La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1917-02-17
LIFE IN SOUTH AMERICA
Some Interesting Observations on the
Doingx and Customs Of the Poo
pie Of That Far Away Land

Mrs. Esther McCune Brinkman
continues with her story OF the jour
ney from New Yark to Tirapata. Pc
ru. and gives an interesting account
OF her observations in some of the
towns along the ives, coast OF South
America.l
All along the way men who are
members OF what we call the legis-
lature In the States had been coming
aboard. All were bound for Lima for
the convening of Congress. In the
salon, after dinner there was always
big gambling game with cards go
ing on. as many as twelve being In It,
The stakes were very high. Most OF
the men had had one or more years
at some school in Europe. usually
France or England. Senior Montero
told US that more people of South
America were now sending their
children to the States to be educated,
that the opinion was growing down
here that the education in the States
was more practical. Every one here
that has eyes that are not black or
brown, even though he be a native
Peruvian, is called "Gringo" and
the term does not carry the idea OF
a sneer as 1t does In Mexico. II is
considered here that light complex
ioned person is OF superior race. The
Spaniards gave that impression. and
q light complexioned woman is con-
sidered a beauty.
We stopped at Supe and Huacho
before we reached Callao, which is
the port of Lima. We arrived at
Callao about ten in the morning. and
the bay looked very much as the
harbor in New York had looked the
day We left. Here at Callao were
seven German merchant vessels: they
have been there ever since the war
began. There Is crew OF men on
each one and the fires have never
been out. Some time a German sub
marine will come over and keep the
English boats busy while the Ger
man boats make few trips. Captain
Morgan OF the Quilpue would run up
the American flag II he ever saw
any thing that looked like a German
boat or submarine.
II is very amusing In these ports
to watch the men come out to the
ship In small boats, hoping to ge.
some passengers to take ashore
Where there Is much competition
each one has tried to make his boat
the most attractive. or course now
at the bigger ports motor boats are
used. and the men with row boats
have Il harder time than formerly.
The eight children OF Senior Mon
tero came out In their motor boat to
meet him. His son has gone into
the army and had just had a promo
ton. He was respiendent in a new
uniform. and IL would be hard to
say which was the prouder--father
or son. when Senor Montero intro
duced him to us. The boy was
about twenty. spoke English very
well and his manners were remark
able.
The harbor WAS full OF boats. most
OF them were made fast To buoys.
and we were most interested In
watching the different ones. A big
Japanese boat was especially inter
estinE because II was near enough
no that we could see them. and then
they did such interesting stunts. One
WAS . duel with short flat swords.
When the Jap Is off duty. he wears
his native costume. which Is. as
you know. . kimona. and II was fun
to watch them handle the sword and
long kimona at the same time. The
Jap ship was tremendous-s mer-
chant vessel. and there must have
been over thousand men Just TO
do the work on the boat. There is
one sure thing. the United States
can never have = very big merchant
marine. while the law governing the
wages to be paid TO lnborcrs on the
boats Of ths, United States makes the
minimum wage NO hish, Mind you. ]
don't say that Il isn't . good law.
All Americans. or vast majority
Il had forgotten John d. when
wrote ALI believe In high wages.
and the law certainly insurcs the
best possible service for American
passenger boats. however American
freight boats cannot compete with the
companies Of other countries who
get their labor 30 cheap. The Nm.
giish pay very small wages and the
japs pay less. but there II another
side to the question. Ten Americans
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