Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 16, Decatur, Adams County, 16 April 1908 — Page 6

NOW AT OAXACA The Decatur Colony There Are Adding to Their • Pleasures Oaxaca, Mexico, Mar. 10. 1908. Dear Folks:—l will write another hurried letter, and try and tell you a little more about Mexico. With regret we left Mexico City, two weeks ago, for the last time. We had enjoyed every hour of our stay, even if we growled jn the mornings about it being so cold we were not always comfortable for the first hour. There are no fires anywhere in Mexico. The houses are built to guard against the heat. ! The wails are thick, the windows wide ■ and high, the floor of stone, cement, i or big square bricks s or tile; the ceil- ■ ings from 18 to 25 feet high. Either 1 with the joists showing or a canvas stretched over to hide the joists and frescoed. I speak now of the better houses and hotels and palaces. The windows always open back like doors and are grated without, with iron rods or beautiful grill work as a protection against thieves. Not needed so much now, as in former times, but as a custom, national custom, is still adhered to. The police systew of the co•■try is excellent. In the country a® well as city. In the city there are three policemen to every «y»re. In the night, looking out you sefe their lanterns down the middle of the street, aed every half hour their whistles cabling and answering aleng the street to etoow they are a* duty. The street oar system in the city is mostly elewtute. and the service is fine. The public •arriages or coaches as they call them a-re numerous aed cheap. Tea can set ■Me a»ywhere at aay time, as they drive up and down the street seeking service. The coaches are good, but most of the horses which are t*s«ail.v drive* in pairs, are poor miserable thiHSts, drive* a*d lashed and half starved to death. These coaches carry little red and blue flags beside the coach lamps. They are about 2x4 indites ia sla» and when show*, means the »o*ch is for hire. Whe* foisted • back, it is engaged. The rates for the blue flag carriage or coach is >I.OO per hoar; the red flag 75 cents for one or more pemoas. The fare for four you see would be only 25« each for am heur. We usually we*t o« the cars by preference. One day we took a carriage for three hours and drove om streets o* which there were no car lines. In the American colony the German colony, th® Roman colony, etc., et». The places were mag*iflce*t. When «bv one in Mexico wants a horse to move, instead of saying “get up” as we do, he hisses, and the animal go®» —coach horses or street c»r horses’ it is the same. In the smaller tew«s the street car horses have a few old . straps and strings for harness and pieces of rope tied togc’he- for reins. , Qften we would have to wait while • the driver would get out and tie «p the harness. Sometimes every few squares. In <he smaller towns (m Mexico Cfty they are fine) the street cgrs run in pairs. First and second class. I remembea especially coming in from Cholula to Santa Ana. There • were three classes* All sepjra.e cars and donkey teams. The best car always first, the first painted buff and the others green. The conductor takes your money and gives yt>« a tjpket. Then a man gets on later and takes your ticket. Sometimes? they come together. There is no bell punch. All over Mexico special cars can be hired. Then the word “especial" hangs out aad no one attempts to get in. I guess I have not said that these cars are short, dumpy things. I have before spoken of the funeral car. it has a black canopy, in fact built like a* American hearse (only wide like a car) with moddbn black plumes :md wooden black draperies, etc. In the center is a raised dais for the coffin. On the center of the top of the car is a large black cross. These hearses are more or less elaborate, owing to the money expended. Sometimes I have seen the car a very rusty black, and a short shallow coffin painted purple, or bright blue; sometimes black resting upon it. These are usually rented coffins. The rented coffin is very common. Passing through villages J have seen coffins carried on the shoulders of four men. This is cheaper, too. After the funeral car, is usually one or two shabby street cars, with black curtains drawn, marked “especial” in which are the friends of the deceased. One thing more before I leave the city. That is the hotels. All European plan. But this Is what I want to speak about Instead of using a register, they have a great big blackboard, on which your name is written. If you want to know who is in the hotel, look at the blackboard. The chambermaids are usually men. He is also bootblack and porter, and messenger and laundryman for through him your laundry goes to unknown places and is returned with a bill of astonishing size. The lights and towels are famished, bur yon have

to furnish your own soap and matches. I always carry my own soap, of course. But I never have need for matches as you know. One night at the Iturbide the electric lights went out. Our mozo (servant) came with a piece of candle and one match and lighted the candle for us. Miss B asked for anothty match fearing we might need one in the night. He >ent for another and returned and she attempted to take two, but he drew back with alarm and said “no. no,” succeeded by a deluge of Spanish words. We got but one match. Most of Mexican matches are very short and light at both ends. It looked curious at first to see a man light his cigar or cigarette and put the match back in his box. Or a n»n ask for a match, strike one end. and hand it back after using one end. sec , the man receive it, drop it in his box and box in pocket. Miss B and I al- | j ways use one room, but everything !is double in the room. Two beds, etc., 1 just as in Europe. But I must hurry I along ®r I won't set out of the city. We left our hotel at 8 p. m. for Puebla. where we had to buy new tickets in the night for Oaxaca, and re-chgck our trunks. We found the queerest little narrow guage sleeper that made one think of a play house. We interviewed th* Pullman porter and by giving him a fee he promised to get up in the night and buy tickets at Puebla and recheck our trunks. At niie the next morning we itafl to leave the sleeper and get in a day coach, » the sleeper was tadten off. It was the queerest kind of a coach. The read Is owned by s®«e Eaglfehtno* a»d the coaches were built in England up®n supposed Americas ideas. The ceiling is low aad there ie one long seat tkart wiM hold three or tear on o«e siie. then an atele, and a seat for one across the aisle. The bactas reaeh almost t* your shoalder blades aetd after a day’s journey you are nearly dead with fakigue. No afccewantodatien to spoedc es any way. It was hot, a»d we went dewn the msuntad«B ah»ut three thsusand feet. The cars were orowdred. the men smoked and Miss B ware car sick. But some Americans on the train were very nice t» us. In fact we fousd Americans everywhere. We were delayed a* h®w by a wreete, but • Russ telegraphed he feed reserved a room for us at ttee “La Framela," and our minds were at rest in regard to where we would lay our heads. It is a (tee trip down fro®n M-ewlco City, if it do»s tadte a Bight and day to reach it. The valley is beaitaif-ttl coming dow* from Puebla and the casox is grarid. We run dow* quiekly cewiparatively, and k-ept a-t the bottom of the canon for » i»rt of the day. Os course banana trees aad such are seen all along the way. It was nine at night when we reaeked here, tired and warm But we found sueh a quaint, old time hotel here and such good service we ar® charmed. Th® clinwte is ideal. The leather we stay the more loathe w® are to leave. The outside doors which ar.® closed at right, aud ,by which a porter sits all night on a ■bench, wra-pped i« his w*«d a»raq»e (for it ii c*ol at night) are are wide as the bar* doors in the hay bar* at ho**e I me»* where the wagoa drives is and open baek ou heavy hand-made hinges. The dufs are about eight inches thick and are studded vrith nails whose heads are two inches »®ross. Cff course hand mate*. The bottoms of the doors show; their au*o. Iter ar® worn*, eaten and are fringed by tin® fob nearly eighteen inches from the Soar. The upper part of each door seeo®6 solid. The key stonds in the lock all day and is at learet 12 inches Icmg. The floor is pays-d with square red tiles, the joists over head, are ex>os®d, and Os cedar and ahput 25 feet up t® them. The walte are seinent and verf» thick. Tlfis is the passage way into the house, about fifteen feet wife and a sample of the entire house. We go down another long similar passage at right angles to this, across the patio, across another room that is curious, out into a cour£ into anotdier wide 9 passageway, and into another court: another similar passage into our s own particular court. There is still another passage at righb angles into which dhe of our double doors opened beyond which is another court. On ail these courts rooms open. But our room has two sets »f douffle doors, and practically two courts. The front court in which we usually sit, has immense banana trees, a bread fruit tree, mango, the fruit of which is still green, and other trees and fruits and flowers. In this court is the only fountain in the hotel and we hear the trickling of its waters day and night. In this court we receive the golden sunshine through the broad green leaves, and the moon at night pours a flood of glorious light. The days are fine. We go somewhere every morning and usually wind up at one of the parks usually the Llano, a beautiful park with immense cedars six and eight feet in diameter; orange, banana, grape fruit, pomegranates, roses, bougainvillia, palms, fountains everything you can think of in great profusion of bloom and fruit. Certain times one of the fine state bands gives a concert here and then you see the elite of the city. Thursday and Sunday

. are the evenings. Almost every evening we walk over to the Plaza de Ari mas in front of the cathedra' and sit ■ till ten o’clock. It is only a little *ver • a square from here. The street scenes ’ here are so interesting. Such queer > costumes. Some of these Indians dress the strangest I ever saw. The market is a sight for sure. Not only ■ the fruits and flowers but the articles i for sg.le and the peoples. Then on the street. Oxen only are used for labor. Immense wooden wheels that look as if they were cut by hand out of a log, and a wide tire put on. The of the wagon is by poles, being put upright around the bed of the cart and then a straw mat fastened around the poles. In this they haul sand, lime or anything. Itie ft>p when they have one is made of berft poles, and straw mats hung over them. The [yoke is always fastened to the oxen’s ' horns, never any on the neck. The water carriers are curious, too. They are seen all tteer Mexico. Every town* of any size has a fountain. The larger the town the more fountains for public use. Here Jhe water used in the homes is carried in earthen jans on the head of women, or in panniers on donkeys, by men. Farther *orth they also use square tin canS, each holding ateowt tw® gallons of water, usually hang ing by a rope, to a yotoe, carried oh a man’s shoulders, the eans balancing each other. But the fatalrer south you go, thp m*re picturesque every thi*g becomes. The >®or people ®arry their own water, the better elares buy theiss from the carriers. All the cities bawe a splendid water system, ■and the best houses have the water in them. The water always eemes fc»m the mtuntai&s wtoicTi are artwtaqw in sight somewhere. This is a wery ®lf city, and were a large city when C®rtez icame in 1500 and something Songet which wars made Marquts of Oaana in 1529, and of caurse he htftl a partake here, asd etre a few mHes ki tee a*un•try. Ih 1538 the BishopM* ®f Oaresa was established and tke »at-h»yjtead ■c*»meneed ia 1653. Its w«aHs begun in 1610, aed was 120 years in bu-iidt-ng ■and cest tw® railMsn deNaas. It is very large, and has seven chapels oa each si*e of ibe large *a*»e. 'We west is it f-requestly. The Chureh of Shoh® Domte»ge is very intereetkgg. Mot o*ly for its peeul-re* heasty; hwt ter its hiaiery, which is cost-rested very much with the h-istery of the rept*lte. At o*e time it was sold t* be the Saest i* He«kc*. The lite siee nf the s«*te were i* relief aed eevered with gold and so were the wsadte. But ■dariag one of the hevelutioMs s*ldters quartered Ih the adjomtee mwit. scraped meet of the gold ®4f-. B*t it h-as since been festered, it is saW, at a ■cest of 13 nwllion dollars, wtehte if tare makes it the most cestly church tettildi*g e* this contieeat. The ceilifig is saritets life swe, i* relief, with goldwn robes and gulden mednteiwws. It «»■- net be heserihed by pen. I )»v® "fiwe churches everywhere tert *ever aaythiwg IS® l this eteuceh. either fa® u»iq»e dvsichs er la-vh* ■»«***«iitsr« of gold. I will have te tsil ysa abow. it when I co®«e ho«*e. I thtek I sent ■y«* a eard she-wiirg a pant off th® eetli*g. W® went t® see La *sdedsd a»other old chwrck. Th* yarrow »ai*t o& Oaxaca is the VirgiM es La Soledad. ,fr *re ladtes we w*t said they wxtad ■ *s to see the robes’crf the Virgin aad her crown. That a bta*k velvet robe tie virgi* tare is werth several millten ' I think they sqpd. I forger They woald get yeratisedwt froM the ar®h- : bishop, fte keeps it h his palar®. although the* pdbple tkiadr it is i* the church of La fleledred. ¥tae virgin 1.35» ritags, dioanonteß, e®«raids, ru- , hies; etc. Tke wonfcrfai r®he as ere- ■ broiderech ia pearlre ante previous *■ stoiaes. The y®aag ladies are grdhd ■ nieces «ff an in Cinnnti. The inext. time .we saw thy Itnites which ■ [was ia a ®couple daws, they said bish®p had gqne to Bilhea, dVdte. tee S 3 , day before aad the rohe was .loclfed in his palace and he had taten the ■ key to the chest or wardffobe whatever it is. They regretted very n|ych noti . being able to show it to us, and wff® • regretted not seeing the wonderful • robe as very few people get to see it. . We saw the image of ftie Virgin <in a glass case on the high Star in the ’ i church, wearing a perfectly , .black velvet robe. She is said to be : “the virgin in the world.” ■ I notice the bishops ant? archbishops : are very fond of going to Spain. We I have been in several cities where they I told us “the bishop has gone to Spain." • There are other interesting churches ■ that J have not time to mention. I t must -bay that Porfirfo Diaz, the pres- - ent president of Mexico was born here, . as well as their first president, Benito I Juarez, two great men who have done . great things for their country. One I day we went to Monte Alban, four 3 or five miles from the city. We were t to start at half past six in the momt ing. Paul Wooten and Hugh Hite in- , vited us. They came with a carriage, -and the drive in the early morning was 5 delightful. The driver went as far f up the mountain as he could, then we a had to walk or rather climb. A pre- - historic city on top of the mountains a rewarded us for our climb. The masr onry is as solid as thought made yes-

■ terday. But I will have to wait and • I tell you. B and I had an engagement at eleven to go with some ladies ; to visit a school of embroidery, we had [ a luncheon for nan past one, so we inaa to hurry. We did not get back .: till half past twelve, and therefore [ missed our half past eleven engagei ment. We had to cool off and dress [and be ready for our guests, six, by -1 half past one. We just made it. At : five we were invited to a tea so the day j was full. But every day is full. After ' I send this letter I will think of so ' f (ma»y things I wanted to say. AnMother day a party of us went up the -mountain in another direction to the ■headwaters of the city’s water supply, ' an aqueduct in use when Cortez came and still iji use. Some of the streets ' [ the sewers are opjn and run through the middle of the streets, water from , this aqueduct running through them. But they say a contract has been given < to make sewers within the next two . years, and this will be done away , with. But I must close. I will write , to Matie in a few days. I wish I had time to write as long again letter. I would not exhaust the interesting things in Oaxaca or Mexico. It seems . te me this is the ideal place for any . one w’ith throat or lung trouble. It is perpetual sunshine 5,000 feet above sea level. But it is so late J must close. With much love to all, , Elizabeth Morrison — o — A MEW CASE FILED Otis Jwiay Wants Damage from J. 3. Ford for Breach ©f Contract l ______ I. Earl Peters, of the Daily Demo- 1 . crat oSce, has received his appointme*t as a notary public and filed his bofli for SI,OOO. Jacob Heller has been granted letters of guardianship for Owen P. Gilbert and filed bond for $1,200 signed by J W. Stoneburner and John Fuhrman. Clark J. Lutz filed a new case in Which Otia O. Juday is plaintiff and J S. Ford is defendant. Juday says in his complaint that on March 7th, 1908, 4ie contracted with Ford for the purchase of four oil wells on the George F. Glendening form and one well on the Charles F Watson farm, i* Hartford township,and to bind said bargain, deposited his note for S7OO iq the Geneva bank. Since that date however, t>he defendant has absolutely failed and refused to turn over said property and Juday now demands for breaqh of said contract. o WAS NOT TO BLAME. •itere His Sid® of the Recent Fistic Bncounter. 6 William Richards, whose name was ■rationed as one of the participants in a flstic encounter, called last evening an< told his version of the trouble. 0 Mr. Richards has lived in this communty all his life, is an industrious, straightforward and upright citizen, whose statements we thoroughly believe. He says he was not trying to keep Sprunger and his wife apart, but itjftead was° doing all in his power to induce them to live together. Mrs. •pi linger had lived at. the Richards home eighty days and Sprunger flatly refused to ta&e ctfre of her and their little blind baby. When Richards insisted he should, Zack Jumped from bih buggy and struck him in the left eye. In the mixup that followed Sprunger was glad to promise that he would care for his family. Richards j pai<£ his fine to avoid calling his ’ eigffibors in court as witnesses, though he says he could have easily have proven that he was blameless in the entire affair. i «— „ JACK GRAVES GOES FREE. Mtersaw Lawyer Acquitted of Embezzlement Charge, Warsaw, Ind., April 10.—Late this afternoon a jury in the Kosciusko circuit court in the embezzlement case of the state against Attorney John C. Graves, of Warsaw, formerly of Morocco, returned a verdict of not guilty. The case occupied the entire time of the court all week, the hearing being before Special Judge Samuel E. . Cook, of Huntington. It was alleged that Graves wrongfully appropriated , about $2.54)0 belonging to the Arbuckle- , Ryan Harvester company, of Toledo, . Ohio. The jury in the first trial returned a verdict of guilty and fixed t the defendant’s punishment at thirty . days’ confinement in the county jail . and a fine of SIOO. Subsequently a new trial was granted by Judge Lem- , uel W. Royse. Miss Arminta Jackson came in on . a morning ear from Fort Ways* , where she was the guest of relatives. ■ She went to her home at Cralgville ■ on the 10:32 train.

i A SURPRISE PARTY Given for Mr. Odes GouldMrs. Eady Entertained the Ladies Aid At the home of Mrs. Sachet and Mrs. Mary Gould on rural route ten, occurred a pleasant surprise which j en in honor of Mr. odes Gould, it being a farewell to Odes for the summer, as he is going to Marion to work. Certainly a good time was enjoyed by all present, as the evening was spent in games and a good old fashioned taffy pulling, and truly there was pulling agoing. At a late hour the guests departed wishing Odes many more such happy meetings. Those present were: Messrs. Frank Nye. Henry Cook, Lewis Stump, Realy Gilbert, Clyde Mock, Floyd Martz, Christopher Spangler. John Lanniman, Luther Wolfe, Orvill Wells and Lewis Lanniman, Misses Maud Martz. Tina Lanniman, Ona Durbin, Myra Wolfe, Nella Lanniman, Oda Robinson, Addie Haggard. Osa Durbin and Ida Brandyberry. Mrs. Jacob Eady entertained the Ladles’ Aid society of the Christian church Friday afternoon in a very delightful manner at her home on Ninth street. During the business session the reports of the year were given and $118.86 were the proceeds of the year. After this session a dainty luncheon ■was served by the hostess. The attendance was splendid for the afternoon. The next meeting will be with Mrs. A. M. Fisher in two weeks at her home on Fourth street. The Ladles’ Home Missionary society of the Methodist church met at the home of Mr. D. D. Heller last and spent a very pleasant afternoon. After the society was called to order by the president, Mrs. Heller, the hostess read a splendid paper on “Child Labor’’ which was certainly interesting and full of information concerning the subject. During the afternoon the following officers were elected for this year's work: President, Mrs. John Niblick; vice president, Mrs. D. D. Heller; secretary, Mrs. Fred Mills; assistant secretary, Mrs Paul Hooper; [ treasurer, Mrs. Joe Helm; assistant treasurer, Mrs. J. M. Miller; corresponding secretary. Mrs. W. H. Nachtrieb; secretary of literature. Miss Nellie Blackburn; mite box secretary, Mrs. W. J. Meyers; assistant mite box secretary. Mrs. W. J. Gilpin. The committees of the society were appointed by the president, but are not completed. TO SING FOR DR. CHAPMAN. Ernest Naftzger. of Indiana Joins Famous Evangelist. Ernest Naftzger, the son of Dr. Leslie J. Naftzger, presiding elder of the Muncie district of the North In-1 diana conference of the Methodist i Episcopal church, has practically 1 signed up a contract as the singing I exangelist of Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman, I the noted evangelist. Although the details of the matter have not been i signed up it is thought that young | Naftzger will be with Dr. Chapman in | his next tour of the United States. He | has been acting in the capacity of' singing evangelist for Dr. Elliott where ' the latter has been conducting meetings in the New England states for about a year past. Dr. Chapman and Mr. Naftzger are now in Philadelphia 1 and the change he has decided upon was made in the past few days. o — K. OF P, DEGREE WORK. Conferred at Last Meeting—More to Follow. The first and second rank work done at the K. P. hall Thursday night was witnessed by a large assemblage and the members of the degree staff acquitted themselves grandly in the initiatory work. Every chair in the hall was occupied when the meeting was called to order and after business rou- , tine an elaborate banquet wni served. Next Thursday night third rank work will be conferred and every lodge member. especially the third degree team are urgently requested to be present me K. of P. lodge is in excellent con dition and many new members have been taken in during the recent months We are informed that there will be degree work at each meeting for weeks and a glorious time is anticipated. Each member of this order should be present at all the meetings if possible and assist i n advancing the interest of the organizaiton. Louis Corbin, the veteran painter, «ho resided In this city for many years, going to Portland several years ago to make his home, has returned -o the city and will g 0 into the painting business in the old Smith Bros’

MANY GOOD TALK! Were Delivered and a Roya Time Was Experienced —Large Audience The reception given for Dr. and Mn C. B. Wilcox Friday night at the churd parlors was not only well attended bu was a social succesa in every respect At the time stated for the opening o the session, the lecture room and gal lery were well occupied, representin nearly every denomination in the cifl and the welcome accorded Dr. an Mrs. Wilcox and their son Herald, wi without doubt long be remembered fe every one present. Promptly at 8:2 o’clock the program opened by a si lection by the Loch band. Under th leadership of Cuanes Loch the boy acquitted themselves grandly and wei loudly applauded. Miss Florine E( wards then executed a beautiful piaq solo and her cleverness was well a; predated. Don Burke followed by 1 violin solo with Miss Grace McKea at piano, which greatly enthused th vast audience. Jonas Tritch then, i behalf of the Epworth League, undi whose auspices the social function wt given, delivered a short address I which he paid tribute to the clevi work that has been done by Dr. at Mrs. Wilcox and the accomplishmeni they have achieved during the p» year. In closing Mr. Tritch, who js j enthusiastic church worker, in beha of the league, extended a hearty w< come to the minister and family, sta ing that the league would make a effort to support him as best the could. Mrs. John Niblick followed at in a few well chosen words she e pressed the sentiment of the Sundt schol, In that the pastoral work of D Wilcox was much appreciated. Re Spetnagle, the Presbyterian ministe was then called upon to represent tl ministerial association in an addrei of welcome and his talk was excelleß Intermingled with humorous sayin; and a funny story, which were fits.ii to the occasion, he expressed the heai felt thanks of the ministers for the t turn of Dr. Wilcox. Hon. J. W. Ty dall followed and represented the c izens of Decatur in a talk that is tl [precise sentiment of the people. I started by saying “There is a gra strip of land in northeast Indian twelve miles wide and twenty-so miles long known as Adams coun the south part of which is celebrat for containing the raging waters the Wabash, while the north "is ce bratea ior the quiet, placid strea the St. Marys, upon the west ba of which the city of Decatur is bu Mr. Tyndall indulged in a vein of hun that brought much laughter from t audience after which in all sincer he paid tribute to the efficient work the pastor and told of how glad I citizens are for their return. As hearing the many good things s; : about him and family. Dr. Wilcox, | behalf of his family, in return si that, however glad the people n jbe for their return, he and wife s ' son are more glad that they have t the opportunity to remain with t hospitable people. He talked at len; about the progress of the church s ' closed by repeating a verse of poe i that expressed his sentiments. 1 I Misses Carrie Thomas and Marie .4 ■ son then rendered a beautiful pil duet which captivated the audiei and this was followed by a select by the sophomore quartet who splendidly. This closed the progi and as the band rendered several lections the guests were served a delicious luncheon, which was ideal climax to the prominent so event. I WILL LECTURE MONDAY NIGfl President Mackintosh, of Wabash 4B lege to be Here. £ President C. L. Machintosh, of Cfl fordsville, will lecture in the PM byterian church next Monday evei® April 13th, at 7:30 o’clock. Dr. MM intosh is a public speaker of cotM erable reputation and no doubt ■ give an excellent lecture. Mr. MM intosh will talk on some theme slfl ing the importance of an educaß and his lecture should be heardß every citizen in our city who terested in the welfare of our isl and girls. The lecture will be freM charge to all who may wish to Everybody is Invited. M o Dr. Chas. Good, of Warren. can candidate for congress not fled with the excitement of the rion convention at which he was inated. will tackle the Elks Bluffton next Tuesday evening. of the Montpelier members of thM| der will go over to see the fun — peller Herald. ® Mrs Lucy E. Luckey left for her home at Indianapolis. En Jg home she will visit a few days brother, Mr. Frank Stone and at Fort Wayne. ijS