Evening star., 1940-12-08
Southwest
Offers Law
Ranch Life
But Interest
Spurs Dudes on
ToExplorations
By MARGARET NOVEL;.

The Southwest" is q very large
place and might mean everything
west and southwest of the Missis-
sippi, if one is not too particular.
But, being particular, take Santa Fe,
N. Mex, as taking of point, and
do ever widening circles around that
point to find the best the South
west has to offer.
Ranch life is not a matter Of a
few tricky cowboy togs, a horse
and saddle calluses; it's the way
of life that brings the Easterner to
the real things he goes West to
find. Those who make adjustments
easily find themselves in a day or
two feeling like native from way
back" and drinking in the beauty,
the excitement and the history of
the country with every breath.
Santa Fe has flourished on its
mesa since the late 18th century,
with the changing order of many
centuries adding to its prestige and
charm. Artists and sculptors, great
scientists, archeologists, doctors and
writer's have been drawn through
the years to Santa Fe, and each
leaves bit of his own culture in
payment for the rich experience of
living for time in the ancient city.
Ranch Life Pleasant
With Congenial Informality.
Ranch life is the easiest, the
pleasantest and the best mode Of
living, certainly for visitors who
seek the spirit of the Southwest.
Ranch hosts attempt to select their
guests carefully, so that the limited
number of associates are very likely
to be most congenial. There is
none Of the formality Of hotel life
with all its 'musts" and thou shalt
nots," but just enough routine and
order to maintain interest in the
new and exciting atmosphere.
The day has many variations,
which the visitor may shuttle to suit
himself. Exhausted by city life, the
dude" may dress in blue jeans and
shirt, or sweater and old woolly
clothes. and sit on the sunny side of
the ranch house or cabin, sleep like
an Indian and be let alone. About
three days Of this will build back
what months in town have taken
out. Then comes the urge to find
out what is at the bottom Of yonder
canyon. or atop that snow-capped
mountain.
1t is real riding country. A horse
Is selected, saddle and stirrups care
fully adjusted, and set aside for each
guest. Amateur riders find a good
Western saddle comfortable. Guides
suggest easing ones muscles by sit
ting sideways in. the saddle with one
knee over the pommel, or standing
in the stirrups for trot every few
miles, or getting of to walk a
piece" 1t makes a great difference
in the way one feels after 20 miles.
Interesting Pack Trips
Lie Beyond Motor Roads.
1t is possible to 60 far into the
back country by car these days, and
beyond that point it Is well worth a
pack trip. Two or three days in the
mountains on beautiful stream
where the fishing is good, or explor-
ing Indian ruins that are far from
the beaten path, or riding through
the huge desert valleys with great
| monoliths of lava rock towering
thousand feet and casting blue
shadows at sunset 40 miles long
across the valley floor, is worth q
bunch of sore muscles.
There are Indian pueblos or vii
lagos In the surrounding country
which make fascinating excursions
Some of the ranches are located
near a pueblo and the hospitality
OF these people makes one feel like
neighbor rather than a visitor.
The museums in Santa Fe have
chronology of happening from 1549,
and many an fastener adds the in
teresting experiment of dancing the
varsoviana at La Fonda with the