Milford chronicle., 1919-10-17
LETTERSFROM MISS STIDHAM

Miss Elizabeth Stidham, who with
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Atkins and Mr.
Earl Atkins, is making a trip across
the United States by automobile, and
who expect 20 pass the winter in Cal
ifornia, has consent to write an ac-
count of this trip for the Chronicle.
October 3rd.
Let's see. where was / last? Santa
Fe. I think. / didn't tell you about
visiting the old ST. Migueal Mission,
built in 1871 With the exception OF
13 years that the Indians were in
power after rebellion against the
Spanish in 1850, there have been ser
vices all these years. The old bell
which was brought from Spain, was
cast in 1356-eyen before Columbus
discovered America, so they tell us
"incredulous Fasteners" as some are
wont to call US. In the church may
be seen the old Spanish and Indian
carvings on the beams of the gallery.
The beams and the logs are from the
mountains near Santa Fe bur OF course
the walls Of the building are OF adobe
and are from three TO five feet thick
Like all the old walls, they are rough
ly finished, the adobe being put on over
the adobe bricks by hand instead Of
with trowels as is the custom now.
We also snapped pictures OF several
of the quaint eat-topped, One-story
houses, among them being the oldest
house. which was the home Of the old Z
Indian chief of Tiguex (nOw Santa Fe}. /
IL was occupied by Coronado in 1910 .
and many other governors until the 4
old Palace was built in 1920. This
long, rambling, one-story adobe house
is still the home of New MeXicO's gov
,rnors But | must get away from this
own which TO us seems very foreign.
Most all OF the women we saw on the
streets had their long black shawls
mantellasl draped around their heads
md how Mate and / would have
liked 10 have had one with the long
lack fringe about % inches deep.
'ou lady readers will know how to
ppreciate these
From here we started for Albuquere.
We thought the ride was beautiful the
ay before, but this one was equally
S wonderful One place, called the =
rmalllla curves ga abrupt curli-
ues) of the La Ba JOda (hOda) hills.
D all this distance between Santa Fe Y
nd Albuequere we saw very few "
)uses. none, except the Mexican huts "
p houses. You should just see the
d peppers drying. hanging all around
e house from the roof, enough to y
lrn the tongues OF the whole U. 5. q
,pulatiOn.
We reached Albueguere in the even -
g and found number of our form %
camp friends. We stayed here until
on yesterday. visiting a number of ~
.eresting places around town. We JIG
Z al noon and made SuccOro in the
enng We drove 80 miles in a
aight stretch without seeing a house a'
d passing through several Indian
lagos AT Isleta the trail wound in
4 out among the Indian houses so 'a'
Sc as to almost touch them: and i'm g'
same drive we crossed the Rio I
inde six times-fording the perfect ~
dry stream once. Cap" says old
innie' has done everything but fly de
has stood on her head. on her rear
ank goodness, on her side only Mi
e, when we had to be pulled out yol
a Missouri ditch kept for that pur-
am going 10 jump from Saccora to sal
brook, Ariz. We had TO stop at
gdelena to get a key of the uni u
sal joint fixed, then on to Springer a..
e, which is 100 miles one way and =,
miles the other way from the rail ~ ,
/. Maybe they don't soak one for -
gs there. 60c for gas, 20c a quart
milk. bread l5c for a small loaf,
Everything else in proportion. .
eaving there we came on here to
brook. which was a mighty pretty
About IL miles from here we
ied through a portion OF the Pet !
d Forest IL was wonderful great
trunks broken down as they fell ~
oppose, and hundreds OF stumps
roots of some could be seen. We
lered around and picked up quite
v specimens for our friends-wish
had a trunk so we could carry
trunkfull. The mountain views
beautiful Did | tell your about
place where we made As sharp
es thair pin curves in less than
es? sure takes a careful driver.
certainly would not want to take
trip without a good mechanic
long, just as we have
are now stopped in Winslow.
dad, as some of the rest of
ampers are now calling him) has
back to look for a pie. While
truly writes. We have To steal
ime for this occupation.
ere are about p auto camping
IS which make the same camp ~
every night Il is mighty nice.
is one party containing 12 peo-
rom Illinois, the father putting
or years trip There are two
'urlng cars and three large tens
like a small show. There are =
grandchildren so they are taking ~
b school teacher along; in that
hey are not losing the time from
J. Every day we meet as many
ng parties coming from Califor-
D we hope every place won't be
when we get there.
are leaving here for Grand Can I.,v
10 goodbye.
E. C. Stidham. ~