The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-02
CO(|RTSB|P Ways
N Old MEXICO
Women More Exclusive Than
of Anu Other Nation.
SOME BEAUTIFUL WOMEN
Queer Ways of Delivering a
Note to Lover.
SOME BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

ded than in Mexico. one Of the prettiest
views / have ever had into this inner
court of the native life was one Of the
first We had been up the hill Of the
Gldarelope and seen the shrine and were
on our way down to the miraculous we'll
by the steps that pass the great stone
walls and CHANGED 10 admire a little
child in the care of its sister, girl Of
: fifteen
The child was playing with a tiny cup
Of native pottery>and insisted thau take
it. While we chatted with them the girl
was playing with poor. cheap locket
hung by a bead string around her plump,
bown neck. She saw that 1 noticed it
and with the sweetest shyness and an
adorable ride showed me the picture it
contained-just brown Indian boy in a
new sombrero and when 1 looked at it
with question in my eyes she said, almost
In a whisper: 1t is my novio.
Novio means sweetheart and her eyes
grew large and luminous with the word.
1t took but little urging to let her pour
out eagerly the whole story She lived in
Santa Maria, one Of a family Of fourteen.
He dwelt in Tacubya and was a burro
boy. He had seen her at a fiesta and she
said she loved him as soon as she looked
IN his face. She had never seen him
since, except once in the street with his
burros. The picture he had taken and car
ried to her with some clipped verses by
a tiny muchacho a boy so little that no
one would suspect him of being a love
messenger
Just then a woman bearing a jar of
blessed water from the well approached
and the girl hid the locket. 1t was her
mother and she was afraid.
There is much said of the picturesque
peasantry of Europe. but it is doubtful
If any one country of them all can afford
the great variety of dress found among
the women of Mexico and there is none of
the dresses but seems to add to the
beauty of the wearer. This beauty is
not for long for they mature early and
begin TO fade when d woman Of the Uni
ted States would be considered in her
prime.
One day I was walking along the side
street in the best residence portion of
Merida, saw bit of paper dangling
form the end of a string that led up TO |
a balcony and over into a window, the |
shutter of which was almost entirely /
The Htring jerked just the least bit, caus-
ing the paper to bob up and down. I /
turned as if TO cross the street. only to |
closer observe. Instantly the paper which |
1 was convinced was a note was drawn !
up and / retired to the next corner. |
shere / paused a few moments out of |
sheer curiosity to see what would happen
The note was lowered again and soon |
there came sauntering by a handsome |
young man in -'charro' costume, some |
what unusual in the state. As he passed |
under the balcony he Wiped out knife |
and severed the string, put the note in |
his hat and sauntered on.
Some Of the most beautiful women of |
Mexico are to be found among the Indi- |
ans Of the Tehuantepec isthmus. There |
on Sundays one will see hundreds of |
pretty churchgoers wearing most extra |
ordinary costumes.
The skirt is often of satin or silk. heav- |
fly lace trimmed sometimes and with a !
short sleeved waist. The headdress is the |
principal feature. 1t is a great stiff |
laundered accordian plated sort of thing |
that can look very pretty and can be |
what the women's word sloppy means !
The Amatecas. both men and women. !
wear white cotton garments on which the |
embroidery is done in panels either down |
the front Of the womans skirt or on the |
tunic the men wear There is curious |
custom among them Of sweethearts cX- |
changing the twigs Of certain trees in !
entire secrecy. except as each new twig |
IS received it is carried to the father or
mother or guardian Of each Of the Two |
and assent is given to the continuance |
of the exchange till orange blossoms |
are reached: then il is time Tor the priest. |
This pretty method OF courtship is dying |
out as il is a relic OF Indian customs |
and is discouraged by the priests
In nearly al parts Of the country The
lovers process is the same. 1t is called /
playing bear" and is Of Spanish ext;ac- |
ton. OF course it is not necessary TO play |
bear in those classes whore the youns |
folk are thrown together IN the market. /
hut even there a close watch is kept IN /
the girls and conversation with their /
adorers is fragmentary.
The beginning of courtship Is usually !
the sight Of each other ON sogos public |
day. some fiesta" or when driving in the /
Paseo. The sweetheart-to-be bebolis a
face that causes sis heart Il tighten. 1
tfltn tAl3tAiti anu NAltlAel So AiistA
but glanced at him. if he does n1t know 4
who she is he will follow ana ascertain I
her abode That night there VIII be 1
twanging guitars with put he- window
and he may attempt 20 sing tfew young 1
Mexicans have :air Voict.l
The next day burning efistl = Of death
less love arrive and posslb', an cidcr 4
member OF the young mans family ard if /
their respective stations. fortunes ard all I
other things are suitable. the young .
people begin to see each other with some 1
third person ever present and between /
them. except in those fond moments /
when She stands at her window or bal
cony and her lover Is without. but near
enough that the slightest whisper OF one
can be heard by the other and II the
bars are wide lips may meet
So love is made untH the wedding dav
but. sad TO relate. when thar day is not
long passed the young wife takes her
place in the household but little higher
than the servants But she has expected
nothing else and du,ifully follows he-
husband 10 the door each day and kisses
la hand as he extends it--Correspondent
. the New York Herald