The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-09
A TRAVELLERS BLUNDER.
Igotrant of Spanish, He Demands Ad-
mission Into an Infected House.
Fron the Chicacn TrIhnne-

IOtti tu6 OnlNaBO
A prominent clubman of Ravenswood,
who lays great stress on the Importance
of the youth of our land and the elders
as well becoming linguists to as great an
extent as their, circumstances will allow,
relates IN an interesting manner q little
incident in his life which caused him to
devote so much time to the study of the
languages of other nations
Several years ago he said, "in com
pany with a couple of friends. | took a
leisurelY trip through the southern part
of this country and Mexico. Not one of
US could understand u word of Spanish,
and after we got into the Mexican terri
tory our conversations with the natives
was necessarily of a limited nature, un-
less we happened to come across some
one who had resided on the borderland
long enough 10 learn few Americanisms
'-SOne boiling afternoon we decided to
drive from Llanos. where we were then
stopping at Cruces, thirty miles distant.
The road was clearly defined and was
bordered here and there by the mesquite
bushes and cactus that were sprinkled
over the hillsides. The dazzling light
that was reflected from the white sands
and rocks added to our discomfort, and
before the trip was more than half com
pleted we were heartily sick of it. At
squatted down in one Of the narrow val
leys. 1t was the first dwelling we had
seen since leaving the confines of Llanos,
and as it was near shutdown and the hope
of reaching another that side of Cruces
was small, we proposed trying to spend
the night there.
There were evidences of occupation,
but our repeated vigorous knocks on the
door failed TO elicit any reply We were
haf of for
would show up when his days work was
done, so we waited. To while away the
time we commenced examining piece of
rusty tin tackled to the side of the house.
1t was about a foot square and was orna-
mented with two words. whose meaning
was as much of a mystery to US as San
sCrit would be, and a lot of queer little
characters that looked like the figure 5
turned upside down.
We were seriously considering batter
ing the door down or doing something
else equally desperate, when man APP
peared on the brow of a low hill at the
back of the house. He waved his arms
like mailman when he saw US and tore
pell-mell through the cactus and mes
quite. We could see he was trying to tell
US something, but not till he was within
six feet of US could we distinguish his
words. He spoke in broken English, and
Tue urSg InlnR we nedru was, 'Oudll-poA
here -
1--WE didn't wait to learn anthing more
The man followed us as we hastily re-
treated and asked us if we didn't see the
sign. .1 -.
I'VE pressed on to Cruces that night
! Who the patient was, who took care OF
| him, and how he lived in such close quar-
| ters at all have always been a mystery tC
us, but VIC didn't care to investigate
. 10 rs,
| the health authorities use in Mexico
| don't know, but l made up my mind theu
that l would never again travel through
any country till / was familiar enough
with the language to know a smallpox
sign when l saw it."