Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-03-21
MARGUERITE.

About ten years ago, just after grad
uation at the Bellevue Medical College
and Hospital OF New York city, through
the influence Of important politica
friends / got an appointment as assist
ant surgeon In the United States navy
My vessel was the North Star, connect
ed with the North Pacific Squadron,
and was stationed then at Acapulco, the
most prominent seaport on the west
coast of Mexico.
Hard study had somewhat impaired
my health, but as the disorder was not
constitutional, it was quite likely thai
some travel and sea voyaging would en-.
tirely restore me.
No matter if a PERSONS poor in purse,
if he has good education, and knows
well what he does know, and can use
the knowledge, with good morals and
sound health. he need not fear his abili
ties will not be recognized, sooner OF
later generally later), and patience vii
have sure reward.
| got leave to spend month in reach.
ing my vessel. Therefore / leisurely
journeyed from Washington through
the Southern states to New Orleans. I
took steamer from Havana and Vera
Cruz. From there / had to go across
the country to the City of Mexico, and
thence to Acapulco. [ wished to see as
much of the country as possible, so took
passage In a carriage known as dill
gence. [ soon found it was not as
diligent as could be wished. Our road
lead across the mountains and plains,
following nearly the same track as was
pursued by the American army in our
war with that country just thirty years
ago.
Our party was composed of Senior
Juan Aka, a rich merchant of the CAPT
tai, the Sonora and Senorita Aka, all of
whom had been to Havana on trip OF
pleasure and profit; Hon. julius Per-
chawal, portrait painter going to exc
cute 8 commission from some rich
alcaid Of the interior, who wished to
have his wife painted for once by some
other hand than her maids; myself, be-
sides one, snd-how shall l describe
her ?-she, the most beautiful woman I
have ever seen, and I've been around
the world twice, and I've known its
seven capital cities, beginning with
Paris and ending with Chicago. She
was a creole, and gave her name as
Marguerite.
Our poor artist fell dead in love with
her at first sight, and she slightly en-
couraged him, too, and that with a
woman's tact. Even Don Alka's surli-
ness OF manner was softened by her
presence. The ladies in his train re-
garded her with that covert suspicion
ever shown by one lovely woman for an
other.
As for myself, I stole furtive chances
at her, but really felt no other sentiment
than would IN seeing a perfect statue,
peerless painting, an Illinois sunset,
or Seneca lake some moonlight summer
night. I afterward learned that this
"one fair woman" was born in Louisi-
ana and educatedin Paris. She seemed
TO be well informed on any interesting
subject, and in her low, sweet tones dis
coursed volubly in either French, Span
ish or English. We were already very
merry party as our dirty "greaser "
driver cracked his long, cruel whip over
bis half-fed mules, and we rolled away
from our inn, La Guava, opposite the
plaza, or public square.
Our unescorted young lady seemed to
be well acquainted with the road. She
pointed out many places having some
peculiar interest. But the most fire.
quented spots of Importance were the
little stone crosses stuck up by the road
side, which told where unlucky travellers
had been robbed and murdered by
brigands. These memorials presented
themselves with too startling frequency.
[ don't doubt that each of us had grave
fears of these gentry, but every one
seemed to be too brave, or, rather, too
courteous, to mention them. However,
our lovely entertainer first mentioned
the subject. Her treating it in very
fippant manner soon placed the whole
of us in the very best of spirits, and we
laughed lightly about what might be 6
bloody scene for us also. Our "rare.
pale Marguerite turned her large ano
lustrous black eyes full upon each Of