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Viva Mexico (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

 
9781330412978: Viva Mexico (Classic Reprint)
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Excerpt from Viva Mexico

It is a queer, strange thing, he confided in me when we parted in Havana harbor, that a man of my age and morals won't be able even to get drunk without the help 0' that and he nodded toward the ladylike little interpreter who had come out to meet him and take charge of him during his stay.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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Review:
A portrait that is both humorous and profound. -- Stanley Olson, The Times Literary Supplement

It is probably the best travel book I have ever read. -- Miles Kington, The Times

The most enchanting, as well as an extremely funny book on Mexico. -- Sybille Bedford

This classic positively oozes with charm: it reads as if Henry James had travelled South rather than East. -- Max Davidson, The Daily Telegraph

a marvellous writer with something of Mark Twain's high spirits and Henry James's suavity. -- Geoffrey Smith, Country Life
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
If, however, there is anything valuable in politeness as such, the Mexicans have over us at least one extensive advantage. For in Mexico the habit of politeness in its most elaborate form is so universal that the very occasional lack of it in anybody gives one the sensation of being not only surprised but somewhat hurt. If, for instance, a street-car conductor in taking my ticket should fail to say "Thank you," and neglect on receiving it to make toward me a short, quick gesture of the hand-something between a wave and flourish - I should realize that, as far as I was concerned, his manners had not risen to the ordinary standard, and wonder why he had chosen to be indifferent and rather rude. This naturally would not apply in the City of Mexico, where, as in all great capitals, the mixture of nationalities has had a noticeable influence upon many native characteristics. But in provincial Mexico - wherever there was a street car - it would be true.

In riding along a country road it is likely to be considered an example of gringo brutalidad if one does not speak to every man, woman, and child one meets or overtakes. And completely to fulfil the requirements of rural etiquette, the greeting must be not collective but individual; everybody in one group murmurs something - usually "Adios" - for the especial benefit of everybody in the other.

Acquaintances take off their hats both when they meet and part, and I have heard a half-naked laborer bent double under a sack of coffee-berries murmur, "With your permission," as he passed in front of a bricklayer who was repairing a wall. Even the children - who are not renowned in other lands for observing any particular code of etiquette among themselves - treat one another, as a rule, with an astonishing consideration. Once in the plaza at Tehuacan I found myself behind three little boys of about six or seven who were sedately strolling around and around while the band played, quite in the manner of their elders. One of them had a cent, and after asking the other two how they would most enjoy having it invested, he bought from a dulcero one of those small, fragile creations of egg and sugar known, I believe, as a "kiss." This he at once undertook to divide, with the result that when the guests had each received a pinch of the ethereal structure, there was nothing left for the host but two or three of his own sticky little fingers. he looked a trifle surprised for a moment, and I thought it would be only natural and right for him to demand a taste of the others. But instead of that he merely licked his fingers in silence and then resumed the promenade where it had been left off. However, the general seraphicness of Mexican children is a chapter in itself.

"Is that your horse?" you ask of a stranger with whom you have entered into conversation on the road.

"No, senor - it is yours", he is likely to reply with a slight bow. And perhaps it is by reason of formulae like this that the great public characterizes Mexican politeness as "all on the surface - not from the heart". The stranger's answer, naturally, is just a pretty phrase. But all politeness is largely verbal and the only difference between the politeness of Mexico and the politeness of other countries consists of the fact that, first, the Spanish language is immensely rich in pretty phrases, and, secondly, that literally everyone makes use of them.

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  • PublisherForgotten Books
  • Publication date2018
  • ISBN 10 1330412974
  • ISBN 13 9781330412978
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages316
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. Excerpt from Viva Mexico. About the Publisher, Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. This text has been digitally restored from a historical edition. Some errors may persist, however we consider it worth publishing due to the work's historical value. The digital edition of all books may be viewed on our website before purchase. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781330412978_0

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