Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02

from that oil the tDlteG states as one
can imagine. Where American homes
are open to all friends Of the family, the
barred windows and heavily mounted
doors of Mexico symbolic the closcness
with which the Mexican home Of the
higher classes is guarded and the eXclu-
siveness which always is maintained in
it. Courtship as it is carried on in the
United States is unknown here. Instead.
the lover in Mexico must be content to
play the bear" The game starts by
the young man casting longing eyes at
the object of his affection when she goes
to church or shopping. He makes audi
bic remarks about her beauty and charm
remarks which are. never addressed to
her but which are intended for her car
If American girls were looked at and
firted with as are the girls o. Mexico
they would feel affronted. but the Next
can girl knows shat it is only part Of
the game.
The next step is for the love- sn,it:en
gallant to follow the maiden to her home.
He thus asccrtains where she lives, and
day after day will stand beneath uer
balcony waiting for some smile OF lccog-
milton o. other indication that she recip-
rocates his interest II this is not forth
coming in due time he understands that
he has failed to awaken the spark of
affection i'm her bosom. II she returns
his affection she nnds numerous ways 20
express IL. and he immedia iely becomes
her devoted slave. Usually the game of
bear is played by the young man for
months, and even years, before he gets a
chance TO talk with her except through
IL barred window. and not until their mar
iiase is he permitted to see her alone
His admission into the home of his sweet
heart comes upon the eve of the engage
ment. He asxs permission of her father
to be accepted as her sutton, and IL the
father agrees there is clear sailing ahead.
The Mexican marriage among the high
er classes is a difficult affair. At least
two months be-
Marrying in Mexico fore the cele-
brat ion the
a Difficult Affair. counle must 90
to the priest and register their intention
of marrying. This intention is reported
by the priest to the civil authorities, who
also register it, and the announcement Is
posted on bulletin board. For five
Sundays the priest publishes the bans.
Later he visits the prospective bride, ac-
companied by "a notary. who asks her
while apart from her family whether the
proposed marriage is to be entered into
Of her own free will. and other questions
which are intended to protect her from
any pressure that may be brought to
make her marry against her will. Later
a judge and six witnesses, one of them
the priest, come to the house of the bride
and the civil ceremony is performed. In
the church wedding which follows the
contracting parties hold lighted candles
while kneeling before the altar. A silken
scarf is thrown over their shoulders.
money Is passed from the groom to the
bride as token that he vie supply her
with the funds to conduct their estab-
around their necks. This ceremony
makes them man and wife. s-a
CourtsIlip among the masses of the peo-
pie is extremely simple. They merely
fall in love with one another and decide
to live together. Among them there are
comparatively few marriages. 1t is said
there are hundreds OF villages throughout
the republic where there has not been
Ddrriage in years. In one town there
are only twelve legally married families.
The reason for thfs is said to be due to
the differences between the Catholic
Church and the government over the
question of marriage. The government
refuses to recognize religious ceremony
as marriage; while on the other hand
the church will not accept the civil cere-
mony. The poor Mexican is not able to
afford both, and SO he does without
either. Oftentimes good priest will go
into community and for a certain num-
Der of days will perform the marriage
ceremony without cost. 1t Is pictur-
esque sight to see scores Of couples, some
of them with more than a half dozen
children at their heels, coming to hear
the words spoken that shall make them
man and wife from the standpoint of the
church.