The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-11
: CHOCOLATE SOLDIER Is
FOUND IN OLD MEXICO

Texas it's different. The Texans are
too close to the trouble to treat 1t as
Joke. And If they don't have you
making your will before you leave the
United States you must be harden
ed adventurer or pirate like Lafhtte
or Captain Kidd Why, the average
Texan will make you feel like the plo-
neers of this country had Sunday
school picnic compared to what you
are going to get into when you reach
the country.
Nevertheless you 90. A Mexican
takes your nickel and rings the regis
ter. You get on the other side OF the
bridge, and the customs officers are
there to greet you. The chief of these
at Nuevo Laredo is an old man who
wears a big sombrero and who looks
like the pictures Of a brigand. II
1 there are any cameras in the crowd
he looks them over gravely. opening
carrying cases and feeling around for
field guns, or concealed batteries.
Finding none he soberly grunts and
you are free to go on.
Lounging around the customs house
4 are the soldiers. That Is some OF
j the soldiers. They are dressed in
khaki, with cartridge belts strung
I over both shoulders. Their guns are
/. Of the late patterns and they LOOK
quite like the chorus in the modern
i opera. The captain accosts you, II
4 you have camera, and if you are not
going to be gone too long in the city
he gives his permission for you to
use the instrument
Z Up the street you go for two OF
} three blocks, meeting newsboys and
citizens, The former pass you by
:. with friendly smile. They don't fig
3 ure that you can read Spanish, ant
: unlike our newsies are not eternall,
. under foot. The citizens touch theil
> hats and step off the walk to ALLOW
/ you to pass. Especially is this 81
: where there are women On all sidel
r you are greeted by Spanish words
: but you can only guess from thu
: smiles that the people are friendly.
g The plaza-we would call then
downtown parks is only short way
h up the street. 1t Is the gathering
/ place Of the people. Band concert
j, are held here, and when it is tim
S to revolt the Plaza is the scene, TO
e the city hall faces the plaza. Il
e Neuvo Laredo this plaza was Gale
/ Plaza Juarez, and on one side OF
n was the city hall, along the opposit
e side the correos, or postoffice. An
;, right next to the postoffice was
n little one story building Of gray ms
h terial, but on its roof was a tall flat
r staff from which floated the Stars an
Il Stripes.
II Ever feel blue and meet frien
r. you haven't seen for long time, Q
= a very dear friend and see how quici
d w those blues go? Or did you eve
r lose your way along a country roa
h at night and strain your eyes to sc
e some landmark, some light, and a
e of sudden light cleaned ahead {
S you and you know you were on tn
/ right road? Well, that is just abot
,, the way you feel when you see ths
d old flag on that staff. You feel lik
II you have friend at court and on
that is all powerful.
o And the consul is just as friendl
lie Consul Garrett is in charge at Nuey
If Laredo, and judging from the gree
lie ings he receives from m IN, wome
it and children he is quite populf
N among the natives of Neuvo Lared
81 And what he asks for. usually goe
Ie Some of the Americans wished to us
their cameras and Mr.. Garrett escor
ed the entire party to the city hall
. gain the necessary permission.
! The sentry at the door allowed hi
to pass, and then commenced the u
d winding of bolt Of red tape. Let
be said, however, that through it a
the courtesy of the official fami
= was marked. Mayor. soldiers, clerl
and all stood as we Americans wei
presented, and remained standing u
r til we left. They shook hands wit
us, and smiled and welcomed us wit
], the only phrase some of us kne'
d "Buenos dias, senor.' Can you ina
inc some of the American offlcia
: doing thisg The necessary permits
: use cameras were given, freely.
"You Americans are all WELDON
> and welcome to use your cameras
I the mayor told the party through h
@ interpreter. Then he shook hands al
the interview. was ended.
The consul had visitors to me,
8 and SO excused himself, but said
we would get the vice consul he cou
60 with us. The vice consul had go
into the city hall and we started to fiji
[ him. Right here, take this tip. Y
# can demoralize the Mexican arr
{ with a camera, but don't expect
L bride the sentry to their city ha
n that way If you can't talk SPANS
you will understand that the polish
= barrel Of a rifle across your che
- means stop, and that this is one ca
where the words I'm a reporte