The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-12-08
THE CONVERSION
OF DON ENRIQUE.
An EPISODE Of Mexican Railway Life.

is marvellous, miraculous! Why, an
hundred burros could not draw 90 great
a load! Not even an hundred Of the
best horses Of Las Delicias! Come, my
friend, let us instantly depart. OF truth,
it is the work OF the Evil One himself,
and to remain longer would be but to
.epdanger the welfare Of our souls. Let
us never have railroads in our Mexico.
Don Enrique was a provincial Mexi.
can gentleman Who had journeyed in
that good. old-fashioned conveyance,
rattle-trap Of diligeneia, from bis far
away rancho to the frontier town OF
Paso del Norte, where he had been per-
suaded, not q little against his will. to
accompany friend to Ell Paso. on the
Texas side of the Rio Grande, there to
view the wonders being wrought by the
Americans. The fret railroad to enter
FL Paso had juet been completed, and
he saw for the first time in his lie that
wonderful machine. steam locomotive.
Its strange noise filed him with alarm;
the foul smoke pouring from it's stack
almost strangled him; and, awe-stricken
by it's marvellous strength, he finally
gave expression to his emotions. as
shown above. He turned deaf ear to
the laughing remonstrances OF his friend.
meanwhile piously crossing himself and
insisted upon Immediately returning to
the Mexican side Of the river; there. he
felt. they would be safe from the ma
lignsnt influence Of the diabolical ma
chine. And upon arriving at Paso del
Norte, he lost no time in starting back
nipoue, but it was with heavy heart;
las oppressed with the fear that he
COMMITTED heinous sin.
few months later he was informed
! concession for the construction OF
lilroad in Mexico had been granted
American company. whereupon he
a q up his hands in speechless horror.
kaining use of his tongue, he de-
anced the impious government OF bis
3Ca ntry in terms both vigorous and pic
turesque, but that accomplished moth
ing. And when the engineers who
located the line of the road reached
Las Delicias he used all the diplomacy
at his command to turn them aside. but
to no effect, for the road was surveyed
to pass within a mile OF his house.
In due time the graders came. a mot
ley crowd Of rude, rough men who
laughed in his face, and with many an
outburst of impotent rage he saw them
tear an ugly trench across the breadth
of Las Delicias. Then came the track
LAYERS. and he raved and stormed like
one beside himself as the lines Of glitter
ing rails crept up and past his home; he
crossed himself with..pious horror at sight
OF the telegraph wires. He was not in
the least Modified when the railroad
company paid him good. round sum
Cor its right-of-way across his property,
and rejected with superb gesture OF
scorn the annual pass that was also ten
dered him.
mo, no, senor!' he exclaimed. indig-
nantly; 81 was powerless to prevent this
dissertation Of my beloved country, but
/ did what l could. And yet the infa'
nous government has not enacted laws
compelling me to patronize your rail.
road, and until that be done. neither l,
nor my family. nor yet my servants
shall imperil their souls by going near
your trains. Take back the pass to
those who sent it, and tell that l, En-
riaue del Toro, do execrate it and them.
Don Eprioue's opposition gave the