EDUCATION AND THE ARTS
Any one who is acquainted with the conditions existing in Spain or any
part of Spanish America would naturally surmise that education in New
Spain is at a low ebb. What education does exist is confined to a few.
When you know that districts can be found in Spain to-day where scarcely
ten per cent. of the inhabitants have mastered the art of reading or
writing, it is not surprising to learn that after three centuries of
the rule of Spanish governors and viceroys, ninety-five per cent. of
the population of Mexico still remained in profound ignorance. Learning
for the masses was regarded as prejudicial by those representatives
and misrepresentatives of the home government. One viceroy voiced this
sentiment by saying that only the catechism should be taught in America.
Students are not likely to go beyond the learning of their teachers,
and these were obliged to pass examination in only the most elementary
branches. As a natural result, instruction soon fell into the hands of
the incompetent. Teaching did not attract the bright minds. Those who
cared for scholastic attainments prepared for the church or law. Others
became soldiers or adventurers.
The first viceroy, Mendoza, was a broad-minded man and interested in his
new empire. At his death he left a sum of money with which to establish
a university to be open to all classes. This institution was actually
established as early as 1551.
Very few of the aborigines attained much culture, although a few of the
Aztec nobles were notable exceptions. Education was in general left to
the church but was neglected by that institution. The Jesuits, whatever
their faults may have been, were interested in education, and at the
time of their expulsion in 1767 conducted a large number of colleges and
seminaries.
In the seventeenth century the City of Mexico was looked upon as a great
seat of learning and a literary centre. Even before the Shakesperian
era of English writers, literature had its beginnings in that city.
Bishop Zumarraga, the first “Bishop of the Great City of Tenuchtitlan,”
encouraged writers as well as miraculous visitations such as the Virgin
of Guadalupe. Through his efforts, the first printing press of the
new world had been set up in this seat of ancient Aztec civilization,
in 1535, about a hundred years before one was in use in the British
colonies. A dozen books had been printed in the City of Mexico before
1550, and almost a hundred before the close of the sixteenth century.
Some of these were printed in the Indian languages including the Mixtec,
Zapotec, Nahuatl, Huaxtec, Tarascan and others.
The very first book printed on this first press bore the following
impressive and “elevating” title: _Escala Espiritual para llegar al
Cielo, Traducido del Latin en Castellano por el Venerable Padre Fr Ivan
de la Madalena, Religioso Dominico, 1536_. Translated into English it
means the Spiritual Ladder for reaching Heaven, Translated from Latin
into Spanish by Father Ivan, Dominican. This book was written especially
for students preparing for the priesthood, and no copies of it are in
existence so far as is known. The second book was a Christian Doctrine,
printed in 1539 “to the honour and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ and
of the Most Sacred Virgin, His Mother.” It was published in the native
language also “for the benefit of the native Indians and the salvation
of their souls.” A few of the books departed from a strictly religious
character, but all of them drew deep religious truths from every event.
One of the early books was an account of a great earthquake in the City
of Guatemala which, as the title page suggests, should be an example that
“we amend our sins and be prepared whenever God shall be pleased to call
us.” Nearly all of these early books were written by Spanish priests and
members of the religious orders. The first music of the new world was
printed here also in the old illuminated style, as well as the first
wood-engraving.
The first newspaper in Mexico was the _Mercurio Volante_, or The Flying
Mercury, established in 1693. From that time until the present day,
newspapers have existed, but they were so hampered and restricted in
their utterances that their influence and circulation was small until
long after independence had been proclaimed. Now there are a great many
newspapers and periodicals of all kinds and descriptions published in the
capital. However, no American would class them with our own newspapers,
for the reason that they do not seem to have the “nose for news” of the
American journalist. A Mexican reporter would not think of invading
the sanctity of the home even for a “scoop” over his competitors.
Likewise the family skeleton is generally safe, which is certainly a
commendable feature. Not one of the many newspapers published could
be classed as sensational or of the “yellow” stripe. Mexico’s reading
public is comparatively small even to this day because of the still large
illiterate class. _El Imparcial_, the leading daily and official organ
of the government, does not have a circulation exceeding seventy-five
thousand, scattered all over the republic. Its editor is an influential
member of congress. It publishes an afternoon edition called _El Mundo_
(the world). The _Popular_ is second in circulation. _Tiempo_ (times) is
the leading Catholic daily. Other papers are _Pais_ (country), _Patria_
and _Sucesos_ (events). There are two English newspapers published in
the capital of which _The Mexican Herald_ is the leading one and is the
best newspaper in the country. It is widely read by both foreigners and
official and influential Mexicans. There is an illustrated weekly, _El
Mundo Illustrado_, an agricultural paper, _The Heraldo Agricola_ and
many other periodicals of various kinds. _Modern Mexico_ is an excellent
illustrated monthly magazine edited in the City of Mexico and published
in New York. It is printed in both Spanish and English and is devoted to
Mexican interests in general. Many of the cities have daily newspapers,
but they are generally inferior and uninfluential publications. The best
paper published in Vera Cruz could not compare with an American newspaper
published in a little hamlet.
Mexico has produced many writers and some of them have been very prolific
in their productions. It can not be said that there was much originality
to the early writers when they departed from historical lines, but there
is a sprightliness and rhythm in their epics that holds the attention of
the reader. The bright spots in the history of literature for the first
generation after the conquest are made by a group of Indian writers,
bearing the unpronounceable names of Ixtlilxochitli, Tezozomoc and
Nitzahualcoyotl. These men recorded the glory of their ancestors in prose
and poetry. Although their Spanish is faulty, their genius is clear.
Bernal Diaz, the early companion of Cortez and afterwards governor of
Guatemala, wrote from the latter place his “True History of the Events of
the Conquest of New Spain.” It is a very readable work and a fascinating
account of an interesting country and a primitive race. The writings of
Las Casas have been much criticised but they deserve mention. Other
chroniclers are Bustamente, Alvarez and Iglesias.
Poetry has always had a leading place in the literature of Mexico for the
Spanish language is well suited to verse and their love poems have the
highest rank. Some of the modern writers are better known in Europe than
on this continent. The two leading poets are Juan de Dios Pesa, called
the Mexican Longfellow, and José Peon y Contreras. The latter is foremost
in the ranks of living poets.
Literary talent is much encouraged by the government and any one showing
marked literary ability is almost sure to be offered some government
position. An instance of this is seen in the career of Vicente Riva
Palacio, a well known novelist and dramatist who has been governor,
cabinet member and Justice of the Supreme Court. Another example was
the poet Prieto who served in the cabinet of several presidents and
died a few years ago. The Minister of Fomento (encouragement) can issue
deserving books from the government press, if he so desires, and a number
of works, especially historical treatises, have been issued in this way.
The reason is, I suppose, because the reading public is not yet very
large and a meritorious book would possibly have only a limited sale.
These conditions are fast passing away. The drama and the tragic have
ever filled a large place in the life of the Mexican people. A number of
their dramatic books have become well known in Spanish-speaking countries
but have not been translated into English.
After the struggle for independence, nothing was done in the way of
education until almost the middle of the last century. The colleges and
schools already established had begun to languish. Even after that date
little was done, because the church was so occupied in retaining its own
foothold, and each successive government inherited only a burden of debt
from its predecessors. Juarez had the desire to establish schools but
not the means. Maximilian would no doubt have promoted education but his
throne was never secure.
The development of the school system is so recent that it may safely
be said to date from the first inauguration of President Diaz in 1876.
Listen to what this so-called republican despot says upon this subject,
which expresses the attitude of the present government: “Education is our
foremost interest. We regard it as the foundation of our prosperity and
the basis of our very existence. For this reason we are doing all that we
can do to strengthen its activity and increase its power. I have created
a public school for boys and another for girls in every community in the
republic. Education is such a national interest that we have established
a Ministry of Public Instruction to watch over it. We have learned from
Japan, what we indeed knew before, but did not realize quite clearly,
that education is the one thing needful to a people; if they but possess
it, all other distinctions are added unto them.”
The educational system has been revolutionized, it might be said created,
within a little more than a quarter of a century under the guidance of
one man except for a period of four years. The schools are non-sectarian
and the teaching of religion is absolutely prohibited. “That” says Diaz,
“is for the family to do, for the state should teach only scholarship,
industry and patriotism.” The schools in the Federal District, which
includes the City of Mexico and suburbs, and the territories of Tepic
and Lower California, are under the direct control of the executive. The
Federal District alone has nearly four hundred schools, and a number
of fine new school buildings have been erected in the past four years
after American models. The idea of a school building without a play
ground is strange to an American, yet in Mexico none, except the new
ones, have any recreation ground whatever, and they are housed mostly
in the old church properties that reverted to the government after the
disestablishment. Another strange idea to the American mind is the
separation of the sexes which is almost universal. The girls’ schools
contain fewer pupils, for the parents, if possible, send them to private
institutions or employ private teachers. Within the past year several
million dollars was appropriated by congress for the erection and
equipment of new buildings in the Federal District. Commissioners have
been sent to the United States to study school systems, and we find their
schools divided very much as our own.
[Illustration: AN AZTEC SCHOOLGIRL]
The schools in the various states are under their own control, and the
number and condition varies accordingly.[3] In most of them primary
instruction is compulsory. There are not many hamlets except in remote
mountain regions where primary schools have not been established,
although in many places greatly inadequate, if all those of school
age should attend. In the cities, schools for the higher education
corresponding to our own high schools are maintained at public expense.
The English language is a compulsory study in certain grades, and one
can almost see the time in the future when there will be two idioms in
Mexico. Free night schools are maintained in some places for the benefit
of those who can not attend during the day. The duties of citizenship are
particularly impressed upon boys, and some feminine work is taught to the
girls even in the primary schools. In addition to the government schools,
the churches and private associations support many schools for pupils of
all ages.
Perhaps nowhere are the results of the campaign for education seen to
better advantage than in the soldiers’ barracks and penal institutions.
The soldiers are mostly recruited from the Indians and are without
education. The same is true of those who fill up the jails and
penitentiaries. However much they may deserve their punishment, humane
methods prevail. Attendance upon classes is compulsory upon both
soldiers and convicts, and instruction is given in practical morals,
civil government, arithmetic, natural science, history of Mexico,
geometry, drawing and singing. If the prisoner is studious and obeys the
rules of the institution, he is graduated and given his freedom. This
little insight into a better life has made a good citizen out of many a
former convict, and a better one out of a soldier who has completed the
term of his enlistment. The native Mexicans are bright and intelligent,
but self-culture is not common because of natural indolence. The Indians,
and especially the _Mestizos_, are promising and quick to learn. Although
there are no accurate statistics, it is estimated that nearly one-half of
the adult population can at least read and most of that number can also
write.
The first college established in North America was founded in Mexico
in 1540 and is now located at Morelia. The federal government supports
normal schools for the preparation of teachers, and schools of music,
agriculture, dentistry, medicine, law, mining, fine arts and trades
for both sexes. There are also schools for the blind and mutes, and
reform schools for incorrigibles. The medical college has had a greater
reputation than any of the other institutions of higher learning. This
college now occupies the old home of the inquisition. The staffs of
these schools are generally finely educated men, and will compare
favourably with the staffs of similar institutions in other countries.
The Biblioteca Nacional, or National Library, occupies a magnificent
building that was formerly a noted monastery. It contains several hundred
thousand volumes, and is a storehouse of ancient documents and volumes
of the colonial periods. When the monastic orders were suppressed, more
than one hundred thousand volumes were added to the national library
from these institutions. Although most of their books and pamphlets were
religious works, yet many of them are extremely valuable and almost
priceless. There are a few books here that date back before the discovery
of America by Columbus, and many rare old documents on vellum and
parchment. A few of the picture writings of the Aztecs are also preserved
in this interesting library. The National Museum is a vast storehouse of
the antiquities of the country. One can wander around through the rooms
and corridors for hours and days and continually find some new object of
interest in the vast collection of relics of the prehistorical races.
Like all Catholic countries Mexico has the traditional reverence for
religious art. This love has caused a careful preservation of all the
paintings that have been brought to the country, and the names of the
donors as well. Nearly every church is adorned with some cherished
painting, most of which are copies of works by the noted masters held in
the great collections of Europe. However, here and there will be found a
Michael Angelo, a Velasquez, a Guido, a Murillo or a Rubens. Perhaps the
most cherished canvas in the entire country is a Titian at the village
of Tzintzuntzan on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro. It is a large canvas on
the walls of a little dilapidated church and represents the entombing of
Christ. The room that contains it has but one outside opening and that an
unglazed window.
Mexico herself has developed some expert copyists but few talented
artists. One of the most noted was Cabrera, a Zapotec Indian, who has
been called the Rafael of Mexico. He was architect, sculptor and painter,
and has done some fine work in each line. Politics has in times past
absorbed too much of the time of the young men of Mexico so that the arts
have been neglected.
The Escuela National de Bellas Artes, or National School of Fine Arts,
in the City of Mexico is an excellent institution and is liberally
supported by the government.
Charles Dudley Warner says: “It was a marvellous time of original and
beautiful work that covered Mexico with churches, and set up in all the
remote and almost inaccessible villages towers and domes that match the
best work of Italy and recall the triumphs of Moorish art.”
No one with even the slightest love of architecture can help but be
impressed with the great variety of design and grandeur of construction
of the churches of Mexico. Though designed by Spanish architects and
retaining the Moorish characteristics of that period, they are the work
of native workmen and have received some Aztec touches. On the façades,
towers and portals are designs and figures made by these workmen which
are doubtless Indian legends or traditions of a prehistoric age. They
resemble strongly those strange symbols of the ancient Egyptians and
Persians. Some of the churches which the traveller encounters in villages
consisting of low adobe huts fairly overwhelm one with their splendour.
In places a great church will loom up in the horizon with scarcely a sign
of human habitation near it. Only in the tropics are these great houses
of worship wanting. The danger of earthquakes precluded the building
of lofty structures there, and the priests of the conquering age, which
was the great era of construction, rather avoided the hot lands for the
cooler plateaus.
The beauty and originality in the churches is principally in the
exterior. This is the reverse of the architecture in the homes, for there
the outside walls are plain, and skill and ornamentation are devoted to
the decoration of the patio. The interior is generally quite commonplace,
and a church in one city is very much like a church in another. The
ornamentation of the exterior is very elaborate and of the rococo or,
as some would call it, the over-done style. However when looking upon
the extreme richness of detail, one can see and appreciate the beauty
and merits of the style, even if there is a certain floridness and
flamboyancy present. The towers resemble the towers which are a part of
the mosques in Moslem countries from which the call to prayers is made
by the priests. As Mr. Warner says: “There is a touch of decay nearly
everywhere, a crumbling and defacement of colours, which add somewhat
of pathos to the old structures; but in nearly every one there is some
unexpected fancy—a belfry oddly placed, a figure that surprises with its
quaintness of its position, or a rich bit of deep stone carving; and in
the humblest and plainest façade, there is a note of individual yielding
to a whim of expression that is very fascinating. The architects escaped
from the commonplace and the conventional; they understood proportion
without regularity, and the result is not, perhaps, explainable to those
who are only accustomed to our church architecture.”