40 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



For the first few months of my career as 

 an employer of Mexican labour in Southern 

 New Mexico, I received the pardonable 

 impression that the attitude most affected 

 by our progressive fellow-voter and citizen 

 was that which depicted him with his head 

 in a wine-barrel and his legs at right angles 

 thereto. This impression has undergone 

 distinct modifications, but is not yet effaced. 

 The native ranchero who is not the owner 

 of a vineyard is a rarity. In a large number 

 of instances the feet of the native still tread 

 the wine-press, and the skin of an erstwhile 

 beast swelled with new wine may yet be 

 seen suspended without the dwelling of the 

 landowner. Why should he not drink of the 

 fruit of his own vine, he argues? But Juan 

 says, with an air of justifiable pride : ' I used 

 to drink like they do, but I don't now ; it 

 doesn't pay. I drink a little si, a little 

 every day but I stop. Now, Luciano he 

 keeps a pitcher of wine by his bedside. 

 When he wakes in the night he drinks a 

 little therefore you see how it is with him.'* 



* The Americano declares that it takes very little to 

 make a Mexican drunk, giving as his reason for this 

 assertion the Mexican's lack of brains ! 



