The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-06-25

the world than many with large in
comes. Of course it isn't SO hard for me,
because have always been used to it,
the troubles happened before my time;
but often think how you, dear mamma,
must suffer, who once had everything SO
very different. Why are there not be-
nevolent rich people who find out about
the cases of nice, deserving families
whose money was made away with by
faithless trustees, and in some artful
way set them on their feet again? That
would be true charity | am sure, in
their case, should like nothing better
than playing the good fairy in that way.
Well, we'll, this is a long way to come to
write you on matters we have discussed
thousand times at home. You will
think your daughter-and sister-could
hardly have gone farther and Jared worse,
if she is going to be impressed in this
way by the opulence Of her hospitable
Mexican hosts.
81 asked Don Walter Arroyo-their
Don means only the same as our Mr.,
though it always seems as if it ought g
mean great deal more-if we are al
likely to be blown up some fine day,
living recklessly in the orator of vol
cano," the writer continued.
al hardly think So, he answered,
smiling at my idea. You see the rather
permanent look of things around us, and
believe Popocatepetl has had no erup-
ton for some thousands of years.
" so much the more reason why it
should happen now | said, fippantly,
for there was a slight irony in his tone,
though | declare it to you have only
lately begun to get over breathing gin
gerly on this account, and waking up Of
nights to think about it.
"'You will not deny that such things
can happen and have happenedy went
on, more seriously. 4 am sure before
Vesuvius broke out and swallowed up
Pompeii the ancients had looked upon it
as wholly extinct. and never thought Of
it in any other way. | remember, too,
that Spartacus was besieged there by a
Roman army, on plain that then exist
ed in the top of it. The wonder to me
is that people ever get up confidence
enough to do anything in such insecure
places.
don Walter Arroyo looked as if he
were a little surprised at my reading
as, to tell the truth, | was myself.
These are some Of the small risks
one takes in life, he said, appearing by
no means overcome with terror And
you do the poor earthquake and volcano
injustice, too. They have many good
! points about them
"'Such as what, | should like to
know?
"'They are a vent for surplus heat,
and they keep up the necessary inequali-
ties Of the earth's surface, which would
otherwise soon be polished down by the
elements as smooth as billiard ball
"'The earthquake ought to honor it's
able defender, if possible. by special ex-
emptions, rejoined.,
'It was a long time since had leased
anybody, and felt rather like it.
He only bowed, in his smiling way,
however, and concluded with this which
I thought quite striking*
"'For my part, am not so much sur
prised at the instability Of the earth as
it's real solidity. It is one vast network
of cracks and active disturbances, and
the amusing thing is the way men and
their civilized works keep on it, in spite of
all its efforts to shake them off. We ride
it good deal as a vaquero rides an OBJ
stinately bucking pony. and we but
rarely OOTnQ n orriQf 80