Evening times-Republican., 1913-11-27
MRS. MAcoMsER ON MEXICO.

MRS. MAcoMeER ON MEXICO.
Des Moinss Woman Talks lntsrsstinsly
on Southern Republic.
Mrs. Matte Locke Macomber, OF Des
Moines, gave the address before the
W oman's Club at the Red Mems hall
Wednesday afternoon. The program
was In charge of the travel department.
of which Miss Anna Maude Kimberly
is chairman. Miss Ruth Haines ac-
companied by her brother, Thomas
Haines. at the piano, opened the pro-
gram with two songs, "Carmena" and
In Old Madrid both OF which were
very pleasing.
Mrs. Macomber who has spent sew
enteen winters in Mexico, spoke OF her
personal experiences and Impressions.
and her talk was unusually entertain
ing as we'll as instructive. She laid
great emphasis on the fact that many
ideas We have Of the customs of that
country are distorted, and showed in
many instances how wrong We are.
In speaking Of the people, the GUS
toms. and the conditions existing In
Mexico. Mrs. Macomber said that the
people are different racially. and their
customs and desires are from diff
ferent standpoint than the American.
They are not lazy because they are
slower and do not rush all the time.
as in our country. Perhaps the way
they do things is because the wisdom
of long experience has taught them
that which is the best in Mexico. 1t is
wrong TO think OF the poor" Mexican.
He makes 10 cents a day, which 10
more than sufficient to live on. The
prices are equally low, the people lead
primitive lives, and do not need to buy
much Of their food. For h-cent they
can buy a whole meal. one that We
would not care TO eat, but which they
enjoy.
The peon has at his door bananas
and cocoanut trees and other fruit
trees, and eggs are generally about
cents a dozen. Chickens are founn
in the yards, and even in
the streets. However. the American
Is charged according to our standard
and customs
The people look like spaniards. but
are Of many different types. and three
distinct classes. lower, middle. and
higher. or weather. The Indian is the
lowest type. but many great people OF
that country are descendants Of the
Indians. Diaz Is part Indian. The
middle class Is about the same as in
other countries, and the higher rank
the same. The reason we do not see
many Mexicans travelling In this coun-
try Is because they consider our port
entry tax of 81 an insult. so they sail
straight to Europe. generally Paris
where they are received with open
arms.
The middle class and the younger
generation are the ones TO blame for
the present conditions existing in Mex
leo. and we must not Judge them TOO
severely. as they have been harmed by
past misgoyernment. Aitho Diaz has
been despot. the country and people
have prospered. But like all people
too much prosperity is a bad thing,
and the young men have become rest
less and dissatisfied. Chiefly, the men
wanted to vote. One man, 35 years
old. said he had never had a chance
to vote. and even II he had there
would have been no opposing candi-
date. Now the prosperity the country
has enjoyed has vanished, and Mexico
Is in a most piiiful and deplorable
state. The peon Is not to blame, as he
Is the coniented man in Mexico. It Is
true he has nothing to live on but
what he makes by doing odd Jobs for
The more fortunate Mexican, but in any
country the middle
and higher class Of people feel II their
duty to support the poor by hiring
them to carry bundles and run errands
for a few pennies. It 10 their only
means OF livelihood.
As generally believed, Mexico IL not
all tropical. The central part has it's
winter season Mexico City IL beauti-
ful with its wonderful old buildings and
wide drives. given majesty by the
beautiful gloriettas thru these drives.
But now many Of these wonderful
works Of architecture are in ruins. Most
Of the buildings are Of Spanish archi-
lecture as Mexico was under the Spanish
rule from 1921 to 1900. The most In
terestins part Of Mexico is the south
ern part Oaxaca, the jumping OF
place. is noted for its wonderful In
dian fair. held there every Saturday,
when as many as 1000 Indians come
each week to barter and trade their
wares. Some are on the road for three
and four weeks getting TO the fair.
There is only one other such fair In the
world. and 1t 10 held In Russia
Mrs. Macomber also spoke Of the
wonderful old missions and the work
OF the protestant missions which are
doing 50 much good. She also gave her
ideas Of the war.
The ushers for the day were Mrs.
Marie Mcfarland, Mrs. Robert Mullen,
and Miss Fannie Flower.
Members Of the Entire Nous Club and
the Lamoille Woman's Club were guests
at the meeting. From out Of town the
guests were Miss Anna Erickson and
Mrs. Emma Mclean. OF Lamoille; Mrs.
r. K. Bliss, Of Lincoln. Neb.: and Mrs.
7. e. Britton OF Cedar Fails.
PIANO RECITAL.