Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
Written expressly for the Greenbrier Inde-
pendent.
Love and Adventure i'm Mexico.

Love and Adventure i'm Mexico.
One who has witnessed the mir
ages so common on the staked plains
and in other parts of the United
States, seeing towns and lakes and
living creatures where none exist
can readily believe marvellous ac-
counts of these spectral scenes.
And who that has visited the era
ters and canyons and lava fields of
the Rocky Mountains is prepared to
doubt the effect of earthquakes and
volcanoes? So 1 gave heed to the
story of his travels in old Mexico as
related by my young friend, Mr..
Calmes. Said he:
After roaming in the States
went to Mexico, and having tired
Of the coasts and cities, purchased
a pony and started alone to the most
untrequented and least known parts
of the interior. Nor was actuated
by love Of adventure more than Gu
pidity. l hoped to find rich miner
ais from which fortune could be
made quickly.
Leaving Chihuahua, and going to.
ward the Occident, my route lay
over low mountain ranges and
through wide valleys. The short,
parched grass, chapparels and mes.
quite bushes, the amazing variety of
cactus. big herds of long-honed cat
tie, scrubby and wild, fiocks of sheep
and goats, strange birds and small
game, with which I was familiar, at
tracted attention.
The little, thick walled, adobe
houses, close to great springs or Ir-
rigating bitches, and at times located
in pretty gardens and groves of or
anges and lemons were all new to
me. The farmers live in communi-
ties, many of them getting water
from the same spring and cultivat-
ing parts of the same field, one main
ditch irrigating the whole.
Having some knowledge of Span
ish, l found ready entrance to the
homes Of the dusky natives. Their
Sunday attire amused me. Often a
dudish young man wore thirty
dollar hat and a two.dollar cotton
suit, while his sister shone in a rich
skirt of many colors and covered her
head with her grandmother's shawl.
The fare was homely-kid, mutton
and sour light-bread, or corn bread
and beans. The Mexican is as fond
of his frijoles, or beans, as the Kan
san Is of potatoes, and eats them ev-
cry meal. The corn is mashed be-
tween two stones by the women,
and is thus prepared at each meal.
Occasionally, l watched the young
people as they danced in the fandan-
go on a dirt floor to the dullest of
music.
Once ] was weary OF weeks of
travel, and in handsome, well-fur-
nished adobe house the Sonora was
kind and cultured. Her daughter
was beauty, and ] remained over
Sunday. On Monday my horse was
lame, and, with the bright.eyed, jolly
girl gathered pineapples and figs
and luscious grapes. ! kept an ac-
count of the days, and we ate of the
ripest cane, and on the fieetest po-
nies chasing antelope in her fathers
great pasture. 1 wrote my father in
Virginia tibet had found the fOunt-
ain of perpetual youth-Paradise re-
neWed.
The air was so pure, the scenery
80 good, and my strength so recu-
perated-in short, my heart was SO
full of love that everything looked
lovely.
But the perfection OF bliss as is Its
wont, received sudden shock. On
my table / found note: The
American will please move on, OF
make choice of weapons and meet
me at sunrise in the cottonwood
grove. Jesus Amejo.'
moved on, leaving my fair one
to her swarthy lover. Gloomy ant
respondent l continued west. Get
ting past farming and grazing coun
try saw high rocky mountains IL
front of me, and my horse stumbled
over rough lava rocks in the narrow
straight main trail / was following.
was so very tired and hungry ol
the fifth day, and my heart leape'
for JOY when I heard the barking o