MEXICAN MANNERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue VIII, 14 August 1897, Page 254

MEXICAN MANNERS.

Mrs Gooch, in her book, • Face to Face With the Mexicans,’ says that again and again, on halting to admire the flowers in the court of a handsome house, she was invited by the lady of the house to enter and inspect them. After she had looked at the plants, she was sure to be invited* into the sala, where chocolate was served, and on departing, with her hands full of flowers, she received a warm embrace, a cordial shake of the hand, and a ‘God be with you.’ If friends meet twenty times a day, the ceremony of hand-shaking is gone through with each time. In passing a friend, driving, riding, or walking, the hat is removed entirely from the head. Mrs Gooch saw on the Calle Plateros one day two splendid carriages, each occupied by one man. On approaching each other, the carriages were halted ; both men alighted, removed hats, shook hands, embraced, talked for a few moments, again embraced, shook hands, bowed, took off hats, and each entered his carriage and went his way. A vein of sentiment runs through the intercourse of ladies with each other. A spray of flowers sent by one lady to another will be first pinned over the donor’s heart, and the pin left in the spray to indicate that she has worn it.

Why is necessity like an ignorant solicitor ?—Because it knows no law.