Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-22
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woMAN's LIFE IN MEXICO
Her Home Life, courtships and Her
Relation.

fef F1ome Lie, SouTtsnips ana 1er
Religion.
Mexico Is not a land where the
modern heresy of woman suffrage
makes much progress. 1t has been
said that 1t is a land in which the
middle class is conspicuous by its alb
sence, and true 1t Is that there is q
great gulf fixed between the milady
of the stone palace in the Paseo de
la Reforma in the city Of Mexico and
the native woman patiently pounding
and patting her corn cakes in the
mountain village. 'The colonels lady
and Judy O. Grady are sisters under
their SKINS" chants Rudyard Kip
ling, but even though Diaz is in ex-
lie the aristocratic tradition is not
destroyed, under which the ignorant
peon looked upon the upper classes
as hopelessly distinct from him in
ideals and sympathies. Ei
The freedom Of the American girl
amazes her Mexican sister. The faith
er Is absolute lord Of the family, and
ne mounts jealous guard upon the
members Of the household. There is
no such thing as divorce in Mexico,
but that is not because there are no
grounds on which to base an applica-
tion. Under one roof there may
dwell confusing complexity of aunts
and grandmothers and other rela-
tions and it goes without saying that
all is not peace under the vine and
fig tree. Strangers are not freely
admitted to the penetalia Of the Mex
lean home. A girl Of the better class,
when she takes her promenade, is
always accompanied by an older wo-
man. The woman of the former
regime did not often go to drive
in victoria, and her interests were
altogether centered around her home
and her husband. He might come
and go as free as air, as detachable
thistle down, but she must dwell in
vigorously inforced seclusion. So that
| it Is not surprising that the balcony
scene in Romeo and Juliet has been
enacted times beyond number in the
land Of Cortez, since her home has
been to the aristocratic Mexican girl a
good deal Of prison.
A Mexican girl cannot go to walk
or drive. neither is she allowed to at
tend the theatre, unchaperoned. A
young man-even when the duenna is
with her-will often follow girl for
blocks, lavishing complimentary cpl
thets upon her, and as Bella crea-
ture," or "Ojos bellos. beautiful
eyes.) Nobody gets angry, for 1t is
the accepted procedure. But to gain
access to his inamorate in her own
home is much more difficult than an
ascent of one of the snow-clad vol
canoes. He must observe the rules
Of the game. He is first expected to
stand around, like a detective, watch
ing the house, for the chance ap-
pearance Of his lady-love at barred
easement. Because Of his restless
promenade, like that Of an animal at
the zoo, this first stage of courtship
is called playing the bear" Now 1t
Is that the lady must make 1t plain
whether the attentions Of the lovelorn
swain are welcome to her or not. II
she is disdainful, she pays no atten-
tion to his distraught posing. If she
is willing to give him a chance, she
might drop a clandestine note, or her
handkerchief, or even-O rapture!-
blow a kiss to the pensive sentry.
When she goes to mass, he follows
devoutly in her train, though his ue-
votion may not be strong enough to
lead him across the threshold of the
cathedral.
At last he makes so bold as to
smuggle in a letter by servant or
purveyor whose palm has been cross
ed with silver. In some cases the
fair Dulcinea herself is willing to
lower a cord from her balcony and
haul up the missive affixed by the
cavalier below, as a gamin might fish
for minnows with q bent pin. Then
the parents intervene in favor Of the
affair or against it. If they disap-
prove, she may be sent to a convent,
and at least she is forbidden to have
anything more to do with Romeo.
If they are willing to let the wooing
continue, the object Of it may talk to
the wooer from a barred window.
A bear" who suspects rival will
disguise himself in peasant costume
and keep a sharp lookout. A chal-
lenge to duel is often the result when
girl throws a flower as a coquettish
sign of favor to another suitor.
The necessary preliminary to a pro-
posal is the talk with the parents, and
confronted by this ordeal, one can
readily understand that the young
Mexican's feelings must be those Of
a bashful youth who said he didn't
mind popping the question, but ques-
tioning the pop was the dreadful
thing. If the affair has this final pa
rental sanction he may now at least
enter the door and continue the court
ship in propria persona. But his
troubles are not over. All the family
who wish to are on hand whenever
he calls He cannot take his best
girl" to an evening entertainment
without taking the whole crowd
along. In Mexico the little brother"
is in his element.
OF course, the husband furnishes
the dwelling, but he must also pro-
vide the trousseau, though in aristo-
cratic circles the brides family gives
all the clothing except dresses and
jewelry, of which Mexican women are
extravagantly fond.
Domestic science is not in the vo-
cabulary of the Mexican woman,
whose whole existence might be sum-
med up in religion and love-if love
be allowed to include the whole range
Of domestic affections and of a gen.
erous and sympathetic hospitality.
There are frequently eight men SER
wants and women servants in the
household, all Of whom address their
L II Ill