THE MEXICAN IN NEW MEXICO 37 



the prevailing style is even more displeasing; 

 the grace and science of the noble art of 

 horsemanship have no longer any existence. 

 What a spectacle for men and gods ! Arms 

 and legs flying, shoulders heaving yes, it is 

 undoubtedly good exercise, this riding, suit- 

 able for broncos without manners, possibly, 

 and assuredly well qualified to aid in the 

 rounding-up of cattle ; but Heaven forefend 

 that it should be called * riding ' in any other 

 sense ! 



From the point of view of the employer 

 of labour, the Mexican's picturesque qualities 

 are obscured by others less gratifying. Ex- 

 periences on a thirty-acre ranch are neces- 

 sarily somewhat limited, but not so much so 

 as to preclude, endorsement of the opinion of 

 those who farm on a larger scale. * Of twenty 

 Mexican labourers whom I may employ,' 

 quoth one of these large fruit-growers, ' one 

 may be honest and industrious.' 



There are potent hereditary factors at 

 work in the making-up of the modern-day 

 Mexican. For one thing, it must never be 

 forgotten that slavery was only abolished by 

 law as late as 1867, and then, according to 



