Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-22
"Pieturesaus Msrloo..

Under the auspices Of the Christian
Brotherhood, P. G. Dodge lectured before
q large audience in Chandler Music hall
Monday evening on "Picturesque Mexi-
co" Of whose charms and peculiarities he
could speak from personal travel and
close observation. He had q vast amount
of information, which was Admirably ar
ranged and presented in clear, concise
style that betrayed the newspaper man Of
long experience, able to tell a story with
out waste Of words, yet tell ii fully and
forcefulIy.
Mr.. Dodge described Mexico as a coun-
try Of great vegetable and mineral pro-
ductiveness, on account Of it's situation in
both the tropical and temperate zones.
In the hot lands are dense forests OF rose
wood, mahogany and ebony, while in the
cooler districts oak and pine abound. Au
the delicious fruits of the West Indies
abound. In Central Mexico the straw
berry thrives and can be purchased every
day in the year at Jraperato. The even
ing train into Mexico City over the Mexi-
can Central road is called the Strawberry
Limited, and its speed at times equals
that OF the B. & L. between Essex and
Cambridge functions. or the day express
to Rochester via Gaysyille.
The flora OF Mexico is rich and varied,
the flowers losing in fragrance what they
gain in color. In minerals, the list OF
products would seem to be unequaIed.
with silver as the greatest source OF
wealth to the country.
Mexico cannot be elassed as q manu-
featuring country, as her factories of all
sorts are only estimated at hundred or
more. They have q peculiar way Of con-
lining one branch OF manufacturing to
one place, other localities respecting this
monopoly and .devoting themselves to
other productions. Thus Leon is en-
gagged IN tanning leather and the market
ing Of boots. shoes, etc.; Salamanca is
noted for its buckskin garments and
gloves, Iraperato for straw berries.
Quaretaro for opals and so on.
No people could be more miserabIy
housed than the Mexican poems, living
and sleeping on the hare ground and
owning only the few rags they hang
about their bodies. 1t is a question il
the rags Of the men are ever washed.
Those Of the women are washed in the
nearest stream by the owners, who later
sit on the bank while their clothing dries
in the sun. At the doors Of the mud
huts women are seen making tortiIlas. a
species Of corncake, which is bread and
meat to them. Some OF the women are
extremely handsome, but the majority are
homely, Informed and negligent of per-
son.
Every store or shop has a name painted
over the door, sometimes very appropri-
ate one, as in the case OF q drug store
called in Spanish "the gate of heaven"
and saloon labeled "the triumph Of the
devil"
There are mo professional jurors in
Mexico. Nine Of mans peers try him
and q majority Is a verdict. II the nine
are unanimous, there is no appeal To
serve on 3 jury one must have a diploma
in law, medicine or some other profes-
sion, or an income of 800 a month, or
must be a member OF family whose head
has an income OF $4,000 year.
The lecture was illustrated by over 20
views Of Mexican scenery, cities, people,
monuments, buildings and sites OF his
toric interest. Col. A. c. Brown OF
Montpelier managed the stereopticon, as
sisted by his grandson.
Death Of Mrs. Clayton Trask.
Mrs. Estella tHilD, wife OF Clayton
Trask, died at Z O'Clock Tuesday morn
ing Of tuberculosis, which had been no.
ticeably undermining her health since
October. She struggled bravely against
the insidious encroachments Of the dis
ease and persisted in her household tasks
and the care of her family until a month
ago, when failing strength was no longer
equal to the demands made upon il.
Still she was full of hope that she might
be spared to those who needed her so
much and almost tor the last kept her
eomrage bright. For only a week had she
suffered herself to be confined to the bed.
Mrs. Trask, who was only % years Of
age, was born in Pittsield but Lived the
greater part OF her life in Randolph. Be
sides her husband, she left FIVE children,
the Oldest in her 11th year and the
youngest little girl of four. They are
Alice, Clara, Ella, Paul and Iva Trask.
She is also survived by her mother, Mrs.
Florence Wyman, and three half-sisters,
Mrs. Wesley Collins of Bethel, Miss May
Wyman of Bethel and Miss Ethel wyman
Of this place.
The funeral will be at 80 this after
noon at the home on Hale street and bur
ial will be in Southview cemetery.