The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-04-04

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Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
A FTER I had finished school
~ took pleasure trip around the
n world that lasted nearly two
years; and after considering the
different countries that had the pleas
ure of visiting, do not believe could
choose a better or more interesting
subject than Mexico, a country that is
so close to us that few American sight !
seers give it a second thought wheb
contemplating pleasure trip.
At ole time believed, like most of
the American people, that Mexico was
made up of hot weather, dirty, indo-
lent people, with about ninety per cent
of these criminals. You cannot very
we'll blame me, for, being Texan,
cannot forget what befell the Alamo at
San Antonio during the Texas Mexican
war. In fact this bloody deed is still
taught to the children in the public
schools of Texas, thereby causing ha-
tired to exist between the two races
from childhood up.
A Mexican in Texas has hard lot,
and seldom, if ever, gets justice in a
court. They are treated similar to the
negro, only with worse hatred, for the
Mexican will work for small salary,
while the negro demands his worth
and, as is often the case, gets good
deal more. AS a rule, Texas people
never 20 into Mexico, for the reason
that this hatred has been taught them
from the time they were old enough to
realize the horrors of war; and also
that a Mexican is treacherous, has na
gratitude, and would as soon knife his
dearest friend for few dollars as to
eight some wrong.
To show how much gratitude one
Mexican at least had, 1 will tell you how
I was. taken into the Mexican Govern
ment Engineering Department. At
the time of the Galveston storm was
United States government engineer in
charge of earthwork in the cOnstruc-
ton of two forts in that city; but be-
fore this time 1 had been in charge of
harbor improvements, therefore know
ing all the channels in aud around the
bay. The day after the storm some
twenty of us of the engineering depart.
ment rendered our services to the may
or as guards until relieved by the state
troops. The mayor at once accepted
our help, and was put in charge Of the
steamer Lawrence, as held masters
papers and her captain had beer
drowned. This boat was used to carry
the women and children across to Tex
as City, where the railroad was, as wei
as to bring back water and food to th'
unfortunate people in Galveston. L
was while OH this boat that was for
tunate enough to do the Mexican con
sui kindness, tho not knowing at th'
time who or what he was. You can i'm
agine my surprise some three month
later to be offered position in tn
Mexican engineering department at al
most double the salary that Uncle San
was paying me. 1t was more for tn
purpose of studying these peculiar pee
pie that 1 accepted the offer, rathe
than the salary consideration.
At another time, and while in Mex
leo, had discharged a peon for drink
ing during the week days when wOr
was far behind. While passing dow
the street one day in Guanajuato wit
one of the men from camp, / was Sc
upon by this same fellow who had
knife that looked to ne to be abor
three feet long. The Mexican who We
with me coofly stepped between us an
received the blow in his side. Agai
while travelling between Rincon an
.Guanajuato, we ran out of water. v
all knew that the nearest water W;
some seventy-ive miles away. Aft
walking for thirty-six hours without
drink, over mountains and sand un'
my strength was exhausted, Mexics
handed me his canteen that contain'
about half a glass of water. He h'
been saving this for me for forty hour
and when l tried to express my than
few days later, he simply said: "Y'
gave me q position when l need
work, and I never forget q kindness