The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-08-12
MEXICAN CATHOLICS.
Progress of Higher Education Among
the Women,


The Mexico of the near future is go
ing to surprise the world, predicts the
we'll known journalist, f. r. Guernsey,
and this will come largely through
what he terms the emancipation of the
women in that country. Under the old
plan of tradition, writes Mr.. Guernsey,
every girl was supposed to remain
under the roof of parent or guardian
till married. But many did not marry,
and custom forced them to a life of de-
pendence. 1t will take years to effect
a general reform, and educate the
young girls sensibly. But the change
has commenced and nothing can pre-
vent the emancipation of women in
this country.
Mexico honors teachers. and the in
structors of youth are held in esteem.
Great numbers of bright young wo
men have been graduated from the
normal schools and are now engaged
in teaching. Higher qualifications are
now demanded by the government,
and facilities for gaining thor
ough knowledge of the teaching art
are ample. Thus honorable careers
have been opened to thousands of
young women.
1t is common to hear. where many
Mexican women are assembled. en-
thusiastic commentator given to
these new and liberal policies. The
women of Mexico are bright, and,
when trained, easily take their place
in the ranks of the educated workers.
They. rejoice in the new opportunities
given them to earn their bread, and to
aid their parents, which they often do.
Among the poorer middle-class FAM
lilies are thousands who were once
wealthy and lost their all in the, civil
wars which formerly devastated the
country. The yicissitudes of life have
been all experienced in Mexico, and
so one finds young women Of gentle
blood among the working women of
and intellectual show race.
Many assimply dressed young. woman
in Mexico, possibly not wearing; a hat,
but only a black shawl, is beautiful of
figure and most attractive. To such
women the new opportunities of getting
a living have been a blessing The
granddaughter now hold places in
the government or in commercial
houses.
The Mexicans respect good blood
and do not look down on people of
education and refinement because they
happen to be poor. The family tie is
keep up intimate relations with their
poor relatives. Among elderly Mexi-
can ladies of wealth and race it is
usual to dress with the greatest sim
plicity. Purse proud foreigners have
often been deceived BIZ this custom,
and have snubbed women who own
city blocks and have their town and
country houses.
The great Catholic educational in
stitutions give, a sound education TO
young girls, and have many poor. pu-
pills who are instructed gratuitously
The government insists that religious
schools shall conform to tho public
schooi standards. and that education
shall be practical. Thus INSPECTORS
visit convent schools to see that the
law is complied with.
Thus, while there are manv - ings
remaining to be done here, while there
is no perfection visible any more than
in other countries, there does exist
the desire for perfection, a high ideal
toward which progress is steadily be-
ing made. Slowly, but surely, the
government is working to make this a
better nation, to popularize education
and reward talents. The Mexico of
the near future is going to sur
prise the world.