Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-01
CORRESPONDENCE.

l
 GORRESPONDENCE
 Second Letter From New Mexico
 Mexican Adobes-The Pra1rfes-mesas
 of Camps Etc.
 LAS VEGAS, New Mexico, Oct. %.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 1 At this point we believe we closed our last
 letter, and, therefore, here we will take up
 the thread of our story. As we came in
 sight of Las Vegas had we been told that we
 were looking upon Jerusalem or some other spot of the Holy Land, we could hardly have been surprised, 50 ancient and historical like | is it in appearance. As we enter it, though, this sense of imagination is removed by a modern station and surrounding buildings. 1 We remained but just long enough to break
 fast when it was suggested by our host that l we take ride up to the Hot Springs, about
 five miles north of the valley, and free our selves from the dust of the different States
 which clung to us as if 10th to part with such
 a company of good fellows. The road to the Springs affords good view of the town, par l ticular1y the old part which was of more in 1 terest to us. The town is situated at the 1 foot of spur of the Rocky Mountains, which l rise too far away to cast shadow upon it's l crumbling walls. It is between six and seven | thousand feet above the sea level and the air l is invigorating and pure unless you get into l close proximity to an adobe hut well stocked ! with Mexicans. Most of the dwelling houses,
 or huts as we would call them, in the old part ] of the town, are built of adobes. Adobe mud is
 in great use, it being made to serve as brick and plaster. It consists simply of the natural clay earth moistened and plastersd on, or made into brick and dried in the sun. It would not have been such a task, imagine, for the children of Israel to have made the requi red number of brick had this material been at their disposal. One story is the average ! height of these adobe dwellings and 8 visit to the roof of one of them shows it to be of the same material as the side walls The ceiling, often in the better class ones consists of cotton cloth tackled to the logs which sup port the dried mud roofs A structure somewhat in the nature of an ornament to the premises are the adobe ovens. Two or three feet in height, dome or beehive like in shape, they form excellent places for baking purposes. A fire is kindled and, after suf- ticient heat has been absorbed by the adobe, it is raked out and the quick biscuit or other article to suit the Mexican palate is substi- tuted. The number of Mexicans that thrive in these miserable looking houses is aston ishing Several families, numbering from ten to dozen or more, snug together when there would seem scarcely room enough for one, and they are apparently contented. Their personal appearance is in keeping with their apartments. One would walk Q long way alone rather than solicit their company. Their chief companions are burros, small donkeys These they use for carting or for riding. A four-in-hand team with covered wagon often constitutes the entire possessions of these swarthy looking people and they are often met on the plains moving from place to place. A jackass not larger, with the exception of it's ears, than a small Shetland pony loaded with father, mother and son is not an uncommon sight.
 The Hot Springs. like those of Arkansas, as far back as tradition goes, have been noted for their curative qualities. A new hotel, which bids fair to surpass anything of the kind in the West, is in process of construc- tion and commands magnificent view of the valley. The yearly increase of visitors to this place demands something of the kind. Availing ourselves of the opportunity to boil, we come forth renewed and refreshed. A venturesome spirit having seized usu- ally quiet and sedate friend with the legal mind from West Haven, the party is induced to mount or straddle 8 burro each and take ride up the canyon. The speed of these ami malls is no way alarming, as short clubs pointed at one end and vigorously used are necessary to Keep them up to walk. We regret that the Mills Guard cannot see their noble chiefbain riding ats the head of this procesSfon,- and again we are reminded of scriptural pictures, but this time instead of Balaam it is Bush and his ass. We safely pass through this experience, however, and return to Las Vegas for nights rest at the Plaza Hotel. The hotel is situated in front of plaza about the size of the park at Broadway, and many nice looking stores, mostly built of adobe, surround it. Not long since the citizens were regaled with the charming sight of a body hanging in mid air on each side of the plaza. They were simply horse thieves and had paid the penal ty. Our preparations for going on to the plains were somewhat more extensive than is customary with the natives or the cowboys.
 It had been announced by an enterprising daily newspaper of Vegas that a party of f'tenderfeet" were in town expecting to visit some of the Waddingham ranches It was our hosts intention, however, to see that we lacked for nothing to make comfortable during our trip, and his foresight was duly appreciated before we returned. Having thoroughly packed a two-horse vehicle with enough provisions to start a first-class groce- " establishment, and added enough blankets to furnish an army with warmth, we entered our English drag. The driver cracked his long whip around the of a fine pair of leaders, and with good wishes from many friends of our host we started out of Vegas in fine style. A turn of two miles brings us to the edge of the prairie, before mounting which we have to cross a creek. Here we receive our first setback. Our wheels sink deep into the treacherous creek and we are stuck and delayed for an hour or more. Fi- nally the genius of 8 well-bred Yankee brought up Madison farm asserts itself, and with system of levers and an arm full of hay he has us out of that creek in no time. If he manage the New Haven Yacht club as well as he did our deliverance from defeat at the u5set, we have no objec- tions to his retaining his position as commo- dore. Our delay causes us to camp after distance of ten or dozen miles, but never theless we are on the open prairie. Darkness is rapidly coming on, and when the sun hides himself it grows cool very quickly. The committee on fire fail to find any wood, but when instructed to hunt for buffalo chips their efforts are rewarded, and soon the fry ing pan sizzles and. the coffee boils. AL though few hours out, OFT capacities are venous and imagine how good everything tastes. Darkness soon drives us to our portable couehes The horses are turned out to wander where they will and all is as still as graveyard. Your correspon- dent, wandering off a little from camp. is op- pressed by the absolute silence ''Naught was heard beneath the skies; the sounds of busy life were still.'' Not chirp from the smallest insect. The stars sparkled in the vault above as if bright spots of fire, and it seems as if a snap or two from them would be a relief
 Not sure of his own powers, your cores pondent tests his vocal organs with yell or two, which rings across the prairie. It comes near being 0 disastrous matter, for our watchful Winnie, who has charge of the rib bons, is reused from his one-eyed slumbers and ventures out from camp with a cooked six shooter leveled in the direction of the sound. But it was not destined that your scribe was to be put out of existence after the manner of a thievin1 cOyote Having broken the si- fence he wandered back to camp there to learn of his narrow escape. The lesson will be borne in mind.
 Four thieknesses of blankets, above and below, with a thick comfortable wrapped around all, forms our covering. The tips of our noses are all that we allow to meet the frosty winds, and verify we begin to believe that we are "tenderfeet" indeed. We sleep, and get hardly asleep when our experienced host sings out, "Come, boys, it's daylight" We turn our eyes eastward and there behold the glorious dawn breaking upon the prairie; a band of deep crimson shading off into a golden hue as it mingles with the deep blue vault, the stars of which are still shining