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Show JOURNEY TO THE RIO GRANDE. 223 seem always satisfied with what the officials do, if it is within a hundred degrees of right. They consider a governor as only one remove below the Deity; or, rather two removes, the Virgin Mary coming next, and the governor being about on the same degree as St. Peter. To one like myself, accustomed to the studied contempt, or lordly indifference, or good- natured and irreverent bonhommie, with which Territorial governors are regarded, respectively in Utah, Colo-rado and Dakota, it was something amusing to witness old, gray-headed men, with hat removed, bowing low to Governor Giddings, and to hear the senoras direct their children as he passed, " No hable uste tanlo. EL Gobernador!" Politeness is ingrained in all Spanish- Americans. As with most mixed races, the standard of morals is not high. The gentefina, or tipper classes, mingle very little with the common people; socially not at all. Except among the aristocracy, who seldom in-vite travelers to their houses, there seems to be no distinction at social gatherings on the score of character. The indifference on that subject would astonish most Americans. If the Stantons, Anthonys, etc., are really in earnest in the statement that " woman should have no worse stigma than man for sexual sins," they would certainly be gratified here, for the disgrace is, at least, as great to one sex as the other. Indeed, I think the general judgment for marital unfaithfulness is more severe on a man than a woman. The young Americans bring their mistresses to the baile with the same indifference the Mexicans do their sweethearts. These " girls" are scrupulously polite, and so unlike the same class in the States, that it can only be accounted for by the fact that they see no disgrace whatever in their mode of life, and feel no sort of social degradation. A visitor with any reverence in his composition scarcely knows whether to smile or sigh at that " faith without knowledge," which shows in all their customs, and most of all in their names. Jesus, Maria, Mariano and Jose ( Joseph) are favorites, the second and third common to both sexes. A prominent citizen is Don Jesus Vigil. His parents probably intended him for a " watchful Chris-tian." Fortunately for sensitive American ears, it is pronounced Haysoos VeheeL Irreverent as it may appear in me to write it, there is a well- known citizen whose name is Jesus A. Christ de Vaca ( Hay-soos Antonio Kreest day Svahca). Sometimes among the gentefina, the marriage contract specifies that the sons take both names ( united by " and"), from some principle of law as to entailed estates. Thus Don Jose Vigil y Alarid is the |