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Show 170 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY MANNERS the time of Onat —e the teaching of the catechism and christian prayers. Of course the Franciscans, in their dealings with the people, impressed upon them the necessity for a christian education. but the actual carrying out of the orders of the friars and the teaching itself must be attributed to the christian character of the devout and pious women of those days. Communities there were where a priest was seen very seldom, and, in many places, not once in a year, and oftentimes, in certain isolated settlemen ts no priest came for more than a decade. Archbishop Salpointe, who was a very early-comer to New Mex1¢0, Says of the christian customs of the people, prior to the matterof-fact influence of American manners upon the native people, that ‘“prayers and catechism were taught orally to the young children by some member of the family or by some trusted person of the neighborhood, and repeated word for word, question after question, until some part of the lesson would remain in the memory of the hearers. This was a hard work but a meritorious one, and of great value to the missionary, who had only to explain the mysteries and the chief points of our religion to the children thus instructed at home, when he had to prepare them for their first communion. This teaching is now mostly left to the parochial schools, where they exist, but at the time we refer to there were no parochial schools except in the city of Santa Fé, and, in our opinion, these schools can accomplish the young, was to make with denounced circulars. authority in inculeating religion the in the hearts of Bendito prayers y alabado which always sea el Santisimo practice and made of : it the subject of some very strong heed has been given to the voice of the ecclesiastical Little ene, Geuten Cae nasi a body the children Say some the words: ore trying rdto keep7 was little Every evening,’’ says the venerable archbish op of Tomi, ‘‘it customary terminated have very if this work has not been commenced at home.’’ of reli ic hence y danold —— made i vt —’ association. mitcmamlbninasinmcs of the Penitentes, particularly their scourging of cactus, come from the order of Flagellants which selves for ealibedecda a avin who believed by whipping and seourging themsins and the sing of o ine they could appease the divine wrath against their 1260, spread throu h ig a An association of Flagellants, founded scourging their owe (eee roPe; its members marching in processions, publicly rise to great disord ocies till the blood ran. xe Ce A. D. Having by these practices given er, they were Suppressed, but the same scenes were repeated e in 1348 a d CS ; CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE 171 Sacramento del Altar, ‘Blessed and hallowed be the most holy Sacrament of the Altar.’ After this, the innocent creatures, still kneeling, had to kiss the hand of their parents and receive their blessing before going to bed. The same blessing had also to be asked, even by the grown children of the house, when they were coming from their confession.’’ The way to introduce oneself in a house was to say, on opening the door: ‘‘Deo gratias’’ (Thanks be to God), or ‘‘Ave Maria Purissima’’ (Hail Mary Immaculate), and the answer received was: ‘‘Para siempre bendito sea Dios y la siempre Virgin Maria; pase adelante’’ (Forever blessed be God and the holy Virgin Mary; come in). The salutation ‘‘good morning’’ or ‘‘good evening’’ had to be given in the name of God and returned in the same manner. “Buenos dias (buenas tardes), le dé Dios,’’ which was responded to by: ‘‘Que Dios se los dé buenos 4 Vd’’ (May God give them good to you). Another kind of pious and interesting salutation was used by persons at a distance from each other. The one who could first address the other by the words ‘‘Ave Maria’’ had the right to be answered by the recitation of the whole Hail Mary, for his inten- tion. These and many other manifestations of a christian spirit were very common among the people of New Mexico before the coming of the ‘‘American.’’ 1° 15 In his message to the territorial legislative assembly, December 7, ss Governor William Carr Lane, said: ‘‘I also urge upon all to learn the Englis language and to adopt all the customs of the United States, that are suitable and proper for this country. I do But not advise (the Mexican people) them to change any of their beneficial or praiseworthy customs, nor do I advise — to forget their parent stock, and the proud recollections that cluster arounc Castilian history. I do not advise them to disuse their beautiful language, to lay aside their dignified of social life, and tic: AND manners I sincerely and hope punctilious attention that the profound to the deference paid to age by the young will undergo no change. . . proprieties that 18 yr True it 18, that t ; Mexican people have been always noted for their distinguished manners anc Christian customs, it is only to be regretted to see that some of their good sages are disappearing little by little before what is called progress in our days, W. ) W. H. Davis, , in El Gringo, p. 183, says: ‘¢ Among the elite of sae f ae Society, they are more exact in the observance of etiquette and formalities t aa1e the rather primitive people of New Mexico. In speaking of leave-taking, Honorable Joel R. Poinsett makes the following remarks: ‘Remember, you take leave of a Spanish grandee, to bow as you leave the room, at aa head of the stairs, where the host accompanies you; and, after descending the |