Mexico weekly ledger., 1919-05-29
E. F. KUNKEL WRITES
FROM KANSAS CITY
TO MEXICO FRIENDS

IL T. huilhSIJ ilCIIy VI ILLS NlLS
who now resides in Kansas City
writes the following interesting lettel
to his many Mexico friends:
Mexico LEDGER
Kansas City, Mo-, May 10, 1919
| told a number before l came here,
would write to them; but find it i'm
possible, so will write to all through
your paper as all up-to-date people
now on earth read it.
l came here March 1st to look eve
a Star paper route and found it dowr
through little Italia" 1 made two
trips; one after dark and the othel
before daylight, through those foul
and five story hotels with three tc
four hundred rooms large enough tc
hold me-.
There are Italians, Negroes, Mex,
leans, and everything else down
here; saloons by the dozens, some
very pretty s~ixteen-year old Italian
girls. | expect l went through places
that no policeman would want to.
asked the carrier ifthere were any
hOldups down there. He said, yes, he
had seen many but they never bother
ed a newspaperman of any kind. /
could not but think of the city of re-
fuge for Criminals" when down there,
as one would be as safe as a rat under
the old slaughter house among the
saloons; but like it, they will soon go
now the handwriting is in all windows
instead of on the wall-'National Pro-
hibition, July 1. Lay in Your Stock
Now" And many are trying to drink
enough % to last always. I still go
down in little Italia in walking a.
round, but always in daylight and in
outer edge of walk. l was here two
weeks in 1888, and find many places
| remember well.
l went over in Kansas City, Kansas,
one night to a big M. W. A. meeting
and after crossing the state line one
could not but help see the progress a
part of the city that never had a
saloon had made over the one with
many. In coming back, when we
got to the state line the a stopped
and a big fellow got on and held US
all up for the 'extra penny" as we
only paid five cents in Kansas. 1t re-
minded me of the Russian border in
picture shows; and as to picture shows
| was glad when l saw that you were
to have "The Shepherd of the Hills"
and that SC many appreciated it, for
next to Les Miserables l think this is
the best | yer saw.
l am in hopes you will get "The
Turn in the Road" and Florence Reed
in "Wives of Men" Both are grand.
One night, however, | thought l would
follow the crowd and see what they
liked, and it led to a show that said
"Step Lively, Girls" French Frol-
ickers" etc. l went up to where the
bill of fare" said what was left of
the fourth gallery, 20 cents, and as l
had no field glasses said to myself
Back to old Troost where Charles
Chaplin in "Shanghied" and eight
other reels were only five cents "any
seat in the house"
After Jim Reed and Bill Taft on
League of Nations, l was beginning to
think | knew all about "places" until
n night l was in front of the Bal
tinore and Il nice looking man STEP
ped up to me ard said, do you know
where a certain place is?" l had
cen the Dempsey Bout" advertised,
and getting names mixed I said, "Well
now / saw the advertisement in three
different places but have forgotten
WHICH, IL To- IlC SdiNJ lOu sd"
what?" l told him again. He looked
at me and walked away. | asked the
next fellow l saw, what place that
fellow was looking for and he said,
hat place is the biggest gambling
place in Kansas City" I am still
wondering what that fellow thought
my occupation was.
l went out mot long since to saith
and Troost to see Rev. R. F. Campbell.
fe is pastor now, of the large South
NJ. E. Church there. He looks well
and is doing well. l met my old
friend, j. NJ. Pollard, in the postoffice
last night.
When the 80 Belgium soldiers were
here, l happened downtown as they
were coming out of the hotel, and
hitching up the dogs. If l had not
known it was FELTON, l would have
taken him for the English officers
son, the way he was seeing them off
but some things are handed down, so
| can't find fault. YOU will see them
in pictures taken on landing in New
York. They are the best looking for
eign soldiers I ever saw.
The great day was last Sunday j
week ago. Mr.. Casper came in the
dairy and said, ED, get ready. Our
boys will be in at six" l got to the
depot and learned that the first train
would be in at 7:45. l went back and
met people by the thousands coming
at eight. There were four trains in
all. The Kansas boys were down un-
der sheds. Mrs. Taft and l went
down to see them, and sure saw some
sights, as all Kansas City, Kansas,
was there. The girls would form in
line and march by the side of the
coaches and shake hands with the
soldiers. One ~sixteen-year old Miss
wanted to kiss a big soldier. He
reached out and litter her up, kissed