THE MEXICAN IN NEW MEXICO 25 



4 1 tell you, No !' reiterates the dog's mis- 

 tress. * I will not sell my fine wine at half- 

 price. Adios !' 



And at last the weary scene is closed. 



Mexican courtesy, which is made so much 

 of by the admirers of the race, is a superficial 

 article at the best, and there goes with it, 

 in the majority of cases, a lively sense of 

 benefits to come rather than of gratitude for 

 benefits received. Considering that his order 

 of intelligence is lower than that of any race 

 with which I have as yet come in contact 

 below that of the negro it must be con- 

 ceded that the Mexican possesses a rare 

 talent for imposition. He will get out of 

 the American all he is worth, and more. 

 At this point a typical tale one of many 

 comes to my mind. Some neighbours were 

 in the habit of hiring a certain Mexican 

 by the day ; and knowing them, I also know 

 how many kindnesses they had showered on 

 this man, who Hved with his family at some 

 distance. One morning he appeared : ' Oh, 

 I cannot work to-day ! My oldest boy is 

 sick mucho malo !' Filled with sympathy, 

 his kind employers gave him money to buy 



