The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-18
MEXICAN WAYS SEEM ODD.
How Their Manner of Living and
Loving Differs From Ours.

Mexico is a land Uf ACE aud lice anC
/ love, Of flowers and fights and fieas, o
babies and bullfghts: land. according
to Modern Mexico. where pillow slips
are open at both ends. where passen-
gers get off the front end of stree
cars; where matches are held up in
stead of down; where door keys, Otter
six inches in length. invariably art
turned backward and fit in keyhoies
turned upside down; where the trades
people tell you the price of a thing and
in the same breath ask what you will
give for it. where the lowest class peo-
PIE have passionate love for music
and flowers. ana will stand for hours in
front of pictures displayed In windows:
where fieas have entree in the most po-
lite conversation: where outside doors
are locked at 10 o'clock, and guarded
strictly by a porter who has TO be
awakened with tip before he lets any
one enter; where the weather forgets to
change day after day, and people sleep
under the same bed cover the year
around.
Here in Mexico City the markets are
numerous. and all equally dirty.
Much OF the vegetable stuff is piled
In baskets on the floors, guarded by
times the baskets are disposed of. and
the potatoes or tomatoes, bananas or
nuts are piled in neat little piles of five
each and sold to a Mexican for perhaps
eentava-a half cent.
An American will be asked four times
as much. but by dint of much Spanish
and determined look may get the
price down to centavos. For this rea
son, and on account of the unappetiz-
ing appearance of the market. most
American women prefer to send their
servants TO do all of their marketing.
despite the generous rake-off that the
woman usually regards as her right.
Naturally, in this tropical country,
the market affords a very large variety
OF fruits. all that we know at home
and many in addition. Particularly ia
vorec by Americans are the aguacates.
q pale green connection. half vegeta-
bles, half fruit, used exclusively for
salads. Mangoes, granadas, apricots,
in assorted sizes. from two
inches in length up, pomegranates and
aTtichokes are easily obtained.
in the fish line. red snapper and sea
bass, considered luxuries in many parts
n the United States. can be bought
sneap at all seasons. Frogs, which are
also common, cost from TO cents |
apiece.
Flowers. which, in addition to a large
central flower market are for sale at |
III the smaller markets, are delightfully."- i
heap. In the states a man has to love |
girl some $40 worth to send her a |
punch OF roses that she can honestly |
are Tor Here he can love her for al !
most the same number of cents.
Speaking of men, the aristocratic girl |
properly chaDeroned always.
IL she goes for a drive or a walk, or /
o a theatre, she is always aceompa-
lied by some member of her family.
In fact, there is only one phase in the |
ife or in the love affairs of a. Mexican
enorlta that appeals to the American
-irl. and that is the old custom of
playing bear"-where the man stands
n front of his beloyed's house every
light. in the hopes that she will appear
N the balcony above him. IL his at
entions are agreeable, in time he may
e admitted to the house, and may uIti-
lately win the girl But the poor fell
NV may have to play bear every night
DIT years
Still, If the custom could be trans
erred to the United States, the Amer
an girls would rise up and rejoice. 1t
light be little hard on the man,
when the Thermometer
overed around zero. but the advan-
ages for the girl are obvious.
An every evening call couldn't be
cry extended. All the neighbors
'ould know when she had a man
advantage not 10 be lightly esti-
iated-as any girl Is good looking in
he half light of balcony, with a big
lawl wrapped gracefully around her.
esides. shawis and mantillas, like golf
ipes, hide multitude OF sins, and hair {
zen from fifteen feet below is always
rfjetip I