Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-21
Love Making in N Mia.

zone of the most curious customs
among the social upper tendon OF the
Spanish in Manila" remarked Harry
X. Montgomery, late secretary OF the
custom service in the Luzon capital,
the other day to the Macon Republic
cans interviewer, lis their method Of
courtship. Ii the Kansas City judge
had Jurisdiction there he would have q
Jail full Of high-toned youths before he
was on the island half a day. I un-
derstand he is filming men $500 apiece
for ogling and making remarks about
young ladies. When the young
Spanish grandee wants to do the thing
about right he dons a faultless suit OF
clothes, gets out a light bamboo cane
and wakes his moustache. Without
the latter his case would be hopeless.
He goes to the home of his lady love
and takes his station on the walk
where she can see him from her win
dow. He struts up and down for her
inspection, twisting his idolized
moustachc, twirling his cane and going
through gestures calculated to set off
the offering to the best advantage. The
lady may not even deign to look at
him. In fact. he hardly expects her to
until he has gone through his monkey
shines a number of times to prove his
sincerity. 1t may be months before he
receives the encouragement Of a smile.
but when it does come his raptured
heart repays him for his labor. After q
while, say six months, the sonora may
drop a rose, a fan or her perfumed lace
handkerchief. He seiZes the prize with
the avidity that a half starved miner
reaches for a golden nugget where he
expected none. But the bird is not yet
within the suitor's grasp. Not by a
long ways. At this point the dutful
parents of the young lady appreciate
the fact that matters may become seri-
Gus some time in the future and they
begin looking up the young mans pedi-
gree-and bank account. They never
think of inviting him to see their
daughter until these facts are ascer-
tanned with q fidelity that would do
credit to a mercantile agency. His
standing having been ascertained, the
bull dogs are tied up and the warders
sheath their swords. The coast is
clear now and the lover may fetch out
his mandolin or guitar and send sweet
melody along with the moonlight into
the bedchamber of his sweetheart. At
the end of the year or twelve months
if he still remains faithful and refrains
from prosecuting his suit with undue
haste he may approach the girls par
ents and plead for personal audience
with her. This is getting to close
quarters and favorable answer
means that the girl has made the same
plea to her parents. The young people
are permitted to meet in the parlor,
but not alone. The parent or guardian
is always on hand to see that the
prophecies are thoroughly respected
and this sort of vigilance is never re-
Taxed until they have plighted their
troth. The lover cannot take his mis-
tress to church. theater or even to the
refined. elevating Spanish sport known
rs the bull fight until his matrimonial
intentions are spiked down and welded.
y person would think the rigorous GUS
tom would deter aspirants. but it don't.
They accept the conditions eagerly and
face them like martyrs.
1T is considered quite the proper
thing indeed as an evidence of good
/ taste. for well-dressed young men to
stand in the parks and along
the resident districts for the
purpose of looking at the wo-
iieu d. tiey pass Dy. II tney audi
bly, express their opinions about the
gaily dressed butterflies so much the
better; the butterflies expect 1t and
would feel that there was something
lacking in their makeup if they failed
to excite remarks. No one dreams OF
resentinS it as an impertinence The
Irritation. however extends no further
and if the youth becomes enamoured
with any of the specimens pretty day
brings forth the only way he can call
one of them his own is by pursuing
the tedious course l have just des-
crihed."