34 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



at its humblest having a silver cord and 

 tassels wound artistically around the base of 

 its pyramid, and it cost probably twenty-five 

 dollars, or even more. Buckskin, also em- 

 broidered in silver, and sufficiently tight- 

 fitting to show off a good leg (always provided 

 that he hath an exhibition - leg), is also 

 affected by the dude. His pony wears a 

 tasselled bridle wonderful and gorgeous to 

 behold, and champs restlessly on a magnifi- 

 cently cruel bit, with the aid of which, and a 

 dexterous use of the spur, he can be induced 

 to kick the dust of the village streets into 

 the eyes of admiring senoritas. The high- 

 peaked saddle, fabulous in weight and mar- 

 vellous accoutrement, has furnished matter for 

 travellers' tales galore. Truly, the Mexican, 

 kempt or unkempt, is, from the artistic point 

 of view, hardly to be spared. Bereft of him, 

 the knight of the brush would be poor indeed. 

 But the superb Mexican caballero, that 

 gorgeous person who still adorns the pages 

 of illustrated magazines, is here conspicuous 

 by his absence. Even in Old Mexico, when 

 met with, which is but rarely, he fails to fulfil 

 expectations. How should he be anything 



