are a sure source of profit and much less trouble. The smaller retail trade, however, is chiefly controlled by them, and in this field they are both able and successful. They are declared, on competent authority, to be strict, if somewhat slow, in meeting their obligations. But slowness, where everything is slow, need not necessarily be considered detrimental; and it may generally be assumed that if they do not pay, it is because they have not the money—a condition not surprising in the financial depression of the last few years.
Native retailers manage their business most skillfully. With a full estimate of the value of everything they desire to exchange, barter, or sell, they will ask the outside price, at the same time reading critically the character of their customer; if the price demanded will not secure him, most graciously and gracefully they will accept a lower.
To their powers of manipulation may be accredited the fact that in no part of the country have the Jews, to any extent, been able to obtain a foothold in mercantile life. The Mexican is even more suave, more entertaining, and more determined in his mode of selling than the most smooth-tongued representative of the Israelitish race. He can sustain himself comfortably on a smaller profit, and is content to do so, as long as he is assured of holding his customer. The native, however, has not a monopoly of the retail trade. Frequently he has associated with him either a Spaniard, Frenchman, or Italian, and again these are established with success, independently.
The capital is naturally the great emporium, the business of the country being concentrated there. The cities and towns along the Rio Grande may possibly conduct some traffic with the United States, and certainly an immense amount of smuggling is done; but the main supplies come from the capital.
Mexico affords a striking illustration of the extremes of wealth and poverty. A late estimate by one who is well informed gives her only about five hundred thousand people who are wealthy; while the remainder is divided between those with moderately comfortable incomes and the absolutely poor. But among the former there is a large professional and shop-keeping class, who always appear well
