[20] 



CHAPTER II. 



THE MEXICAN IN NEW MEXICO. 



THE picturesque attributes of Old Mexico 

 are self-evident, and have been so often and 

 so well written up as to have become almost 

 hackneyed. In New Mexico, on the con- 

 trary, these qualities are less theatrically 

 displayed, and, indeed, to many settlers in 

 the territory are barely noticeable, so much, 

 naturally, depending on the point of view as 

 well as on the species of eyesight possessed 

 by the observer. Where the point of view 

 is strictly utilitarian, as in the case of the 

 majority of settlers, the picturesque may be 

 virtually considered non est ; and, again, 

 when the picturesque is too ardently sought 

 after and desired, the result must inevitably 

 be inaccuracy in the impression presented to 

 the reader. 



