Deming graphic., 1921-12-13
The Lure Of the Southwestern Deserts
Mystery, Romance, Beauty and Grandeur

stand forth In ther imposing immen-
sity, TO shrink and retire before the
oncoming god Of day, and the simmer
Of heat that blots out the rugged out
line Of bare rocks and mighty chasms.
OF all the phenomena Of the desert
the tourist Is most certain to marvel
Int the prodigal display or exquisite col
oring In the perfectly formed rainbows
OF the region. There Is, inueed. no es.
Gaping the great arches flung across
the heavens and painted by nature with
every graduation Of pure color, violet.
indigo, blue. green, yellow, orange, red
aud their tints and shades. The des-
ert the sky seldom cloudless and rains
and mists OF the upper air are frequent
l-moisture that never reaches the
thirsty earth, but which offer screen
for the beautiful bands of colors that
spread themselves across the vault o
heaven, often the rainbows present
themselves In duplicate by reflection,
and In the light OF the moon they
arouse the liveliest sensations Of wond-
er. even In those Of the most prosaic
temperaments But the tourist on the
transcontinental train seldom lifts his
eyes above the mesquite sage and sand
that bounds his narrow way. Even the
lavish exposition OF the solar spectrum
js likely TO be considered as n chance
pearl hid In an unlovely mollusk. I'm
less he has actually explored the des-
Icrt ways and the far mountain trails
lie cannot know that, In speeding thru
lsouthern New Mexico, he misses the
marvel Of the high hills. where trout
streams flash forth from snow capped
peaks, where the Great Artist pants
scenes of virgin loyliness with the green
Of giant oaks, where towering pines.
quaklng espens, ashes, cedars and ju-
nipers contract with the natural pig
ments Of the displaced and exposed
rock formations. The mighty Gila for
est cannot he seen from the Southern
Pacific tracks, but II Is there. unspoiled
by the vandalism OF men, a great play
ground for the city-weary. tine sports
man, scientists and the treasure seeker.
Here, within the bounds or rOck-walled
canyons. are scenes Of sylvan peace and
beauty. flowers beyond number and in
finite in color and variety. Even in
the open desert, at certain seasons, the
traveller is often amazed to find him
self in natural garden where Calf
ornia poppies for miles cover the usual.
ly bere sands, prophetic Of the beauty
that Is to arise from the rough chrysa-
lis. The rainbow hues are reproduced
in the mountain meadows. yellow he
lianthus, scarlet mallow, purple horse
mint and bergnmOnt. with flowers un-
named that waste thir perfume on the
desert air"
Less colorful Is the spare and hardy
growth Of the lowlHnds, mesquite, yuc-
Ca, and sage on the level plains. greas-
wood, century plant on the broken sand
hills-numerOus varieties Of Towering
cacti and other thorny plants armed
10 the teeth" And they need their
sharp spines. their tough armOr. their
bitter-coated leaves for the fauna Of
the desert leads desperate life III
search OF meager food. Animals too
are armed, even the so-called tOads
OF the region carrying horns" making
them tough dish for the hungry
snakes; and most of them have the
instinct. the sharp claws and the keen
teet TO overcome their enemies or to de-
fend themselves. Like the water OF the
desert the desert flora is largely under
ground. Ramifying root systems GO
far In search OF moisture, store II in
ample reservoirs to be fed sparingly
TO leaves exposed TO the burning sun.
The leaves themselves know well the
task Of surviving; few turn their
broder surfaces TO catch the desert sun
light and those that do are provided
with illf avOred "vamish" that pre-
vents rapid evaporation and at the
same time protects them from preda-
tory animals. The desert devoid OF
life Ii wholly misconccpti0n- the
desert teens with living organisms.
curious, fantastic. grotesque. but won
derfully adapted. var'ed and never un-
Interesting. With all the horns AMI
stings and thorns for defense there are
few insects. reptiles, animals or vege-
table growths that are harmful to men
popular belief to the contrary. More
often they are beneficient, the early |
settlers learning from the Indians that
for every poison the desert yields an
antidote. In other words. nature here. |
as elsewhere. sets the rules for the I
game OF living, asking only Of its play
ers that they be strong and active with I
n will to survive. These Observa
tions naturally suggest that nature
hides her most valued gifts under gross (
exteriors. Even the mighty sun that /
sets the heat waves dancing Is not /
unkind. No healthy person need fear
the hottest days on the desert Health Z
Is here for all that seek Il aud the mem
ory Of the discomfort of cold rain in
other lands passes as the daysco come and
90 In dreamy hours of sunshine Even
the fear OF thirst does not exist for
the desert-wise who know how TO draw I
from the cisterns which many desert I
plants keep ever full for their own use.
The casual traveller, along the great
natural pass ~ the continent that
fraverSes the southern plains Of New
Mexico and Arizona. cannot I've expect Z
ri TO know a great deal about the 10
Biography OF the region. He sees only
the deserts and the hare hills. The
-,at Chihuahua plain extends Itself
n southern New Mexico, giving this