Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1895 — From “Way in Mexico.” [ARTICLE]

From “Way in Mexico.”

The followiag is an extract from a letter from James L. Alter, a well known Jasperite, and a brother of Lewis S. Alter : Cuidad, Juarez, Mexico. March 23, 1895. I am here among the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, sitting in the hot sun wondering how warm is there. In these parts they seldom have rain and there is no shade except the mountains. But near the Rio Grande they irrigate a great deal. There they have lots of fruit trees which are in full bloom. The Mexicans dress odu; high crowned, broad brimed hats and a scarf around their waists to hold their pants on. The women generally go bareheaded. Some of them are very dark, and homely is no name for them. I thought I saw some ugly people in Indiana, but guess I never did until I came here. They live in one story houses made of pressed blocks about 12 inches square and 4 inches thick, dried in the sun. The roofs are flat, covered with the same material. Sometimes plastered outside and inside with a kind of a white mortar. Such a house would last about a week in Indiana. A few have floors. Their towns are mostly built of stone. The Mexicans are great for pepper etc. They will take an onion, cover it with cayenne pepper and eat it 'down with a relish. Times are very hard but they dare not go in debt, for their creditors can have them put. in. jail, if. only for .5! cents. I stepped into a house that was a store, barber shop and office. There were a number of cocks crowing. They were tied in some convenient place, and whenever trade was dull they would have a cock fight. They have bull fights nearly every Sunday. All kinds of business houses are open on Sunday. In coming to El Paso we crossed about 75 miles of very hilly sandy country, with very little vegetation except cacti and sagebrush. We saw to whs of prairie dogs. It looked like you might step from one hole to another for miles; but as they eat off the grass, the ranchmen are poisoning them by the thousands. Where they irrigate they raise alfalfa for feed. List your land and town property, for sale or trade, with Burget & Penn, the real-estate agents. Their extensive acquaintance with prospective buyers, in Illinois, gives them unusual advantages for quick and favorable sales. Over Twelve Hundred sets of window shades in colors, qualities and prices, never before equalled. You can’t help buying after seeing them .* At Frank B. Meyer’s “Old Reliable” drug store. -.......- -v ■ ;—z Agency for Pratt's Poultry Food, and Stock powder. Frank B. Meyer’s “Old Reliable.”