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Show MEXICAN CATHOLICS. Progress of Higher. Education Among the Women. ' i The Mexico of the near future is going go-ing to surprise the world, predicts the well known journalist, F. It. Guernsey, and this will come largely through what he terms the emancipation of the women in that countrj. Under the old plan of tradition, writes Mr. Guernsey, every girl was supposed to' remain J under the roof of parent or guardian till married. But many did not marry, J and custom forced them to a life of de- j pendence. It will take years to effect a general reform, and educate the young girls sensibly. But the chapge has commenced and nothing1 can prevent pre-vent the emancipation of women in this country. Mexico honors teachers, and the instructors in-structors of youth are held in esteem. Great numbers of bright young -women have been graduated from the i normal schools ' and are now engaged in teaching. Higher qualifications are now demanded by the government, and facilities for gaining a thorough thor-ough knowledge of the teaching art are ample. Thus honorable careers have been opened to thousands of young women. It is common to hear, where many Mexican women are assembled, enthusiastic en-thusiastic commendation given to these new and liberal policies. The women of Mexico are bright, and, when trained, easily take their place in the ranks of the educated workers. They . rejoice in , the new opportunities given' them to earn, their bread, and to aid their parents, which they often do. Among the poorer middle-class families fam-ilies are . thousands who were once wealthy and lost their all in the.civil wars which 'formerly devastated the country. The vicissitudes of life-, have been all L experienced in Mexico, and so one finds young women of gentle blood among the working women of this modern, era. Their faces, refined I and intellectual, show race. Many a'ihiply dressed young, woman in Mexico, possibly not wearing a hat, but only a black shawl, is beautiful of i figure and most attractive. To such women the new opportunities of getting a living have been a blessing, , The grand-daughters now hold places in j the government or in commercial houses. . j r . .. The .Mexicans respect good , blood, and do not look down on people of education and refinement because they happen to be poor. The family . tie is very strong, and many rich families keep up intimate relations with their poor relatives. Among elderly Mexican Mexi-can ladies of wealth and race, it is usual to dress with the greatest simplicity. sim-plicity. Purse-proud foreigners .have often been deceived br this custom, and have snubbed women who own city blocks andhave their town and country houses. The great Catholic educational institutions in-stitutions give, a sound education to young girls, and have man: poor-pupils who are instructed gratuitously. The government Jnsists that religious schools shall conform to tho ; public school standards, and that education shall be practical". Thus insoector3 visit convent schools to see that the law is complied with. Thus, while there are manvings remaining to be done here, while there is no perfection visible any more than in other countries, there does, exist the desire .for perfection, a high' ideal ' toward which progress is steadily being be-ing made. Slowly, but surely, the government is working to make, this ai better nation, to popularize education ' and reward talents. The Mexico of the near future is goini? to .surprise .sur-prise the world. .-"'-, |
