Evening star., 1922-08-13
How the Senors Treat Their Senoritas.

ion with low-pillowed lounges and
carved stools, every one sat around
slipping liquors. Again the segrega-
ton. Women chatted in groups and
the men stood in prominent places
about the room talking. When the
doors of the brilliantly lighted ban
quet room were thrown open I learn
ed that q man who escorted q woman
to the reception did not necessarily
take her in to supper. was whisked
away from my escort by Gen. Plu-
tarco Elias Gales, head Of tho Obre-
gon cabinet, and taken to my place
at table. TO my surprise, only women
were seated at the long table.
Gen. Gales paused moment at the
back Of my chair to talk to me after
was seated and then departed. as
did the other men. Later, when the
supper was nearly finished, the men
| returned one by one and stood in cor
ners of >the room slipping champagne
or leaning over the backs OF the
chairs of their women. Even the
president stood.
: Five glasses Of wine were served to
each woman, and apparently 1t was
not good form to do anything but
turn down an empty glass each time.
After supper the women again gath
cred in groups and the men became
equally clannish.
Sunday afternoons and holidays
! caught a glimpse of women riding In
! carriages or automobiles through
| Chapultepec Park. On bull-fght
| day Mexican women are "in their
| glory" and have more freedom than
| at any other time during the year.
They turn out in splendid gowns in
open carriages. brilliant hued man.
tillas around their shoulders, silk
| serapes draped over their barouches,
black hce about their heads. red
roses in their black hair. fans waving
in tantalizing manner. 1t Is their
day of days.
; AS for the girls. the flappers Of
Mexico-for them there were yet no
high lights. no red-letter days. Presi-
Dental banquets. bull fights and
other festivities mean nothing to
them. They are guarded more closely
! than their older sisters. They enjoy
few liberties. Even the girl with an
admirer with serious intentions is
under much restraint. She Is guarded
more closely than the girl less fortu-
nate. Mexican mothers do not trust
young bachelors. Strange contrast
American women have less confidence
in the married ones!
& &S
IWHEN the Mexican youth woes
W girl he engages in a puerile
sort Of pastime called "Hacer ell
Oso"-playing the bear. He is salts
fed to court at long distance-stand-
ing outside the window of his loved
one, serenading her night after
night. singing his love. thrilled when
the girl tosses him flower. When
she let's him know in some coquettish
way that she looks upon him with
favor he approaches her parents, or
the priest becomes his emissary. If
the parents agree, he may call at his
charmer's home. but always members
Of the family are present. Little Brother
Rodolfo is poking around, or small
Sister Sofia. and perhaps los parientes.
Sometimes he walks with his fance
in neighboring park, or takes her
to the opera or theater. always re-
membering to buy extra tickets for
members of her family who must
chaperon her. 1t Is an expensive
business-courtship in Mexico.
Not long ago l talked to Mexican
girl singers sent to the United States
by their government to study for
grand opera. I wondered how they
enjoyed their newfound freedom,
how they liked running around New
York alone, unchaperoned. free to
come and go as they pleased.
Now that you have tasted free