Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-08-14
MY GENTLE FRIEND.

It was the winter of 1890. The new
branch railroad into Phenix, A. T.,
had been running trains for two years,
and invalids Of the east were just be-
ginning to learn that this metropolis Of
the southwestern desert land, with it's
dry air and abundant sunshine, afforded
the finest winter climate on the CONT
nent. At the time write the one train
q day on the little branch railroad con-
Meeting with the main line Of the South
ern Pacific was we'll loaded every day,
and the hotels and boarding houses were
striving in every way to accommodate
the influx Of winter visitors
As is usual in most new western
towns, especially Of the intermountain
region, hotel accommodations were only
mediocre, while the best restaurants
were those connected with the big gam
bling houses.
For several days I had noticed new
conner about the hotels and principal re-
sorts Of the town. His face had strange
ly familiar look to me, yet / could not
recall that I had ever seen it before. He
was faultlessly dressed in clothes Of the
latest pattern, had blond mustache,
and but for his peculiar little gray eyes
l should have pronounced him a very
handsome man.
He seemed to be total stranger, and
as would see him Of all afternoon
around the Commercial House, Or in the
evening watching the games in "The
Capitol" OF "The Palace" and never
talking with any one, I mentally set
him down as the son and heir of some
wealthy family who had sought Win
ter home in the desert that he might re-
turn in the spring "new man..
I suppose I had noticed him for about
week or ten days before either he or I
had the temerity to address the other. I
don't know now which of us spoke first,
but anyway it came about in that free,
open handed way Of addressing stran
ger which prevails in the south and
west. I had been quail shooting that
day, and returning rather late in the
evening went down to The Palace res
taurant for my dinner in my hunting
suit rather than disturb the folks at
home with getting me a late meal.
An old California comrade had been
with me all day, and after ordering our
dinner we went out to the bar to try
one of Franks cocktails. Frank, by the
way Cor Francois, should call him, as
he was French), was comparative
newcomer from New Orleans, and as
mixologist exceeded anything ever be-
fore seen in Arizona. At least SO all the
boys about town said, and the old Has
sayampas re-echoed their sentiment with
hearty "that's whatr'
My comrade and I had disposed Of the
first connection and were discussing the
question Of another Of its same splendid
quality when the stranger spoke Of the
superior excellence of Frank mixtures.
I don't know how it came about, but
presently one or the other Of us said in
the most brotherly fashion, "Won't you
join us?'' to which the reply came,
"The pleasure is mine!' and Of course
it wound up by the pleasure belonging
to both Of us before we again repaired
to the dining room.
Our newly found acquaintance had
ordered his dinner about the same time
as my comrade and myself, so we all
sat down to the same table. I felt rather
honored at this attention Of the stranger,
for in all my observation Of him had
never before noticed him talking with
any other Phenecian. He had voice
as soft and smooth as a woman's, and
as he talked his language indicated the
polished graduate of Yale Or Harvard,
with finish Of European travel.
Now, thought I, will learn some
thing Of this man, where he is from and
who he is
AS the meal progressed I had occa-
sion to ask him to hand me the pepper.
As be did SO he commented upon the
fact that most Of the black pepper served
on restaurant tables was not pepper at
all, but conglomeration of dried leaves
and drugs, much cheaper than the gen.
uine article His talk was learned, even
classical, using medical terms and for
mulas with the familiarity of chemist.
From that he drifted on to places to
spend the winter and incidentally refer
red to the fact that the last three win
tiers previous to this one he had spent
on the Riviera.
A question about Nice and Monaco
seemed to encourage him, and he went
on with glowing description Of these
famous resorts. "And, oh, what glori-
Gus drive it is alorg the Corniche road"
he continued, with the never ending
panorama Of bay and sky with all their
various tints and the magnificent noun
tain background There is certainly
nothing in America and, believe, moth
ing in the world to equal it. Then San
Reno and Bordighera are pretty little
resorts, and the visitor makes mistake
who does not spend portion of his
time there"
II suppose you have visited Genoa"
I interrupted
"Oh, yes, indeed" was the reply.
In fact I spent nearly three months last
winter at Cannes and made the drive to
Genoa several times with coaching par
ties. Too bad you have not splendid
drives here What with such drives as
along La Riviera di Ponente, this won
ierful dry air and beautiful winter sun
thine, Arizona would soon become the
greatest winter resort in the world.
In this strain he talked on, and ! sup
pose we had been at the table nearly