Arizona republican., 1915-08-22

aged to live very well, as there was
 Chinese garden nearby and one could
 always find a goodly variety of tropi
 cal fruits and vegetables in the mar ket We were informed by the port physician to be extremely careful of the vegetables however, as they were being sprinkled or warered with stag nant water and a number of cases of typhoid were then in existence. No
 food was used in our home from that time on without being thoroughly washed and cooked or chilled. When oranges were in season we enjoyed the best there was, also pineapples and ba- nnanas. Mangoes are another delic ious fruit which were in abundance in
 can always be had in the market. but
 they too were getting scarce and very expensive.
 Many new reforms were enforced,
 some of which were good, while many
 were very unsatisfactory to the public.
 Holidays were numerous and every business house was compelled to close
 their doors or pay heavy fine on such
 occasions. Certain hours for closing the doors of various business establish
 
 not get into a drug store after eight o'clock The eight hour law was car
 ried to the extreme. The open portales which had for so many years been open to the public to enjoy their meals and take refreshments in the open air, were closed and all the tables put inside of the buildings. This one feature made the whole place look very gloomy t
 one who was accustomed to former ways. The bath house was also closed to the general public. At first We were told it was unsafe to bathe there as the refuse from the pest house was dumped near there, but later we were told that the place was confiscated for Mexican officers and soldiers. Streets were being opened up and many old substantial buildings were torn down to accomplish this work One old church revealed bodies of children which had been buried in the walls many years ago. Some historic facts were uncovered during this process. Several small parks were being opened up and some very good Improvements were being made. One was not allow ed to play the piano or other loud in- struments in his private home aften ten o'clock D. m. without special per init. On one occasion I attended par ty which was broken up shortly after ten because the family failed to have this permit. Although there were L. $. navy officers present, this made no
 Inference b the police. Music is play ed in the rlaza almost every e ening however. so one can enjoy the band. We were so close to the plaza that I often went to sleep listening to the sweet Mexican music.
 Extreme socialism is very prominent in that country and the unions seem to have Q hold on the working men. The anniversary of the Hay Market Theater riot in Chicago is one of the national holidays in Mexico. Striking seemed to be a fad with all laboring classes even the government employees. Frequently the street cars were not running because of strike, and occa- sionally our ice man would not appear for several days because he was one of the strikers. Parades were a common thing on the streets of Vera Cruz, some times they consisted of the union msn carrying their banners accompanied with a band CT two again it was a mill itary parade with all the bands playing beating of drums and changing of old church bells rejoicing over some recent victory. Occasionally this noise would keep up so long that it would almost drive one into nervous prostration. The largest military display I ever witness ed in Mexico was at the funeral of Gen. 1 eraI Carranza While it was very sad l it was a curiosity to see so many styles | of uniform, they varied from the jum per suits to the crude khakis. Some of | the officers uniforms resembled those | of the United States Army officers. | Nearly every regiment had a different | style. I saw officers and soldiers not 1 over fourteen years of age. Many Of the soldiers we're sandie footed. but all l were well equi-@~'' with arms and am l rnunition Some of the soldiers were just | recovering from small pox and were still lame from the disease. very common and pitiful sight is the outgo- ing troops with the women followers, | carrying large baskets and bundles on | their backs and many times carrying | their children or leading them by their | side These women chose to go with | their husbands regardless of the hard | ships they must endure. They carry | immense loads on their backs or heads, l and provide the meals for the soldiers,