Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-04
HALLERS HONE FROM MEXICO
Greatly Impressed by What They Saw
in Southern Republic.
AMERICANS LOSING OUT THERE
business Men Do Not Understand the
Mezicah Character and Conse-
uuenuy Miss Much Trade
They Might Have.

They Might Have.
Mr.. and MRS. Frank L. Hdler. Mr.. and
Mrs. J. f.. Rugg and Dr. and Mrs. A. B.
Somers returned last evening from a
five weeks visit through old Mexico, wind
ing up with an extreaneyt Interesting trip
70 the Grand Canyon Of the Colorado in
Arizona.
"The visit through MeJfd was one Of
the most enjoyable and interesting ones
that I have ever experienced said Mr..
Haller. IT Is q country full Of surprises.
Its people are most polite and courteous,
and at the SANG time most sensitive TO the
criticism OF their national habits and social
and other institutions that is practiced by
the yellow journals Of The United States.
These crlticisms-d do the Mexicans the great
est injustice. They want to be friendly to
the Americans ynnd would be loyal to US
were they fairy treated.
They are vety sensitive oyer the stories
Of peonage alleged to prevail there in ali
the atrocity aud horror that the yellow
journals are capable Of pIcturing. A recent
issue Of the Mexican DRily Record of Mex
leo City published a column.and a half ed
itorial on peonage in the United states, In
which dlLtlllOAA IS tdlltu lOHLltE y SUCH hh
practlced In Texas, the suggestion being Of
fered that the United states should clean
up its own doorways before too strongly
criticising the peopage Of Mexico. The
question Is one that rs discussed among all
classes of people, both Americans and
Mexicans, and the yellow journals Of the
United states are exeSrated unsparingly
for their %unfalrness.
Sewing MACHINES and Photographs.
Il was Impressed with a popularity of
the MeXicans. In their zeal for possessing
sewing machines. Nearly every hovel,
cottage or home hasa sewing machine in
1t, and this machine is the most valuable
Of all their possessions in many cases and
In some instances more valuabl than all
of their other household possessions put
together. It occupies the next place in
rank to the little shrine that is to be found
in every Mexican home. They are rever-
ent and deyoutt l question whether Protes-
tantism viii ever gain much Roadway in
Mexico, as they have been taught by CEN
turtles Of hard experience the ~cerehonials
of the Catholic religion, anddt will be hard
to wean them away from t., The nearest
approach TO It would be the establishment
Of High Church Eplscopalian missions,
WHOSE CeIGilOHld4S ana NeSlIHenls appear
more to them than evangelism.
The American photograph has also ia
ken possession Of Mexico. They are every
where, like the sewing machine. They are
to be found II the remote coffee planta-
lions and jungleS and it Is not an unusual
thing to hear a phonogTaph playing "a
Hot Time, In the Old5Town Tonight to
the accompaniment of screeehing, s~colding
mia ,orraAa Yrba,y' ha,,o yaN ,rnN ,AaAtoS
the ~phonograph to Mexican music or
melody, but they use the same musical
programs that you hear from the phono-
graph in every American hamlet.
BIaIned for Bank Failure.
''The failure of the United States bank
in Mexico City is still the subject of much
severe crihcisnk and Americans are blamed
for it. The failure was caused from ex-
rons of the bank. One prominent Amer
made an overdraft Of $I0O0,O o and other
Americans maae overdrafts of smaller
amounts
American commercial interests are not
prospecting In Mexico as much as they
should. It is the fault of our merchants
and manufactures who send, as travelling
men to the cou1try to represent them, per-
sons unfamftaf with the Mexican Ian
guage or eharaeter and who are deficient
in that p~olitRness that is so essential TO
win the Mexiean heart. The great firms of
England, FFapee and Germany send their
best men thefe!NThey become familiar with
the language. and II will take about twenty
four hours exercise'of politeness before the
commercial man would dare to talk bust
ness. The American travelling man is too
assertive, n would &c at a business
proposition and try to close UP the whole
thing in fifteen minutes. That's where he
invariably loses out,
Actors Have a Chance.
"This same. habit. of politeness in all
walks of Mexican life, The press is
courteous in its criticisms Of plays. | was
much impressed with a dramatic criticism
which appeared in "A recent issue Of the
Mexico Daily Record, The criticism said
in part:
We examine the artistic labor of Rug.
zero Ruggeri and of the spiritual actress,
lydia Borelli, now appearing at the Arbeu,
where we gather Justly to applaud and ad-
unite to the souls OF the artistic faculties
OF the magic molders Of people and the
public. With elements such rs these, art
does not die. Like the eternal stars that
speed on their silent Journey across the in
finite, II will go on while humanity lives,
until the dying sun concludes the career
of a world. A'
THE moving picture show has also in
vaded Mexico and they are better as a rule
thar any 1 have seen in the United States
The automobile is also omnipresent. The
machines are almost wholly CT the French
make for obvious reasons-the French know
how to sell things to the Mexicans.