Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-07

American in His SympathieS.
We met Senior Don Juan Donacius Viii
laral the jefe politico (mayoD, who well
coined us cordially to Campo, and invited
us to make his casa grande our home as
long as we remained in San Lucas, which
we gladly did. and never received more
courteous treatment than here in the heart
of Mexico. Although Senior Villaral cannot
speak a word of English, his sympathies
are American. During the SpaniSh-Ameri-
can war a fellow-countryman spoke dis
paraginsly of the American army: falling
to retract. he was promptly knocked down
by our host, who would permit no refiec-
ton to be made. We felt safe under the
roof of this adobe house. whose owner has
more love and veneraton for our flag than
some of those who are protected by 1t.
Senior Vill.raI is a man of means, owning
mines, farms, horses, wagons, cattle and
L store called "Cantena."
The house is MeXican-a large door shuts
the world on the outside. Within is a patio
in which are found flowers, parrots, various
birds. dogs and pet crane. These, with
the family and numerous servants made an
interesting household. We have been
served with a regular Mexican meal Our
hest sat at the head of the table, while
Sonora Nillaral sat at a side table. When
the walters enter with food they present
1t to sonora, and if it meet her approval
she presents it to senior who thereupon
sisted of macaroni eggs, beef, lamb chile
con carne, tortillaS (unleavened brean
friJoles (beans), guyavOte. coffee, native
WINE, cerVeZa grande (beer) from Monterey
and followed by international toasts Ny
room, which is cool and comfortable has
one window. The floor is of clay, on which
native mats are spread. A heavy door
opens TO the patio. There are pegs driven
IN the wall, on which to hang clothing
There are gourds for drinking cups and
Jars for water, which is brought from the
spring at the foot of the hill American
furniture is much used here. Indeed. more
furniture is exported from the United
States to Mexico than to all the SnanishN
American republics.
"A Noisy Night
1t was difficult at first for some of the
party to sleep on account of the pigs in
the corral rubbing against the side of the
mouse and continually grunting We were
startled during the night by the harsh voice
of the sand hill crane in our room, for this
at will. ~ i
observing that a door leading to the
street nad been bricked up. l was told that
a married son of the family had died, leav-
ing WIDOW and child The family again
became one, the second entrance was
closed and all visitors admitted by the front
door During the cool of the morning the
poems not working wrap themselves in their
to the houses in order to keep warm
We are of much interest to the natives
ana they seem to enjoy watching us as
much as we do them. There are droves of
chlldren IN the dusty streets of these towns
SO many in fact and so small that we are
inclined to believe they use incubators in
this part of the country. The girls are mar
RED when very young, and are generally
good-looking They considered old at
thirty. and are often grandmothers at that
age. Hats and bOnnets for women are al
most unknown, and those worn by the la
dies of our party attracted the greatest at
tention and were a source of wonder IN
those wearing the reboza.
The Mining Industry.
There are numerous old and new mines
and prospect holes around San Lucas
Monuments made of cement and white
washed mark the boundary lines of differ
ent properties. The mining is much like
that already described. They sink hole
they make a cross-cut and they drift. The
Spanlards mined by drifting, and the holes
they left are utilized now for prospect pur-
poses. These silver mines contain a large
per cent of lead. They also contain copper.
gold and other metals. The natives are
used entirely to do the heavy work, and
though small of stature, are very strong
and under American foremen accomplish
almost as much as Americans. l am in
formed however, that they and the Chi
ntSe laDOTeTS cannot De crowded. In the
shafts, where it Is warm the costume is
very scant. The shaft is about the only
place where the blanket gives way to fab
ric of lighter weight.
Our team with five mules has arrived
from San Luis camp and we start on our
return trip, stopping to visit the old town
of San Juan Del Rio, where there Is said
to be very pretty and attractive hotel
with patio flled with flowers, plants and
orange trees in bloom, where doves make
their nests. This hotel was originally built
for a private residence, but bandits being
troublesome and there being no bank in
which to deposit money the senior decided
that his wife should go TO Mexico CITY
taking the cars, which were many miles
distant, and carrying their gold to a place
of safety. She had never seen train be-
fore and was nervous and excited with so
much responsibility. When for some rea-
son there was stop made and some con-
fusion she concluded that the bandits had
held up the train, so, opening the window,