THE MONTE BANK. 239 



Kftingj pocket-picking', and other elegant pas- 

 times of the same kindred, are the legitimate 

 offspring, especially among the lower classes, 

 of that passion for gaming, which in Mexico 

 more than anywhere else — to use Madame 

 Calderon's language — "is impregnated with 

 the constitution — in man, Avoman, and child." 

 It prevails in the lowly hut, as well as in the 

 glittering saloon ; nor is the sanctity of the 

 gown nor the dignity of station sufficient 





the fascinations of this 



vice. No one considers it a degradation to 

 be seen frequenting a monte hank : the gov- 

 ernor liimself and his lady, the grave magis- 

 trate and the priestly dignity, the gay cahallero 

 and the titled senora may all be seen staking 

 their doubloons upon the turn of a card; 

 while the humbler ranchero, the hired domes- 

 tic and the ragged pauper, all press with equal 

 avidity to test theh fortune at the same shrine. 

 There are other games at cards practised 

 among these people, depending more upon 

 skill ; but that of el monte, being one exclu- 

 sively of chance, seems to possess an all-ab- 

 sorbing attraction, difficuh to be conceived by 

 the uninitiated spectator. 



The following will not only serve to show the 

 light in wliich gambling is held by all classes 

 of society, but to iUustrate the purifymg ef- 

 fects of wealth upon character. Some twelve 

 or fifteen years ago there hved (or rather 

 roamed) in Taos a certain female of very 

 loose habits, known as La Tuks. Findmg it 

 difficult to obtain the means of hving m that 



