Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-08-12
Letter from New Mexico.
"New Mexico's land Of contrasts,
Land of sunshine and of shadow,
Land Of roses and Of cactus,
Sagebrush wastes-and mighty forests;
Land where In the sunset splendor
Angels paint most wondrous pictures,
Utilize the smoke Of sand storms


Utilize the smoke Of sand storms
To portray the art Of God"
It is fine to be out In the mountains OF
New Mexico, twenty miles from Albu-
querque, and to look out on scenes like
the Sandy River valley In Maine and
Scotland combined. We miss the beau.
tiful lakes and rivers, but our camp is
near Q spring of good water. Near US to
is San Lorenzo Falls, small but enchant-
ing In loveliness as II 1t was the abode OF
fairies.
This is q dry climate, good for lung
troubles, but we had ten showers In as
many days and one was q food. We
have cool nights, but our forenoons drive
us to the shade. The camp has q merry
party of young people who seek new life
and cheer us with wit and song.
Mexican farmers In the valley use the
Spanish language. They live in adobe
houses and raise corn and beans. Some
take loads of wood to the city and spend
q night on the road in picnic style. Re-
Gently they had festival day at the lit
tie church, and the priest led process
sion with banners to bless the spring of
water and the farms. After service In
the church. they bad sports, dancing and
rafting. Romantic and poetic part of
the festival seemed, but the Mexican has
not vision of the best ideals of life and
often lacks honor. The Yankee in Maine
is not always honorable but he knows
the right path.
NY friends had good laugh over some
police work. A Mexican family picked
up an auto tire which belonged to the
camp, and refused to give 1t to our driver.
The superintendent asked me to 60 after
our property, so you can picture this
Methodist preacher mounted on horse
and riding to the yard OF the family. /
told my errand and to add dignity made
use of my Phi Beta Kappa badge and
quickly received the tire. The Mexican
Is sensitive to law and authority.
Recently I had wonderful moonlight
ride, fifteen miles on q Ford truck, to
the ranch of Mr.. Darrah. We passed the
adobe houses of some Mexican Peni-
tentes, who hold the hard faith to beat
their bare bodies on Good Friday until
blood flows freely. 1t has been the Gus
tom to nearly cruelty one person, but this
cruel treatment is mostly over. I bad
two happy days in the home of my
friend, and he showed me In the pasture
traces of the old Santa Fe trail made by
oxen long ago. 1t made me think OF old
roads In Maine and Roman roads in Eng
land. Then was the guest one day of
the parents of Mr.. Derrah, who came
from Columbus, Kansas. They have a
good home on the side of mountain
which overlooks the vast Estancia valley
for sixty miles, great prairie. At night
they see the light Of locomotive fifty
miles distant. They see another R. R.
line twenty miles distant, so 1t Is not
easy to run and catch train! Some OF
the ranches depend on rain water from
the roofs or haul water four miles, and
in winter melt snow, but they do have
plenty of rattlesnakes! Mr.. Darrah came
for the climate, but he misses good
water. he has fine orchard of apples,
cherries and peaches, which he says is
the first dry farm orchard In New Mex
leo.
On the return trip we had chance to
see other ranches and can send to Maine
farmers who have good homes and water
the advice to stay contented. Life seems
to have hard problems in every location.
We hear that the sick in the city are
having a hard time these hot days, 80
we are thankful to be in the mountains.
On rainy evening We gather about the
open fire In the dining room and enjoy
music and stories. Our member from
Scotland sings funny song of drinking
man who makes safe passage home II he
can say: "It's Draw BRIGHT moon licht
nichtthae nicht'! 1t is interesting to see
the fight for health and the effort to look
on the bright side. Many die far from
home and others return home after they
lose hope of benefit.
Our camp has had the old puzzle OF
the man who looks at picture and says:
brothers and sisters have ! none, but
that mans father was my fathers son."
Nv solution is that he looks at the pict-
ure of bis son-now what do you say?
Do the church bells still ring in Maine
We need their music and help down In
this great state, and yet great progress
has been made. They are building bet
ter roads, improving the schools and
seeking best methods OF farming.
On recent Sunday night we had q
camp fire under the stars and some
young ladies came from near camp to
eat candy and sing for two hours. They
had some popular songs: Old Kentucky
Home, Old Black Joe, and then they
sang, Count Your Blessings, Shall We
Gather at the River. God Be with You
It'll We Meet Again.
It Is hard to tell when we shall meet,
but the writer sends cordial good wishes
to all friends In the beloved state OF
Maine.
HOWARD A. CLIFFORD,
Tijeras, New Mex.