West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-06-09
DOWN IN OLD MEXICO.
Among the Greasers aud Tropical
Surroundings Generally.
TIJUANA. NENICo.
Nav 10, 1892.

from under the folds of The glorious
old stars and stripes and surroun.
ded on all sides generally by
strange people a peculiar vcgeta.
ton ; hot sandy dusty country, and
everything entirely different to
West Virginia. We came down
here from San Diego, California.
this forenoon, distance of about
twenty miles. We came via. the
National City & Otay r. II. to the
frontier and were met there by car
riages and stages. This is in Lower
California, which belongs to Mex
leo. Out towards the ocean from
here is very beautiful monument,
to mark the boundary line and
right where we crossed is n dressed
stone, about two feet square, with
iron plating on it, marking the
line between Uncle Sam and Presi-
dent Diaz. stood across it. with
one foot in the United States and
one in Mexico aud thought of the
time when we licked the Greasers
clean out of their boots aud acquired
so much of their territory. Our
party, about GOO in all, just stormcd
the post -ofli &C here and bought out
all the stamps, envelopes and paper
OH hand. to write back to their
friends, just for the novelty Of
writing home from foreign coun-
try. The Mexican postmaster and
his assistant could talk but very
little English. but seemed to under
stand it pretty we'll. The postage
OH letters to the United States
from Mexico is FIVE cents, although
Uncle Sam is more liberal and only
charges two cents to Mexico. For
about an hour the post-oflice was
literally besIcgcd and over run and
at least thousand letters were has
tily written and mailed. Then the
crowd scattered through the town,
the ladies looking through the
curio stores and buying memeutoes
of the place TO take home, while the
men were drinking mescal, tho
national drink. and smoking Mcxi-
can cigars. We are allowed to take
nothing away with us except the
little souvenirs, unless we pay GUS
tom duties. The principal building
OF the place IS the Custom House,
presided over by swarthy looking
officials and guarded by little
squad Of Mexican soldiers, who are
a fierce and villainous looking set.
The people watched us from the
doors and windows Of their small
houses with as much interest as we
took ih them. Some of the young
girls are right good looking and
have very black hair and eyes. 1t
is as warm here now as it ever gets
in Kingwood, and the ladies are
tanning themselves and the men
wiping the persplration from their
faces with their handkerchiefs. /
have just been over and sampled a
bottle Of their beer and feel better.
The mescal is too hot and fiery to
drink now. Our crowd examined
the Custom House with great
deal Of curiosity and got the official
seal on their pocket kerchiefs, cards
etc. The Mexican official is very
oblig1ng and stamps everything
offered him in machine like way.
The agricultural resources around
beie seem TO be limited and but
little ground is cultivated, prime.
pally on account Of the want Of
thrift and general laziness Of the
people. Tho level land is sandy
| ana dry ana requires irrigation to
make it produce anything. This
cost lots Of money and the people
seem TO be content with Just
enough to live on, and as it is so
warm here, / don't blame them
much for being lazy. The manners
and customs Of the people in this
old-new country, interest me
greatly and / am sorry that / can
not see more Of them, but we 90
back to San Diego this evening and
\ the protection Of the stars and
stripes. This kind Of protection"
we all believe in, irrespective Of age,
sex, color, politics or previous CON
dItion Of servitude. The cactus,
palms, sage brush, pepper trees,
and in fact all Of the shrubbery and
\ vegetation here is different from
that 1T home. / see nothing like
We have, but / wouldn't trade the
C West Virginia Hills " for all the
sand and greasers IN Mexico.
/ About the most interesting plant
bowo voffcod fo au -, =, o....,.