The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-11
LEARN TO FARM.
Mexican Boys Are Instructed by
Larned Man.
w. A. Gill Teaches Youths
American Methods.
ARE APT PUPILS.
Take Up Work and Acquire
English Quickly.
Lad Says "BarbarOus Mexico
Articles Are True.

Among the visitors in Topeka to at
tend the aviation meet this week is
Rosendo Manzanos. a young Mexican
| from the province of Puebla. north
| east of Mexico City. He is here with
w. A. Gill of Larned, Kan, on whose
farm he has been making his home
| for the past three years. The Mexi-
| can and his older brother, Santos
Manzanos, jr., have been living on the
place and studying and practicing
American methods of farming. The
| latter remained on the farm, six miles
| north of Larned.
Rosendo says that the articles on
I "Barbarous Mexico" eight of which
have been published in the American
Magazine agree according to what he
has heard from people who claim to
have seen instances of the cruelty de-
scribed. He also says that he regrets
that the magazine refused to print the
entire number, as he feels that the
| situation ought to be known here.
The boys father, Santos Manzanos,
ST., is a wealthy planter in Puebla
province, and raises from 10000 to
10000 pounds of sugar cane a year
besides coffee and two crops of corn
annually.
His sons have always wished to Wis
| it the United Staes. both from read
| ing about this country and from
what they had heard of America. In
1906 they met DR.. Levi Salmans, for
| merly of Larned. a Methodist mission
airy doctor. who was holding a re-
vival at Puebla City. The ManzanoS
were converted from Catholicism to
Methodism. In the family was Sen
orita Zenaida Manzanos. After the re-
vival she studied trained nursing in
the hospital which was established by
DR.. Salmans. The nurse student told
! the doctor of her brothers. wish to live
| in America and learn American ways.
1t happens that the physician was
| raised in Larned, and was a good
, friend of Mr.. Gill. The latter has lived
on the same farm near Larned for
| thirty-six years and now owns over
half q section. So DIR. Salmans wrote to
his friend and following arrangements
were made for the Mexican boys to
| live on the Kansas farm. These were
carried out. And as soon as the lads
arrived they took up the work of the
| farm, and rapidly learned American
ways. They also acquired consider
able proficiency in English, although
| previous to their coming neither knew
| a word of our language.
In September the young Mexicans
| intend to return home on a visit, but
plan to come back to attend college
| here and make their future home in
| the United States. They like this coun-
| try that well.
Rosendo is 10 years old. His broth
err is 25. The former speaks quite
| Interestingly about his experiences in
Kansas and about his native home
ct have always wished to live in
the United States, ever since l first
| read about America, and was very
glad to COME he said. II like 1t
very much here and people have been
very kind to me.
at was quite different here, how
ever Especially did the houses seem
| strange to me. In my home the dwell
| ings are of stone with tiled roofs. The
| food is different. At home at nearly
every meal we have kind of cake
made from corn meal called torttllos.
Beans also are eaten very much.
"Of course our customs are differ
| ent. For instance, parents keep close
and girls have to get acquainted with
eachother on the sly. Young men ana
women attend separate schools.
ST, myself, attend the public school.
Now the graded system is being in
stalled. but then it was divided into
what was called Inferior, Medium
and SUPERIOR with two classes in
each division. making altogether six
wears of common school
st attended the Catholic church
when young, but never liked it very
much. When the Methodists started
their REVEALS they were much perse-
cuted. People stoned them and broke
the windows of their churches. The
government had to 1urhisn soiolers 10
guard them.
Have you read 'Barbarous Mexi-
CO. in the American Magazine? The
articles tell the true state of affairs
| from what I have heard, and I think
| ii is too bad the publication of the
conditions was suspended. as people
here ought to know about those things,
SO that something might be done to
/ stop them
1.-THE boys took hold of farm work
fneIr said Mr.. Gill, land never had to
be told how to do thing more than
once And they learned English
/ equally as fast. I never had to tell
4 them a word more than once. they
/ were so eager to learn everything.
They never mind the cold here, al
though their country is nearly tropical
i in climate. On days that I would be
shivering in my overcoat, they would
i not wear any heavy clothes. 1 can
not understand 1T.
'sThe lads are great favorites in the
i neighborhood and take great interest
i in church work. Rosendo is quite a
worker in the Epworth League.
Eyes, am an old settler in Pawnee
county 1 came there with my bride
! thirty-six years ago, from my home
Il near Dover Iowa.
Te