Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-28
"Americanization" of Mexico

Modern Mexico, a monthly publication
promoting the business relations OF the
United States and Mexico, warns its read
ers against exaggerated accounts about the
characterization" of Mexico. These re-
ports the publication deprecates because
they are untrue, are hurtful to interna-
tional business relations and mislead
Americans looking toward Mexico for busi-
ness opportunities. Modern Mexicon con-
tinues:
We would again remind young Ameri-
cans who may feel attracted towards Mex
leo that they will find themselves here in
an intensely foreign, and hence unfamiliar,
medium, which, whatever may be said to
the contrary, shows no signs of rapid
Amercanization. 1t is more likely to
modify thu American than the Ameri-
can It.
One Of the most preposterous statements
that we have seen of late in articles about
the Characterization" of Mexico Is one
which represents 1t as influencing the So
cial and family life of the country. We
are of course, not in the smallest degree
deprecating such an evolution, but are
stating a simple fact in saying that UP to
the present there are no signs Of 1t.
Glib afflrmations such as this TO which
we are abiding, when they come from
writer's who have never seen the inside
of a Mexican home of the better class
and who know no more of Mexican life
than they do of the life in the planet Mars,
are amusing
The fact is that whether II be due to
natural reserve, to diffidence and shyness
or sensitiveness TO criticism, to pride, to
suspicion OF the foreigner, or simply to
Lac 90 faII IL
more probable, to a little OF all these
things combined. the Mexican upper class
are extremely reluctant to throw open their
doors to the newcomer. Nay, foreigners
may live here for years without securing
the entree of a good Mexican home.
There is a home life In this city not
obtruding itself on public notice, but self
contained and self-contented, the flower
ing and fruitage OF an ancient and settled
civilization and refinement, and OF which
the average foreign resident sees nothing.
The non Mexican writer, then, who UNI
dertakes to tell his readers In the United
States about the home life OF Mexico is,
one may say with practical certainty, talk
ing about a subject OF which he knows
nothing except by vague hearsay.
The true family OF the United States is
a beautiful thing and so is that OF Mex
leo. The virtues that are substantial and
essential they have in common; but. in
addition, each has certain characteristic
excellences as we'll as certain habits
which. in themselves, and in the last
analysis, are neither good nor bad but
simply a question of racial temperament.
These habits are unavoidable and incom-
municable. and. while. as we have said.
they may be neither good nor bad in
themselves, they are good for the people
of whose civilization and character they
are the natural expression and the out
growth, and very often bad when another
people attempts 10 borrow them.
II is also a mistake to describe the old
fashioned Mexican house as does a recent
writer, as lacking in beauty and comfort,
This is another error that could only be
committed by a person who had never been
inside a genuine Mexican home. These
homes have a charm and repose all their
own, TO which the foreigner who has been
privileged to know them will bear willing
witness.