286 Recreations of a Sportsman 



this philosophy of Seuor Gonzales, and it does 

 not require hard study to understand it. 



The women of the grape pickers are pic- 

 turesque. There is just a dash of Indian to give 

 color to the cheek, a touch of Spanish, and just 

 a suspicion of the old blood that built the won- 

 derful cities ages ago in lower Mexico, making 

 an attractive combination. Dark hair, flashing 

 black eyes, perfect courtesy, intelligence that but 

 needs suggestion to lead to higher grades; in- 

 deed one need but look at these pickers, these 

 cholos, as the tenderfoot called them, picking 

 grapes to see that it requires but attire and 

 environment to make a remarkable change. 



The party had its notable figures, Seiior Gon- 

 zales, and its belle in Maria Inez Doniinguez; 

 and standing beneath the old palms in the noon- 

 ing the men gallantly vied with each other for 

 her as a picking partner. They held up huge 

 bunches of Zinfandels as bribes, but were, in the 

 language of the tenderfoot, turned down ; Maria 

 picked with the baby, and doubtless lost half 

 of her time by her devotions. 



There is a charm in the picking that doubtless 

 appeals to the Gonzales tribe. The vast acreage 

 of purple grapes, the huge wall of the Sierra 

 Madre always changing every hour, painted with 

 purple or red light or shade this is a part of 

 their life. 



Finally the end comes, the vineyard is stripped, 



