The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-20
MEXICAN WOMEN AT WORK.
Have Few Outside Interests and Care
Nothing for Athletics. 49,,
Mexican Herald.

AS the Moors practically controlled
the commerce and education Of Spain
for over one hundred years, the
Spaniards acquired to great extent
the same ideas held by them of the
education and treatment of women
And they in their turn carried these
ideas to Mexico. In fact, the Mexi-
can women Of the upper classes were
much freer under the Aztecs than
they were afterwards under Spanish
rule. And until quite lately this con-
dition of affairs has prevailed in
Mexico since its freedom from the
Spanish crown.
Not so many years ago when Mex
lean woman went shopping she re-
manned in her carriage in the street
and sent her servant into the store to
call one of the clerks to wait upon her.
He came out and received her orders
and brought the goods to her for ex-
animation. This peculiar method of
shopping was due to the old Mexican
idea that lady of good family should
be exclusive and should shield herself
from the gaze of the public and in
fact from everyone except her own
immediate relatives and most intimate
friends. This idea has been dying
hard for over century and it is still
far from being completely buried in
some parts of the republic.
The Mexican woman is naturally a
home lover. She has no clubs to take
her away from her home, and she has
few outside interests. Even when she
is philanthropically inclined, which
she very often is, her ideas of life
tend to make her place her charitable
contributions in the hands of sister
superiors Of converts or directors of |
charitable institutions and works for
use in the cause she has at heart.
The Mexican women of the middle |
and upper classes have never been
athletic, at least since the Spanish |
conquest. This. of course. was due
to the secluded life they led But
the women of the lower classes have
ever been stout and muscular, for
much work Of a heavy kind has al
ways been their lot. On account of
her quicter disposition it is not prob
able that, for years at least, the Mex
lean woman will take the interest in
athletics that is now being shown by
her American sister. Another reason
is that the sympathy Of the Mexican
people is all against her doing so.
In the Mexican schools the girl is
taught many things in the way of
needlework, painting, cmbroidcring
drawing and designing, and these
later serve to fill in her peaceful, un-
cvcntful life after leaving school. TO
this must be added music. For here,
as in Spain and other Latin countries,
most women of the middle and upper
classes receive an excellent musical
education.
In the homes, and in their own way,
the Mexican women are delightful
entertainers and their knowledge of
music aids not little in their enter
tanning.
The piano always forms a very i'm
portant factor in the entertainment
at a Mexican house. No matter how
small the gathering Of friends, there
is always some one who can play well,
and his or services are requested and
always cheerfully given, for a Mexi-
can not only likes to help entertain
his friends and his friends friends,
but he looks upon it as his duty to do
so. With the piano also goes singing
OF the popular songs of the day.