Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-08-01
"REUBEN THE GUIDE."

and other points during the winter
and spring just passed. In one OF the
letters received mention was made OF
a trip into Ni-xlco under the dire elton
of "Reuben the Guide'', whose very
courteous attention won the respect
of the party. The following letters
are self explanatory:
SAN DIEGO, CAL, July IA, 1898.
| EDITOR ORLEANS COUNTY MONITOR,
BARTON, VT.
DEAR SIR:
received a marked copy of your
paper dated June 9th, 1898, contain
ing an article signed "A Traveller
and not knowing the address of your
correspondent, I most earnestly re-
quest you to see that the enclosed
communication reaches her or him,
either through the columns of your
valuable paper Or by mail. In case
you should publish it, if you will send
me a copy of the paper I will return
the favor in the best n I can.
Very Truly Yours,
REUBEN WILLIAMS.
"Reuben the Guide"
SAN DIEGO, CAL, JULY IA, 1898.
To GA TRAvELER":
Some days ago I received a marked
copy of the ORLEANS COUNTY MoNI-
TOR containing your truthful and very
interesting article describing your
trip through this part of the country,
which again proves the truth of the
old saying that we sometimes enter
tain angels unawares. [ desire most
sincerely to thank you not only for
the pleasing manner in which you
mentioned my humble self, but also
on behalf of the various residents and
races I represent to thank you for the
graphic narration of facts in relation
to this delightful cline and it's points
of interest.
| amt see your face,
I don't know your name,
But appreciate your kindness
Just the same.
I escort SO many parties across the
border hat / very often neglect to
impart all the information I possess,
and judge I omitted some in talking
to you. The statement relative to the
Tia Juana River being bottom side up
at this season of the year is literally
true, but it is not always that way. I
remember some years ago when [ was
living continuously in that section,
the river got wet n winter and
turned over and washed everything
off of my ranch except the mortgage.
One particular thing in your letter
gave me great pleasure indeed, and
that was that your friend took my
word. If there is any n thing [
pride myself for above all others Gun
less it be my personal appearance) is
my veracity. I have made it a point
all my life to remember George Wash
ington and his little Ratchet, and I
have never buried the Ratchet. In
fact I have prepared the following
lines and requested my friends to in
scribe them indelli5ly OF my tomb
stone:
I wrote these ines before I died
And passed on to that shining shore:
Here lies "OId Reuben the Guide",
But he never lied before.
I do not remember whether [ told
you the meanings of all our names
around herr Coronado means crown;
Escondido means hidden; Descanso
rest; LaJolla means the caves;
and Tia Juana we'll.
Juana means Aunt Jane,
took her from Spain;
She'll never be theirs again,
SPANS glory's on the wane.
dons blowed up the Maine
And Uncle Sam said "Explain'.
we got war-on us a strain,
And on the Treasury quite a drain.
But we've got money, men and brain,
And the dous are i'll the lane,
And they must remember the Maine.
I notice you mention the fact that
your friend snapped a kodak at me; [
am sorry now that I did not present
you with one of my portraits. ] used
to give away a great many of them,
but they became very popular SO I
had to desist for financial reasons. I
trust, however, that some day I may
have al opportunity of repaying you
for the kindly notice given me. for it
is a pleasure to think, all joking aside,
that in this great cold world there are
at least a few who appreciate earnest
effort, and do not even begrudge a