The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-06-05
An Aztec Mother
To Her Daughter

Prescott, in his story OF the hrst
conquest OF Mexico prints letter
from an Aztec mother TO her daughter
which Is like voice spanning hye
centuries,
Beloved daughter. very dear little
dove. remember that nine months
bore YOU. that YOU were horu ana
brought up IA my arms. that i placed
YOU IN your cradle and In my lap ana
with my milk / nursed YOU ana your
father are the source OF your being.
IL is we who now instruct YOU. see
that you receive our words ana
treasure them IN your breast
Take care that your garments are
such as are decent and proper. and OBJ
serve that you do not adorn yoursoll
with much hnery since this Is mar
OF vanity and OF teIy
w hen you speak. do not hurry your
words from uneasiness but speak de-
liberately and calmly, DO not raise
your voice very high nor speak very
mince when YOU speak, or when you
salute. nor speak through your nose.
but let your words be proper. or good
sound and your voice gentle
"In walking, my daughter, see that
YOU behave yourself becomingly,
neither going with haste nor too SLOW
~ since IL is an evidence or being
pufred up 10 walk too SLOWLY, ana
OF restlessness and instability There
fore neither walk very fast nor very
slow. yet when II shall be necessary
70 ~ with haste, do youth this use
your discretion.
when you are in the street. do not
carry your head much inclined, or your
body bent. nor go Wlth your mead very
much raised, since it Is mark OF III
breeding, walk erect. and with your
head slightly inclined. Do not have
your mouth covered, nor your &c
from shame. nor 40 looking ike =
near sighted person nor on N9nf l.a
make fantastic movements with your
feet Walk through the street quietly
and with propriety.
Another tAIng that You must attend
10. my daughter. IL that when you are
hither and hither nor turning YOU
head to look at this or that. walh
neither looking at the skies nor on th'
ground.
DO not look with the eyes OF al
offended person upon those whom YOU
meet nor have the appearance or oeinl
uneasy. but or one who looks upon Al
with a serene countenancei dolnB thls
you will give no one occasion or beint
offended with you. show beConlns
countenance, that you may neither ap
pear morose, nor. on the other mana
TOO complaisant.
See, my daughter, that you give
yourself no concern about the wordi
you may hear In going through th'
street nor pay any IeBalu 10 lHeiH, &c
those who come and go say what thel
viii Take care that you neither an
swer nor speak, but act as if yol
neither heard nor understood them
since, doing In this manner no on'
will be able 10 say with truth that yol
have said anything arniss.
See likewise. my daughter, that yot
never paint your face. or stain II OF
your lips with colors, in order 10 ap
pear well. since this IS mark OF un
chaste women. But. that your HUSBAND
may not dislike you adorn yourself
My tenderly loved daughter, my lit
tie dove. only one thing remains 10 h'
said and have done. III God shall give
you life * you shall continue som'
years upon the earth see that yot
guard yourself carefully. that no stair
come upon you When IL shall pleas
God that you receive a husband, and
YOU are placed under his authority, be
free from arrogance, see that you DC
not neglect him, nor allow your hear
TO be In opposition TO him. BE not dis
respectful to him. Beware that, In No
time or place you commit against hin
tAe treason called adultery. According
10 the custom OF the world for this
crime N II shall he known, they vii
Kill YOU. And remember nay daughter
that, though no man shall see you mol
your husband suspect God, who is u
every place, sees you, VIII be angr,
with you and will be avenged upon yot
as He sees ut
How like a bit OF counsel from q
grandma OF today What wouldn't
you give TO know whether the dusky
miss for whom IL was written minded
II more faithfully than the younl
women OF our day mind the instruc
tions OF their elders?