Deming graphic., 1921-12-13

casual ASSOCIATIONS. Some OF tnen
are remarkable for what they seen
TO know and others for what they
quite evidently do not know about the
country through which they pass. Cos
mopolitan culture and benighted pro
vincialism rub elbows aud exchange
comment from standpoints as far re
moved as the antipodes. Ignorance
usually does most OF the talking and
the remarks are highly entertaining Il
the natives who, sometimes, popular
ideas 20 the contrary, desert their
chaps and painted ponies for the lux.
ury OF Pullman.
OBJ. vaion car philosophy finds 10.
Gus IN the vantage point of the rear
platform and II is the little academy
gathered here that publishes 10 the I'M
travelled the horrors" of the great
American desert Travelling through
the sandy waste de lux gives the lei.
sure necessary for observation as the
great plains and mountains pass in
rapid review. They feel. no doubt
like members OF Jules Verne expedi'
tion 10 the moon--advenIurous spirits
Drawing the unknown. garrulous to q
degree.
One July evening last summer the
Southern Pacific limited train was per.
forming Its daily miracle OF transport.
ing party Of California bound tourists
In safety and comfort through fhe high
desert OF southern New Mexico. There
Nas the usual assortment, few sun
irncd deDizens OF the country mixed
dtff the pale-facnd citizens Of that
.arf country called ''the east" All
were gazing out over the expanse of
sand and scrubby growth, thinking the
thoughts the vast stretches Of plains
and bare towering mountains inspire
even nj the dullest-horror OF the wild.
untitled spaces reaching with dreary
meance to the far horizol or shrewd
estimates Of the quality Of the range
and the promise Of infrequent rain-it
all depends on the viewpoint.
II was wonderful day even in land
OF marvellous summer. The cool night
breeze already was stirring In the yucca
palms-the plaintive sighs Of a mys-
ferrous old world that has marked the
coming and going OF many races and
geologic ages, faint whispers OF cons
that pass like watch In the night. The
little peck OF civilization was flying
straight into the setting SUM- a sun.
set more gorgeous than art could re-
produce or eloQuence recall Behind
the scattered cumulus clouds. Phoebus
decended Into a lake Of molten gold.
burning splashes from which shot
back into the portals Of the day. edg-
ing the fleecy drifts with laces Of fine
silver. All the solar colors and tints
and shades were here-plgeon blood
red. lilac, old rose aud pink predominant
ing. Dwellers In the humid regions
have no conception Of the splendor OF
a desert sunset az its best, when the
fine dust OF the upper air catches the
glowing pigments of the skies. Even
In broad daylight the heavens palpl-
tate with soft hucs, etheral under the
bright sun and torquoise canopy. Very
often the eastern sky Is almost as bril-.
liant as the western. beautiful In the
borrowed raiment OF dying day.
My gawd." breathed one OF the
tourists In Mortified amazement. how
can civilized people be satisfied to live
In such n barren countryi"
'But think Of the rich mines and val.
liable ranches" ventured a companion
of practical bent.
Money couldn't pay me to waste my
life In this dreary desert" was the RI.
nal dictum.
The sun-browned natives were yisibly
amused. but made no defense of their
home-land--to their mind IL hardly
needed any. Love of the desert was
an obligation in their fraternity. but
no one could be expected to love II who
must be Invited to see what 80 plain.
ly could be discerned.
The tourists were not at all 10 blame
for their lack OF appreciation OF the
grandeur and beauty about them. They
came from pleasant land of flowing
rivers. green trees and meadows. well
fitted for habitation. What they saw
Was strange and not a little terrifyiny
IN lts silent manifestations Tl,ey ex.
pressed the viewpoint OF their Kind. A
verdict readily accepted by these OF
nnir0w visi,n untutortd In the love OF
the vastness OF Gods handiwork. Their
eye1 could not perceive the harmony
OF lovely viStas.
This Is altogether unfortunate for
God made the desert quite AS much a.
the arabic lands for the habltatIon M
man: civilization found its cradle IN
the desert And. popular opinion 10
the contrary. the desert is capable OF
supporting larger population In great.
er wealth and comfort than other seem.
ingly more fortunate lands. The soil
over which the train passed at one time
gave sustenance 10 vast populations
or peoples the very memory OF whom
, = passed from among men; bur the
aonuments Of these prehistoric rnces
sun stand; their villages probably
were as close together as the towns OF
western Europe. The barbarous culture
was destroyed IN its infancy. nowhere
attaining the magnitude Of the wonder
cities Of the deserts In Asia and north
Africa. Where these mysterious peo-
pie went or why they departed prob