Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-09
PLAYING THE BEAR"
ROMANTIC FORM OF CoURTSHIP
PRACTICED IN MEXICO.
Lover Prowls Below the Balcony of His
Sweetheart's Home-Awaits
Recognition.
From Modern Mexico.

From Modern Mexico
''Play wing the bear in the current lam
guage of Mexico. means to court a woman
Although there are many social classes
in this country. especially here in the cap
1tal city. where ten or more could be count
ed, all of them entirely different in customs
one from the other. there are but two ways
of playing the bear"
When young man of the middle
higher classes is attracted by girl on the
street he begins by following her to her
home. though he may spend whole day
without daring to speak to her. He re-
mains on the street, looking at her balco-
MES or windows. If the girl comes out
or If the beau observes the slightest move
ment of the curtains or blinds that is a
sign that she is not entirely indifferent to
him. and from that day on he spends all
his leisure hours. and many that he should
dedicate to his occupation. under the bal
comics or in front of his prospective novia's
residence
After three or four days. when the wooer
appears. the girl comes out on her balcony
but lust for moment The following day
she comes out again and stays little
longer. but only after ten or twelve days
never on nor after the thirteenth day. for
fear of the number 13) does she deign to
look in the direction of the patient beau
VINO salutes her with a bow. taking off his
hat and beaming with his sweetest smile.
Flowers and Notes.
Thereafter salutes and smiles are daily
exchanged: then comes the sending of flow
ers of symbolical colors, slyly delivered by
the aRuador' water CARRIER the car
bonero' Charcoal yender). till at the end
of month perfumed letter written on
rose-colored paper in the young mans best
chirography. reaches the hands of his be-
loved. carefully concealed among the flow
ers of the prettiest bouquet that the novio
able to find at the flower market near
the cathedral.
One ignorant of the country's customs
would think that he had disguised the mis-
tress OF his thoughts, because for two or
three days after the sending of the letter
she does not appear at her window. as she
was In the habit of doing. and it Is neces-
sary to send another letter. even more ex-
pressive than the first. to make her come
out and smile again.
Neither Is this letter answered 1t Is nee
essary to send a third one speak king of
nights of watchfulness. of dependency. of
projects of suicide. etc. etc. or as they
say in a well-known zarZuela:
nj como. nj bebo. nj vivo. nj duermo. nj
fumo. nj NADIA" Il neither eat nor drink
nor live. nor sleep, nor smoke nor do mary
other things).
As rule this letter is answered evasive-
~, put from tnat moment correspondence
is established. The appointments come
next. and the lover is no longer Obliged to
spend entire days awaiting the moment
when the girl will come out.
Balcony Scenes.
The correspondence having been estab-
lished, and the girl having accepted and
returned the love vows of the novio. then
begin the evening cooling through the bal
cony grating, when all movement has
ceased in the city and nothing but the
whistles of the policemen at the corners or
the footsteps of night-watchman are
heard. The moonlight nights. generally
are particularly preferred by the lovers for
their billings. and it is not rare when one
is going home at midnight to find three or
four couples of lovers on every street; he on
the sidewalk. she at the window, or in the
second-story balcony. and the moon smiling
the picturesque scene.
The water carriers and charcoal venders
those gentry of the colonial epoch who
from Mexico's life. perform very import
ant role in the history of the love suits of
many Mexicans. There are numerous in
stances where the first flower and the first
letter were brought by the charcoal vender
the latter continuing to carry letters back
and forth till the marriage was solemnized
Then he still delivers the merchandise at
the new home, and is ready to resume his
uoupic ioie VI CfldICodl NeuueT anu letter.
carrier as soon as the daughters of the
couple which he helped bring together
reach the age when they will have sweet
hearts themselves. The same might be
said of the aguadores those strange per-
sonages dressed in leather. often seen enter
ing even the richest mansions with their
enormous chochocol on the back or grouped
together at the door of the Dulque shop
awaiting the maid servant to come with the
customary maestro. me echa listed un
viajecito?" a request that he go to the
nearest watertanl and fill his chochocol
and carry the precious liquid to the house.
Loyalty Of the Women.
With regard to playing the bear among
the lowest class little can be said. a soft
push. a pulling of the woman's rebozo. a
few harsh words from the lips of the latter
then a smile. and subsequently few
medidas drinks at the nearest pulque
shop. and the contract is closed
None would think. however. when seeing
how easily these poor people conclude their
engagements. that they would be so devoted
to each other The woman. particularly
will patiently bear all kinds of suffering
rather than to disDlease her man." She
would die before she could be induced TO
depose against the man when he is in
trouble with the authorities. And if he falls
sick. it is she who works from or :
o'clock in the morning till 10 o'clock at
night to provide the daily food and medi-
want to work. to provide him with money.
take a chica (the biggest drink of puluue
a a n ia ka