Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-11-20
rROMsON,s
ssPersOnal Impressions Of q Trip
TO the Caly OF MexiCO.,s sc.

Most of our readers are acquainted
with VIM. III. Thomson, Esq, of Boat
mems Saving Bank, st. Louis, whose
summer home is in our Valley. and
whose charming family enliven our
society every summer.
Allknew him to be gentleman, but
what follows. proves that he is both "a
gentleman and a schotar-"
Tie following well mer:ted AMI grace
full review of Mr.. Thomson's recent lit
tie book of travel, we take from a late
number of the Missouri Republican,
and is from the discriminating pen OF
Judge Emerson.
siThe writer has just finished the perusai of
brochure of A pages entitled Personal
impressions of trip to the City of Mexico,
and through California on the good car 'Ly-
coming in the spring time of 1884," and
feel the temptation too strong TO be resisted,
to tell your readers what delightfully."- pleas
urble hour Is within their reach.
The little volume is from the. pen of VIM.
III. Thomson, Esq. of the Boatmen's bank,
and is in the form of brief diary ola most
extended and interesting trip over much new
route of travel. Indeed, the little volume Is
not only interesting, it is highly instructive.
Every page is stamped with the impress of
the thorough man of business whose words
are as precious as his hours, and who gives
his readers such brief but vivid giimpses of
country and people as he himself catches in
his rapid journey; but they are indeed riuid
flashes, sparkling with all the keen insight
into character, born of marvellous powers of
observation and wide sympathies, and withal
a power of transmitting those impressions
to the minds of his readers equalled by very
few writer's of celebrity.
am quite sure the man or the woman of
"no leisure to read" or the utilitarian or any
other, will find nowhere else SO rived and so
discriminating picture of Mexican life in so
brief form.
One picks up and reads the little brochure
with telling that he is feastingon surprises;
for If the long journey was full of curves and
SURPRISE to that vivacious company in the
"Lycoming," the writer manages in most
artistic way to communicate those sudden
views and surprises to his readers. The lit
tie story is all aglow with the warmth and
joyous animation of the company as each
moment passed on the long journey.
Mr.. Thomson makes the trip in a special
car, having for companions his wife and a
half dozen friends. They go through Kansas,
New Mexico, cross into Old Mexico at Ell Pas
so; thence to Chihuahua and the City of
Mexico. Everything that keen eyes can see
is seen and described, from the poor peasant
to the silver adorned cathedral; the public
worship and the public sports; the country,
cities, business, hotels and customs. The
trip proceeds thence through Northwest
Mexico and across the line again under the
folds of the ''fiag of our country" and thence
by the Southern Pacific through Arizona,
Southern California, and eventually back
home by the Central and Union Pacific, stop
ping ample time at all points in California,
Salt Lake and Colorado.
The entire journey, embracing in the
unique and graphic grouping of the author:
''Nearly ten thousand miles of railroading
under the most delightful auspices and both
Mexican and American flags, have passed
fertile valleys, barren plains and lofty noun
dazzled with snow; drunk the palque of
Mexico, the wine of California and the soda
of Colorado; seen the Mexican living in his
hole in the ground, the hinese in his crowd
ed smoky hut, the Indian i'm his wigwam, the
ranchman with his thousand horses. sheep
and cattle, the farmer with his orange groves
and vineyards, the gaily mounted Mexican
prince, the wealthy Californian with his
acres of lawn and field, his lovely flower gar
den, elegant mansion and splendid teams of
horses, and the Mormon with his numerous
wives. The sun has burnt us at times and
we have stood on snow 80 feet deep-have
ridden ''four-in hand" at three minute
gait over smooth roads and through beautiful
estates. The track over which we've passed
with SO much comfort and safety is, at one
point laid 2s7 feet below, and another 900
feet above the level of the sea. Have whirl-
ed over high trestle and dashing streams,
through deep tunnels and under long snow
sheds. Traversed the sandy desert and
much more fills our memory of the past six
weeks, but still there is no dissenting voice
to the unanimous verdict
"There's no place like home."'
And when the reader is assured that every
mile in this long and eyentful trip, each note
worthy thing that was seen and every event
which happened, is detailed with sparkling
vivacity, he may judge of the pleasure of a
perusaf of Mr.. Thomson's charming descrip-
tion."
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