Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-28
F ormer Mexico Girl
Makes Interesting Trip
Tells of Eccnery in COlorado--A
Beautiful Farming Section-The
Birds, Flowers, Et Cetera.
(By Mrs. F. C. zaugg.D

and IL l had had bunch of my MeXi-
CO.. Mo-, people with me the jaunt
would have been perfect in every de-
tail. We drove 11S miles-to PEN
roseI Florence, Canon City and back.
On the route we took the road
winds in and out, so that we never
knew what to expect just around the
corner, and it made driving Very diff
ficult and cautious.
o the scenery! We stopped every
little while to let it soak in. We
went around miniature Georgetown
loops Il called them) and many
times met ourselves coming back.
Never saw 50 many cute prairie
\ dogs, bunnies and birds before. The
doggies sat up and watched us pass
in their best company manners. The
bunnies acted very dignified, while
they must have been scared, and the
birds came SO near us several times
we could feel the rush of wings on
our faces.
The mag-pies were the largest
birds Except the hawks). Must be
foot or more long. Their beaks are
long and black. Their tails look like
windmill paddles, so long. They are
black and white and very neat. When
they fly, a streak of white thru the
wing feathers, end of tail and white
shirts make a startling and stylish eff
feet.
A number of trim little red black
birds frightened our way. They
were shiny black with scarlet on the
shoulders, under wing and / believe
a spot on the head somewhere.
Saw a tiny bird, size of wren, yell
low as canary and with equally as op-
cratic voice.
All sizes of hawks, brown-streaked
owlish looking creatures, some small,
some large.
From many a fence post the yellow
breasted bird with the medal of
black sang his sweet song of the
meadow.
Near a spring where the water ran
wide over the road, we had our
lunch. Four fawns and a deer poked
their friendly faces thru the fence
at us. They belonged to a Dutch
ranchman.
l. Near the water | saw bird the
size of a blackbird which looked like
a wild duck. Had three black rings
around its tan colored neck.
We had gone about thirty miles
when we suddenly saw new range
shining brightly in the far distance,
the Sangree De Christie (blood of
Christi mountains. In front and
lower, long blue range. Pixies
Peak, near our home, wasn't in it.
This long range covered with glisten-
ing snow was magnificent. The pale
shadow of blue in the snow made
them look some like clouds. So
many pretty sights all at once made
us stop the car, climb out and look.
Below, almost straight down, we
locked on tree-tops, beyond in the
valley, squares of newly plowed
ground, growing alfalfa, or oats, with
a tiny farm house nearby; beyond
that, white foothills, white because
Of the limestone formation; to the
righ' hill with red soil and red
rocks; back of these the long arm
of blue mountains, and next the sky
the snow-capped range.
Behind us we saw a pile of rocks,
which looked as large as houses,
ready, it seemed, to roll right on us.
In one big rock a blooming cactus
made brilliant red trimming.
When we passed thru Penrose and
Florence we came upon the Park,
nearing Canon City This park is a
long avenue of small farms, and here
we saw some real intensive farming,
Every little space was crowded. The
orchards were thrifty and thick as
could be. No scenery beyond could
be seen, not a spot of it. Under the
trees were berry bushes and plants
of many kinds. This is a great fruit
district; peaches grow very fine.
The gardens were models of COM
pact neatness. They have to be, for
an acre of this buys at $1,000
) Irrigation feeds the rows with wa
ter.
, Canon City is a nice town, a little
: like Mexico in regard to homes, The
: State Penitentiary is here. Had it
not been Sunday we would have visi-
ted it.