing bear The lover stands
across the street and looks through
the window at his fair one. Rain or
shine, he is there every night. A
glance from the girl, a tip Of the hat
from the gent, is free to the public.
If, after three months Of daily duty,
the gent succeeds in attracting the az.
tention of the lady then the second
stage begins. About 8 p. m. the
lights are turned out. The lady ap-
pears behind the bars. In Mexico all
windows look like those Of an Ameri-
can Jail. In former days it was neces-
sary to put iron bars over windows to
prevent thieving. It is stated that
the practice is continued for the pur-
pose of keeping the boys and girls
apart. I have been told some wonder
fal stories Of the possibilities, through
the bars, Of an ambitious youth. To
continue the eourtship the young man
walks rapidly ur street, crosses over
and walks down past the window. A
shake Of the hand, ''good evening"
and "good night" is the recompense foE
three hours waiting. / tried stand
ing on onr sidewalk in the attitude Of
courtship, but could never make more
than ten minutes, progress at time.
My room mate was shocked at the
boldness Of my competing with q ma
tive. I lost the day in not entering
the bicycle races Of the season, for
there stood the lady in robes Of white,
with wreaths Of flowers to put aronnd
the winner of the race. When court
ship has arrived at the stage Of mar
riage the young gentleman is invited
into the house Of the lady for the first
time. That is the great event Of their
lives. After a few receptions and a
dance the young man enters upon life,s
career, beginning Immediately to look
for work.
The poorer classes court and marry
on the mutual agreement plan. The
reason ofthis is thot the priest exacts
fee for marriage beyond what the
poor can pay. I heard Of one couple
who lived together happily, reared a
family and at the! end Of twelve years
got married in style. q non being
asked Why they married after so long
time theman replied: AT tirst we
were poor; since then I have made
considerable money and shought We
could now follow tho laus OF our
Church - The price for d church
marriage In Aguascalientes is from
forty to a. hundred dollars. as the
priest may decide. q: I.
Many as young man has started il
life With tho idea that if he can only
get AN education be is safe. After
years Of toll ke discovers that snssess
depends upon getting an opportunity
10 put his education into practice.
This is the condition Of Affairs ID
Mexico. Twas riding down street il
mule car and : bright ysung Mexican
conductor was pointed out as the son
OF an Ex-Governor Of our State. He
had been through their best schools