262 A RANCHERO'S COMrLAIXT. 



api^cared in a Chihuahua paper under the sig- 

 nature of " Till Ranchero" affords some illus- 

 tration of the grievances of the plebeians in 

 this respect. Literally translated it runs thus : 



^^ Messrs. Editors of the Noticioso de ChiJiuaJiiia: 

 " Permit me, through your paper, to say a 

 few words in print, as those of my pen have 

 been unsuccessfully employed with the euros 

 of Allende and Jimenez, to whom I applied 

 the other day for the purpose of ascertaining 

 their legal charge to marry one of my sons. 

 The following simple and concise answer is 

 all that I have been able to elicit from eithej 



of these ecclesiastics : — ' The marriage fees are 

 a hundred and nineteen dollars.^ I must con- 

 fess that I was completely suffocated when 1 

 heard this outrageous demand upon my poor 

 purse ; and did I not pride myself on behig a 

 true Apostolic Roman Cathohc, and were it 

 not that the charming graces of my intena- 

 ed dauffhtcr-in-law have so captivated my 



but marriaire will satisfy him, 



o o 



I would assuredly advise him to contrive some 

 other arrangement with his beloved, Avhich 

 might not be so ruinous to our poor purse; 

 for reflect that $119 are the life and all of a 

 poor ranchcro. If nothing else will do, I shall 

 have to sell my few cows (mis vaqiiitas) to 



help my son out of this difficulty." — The 

 'ilanchero' then appeals to the Governmem 

 to remedy such evils, by imposing some salu- 

 tary restrictions upon tlic clergy; and conj 

 eludes bv savinsr. " If this is not done, I wiH 



