The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-06
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
BY FRED c. KELLY
Copyright, 1915. by Fred c. KeIly)


Now that rye seen New Mexico or at any
Mexico unfuried by the Santa Re railroad. /
have changed my mind about thing or two.
used TO like 10 crack rude jokes about the states
Of Delaware and Rhode Island, dwelling on the
absurdity OF giving the title OF state to a wee
irritation on the map scarcely larger than an
ordinary county. That as I say. was before
had taken a good look at the state OF New Mex
ico And l no longer think IL would be lonesome
10 live In Kansas One could ride to Wichita
and hunt up Victor Murdoch and Henry ]. Allen.
or ride TO Emporia and get in touch with VIII
liam Allan White But If you required company
or somebody TO chat with in New Mexico what
would you do, You might ride all day and see
nothing but Indian village or abode houses,
the whole thing looking as bleak and inhospit.
able the Inside OF the Union Club in Cieve-
land. Ohio. And an Indian. taking him on the
average, Is not a good conyer.ationalist.
For long time my idea OF the limit OF un
desirability has been to live In the thickly popu
lated east side Of New York City. Now after
staring all day at the landscape OF New Mexico.
am certain that to dwell even on fire escape
in New York's east side would be delightful. l
would enter into the spirit OF things. and have
nice. neishborly time Of IL. There would at
least be other folks living there with me.
But In New Mexico-how | have come TO hate
the sight Of mountains made OF big. unvegetated
red rocks. Just the plain. unbroken desert, as IL
appears now and then without the glaring. snarI
ing. big. red rocks. In relief New Mexico has
an abundance Of flavor, but all day trip
across II Is like trying TO make an entire meal
after this rather casual examination. ! would
say that there 10 absolutely no occasion or ne
cesdty for New Mexico Yet IL makes a big
splash on the map and has Just as many sena.
a a One Of thaao
days, l am going TO make a rather exhaustive
inquiry and Try 70 find IL anybody living In New
Mexico Is at all reconciled with his lot in life.
Not long ago. / recall, the government raised
the ante on homestead offers OF $40 acres In
other words, IL man viii live for year on
$40 acres in New Mexico he can have that many
acres for his own Live year a homestead
In New Mexico, Wow. WOW, Wuff. Ny notion
right at the moment OF this writing Is that I
could not be tempted TO remain overnight in
New Mexico for 10000 acres I can appreciate
now why . lonely dog will bark at the moon
There were several times during the trip across
New Mexico that earnestly desired TO sit back
on my launches and bark boisterously at the
landscape A little while ago we paused in the
town Of Gallup, or some such name that the
first town Inhabited by white people In the last
few hours. Just offhand cannot recall a town
that so thoroughly commends itself as an ex-
cellent place not 70 make a long visit in
And more recently we reached the town OF
Winsov. which has an attractive little Spanish
architectural station and hotel that look like a
regular. human being place. The moment saw
that building felt as II ! must rush right up
and kiss H.
Be that as II may. this happened: I was sit
ting In the smoking com partment next TO two
men who were discussing the advisabllity OF
buying themselves a drink. One Of them called
the porter and asked him II IL Is possible 10
purchase liquor In this part OF the country.
Yes. sab" he replied, you kin get IL here IN
New Mexico. but not In Arizona
go the two began 20 plan what they would
have. After a number Of tentative suggestions.
they decided a pair OF high balls.
Porter" ordered the one who had first
brought up the subject, bring us two highbaIls
with ginger ale
Cant have it, replied the porter. cts
against the law sab.
that we could
Yes, | told You that but while yall was
maxim up 20 minds, we done crossed the line
into Arizona