Evening star., 1915-11-27

heard from no more. Next day the
second Chinaman tried to enter Tor
reon, and. mindful Of the fate OF his
comrade. he answered the challenge,
''Quien viva?" with a shout Of Gar
ranza!' Unfortunately Villa had coma
back in the meantime. so second
Chinaman turned up missing. The
third oriental took no chances. When
he went into Torreon and the sentinel
called "Quien viva?' he replied with
immense patriotism. ''Mexico." and he
is alive today. II you do not believe
they are ready to show you the China
man.
If you do not care for gambling halls
and Cinnamon you can go to the plaza
Benito Juarez. iberator. looks over
the city that bears his name. Here
you find a meditative peon smoking a
cigarette, and you ask him what he
ican-the man who makes up the ar
mics in war time as he did the work
OF the republic in peace. There are
fifteen millions of him in Mexico to-
day. so his opinion should be worth
hearing.
He is dressed in battered shoes. rag
ged overalls and jumper, with shape
less. soft felt hat on his head. His
face is broad and stolid. the color OF {.
roasted coffee bean; his manner toward
you is half-hostile and sullen. because
you are an Americana. He has sur
prising flow Of fairly good Spanish,
however. He Is an enthusiast about
liberty, patriotism and the fatheriand-
He is especially enthusiastic over villa.
He intimates that. given chance. Villa
would be second George Washington.
You must not forget that you are in
Villa territory. A peon in Monterey
would tell you the same thing about
Carranza. It is only in American terri
tory that such a man will dare to tell
you he is tired of war and would be
glad Of q chance to go to work again.
When he feels safe, the peon is not
complimentary toward his old leaders.
such man frankly.
X
For the most part, Juarez Is quiet
enough Only the occasional notes OF
bugle or
Men and Horses Both the passing
Tough and Enduring. Of sold iers
! reminds you that you are in war town
, The troops are uniformed in khaki
| Their discipline is good, for irregulars
They march smartly. and the cavalry
! ride as though born to the saddle. The
men are of all ages, from boys to gray
| the size of the American cavalry horse,
but both man and beast are tough and
| enduring to the last degree.
The people of Juarez have become a
motley crowd. Most of the-aetter class
who lived here five years ago have
moved away. The gambling halls and
the race track have drawn their usual
class of followers, until the lower
quarters of the town are poor place
for a man with money in his pockets
Now and again a stranger, who is in
judicious enough to sample the liquor
in such a place, wakes up next morning
in Ell Paso with an aching head and an
empty pocketbook.
The streets still show here and there
the marks of the battles that have
swept over the city. The walls of the
houses are pitted with bullet holes;
even the bell Of the Mission Church,
oldest church on the American conti-
nent, Is SCARED by the steel-jacketed
Mauser projectiles. There is feeling
of expectation, of tense uncertainty. in
the air. Unless the signs are wrong.
Juarez will yet be the scene of one
more stirring drama. The old houses
may have new bullet scars to show.
Here, at least, the people do not be-
lieve that villa will quietly lay down
his arms.