Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17
A Trip to Old Mexico.
CONTINUED Fl ON first page.)

lights and after a most hazardous trip
we found our hotel, only to find our
ladies had gone to the car.
] In front of the hotel is saloon and
| in this we found teacher who had
been with us all day to better learn
English He opened his heart to me
after an acquaintance, telling ME that
| che fire was kindling that must unseat
present governmental conditions, that
present ignorance that he did not
dare to have his views known as
his head would come off AS we
were thirsty and did not dare to driuk
water we took glass of that that
made Toluca famous, bid him goodbye
and went afoot two miles through
the dark streets to our car, finding
our ladies just getting in; their car
has been off the track. Pulling off
our sweaty garments we are soon
asleep.
The next morning we look out of
the window. Electric cars are pass.
ing down the Paseo On either side
are houses of American architecture.
We are at Aguas Calientes, or to
interpret "hot water springs. /" Here
are located the main repair and car
shops of the Central road and Lots Of
Americans are employed. The city
has about 40, 900 people and is the
greatest manufacturing town in drawn
work in the world. AS ! look ont of
the Car l wonder who all these people
are surrounding our car They hold
up their drawn work and my curiosity
is satisfied. Soon our ladies are out;
it is cheap you fear it is fraud.
While the rest barter take walk.
On the ground along the Paseo are
squatted clumps of natives, eating
their morning meal. l venture near,
what does it consist of,-tOrtillas,
sort of a fiat cake, patted out in the
hand and fried and in the center of
the group large bowl or trough filled
with a reddish bean cooked to Shiny
soup. All the group ate from this
same trough. NY stomach is about to
fail me as see other stuff, and as
wish to retain my breakfast which is
ready at the Chinese eating house, l
only glance at another group and find
they are having the same luxuries.
l look down the Paseo, farmers are
leading their hogs to market. 1t is
novel sight / had never presumed
hog would lead, but they have on a
kind of halter and the hog behaves
| we'll / do not believe our Iowa hog
would associate with these very dis
tant relatives, at least they would be
justified in not doing SO. Running
by us is stream of milk warm
water, about foot deep and three
wide. 1t is very clear; it is the
stream from the hot springs for which
the city is named.
We get breakfast, take the electric
car and are landed at the Plaza.
Right here let me say a word for the
Plaza or public resting places OF
Mexico. In no place in our country
are they kept better, spouting foun-
tains Of cement, finely kept flowers,
large shapely trees. fine cement seats,
all make it attractive. The Plaza here
is surrounded by very good stores, a
number of which are operated by
Americans. Our ladies are soon
buying drawn work at one of these
American stores. l tell my people
that the American is not there for his
health and we look farther. We are
told of the three sisters and Mr.
out. We follow as directed but there
are no numbers on buildings and the
bare cement walls are all alike. /
notice door little ajar, push it.,
and sure enough there is drawn work
We are shown into the apartment and
three middle aged ladies are ready to
S'ioN viz SOo'ts. &1ubtSsoh SOVS w III
form the ladies and | seat myself and
observe how they do business. Soon
"a girl enters with piece of finished
work They examine it, tear off some
more linen. give it to her; then an
OF her comes in the same manner
These ladies are supplying the
workers with material and selling the
finished work.
Our ladies are here; they purchase
the same patterns at one-half what
they have paid at the American store.
All are enthused the writer bought IA
number of pieces and could again
have the opportunity would buy all
the custom house would pass Large
table cloths, with drawn pattern
four yards long for $50 in our money ;
the work could not be done here for
$500 Why did not buy more?
But you have enough Of drawn
work. Let us go to the baths, they
are finely tiled and we take plunge
they are all right At our next stop
we are informed there is no place an
American can eat, so we have lunches
put up by the Chinese cook in the