Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-01

ceptibie to those who have participated In
1t, but comparison OF the conditions of to-
day with those of 1876 will be surprising
The changes that have taken place nave
been with the entire sympathy and eneour-
agement of the government. While Presl-
dent Diaz and his cabinet do not favor
woman suffrage and do not approve of the
typical modern woman as she appears III
the comic papers and other literature, they
have shown in a most substantial manner
their sympathy and encouragement of every
step that incseases the independence ana
dignity and influence of the women or
Mexico and releases them from the tyranny
of the old-fashoned Spanish social Gus
toms
In looking over an official statement pre-
pared by the Department of the Interior Tor
circulation at the st. Louis exposition
find the following significant paragraphs:
Female education is also the object OF
special care, and Mexico has associated her
self with the universal sentiment that ap-
pears to have taken possession of all ele-
waited spirits, in view of the injustice ana
errors that have been committed In past
times by men who excluded woman from all
participation in the movement or human
progress by closing the doors of the schools
to her sex and refusing her the right TO
illuminate her intelligence with the rays OF
science.
ITO restore her Natural rights to woman;
to elevate her intelligence and fortify her
spirit so that she may be sef-suff1clent In
all the vicissitudes of life; to place IN her
save her from the abyss that so frequently
opens at her feet on account of the condi-
lions of her sex; to redeem her from the
painful slavery to which she Is subject
through a monstrousiy defective education,
will be the noble task of the men OF the
future. bequeathed to them by the men OF
today"
The language and the literary style may
be recognized as Spanish-Amerfean, but
sentiments like those have seldom been ex-
pressed in an official document Of any gov
eminent under the control OF the Spanish
race Those two paragraphs contradict and
impeach the social customs that have pre-
vailed in Mexico and other Spanish coun-
tries for ages, but they are authorized both
by the executive and legislative branches
of the government. they are confirmed by
the courts. and they represent the present
state of enlightened public opinion IN
Mexico. The old aristocratic families WIZ
not approve of such sentiments, but they
are dying out and public opinion Is now in
different to their feelings
Change in Religious Influences,
The influence of the priest In the family Is
diminishing every year. He is no longer
the social arbiter that he used to be. He is
becoming more of pastor and is combining
his advice and instruction to spiritual at
fairs. Thirty years ago there was no
preaching In the Catholic churches except
special admonitions now and then and short
sermons on feast days. Now, however.
there is preaching every Sunday in all the
churches. The priests are beginning to
educate their parishioners on higher lines.
This has compelled a change In the form of
the service and pews, like those in the
Catholic churches in this country, are now
being rapidly introduced for the comfort OF
worshipers, instead of compelling them to
kneel through the service upon cold,
damp floor. These changes are not always
apparent in the country districts, but II you
were to enter one of the churches In the
best resident districts Of the capital and the
other large cities of Mexico. you would find
the service very little different from that OF
the Catholic churches In the United States.
Father Krfli. an American priest. who has
charge OF the largest parish at Cordoba,
told me that the Catholic Church In Mexico
was becoming "Americanized" very rapid
iy, and that surprising changes had taken
place even during the four years that he
had been living in the republic.
These changes have been created by the
influence Of that portion OF the community
who have travelled and have broadened their
IDEAS especially by the many families who
are constantly going to and from the United
States They have been assisted by men,
bers of the younger generation who have
been educated on the northern side OF the
Rio Grande. am told that there are over
500 young men and women from Mexico in
the Catholic schools OF Texas, that one con-
vent in San Antonio has few other than
Mexican pupiIs.
The commercial development OF the coun-
try and the large immigration Of foreigners
have also had much to do with the trans