Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-03-19

Louisiana over the road bed o
that famous line called the Sunse
Route. We pass many cotton and can,
plantations where once lived in elegan
old fashioned residences the southern
| planter and slave holder surrounded
with the little log cabins and boarC
shanties some of them now whitewash
ed, the home of the negroes, very many
of which are now occupied by coloret
people, who seem TO be the most happy
Jolly race in existence. We saw many
negroes plowing, some with mules at
tached to modern plow; others with
a single OK and the old wooden plow ol
crooked stick
After trip through the south one
can appreciate the song, Little Ala.
bama Coon, " for often you will see the
little picanninnys in the fields, rolling
and tumbling in the sun while the
daddy" and ''old mammy jimmy are
preparing the ground for the crops.
Occasionally you notice evidence of
northern enterprise in a modern res
idence, well titled fields and fine horses
and carriages.
a few hours ride brought us into the
Teche country along the Teche river
immortalized by Longfellow in Evange-
line. This is where the Acadians set
tied and not many miles from New
Iberia is the neglected grave of Evange-
line.
Crossing into Texas which is also
summer land, we arrive at San Antonia,
a city of $1,000 population. a day is
spent here, where our company are
shown about the city with its many
points OF interest, among which are
The Missions, Fort Sam Houston on
Government hill, Laurel hill, the San
Pedro Springs, the hot sulphur spri pgs.-
State Insane asylum and the old Alamo
building the latter situated in the
center of the present city, surrounded
by new life. and with a large federal
building of graceful architecture
throwing its shadow athwart the an
cient structure. 1t was in the Alamo
where In March, 1896, Col. Davy
Crockett and Col. Bowie with their
heroic band of less than two hundred
Texans perishedin the fearful massacre
that terminated the terrible siege laid
by Santa Anna and his Mexican horde.
A Mexican woman, now III years old,
the only survivor ofthe awful massacre,
still lives in San Antonio. We cross
ed the Rio Grande river into Mexico at
Eagle Pass in the night and on awak
ing found ourselves in a new world
with civilization entirly distinct from
American life manners and customs.
Next week ! shall have more to say re-
lating TO Mexico and will close this
letter with an article from the Mexican
Herald relating 10 our audience with
President Diaz.
The efforts of United States Minister
Ransom to procure for the members of
the Michigan Press Association eXcur-
sion an audience with President DiaA
were successful, the reception having
taken place yesterday at p. M 1t
should be mentioned that the efforts of
Minister Ransom we're reinforced by
very strong letters on behalf OF the AS
sociation presented by Mr.. Osborn to
the President, particularly one from
Hon. Matias Romero, Mexican Minis
ter at Washington, bespeaking for the
Association every courtesy and facility.
Mr. Osborn himself wrote TO President
Diaz some months ago announcing the
intended excursion OF the association
to this country and received an answer
in which the President promised to re-
ceive the party and to extend to them
every courtesy in his power.
President Osborn had notified the
party to be at the Iturbide parlors be-
tween noon and | F. NJ. yesterday to
hear the decision as to the audience So
'tSNNN WI b1ilelil VI lllG tNS'CNiNNiVh' -
1920 U. 5. Minister Ransom was in the
courtyard OF the Hotel and on the arri-
val of Mr.. Osborn, he informed him
that the President would receive the
party at the National Palace at Il. NJ.
sharp. They were all there to the
minute and entered the presidential
suite of rooms, headed by U. 5. Minis
ter Ransom, Mr.. and Mrs. Osborne
and Judge Sepulveda, the newly APP
pointed Secretary Of the United States
Legation. When they reached the re-
ception room, they found ii occupied
by brilliant sprnklng Of officers and
high State functionaries, and President
Diaz himself made his entry almost as
soon as the party had been ushered in.
Minister Ransom then made a short
speech, introducing Mr.. Osborn to Cen