New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-07
WHEN IN MEXICO.
What To Do and Hoo To Do 1t
Property Told an Detail.

Guadalajara, Mexico. April p SpeciaD.-If one IS
contemplating visit to Mexico, here are some
points which it might be well 10 remember:
When reckoning TO person. the Mexican extends
his hand, palm down. and gives it a downward and
inward sweep instead Of holding the palm upward
and giving it an upward and inward sweep "a
Americans do. Mexicans employ the American
motion in reckoning to dogs
To indicate the height Of an animal Nexicans
extend the hand with the palm downward (as
Americans indicate the height of any person or
thing; the height Of a thing by holding out the
palm vertically. and the height Of person by ex-
tending the fist VITA the index finger pointing up
ward To beckon to a person as one would To q
dog or TO indicate persons height as one would
that Of an animal or thing might give offence.
When Mexicans. and particularly the women,
wish to greet one another from such distance
that speech is impractcabe (as across the street,,
they hold the right hand even with the eyes and
wggle the fingers
The handshake in Mexico is a great institution.
When one stops to chat talk a little business
with a person on the street. no matter how many
times may have met him the same dav thew
shake hands at the meeting and likewise at the
parting, in the time inquiring about and tell
ing healths. To say "howdy'' here is a matter Of
two or three minutes at the very best. When one
drops into a mans office on business likewise
these pleasant little formalities must be scrupu-
lousy observed, else would be set down as an
III hammered boor. When presented TO a woman.
do not hesitate to extend the hand for the regula-
When one meets friend whom one has not seen
for some time it is the proper thing to embrace
him. This consists in falling upon his neck throw
ing the right about him and patting him low
ingly Just above the small of the back. Women
Indulge in this custom with their own sex.
Mexican pedestrians turn out for each other on
either side, but seem have a preference for the
left In meeting women. however. one must always
give them the inside of the walk This rule also
holds good when one meets superlors. always
granting that an American VIII acknowledge any
man TO be his superior. One may frequently see
these courteous Mexican almost quarreIing TO
make tho other fellow take the inside track 'Pase
senior" they implore each other.
1t is customary for to raise their hats upon
passing each other in the street. The carrying of
canes is very general here. When acquaintance
OF opposite sex meet, as upon the street the man
Is expected to bow first. This may readily be
seen, is important If one has any acquaintances
among Mexican women. Pass one without bowing
and she may not know one next time. Ones only
nope Hes IN the possibility that she knows enough
about American customs TO condone the offence
on the score Of your ignorance Of the customs Of
the country.
To call servant, hold up a street car Or that
sort Of thing. clap the hands ''Adios is employed
as a passing greeting as well as an adieu In pass
Ing a friend with intention of hating one NAV
say "Adios" which covers the greeting as well as
the parting. This form of greeting is much more
commonly used than good morning" good even
Ta9 Mex Mexca8s are Ryeerae smokers but they
bv the s,Gps foSU nat praSJlce Is monopoIzed
can Is seldom offensive with his smoking. The
practice is permissible nearly everywhere-in hotel
or other dining rooms. after or even at meals in
raiiIoad coaches in streetcars in places of anuse-
Inent,, etc Clerks in drygoods stores may fire.
9uently be seen taking few whiffs at a cigarette
and ana policemen on their beats smoke whenever
now sensitive one may be 10 the fumes
the Mexican's style of smoking He viii light his
oigarette-in rare instances cigar-take a few de-
feysrish fashion or raises the dense smudge that
seennS baI3 ~, ~ ~ slssS american smoker, VINO
cigar. Most Mexican women Of the commoner
putting complacently In their homes on the streets
In the streetcars or as they tend their little street
much OF a smudge This universal smoking habit
reveals itself to the unintiated "Griugo sometimes
in the most amazing manner II Is CaIcuIatad tn
Jar the sensibilities OF the raw American TO see
forty type. in railroad coach in some other
equally public. place calmly light cigarette and
seems to mind that sort of thing even notice it,
course. It is uncommon thing to See q boy Of
three or four years smoking cigarettes. Large
cigarette Is the national smoke. Mexicans are not
puted to be habitual snufr takers. and are not in
frequently seen in the streets smoking cigarettes.
disreputabie in any degree '''' mere 'O''s'ls''D
1t is customary for men 70 lift their hats as a
nd
the custom is generally observed among all classes
hats when they pass a church or meet a priest
Mexican women never to the church or To the
grave when their relatives are buried. They re-
main At homo and mourn. In rho dead man
was person of substance. large numbers OF car
riages accompany the body to the grave.
occupied The friends of the dead man
either walk 70 the cemetery in streetCars.
The bodies Of the poor are conveyed to the Gene
terry on the shoulders of four poems the friends
following on foot. The collins which are usually
cheap affairs painted in gaudy colors are as a
general thing only rented for the occasion After
the bodies taken from them Deposited in
the grave the collins are returned TO the dealer
Before has been In Mexican city long one
win be likely some day. while passing through the
streets. to see nearly every body-men, women and
children suddenly bare their heads and droD 10
their knees. no matter whether they on the
sidewalk in the middle OF the street one Is
likely to be considerably mystihed as TO the mean
ing OF this sudden movement until somebody is
good enough 70 explain that u Carriage has lust
passed that contained priest. who. carrying with