Show courtship days I 1 in i n old mexico the average mexican does not taink of marriage until he lias has at his disposal a sum more than moderate it if lie he belongs to ahe upper strata of society nor until it is c consented indented to by the unanimous vote of every one of t the e members of the fat family nelv in stances can be mentioned of two young person who have never met each other and in whose minds the idea of matrimony has never entered becoming man and wife through the whim of their parents it may be that the family of the bride groom looks upon his matrimonial union with a certain girl who may inay happen to be tho daughter of a magnate as a means of avoiding bankruptcy it may be that the father of the bride coliz considers consi iders derd lit h r allinio with the oie son or of a politician us adroit measure in preventing the downfall of the head of the house or iu in point of trivial circumstances cum stances it may be that a marriage is brought about with the object of reducing icing the yearly tax by the father of the bride groom or that of the bride the motives given and those never given for the prearrange ment of such alliances vary according to conditions und and aie always in relation to the positions occupied by tho the two fumi lies the rho frequent brevity in the proceedings of the armik ment of bridal ties is to fo k tu aunut u a t ly giving way to a more 1113 liberal rul and conscientious behavior on the part of parents toward sons sona and daughters but it I 1 should also be added ahat ilir lie custom lias has by no means insap purred for cases of this iiii kiture iury 1 ciulo be co u ii ltd by tho in almost ever every y city of cf the republic when with the knowledge or consent of their parents two young persons become engaged eng the parish pariah priest esa tp is requested to 1 i 0 call till upon the brides father fathe r for the purpose of making known to him the designs of the bride groom A temporary objection ut at this point may practically cally up st the platis plans of the young candidates to marriage as the appo of the fattier father means a delay of two years armore or more during that period the affectionate lover parades the streets night and day aay in the hope of see ing lo 10 his s sweetheart a thunderstorm would not dot be sufficient to drive him from his retreat un dei de a balcony or neur near it a telegraph pole I 1 have seen a lover talking to a pretty girl un an iron barred window while a terrific rain storm swept over the city with wilh great fury as quietly and naturally us as if balmy spring weather I 1 had I 1 ad prevailed but the mexican lover adver enjoys the novelty of the affair and far from making any aL attempt tempt from making any attempt to obtain permission to call on his bis sweetheart at her home be is realy ready to undertake dermake U der take any task however difficult in order to speak to her alone for a young lady I 1 is S seldom allowed to receive men without at least two or three i i is im 1 1 1111 e I 1 S of 1 he 1110 fa family in i ay b bein e i i i ISIL ill bvm gai rai ril topic of conver dation 1 1 1 1 about 1 t 1 t x t r e n cheat heat beau bean t ticul i f u 1 v e t i t I 1 i e i and the I 1 ike ik eniti a re i in n such auch bitses strictly iwonder in order und and I 1 lie is ia never made to take herout lier out for foi it stroll or a short drive A moderately lart large bunk bank account may enable the visitor to invite the whole family to attend the opera but th this is means that till oil chances for amorous expression s between betwee 11 the lovers are lost for itis it is liis his duty to offer his arm arin to amoth mother and wait upon her until 7 their return arm the theater aside from froin securing seats for e ev v ery member of the family some soine times including the Lerv auts cleveland plain dealer |