El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-28
JUAREZ STILL
PASSING SHOW
The Original Pass City Full
of Color as the Troops
Trudge Through It.
ny ESTHER KENDALL MOAT.

Juarez was rightly named 'El Faso
del Norte' when first the little city
was settled. Today the prophecy still
stands correct Tt is indeed a passing
show. Today. yesterday. tomorrow. al
ways it seems a series Of pictures
The hour Of sunset deepens the
glamour which bathes the struggling
little town in the warm atmosphere
Of romance. as in the low adobe walls.
the soft. dull colors Of the houses with
green barred windows. autumn
golden cloak on the cOttonwoods by
the canal, the rosy light. fairer than
any real picture artist, falling upon
Mount Franklin TO the north, and the
strange dull blues Of the Juarez
mountains to the west. merging into
the sunset radiance Of yellow reese
Like Comic Opera Soldiers.
Tt is kaleidoscope OF color. OF move
ment, of life Here are soldiers,
imprOmptu barracks. In their cotton
uniforms, immense hats. and non
descript ensemble OF attire, they seem
more like soldiers in a comic opera
than in real life. Testing talking 10
each other Eally, acknOWled glnE the
greeting Of an Americana. they are
an amusing sight. Many Of them are
mere boys, with the high spirits and
the easy capacity for amusement
Of the young Some are older, with
the years of struggle and poverty
written upon them, but all are more
or less gay. 1OcOse, taking life or
death with a tolerance which is hard
" 10 be realized by an American.
Hay Wagon Amuses Them.
A crowd of them gather, 20 or more
Are they preparing an onslaught on
the old house by which they stand,
looking for food, for rest. A little
laughter from the group. calls and ad-
vice. and IL Is seen that they are all
gazing at a wide wagon. loaded with
green bales of hay, which has one
bale too many TO 90 under the low
OverhanE Of a fence The MeNicans
stand watching the hay wagon and
driver with as much intensity as If
a battle were raging before their
vision One, with the slant eyes OF
the orient, stands apart. his blanket,
a plaid which would rejoice the heart
Of any Scotch highlander, sluuS over
his shoulder, torn dirty. but with
vivid suggestion Of warmth
Ride on Top to Battle.
BY the railroad station, and string
Ing along for distance were the
stock cars. where the animals ride be-
low and the soldiers, camp followers,
children and babies, keep house as
cheerfuIly and comfortably on the top
Of the cars as if they rs ere on terra
ing. several men chatting together,
wrapped in their serapes. others
watching the childreu-children OF
the army indeed From battle scene
TO battle scene they ride with their
mothers. on the tops Of the cars, over
scenery at once wild and beautiful
growing and thriving The wonder
of it all is that they never roll off
the tops of the cars.
Every Sort OF Uniform.
Soldiers in all kinds OF uniforms iii
the town Some in the most slipshod
airy garments of cotton. some natty
in the extreme in their bucksl1in
coats. and vests, and long tight pants
Their wide hats are as varied in their
styles as the rest of their uniforms
Their one similarity seemed 20 be that
all were made to shelter the bronzed
faces. with the mustacLios from
too ardent sun.
JOyOusneSs and Poverty OF Life.
IL is a town of pictures and atmos-
plere. especially with soldiers trudE-
ing about. hither and thither- The call
Of the hu-les. the suggestion Of mill
tary movements. changes OF guard at
the various barracks. and the feeling
of movement change, uncertainty IN
the air. Everywhere was 1oyousness,
combined with an almost pitiful pow