Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-06-04
MANNERS OF MEXICO
A NICE DISTINCTION IN RECKONING
~ WITH THE HAND.
Etfauette of Greeting and Parting
Between Friends - The Custom In
Street Mcctings-Thc Rule of the
CiEnrettc-Odd Funeral Customs.

n
Street McctingE-Thc Rule of the
CiEnrettc-Odd Funeral Customs.
To an American there are some pc
culiar pliases in the manners of Next
co. When reckoning to a person the
Mexican extends his hand, palm down,
and gives 1t n downward and inward
sweep instead of holding the palm up
ward and giving it an upward and in
ward sweep, as Americans do. Mexi-
cans employ the American motion In
reckoning to dogs.
To indicate the height Of an animal
MeNlcans extend the hand with the
palm downward (as Americans indi-
cate the height of any person or thing),
the height of Il thing by holding out the
palm vertically and the height of per-
son by extending the fist with the In
dex finger pointing upward. TO beckon
to person as one would to dog or to
Indicate PERSONS height as one would
that of m animal or thing. might give
offcnsc.
When MeSicnns, and particularly the
women, wish to greet one another from
such distance TINT speech is Imprac-
the right hand even with the eyes and
wggle the fingers.
The hnndshnke in Mexico Is n great
institution. When one stops to chat or
talk little business with person on
the street. no matter how many times
one may hnve met him the same day.
they shake hands ut the meeting and
likewise Mt the parting, In the mean
time inQuirng about and telling
healths To say ''Howdy?" in Mexico is
matter OF two or three minutes Mt the
very best When one drops into a
= mans office OH business likewise these
pleasant little formalltles must be
scrupulously observed, else one would
be set down as nm Ill hammered boor
When presented to woman do not
hesitate to extend the hand for the reg
ulation shake. 1t Is the only thing
to do.
When one meets friend whom one
has not seen for some time it Is the
proper thing TO embrace him. This
consists In FILLING upon his neck,
throwing the right arm about him anu
patting him lovingly 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, hut seem TO
have n preference for the left. In meet
Ing women, however, one must always
give them the inside of the walk. This
rule also holds good when one meets
supcriOrs. always granting that an
American will acknowledge any man
to be his superior. One may frequently
see these Courteous. Mexican men nj
most quarrcling TO mako the other fell
low take the inside track. "Pasc,
senor." they implore each other.
1t is customary for men to raise
their hats upon passing each other in
the streets. The carrying of canes is
very general III Mexico. When nc
qnaintnnces Of opposite sex meet, as
upon the street, the man Is expected
TO bow first. This, rs may readily he
seen. is important II one has any ac-
Qunintances among Mexican women.
Piss one without bowling and she may
not know one next time. Ones only
hope lies in the possibility that She
knows enough about American Gus
toms to condone the offense Oh the
score Of your ignorance of the Gus
toms Of the country.
To call servant. hold up street cur
or that sort of thing, clap the hands.
"Adios' is employed as passing
greeting az we'll as an adieu. In pass
ing friend with no intention of halt
ing one may say. "Adlos," which COW
ers the greeting as well as the parting.
This form Of greeting is much more
commonly used than Good morning"
Good evening" etc.
The MeXicans are inveterate smok-
ers, but they never chew tobacco. That
practice is monopollzed. by the SUI
perior "Americanos." Moreover, the
Mexican Is seldom offensive with his
smoking. The practice Is permissible
nearly everywhcre-ln hotel or other
dining rooms. after or even at meals, in
railroad coaches, In street cars. in
places OF amusement, etc. Clerks In
dry goods stores may frequently be
seen taking few whlffs at cigarette,
and policemen on their beats smoke
whenever they can get cigarette.
But no matter how sensitive one may
be to the fumes Of tobacco, one Is not
likely to suffer from the Mexicnn's
style OF smoking. He will light his
cigarette-in rare instances cigar
take few deliberate puffs and quit.
He never smokes in that feverlsh fash
lon or raises the dense smudge that Is
the delight Of the average American
smoker, who seems bent upon getting
the full worth Of his big cigar. Most
Mexican women Of the commoner
classes love their cigarettes and may