The sun., 1919-04-20

form. He was mui bravo now ana
wore his cartridge belt and pistol. He
was telling his, companions that no
was used to fighting with machine
guns, and the number OF Villistas he
had slaughtered with that weapon was
appalling-lf you believed It.
| After breakfast he decided to so,
over to Jimenez. and taking a single
soldier as escort entered the little
tram car that runs between the sta
ton and the town. When part way
there the Villlstas returned. Two Of
them held up the car. The majors
/ orderly promptly killed one OF them
and was himself killed by the other.
The machine gun fighter had an even
| break for his life. but he was a cow
ard through and through. He threw
his pistol and belt under the seat to
| once again simulate the innocent trav.
eller. but the telltale uniform be-
trayed him and he was killed, as he
richly deserved to be.
| The local troops had been reinforced
by troop trains Of cavalry from Tor
reon. Desultory fighting lasted about
four hours and Villa withdrew. I saw
one OF his troopers mounted on a little
mule too slow to get away led in front
OF the Quartet. He was questioned,
but made no answer. An officer killed
him with his pistol.
When I finally reached Parral 7
stayed two months. I had an excel
lent opportunity to see the difficulties
1 those Americans who still persisted in
mining worked under and the courage
and fortitude they displayed In per-
sIsting in their work and which woro
required Of them in carrying It ON.
Always Ready for Flight.
| One such mine was worked for
years with little or no profit. The rise
| IN the price Of silver now made lt
profitable. IT was in charge OF a
young man in the early thirties who
had stuck to his job through good
times and bad. Twice they had been
obliged to flee. but both times he and
| his staff returned and took up their
tasks at the first opportunity, always
| prepared for flight with a bunch OF
grain fed horses, and always retiring
with loaded pistol and rife by their
beds II fight and not flIght should be
necessary.
These are the kind OF people one
hears occasionally referred 10 as "ex-
ploiters OF Mexico and the MeXicans."
They have kept the community alive.
Their wages have been the sole sup
port OF n starving and pilfered popula-
ton. When the influenza struck tho
| place and carried or 1900 out OF pop
ulation OF 5000 they posted notices that
employees and their families would be
Lott frn Ln ~ o,,n
ment infer that all these people were
in Mexico for any other purpose than
gain. but do assert that their efforts
70 that end resulted in greater char
Iity--it charity means helping people to
live who could not live otherwise
than all the efforts Of those exalted
souls safely north Of the Rio Grande
who criticise and decry such legitimate
gain as exploitation.
For the MeX!cans themselves have
the greatest affection. They are the
polltest, most patient people mag
Unable. and those foreigners who have
any art in, or believe IN manners will
! find the practice OF them will bring the
reward OF an even greater courtesy
than they protfer, for the Mexican is
born polite. villa seems TO me to be a
strong man gone wrong. lie has
wonderful powers OF leadership. but
the cruelty and suspicion of the
ignorant. He has all his life been an
enemy OF society. and when there
shall ne evidently a man pitted against
him who holds his own honor and
that OF his country above all else Villa
Twill perish. --.-......