Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16
MEXICAN HOME LIFE.
Large Families and Warm Hospital.
ity to Guests.

From the Los Angeles Times.
Mexican families are proverbially large.
Almost all of the actual care Of children
is turned over to servants, who are ex-
pected TO humor every whim of their
charges.
The existence of sharp caste distinctions
and the preponderance of slavelike ele-
ment make a great difference between the
atmosphere of American and Mexican
homes. In the latter the children are lit
tie tyrants over those who serve them.
Middle and upper class parents do not
educate their offspring to respect and en-
gage in wholesome labor. There is a
notable absence of discipline in the train
ing of children.
A Mexican family besides wife and
children. includes more often than not de-
pendent relatives. man is bound If
called upon. rs though under the old He
brew law, to care for his parents his
wife's parents, the maiden sisters on
either side. as we'll as orphan nieces and
nephews. But the same custom which
provides that a woman's male relatives
shall care for her also places her under
their control.
hope of freedom for our sister Of the
southern republic is to become a widow
As girl she is under the surveillance of
her parents. Till she marries If she be OF
the upper middle or upper class she does
not TO this day go upon the street unat-
tepded- The extent to which protection
of women is carried may be seen from
the fact that in the higher castles they
never attend burials, the experience be-
ing considered too public and excruciat-
ing for them.
The Mexican girl never sees her sweet
heart alone excepting from the balcony.
She knows nothing of athletics. of the
Independent and busy life enjoyed by the
English or American girl. AS to intel
lectual culture, some Of the wealthiest
senoritas are educated in Europe and many
at home in music, smattering of paint
ing and the languages, but they do not at
tempt science, history or mathematics
The majority Of the women of the coun-
try know little beyond reading and writ
ing.
They drive in their carriages and visit
close friends or relatives. They entertain
old friends on the occasion of family
birthdays and saints days. But there is
lacking the busy system of calls, clubs.
receptions and constant theater going
which obtains among American women.
Till few years ago even the shopping
was done largely at home. the stores
obligingly sending quantities of silks,
laces or other goods for the inspec-
ton of an intending purchaser on re-
ceipt of a message borne by a servant
driving to the stores and having goods
brought out to the carriages. Now MeA-
lean women shop as Americans do.
In the capital Of the nation and in the
state capitals there Is more or less mold
ing of official functions. Young people
enter with romantic Zest into their &C.
casional balls and into garden parties held
in the "alamedas' or parks of suburban
towns and smaller cities. There are the
peculia Christmas festivities, lasting for
| fortnight. But on account Of the close
chaperonage all seems tame and OPP
pressiveiy formal to foreigners.
Mexican homes are pretty we'll closed to
foreigners. But when once a stranger
is admitted to the family circle he is ac-
corded not only warm hospitality. but.
what is more to be appreciated. a toler-
ant and unmeddlesome respect Mexicans
are thorough Catholics and live under a
social regime which belongs to feudal and
chivalric times rather than to modern
days. Yet they leave stranger in their
midst to worship or fail to worship as he
may choose. to come and go and live So
cia.ly after his own bent