Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-03-16
PLAYING Bear In Mexico.

4 Mexican VINO can pay no MuSiSai
instrument is nothingleSs than curiosity.
There is no hamlet so insignificant that il
has no band. Eight or ten men get TO-
gether and decide TO form bsnd. Hav-
ing reached that decision. they 90 TO the
jefe politico, or mayor.
"ATl right" he will tell them "You
are to play Wednesday evening from six
TO nine and Sunday morning from nine 10
twelve" and a record is made.
And during these hours, rain or shine,
hot or cold, through famine, war, aud
pestiIence, as long as those men are alive
and in the town, the band is in the band
stand playing for such as choose to linger
in the plaza, or public square.
About the evening concerts much OF the
social and domestic life of Mexico centres.
II is at the concerts that many youth
and maiden FIRST meet and begin 10 "play
bear" game indigenous and peculiar 10
Mexico, without which no self-reSpect-
ing Mexican couple adventures on matri-
mony.
The general plan ofevery plazais much
the same. In the centre is the band
stand. Immediately surrounding the band
stand is an open, paved space. Then
there are flower-borderej walks with
plenty OF benches. Round the edge OF the
plaza, outside the trees and flowers, is an
other broad. paved walk. Upon this
outer walk are grouped the poorer Mexi-
cans-the poems. On the benches sit the
fathers, the mothers, the older folk, OF
the better classes. Round the walk that
surrounds the band stand saunter tireless-
ly the youths and maidens of the same
class.
The women circle to the left on the
outside; the men in the opposite direction,
on the inside. Thus everyone eesevery-
one else innumerable times during the
evening. And in this melodiouS circling,
youth sets eyes on maiden who strikes
his fancy-lhe game OF "playing bear"
has begun.
He looks steadily at his charmer every
time they pass. And she, itshe is pleased,
glances at him in return. After they have
passed each other ten or dozen times
he is at the edge OF the procession in
which he walks, and she has moved 10
the edge OF the column OF young women.
Then the young man, with friend, with
draws to some cantlna, or cafe, and writes
an ardent note. On the next round his
friend, in passing. slips il into the hand
of her companion. Then they continue
their strolling until the concert is at an
end.
On the next concert evening the per-
torrance is repeated; only this time The
young lady is the one who presents the
note, which she has written in her home.
II she rejects her suitor's advances, he
persists or desists, according as he is
nt-heated or not
II he meets with success he begins the
next phase OF the game. Each evening
he will be seen opposite his lady's house,
passing back and forth like sentry walk
ing his post. Even during business hours
he will rise suddenly from his stool, seize
his hat, rush frantically 10 his accustomed
beat, and for several minutes walk up and
down, gazing reproachiully at the barred
windows across the way.
AS time goes on, after six weeks or
two months, say, have passed, the girl is
at last TO be seen seated in the window.
Then ensueS another period OF from two
weeks 10 a month. The young mans
walks gradually shorten, and one evening
he is TO be seen underneath the window,
azingmournfuIIyu for hours, much
10 The discomfort OF passers-by. But no
one grumbles; all the world loves lover
especially in Mexico.
After this stage father and son call for
malIy on the father Of the young lady and
make a proposal OF marriage.
When all the arrangements have been
made, the young man for the first time
calls at the home OF his affianced wife and
meets her face TO face, bat never except
in the company of third person-mother,
father, or aunt.