Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-06-21
ssA JUMPING.OFF PLACE."
Town Which VIII he a Gateway to
MexIco.-A Mexican Audience.

place" for this part Of the country,
writes correspondent from Laredo,
Tex. Here it is that the Missouri Pa
! cilic system finds its most extreme
southern end, while from here the
/ Mexican National, and t0-be-built In
ternational roads, take their start and
shoot southwark to the city of Mexico,
some 800 miles distant. The place is
destined, at no very distant day, to be
an important stopping point, as it is
directly on the route Of travel between
the United States and Mexico. Laredo,
take it as a whole, consists of two
parts, North Laredo. located in the
United States, and South Laredo, which
is upon the opposite shore of the Rio
Grande river, in the republic of MeXi-
co. The combined population of the
two towns is about $4,000. North
Laredo has little the larger popula-
tion, and is by far the more civilized
and enterprising part. Most of the
inhabitants of both sides are MeXicans,
| although on the Texas side there are q
larger number of white people, most of
whom, if not engaged on some OF the
railroads, are interested in business or
land in the vicinity.
Laredo is not an inviting looking
place, and does not offer many induce.
ments to a person who wishes to live
in decent comfortable style. The
soil on which the town is located is
sandy, with some cactus, small bushes
or dwarfed trees growing here and
there. When the wind blows Justify, a
fine alkali dust is distributed all over,
and is anything but good for clothes or
the eyesight. The houses and most all
other buildings are low and fiat and
uninviting in appearance. The bank
building, court house, post office and
few other buildings are, however, sub
stantial appearing, good sized brick
structures, which have been built of
late by the Americans The hotels
are verltable curioSitieS, and, although
not serving as appetizing meals as one
would obtain at home, get up pretty
fair eatahles. All milk used is obtain
ed from goats. 1t is hawked about the
streets by MeXicans who ride on a
little donkey, which has a can of the
goats milk suspended on either side.
The drinking water is obtained from
the Rio Grande. 1t has queer, soft
taste, and seems to have little sub
stance. There are scores of MeXicans
here who make their living selling this
water about the streets. Go where
you will down to the river bank, and
you will see from five to twenty Of
these little water carts. They consist
Of large sized barrel mounted on two
wheels, and are drawn, each, by one
little "burro" or Mexican donkey.
wish that | could picture to you the
righteousness of one of these outfits
the "burro" itself is the most comical,
scraggy, tough, Notwithstanding
little creature ever set eyes on. 1t
resembles. for all the world, a huge
rat which has just been drowned out
Of It's hole. The burro has tail
which looks as though it had been
gnawed half off by an Industrious
terrier. The streets are quite narrow
in places, yet again they will be found
wide, wellbuilt and substantial.
Most of the persons seen on the streets
are Mexicans. They all wear the pro-
verbal "sombrero," wide, flowing
trousers, and are frequently wrapped
up in a blanket, generally of some
bright color. A Mexican, when
attired in his street costume, looks
most like the heavy villain one sees on
the stage about the time blood is to be
shed. The people all seem to be ex-
cessively civil and peaceable-anxious
toplease you-do not stare at strangers
but appear to have business of their
own to attend to, and go about it con-
tent not to modest, if left undisturbed.
The Mexican National railroad has it's
main offices at Laredo, on the Texas
side. The buildings are constructed of
brick, are large, substantial, and pre-
sent a good appearance. l went to
see "Blind Tom" the night l arrived
in Laredo. This musical wonder, who
has charmed and mystifled thousands
all over the country for years, has
drifted way down into this edge of
civilization. He drew a good audi
ence, too, and we were greatly interest
ed, as, seated in large and well ven
tilated hall, located over the principal
saloon in the place, 1 gazed upon an
audience which was truly representa-.
tive of frontier life. There were a
few white ladies, generally the wives
of Americans employed by the railroad
company; several Mexican women. in