Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1907-08-15
MEXICAN BOUNDARY MONUMENT.

MEXICAN BOUNDARY MONUMENT.
along the arbitrary portion OF the
boundary west of the Rio Grande, but
most of these landmarks were simply
rude piles of stone. and the ease with
which they could be destroyed or re-
moved was soon discovered by the
nearby settlers, never loath to seize
an opportunity for quarrel with their
neighbors on the other side of the in
ternational fence. Finally, in 1882,
owing to continual boundary quarrels,
a convention to settle them was ar
ranged between the two countries.
But on account OF various delays it
was not until November, 1891, that
members of the International Boundary
Commission were at last appointed
BY the month of June, 1894. all work
along the eutire line. both surveying
and mountaineering, was finished.
TWO hundred and fifty-eight monu-
ments, some of stone, and some of iron,
had been placed along the seven hun
dred miles of boundary west of the Rio
Grande. The intervals between them
were varied to suit the requirements
OF the different religions but the dis
tances averaged about two and three
quarter miles between each two.
Some of the experiences of the MEM
bers of the survy are well worth a more
extended description than can be given
here. The mountainous region for
many miles about Nogales, Ariz, is one
OF the toughest and most arid on the
continent In this neighborhood was
seen for the first time the strange and
ungalnly giant cactus, called the ''su-
guaro" by the Mexicans. Its fruit,
when ripe is used as food by the Pa
pago Indians of the region, who eat it
fresh, dried and preserved. and make
from it, besides, slightly intoxicating
drink. In the broad valley called the
Moreno Flat, west of the BaboQuvari
Mountains and about tifty-hve miles
west OF Nogales, frightful standstorm
was encountered on July 3. 1893
About o'clock in the afternoon a
dense, dark-brown cloud was seen ris-
ing in the south. The brilliant sun was
soon overcast, and in a few moments
after the cloud was first observed the
storm broke in all it's fury. In ten or
fifteen minutes it was as black as mid
night; the atmosphere was filled with
loose soil of the valley to a height Of
several hundred feet; respiration be-
came almost impossible, and 1t was on
" by breathing through handkerchief
held in front of the mouth that sufYo-
cation was avoided In half an hour
the wind began 10 subside, the darkness
diminished. and in little more than
two hours the setting sun shone family
through the dust particles that still
filled the air.
Wonderful mlrages were seen while
crossing the lonely deserts. Just be-
prp be
pear, capped by similar inverted peaks.
which would gradually fatten out into
strange forms. Once a city. with all
It's buildings. appeared in valley to
the northward, but the morning sun
resolved it into a mass of large bowl
ders near the base of mountain. At
another time, on the bare Yuma Desert
the reconnaissance party seemed to be
In level depression, surrounded on
every side by vel tical wall of rock,
hfty 10 one hundred feet high, which
moved with them rs they journeyed
toward the river, but lessened in height
until Ii finally vanished. The COM
monest deception was seen in the heat
o. the day. when beautiful lakes, firing
ca with trees, lay apparently only
~ hundred yards away. The details
ere so r2"fect, even to the reflections
II the water, that the party did net
wonder that thirsty travellers were Of
ten lured from The road to procure this
water, which never could he reached
be mirage distortion of the size and
form of animals was also remarkable.
Ia one case herd Of wild horses was
mistaken Tor herd OF antelope and
followed foi' several miles before the
mistake was discovered. At times
jaek-rabbit would loom up on the de-
sert with the apparent size of COW,
While occasic.ally the legs Of animals
Nouid be so conl.eally heightened as to
make them appear mounted upon stilts.
\ N-w sclence.
Giossomancie is new science" in
trodrced by Miss Erbere No of Paris,
consisting of reading the character by
the form and size of the tongue
The guiding principles are as fol-
lows: * the tongue is long 1t is an in
dication OF frankness; IL it ia short, of
assimilation; If it is broad, OF ex-
pansiveness; If narrow, of concentra-
tion.
When the tongue Is both long and
large ii impies3ffat the possessor is
great gossip, frank 10 disagreea bleness,
and thoughtless. II the tongue be
long and narrow, it's owner is only half
frank, thinking as much as is uttered
but not always uttering all that is
thought.
If the tongue be short and broad,
there is promise Of plenty of gossip
and falsehoods; 1t talks a great deal,
but says little Of what Is really
thought.
n short and narrow, 1t indicates deep
cunning and lying; impenetrability and
prudence. This tongue belongs to those
persons always ready to make mis-
takes, but eager to inspire confidence.