The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-01-23

tired and dusty. The city seems very
prosperous Its resources srs in.
ing, stock and railroads. They tnll
themselves thu gateway between earl,
west and Mexico From scenic
standpoint 1t Is not very slt,aeti'e
place. Not blade OF green grass, not
green Leaf or vine did We ae. Out
at Fort Bliss are some ,olhiers boys
from Vancouver and very anxious to
again get back to GJd's country
where they would have something be
sides sunshine and desolate looking
country, and | would feel the sau.e /:
so we we're not sorry to cross ovei the
border into Mexico on Tuesday morG-
Ing, January 7. At Jeuiez We had to
be inspected. hag and baggage at the
custom house, which was really ght
worth seeing. Such crowds OF the real
poor Mexicads, or "Peons" as they
are called here, were being sent by
the government to the interior OF the
republic to work and liro this winter.
They were crowded In cars like cattle
and of course each and every one had
bundle to be gone through by GUS
tom officer to make sure they did net
smuggle some little American article
across the liue. When the officers at
last got to the trunk baggage OF the
passengers 1t wac really auusinl to
see what the officers brought forth
from trunks trying to be smuggled
over. From one trunk even a Teddy
bear was hauled out. Al last inspec-
tion was over aud we started on our
journey through dry, dusty appar.
emily desert country. Still hey clai IN
where white people are getting hold
of the land and putting 1t under cult
ivation and water bat it Is very pre-.
ductive. For my part think they
earn all they get. The second dag &c
passed through better section, hftel
leaving Terreon, a city of DO, ,000 REQ.
pie. tut many of them being q low
class of Mexican and Indian mixture,
We saw cotton, grain and corn fields,
and occasionally cotton mill and
cement factory. The cactus, from
which the national di ink Is made, Ii
grown In largo fields. Another kind
OF cactus, seems to be grown foi {
fence In place of building other kinds
Of tensing. l oannot attempt to tel
you or take your time to read all thai
! could see OF interest. In many ways
they are fully 1000 years behind civil
ization. Think OF using q crooked
stick to plow with, pulled by oxen,
with a rope tied QUITO their horns,
grinding corn into meal for their fooG
by hand, and such food they do brine
to the depots to sell to unsuspectine
victims. and with them begging /.
quite an art.
The nearer We got to .he city the
better aud more prosperous things
looked. This Ia indeed very clean,
quaint city. SO far we have seer
many interesting and historica
places. Ycu are met ty all Ameri ican,
with the glad hand, which of cours,
Is very pleasant Gin land Of stlang
ers.
The High Potentate of the Mystic
Shriners, with his Imperial train and
followers, are to be received here to.
morrow b. send on their way rejoic
Ing the FIST Mexican Shrine, so we as
Shriners hope to enjoy some of the
Mexican hosp itaiity which IL TO be
unstinted to those being OF the inner
circle. II oan, and this is not toe
tresome, | N y later OH send you an
her chapter If ur wanderings. Our
thought turn to Hood River very very
often, with kind wishes for all
j. Ctten