Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-02-16

teresting letter to the Ledger. Mr..
Pasqueth is having a delightful trip
and has seen several people, who
were formerly of Mexico, since his
arrival in the West. Among these
were Charlie Grassell, whose wife
was formerly Annie Paterson of
Mexico; Mrs. Patterson and her
daughter, Beth; Mrs. John Ricketts,,
now living in Albuquerque, N. NJ;
and Boil Elliott and family of Min
neapolis.
Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 1922.
Dear Ledger Friends
The wander lust germ got the best
of me about New Years. So on Jan.
18th l broke away from Mexico on an
early morning train-conecting at
Kansas City with the 9:O5 a. m. Col
den State Limited bound for Cali
fornia, We travelled southwest diagon-
ally across Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas
and New Mexico to Ell Paso. An hour
or two before arriving at Ell Paso a
gentleman pointed out an unusual
freak of nature in the white sand
beds. At the foot of the hills and
three or four miles from the railroad
track, was what looked to me like
snow but what he told me was really
white sand elevated above the sur
rounding bed of the valley about
twelve to fifteen feet and in length,
as we run along, about fifteen miles.
The only deposit of like size and kind
in the u. S.
l was surprised to see ice on the
streams all the way to Ell Paso.
At Ell Paso I acquired a cadet for
the upper berth we mine, he was on
his way to a military school in Los
Angeles, after spending Christmas at
home. He was 10 years of age and
made an excellent body guard for the
rest of the way; which was very ac-
ceptable for, l had lost the two Chi
cago girls at Ell Paso, who had been
across the aisle for two days from
Kansas City-at least their seat was
across the aisle but they didn't stay
over there all the time-neither did l
stay alone on my side-then some
times We three strolled together out
side when the train made those well
come ten minute stops.
About 500 p. m. on Thursday,
Jan. 18th we rolled into Columbus,
New Mexico, the town Villa shot up,
and when the train stopped, there
stood Mrs. Ann Hinde Birkhead and
her husband, they were expecting me,
so we had a few minutes delightful
conversation about Mexico, (where
she taught school so long) the Mex
leo people, the Mexico Shakespeare
Club, etc.-the time was all too short;
the train pulled out leaving about 20
to 80 of their questions unanswered.
as your wife with you?" (There
"aint no such animal") "Where is
she ?" this last one l couldn't answer.
Soon after leaving Columbus l was
in the diner and a lady and two boys
came and sat at the table with me-
the small 4 year old boy and lady
sat opposite, the Is year old sat be-
side me and did all the ordering of
meal in English but spoke to his
comapnions in another language. I
fell into conversation with him and
asked him what he was speaking, he
said Spanish" and that neither his
mother or little brother understood
English. At that the lady spoke to
him rather quick and he laughed and
said that she told him not to say
! Spanish, but Mexican, as they were
from Old Mexico going to Los An
geles to live. 1t appears that some
of the Mexicans don't like to be call
ed Spanish. I asked him if he knew
enough about the U. S. to know of
Missouri and he said, ooh yes" So
l told him that I was from Mexico,
too, but that it was Mexico, Mo-,
near st. Louis and that seemed to
tickle him SO he had to tell his moth
err and it appeared to please her also.
W. were quite a gay dinner party
from that on; the boy and I doing all
the talking In English and the lady
smiling in Mexican-she was n of
those dark Spanish type of beauties
Il kept her smiling all I could for I
was enjoying her smiles but twas
some aggravating not to be able to
talk to her.
The next day my Cadet body
guard was on duty every minute-if
l sat in our seat he sat opposite and
chartered in lively and delightful con-
versation about his home up in the
mountains out of Ell Paso or about
his school in Los Angeles. If I wan
dered thru the coaches visiting with
friends, he went right along and
lowered near by, I was talking to
the Battle Creek, Mich, ladies and
he stepped up gave a military salute
and said, @Sir, I just wished to say,
we were passing the Salton Sea and ]
didn't want you to miss seeing it"
Some thoughtful kid; for sure enough
we were passing that remarkable body
Of water formed by the overflow and
change in the river bed Of the Col
orado River several years ago. Since