Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-03
By WESTBROOK PEGLER


Times.)
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
A S was saying, Arizona is a
fascinating state, and 1t Is
literally true that the desert
has been blooming with daisies.
peoples, wild hollyhocks and
wild delphinium in vast patches
and strokes of color-many
varieties of which would sell at
dignified prices by the sprig on
Park avenue, New York. in Win
ter-and with startling dis
play of cactus flowers. including
the hedgehog, which looks like
a porcupine but puts out a
blossom the size and shape of a
tulip and the color of an orchid.
All this is very beautiful, but
the beauty is no more amazing
than the candor of the residents.
relatively few of whom are
natives. who give frank warning
that the desert may not
| bloom like this again for
dozen or 20 years because rain
| makes flowers and the rains OF
this Winter were uncommonly
heavy.
EVEN men with land for sale
IL as home sites have said. inn
heretical violation of the canons
/ of the real estate business. that
next Winter may produce no
such loneliness.
And. unlike the Florida breed
of acreage huckster, they speak
very matter-of-factly about the
rattlers which abound in Spring,
Summer and Fall and COM
mand the earnest respect of one
and all
The ella monster. now, though
common and hideous and ven-
omous, is deSpiSed rather than
feared. and people don't even
bother 10 kill him. whereas the
RATHER is done to death on sight
If a rock to throw is handy or
a spade or pick or gun
Mr.. Will johnson. the Tucson
editor, says he found coral
snake under his bedroom rug.
In Florida an editor would be
ridden O II of town for saying
: that.
pUT beauty is emphasized by
~ contrast. and the glories
of the desert now are not SUI
perior to those of the New York
and New England countryside
in Summer or in the Fall, when
the paint is on the trees.
The people who most appre-
ciate the desert flowers have
come abruptly from snow.
sleet and fog. and so they gasp
and babble and torment them
selves with mental pictures OF
an existence away from il all
where food, land and housing
are cheap and the war is only
a momentary fret. morning and
evening. when the papers come
out with faint echoes Of a dis
tant storm.
There are several varieties OF
away-from-it-alls. the two mos>
pathetic being the wretched in
valids who close in from all di-
rections knowing. most of them.
that even if they check the
ravages of disease they must
stay here, and the social and
economic neurotics who come
out away from il all and yet
bring il all with them. including
servants and the responsibilities.
vain snobberies and tax fears OF
the eastern suburbs and resorts.
The sick include some who
have no money. no earning
power, no relatives to whom
they can turn but manage
somehow to exist and. of course.
others who revive and shove off
again into the stream of life in
local employment or business.
THE war is far away. to be
L sure. but every day army
planes rise from the fiat beyond
Tucson and whip away over the
mountains on training missions
which are meaningless to the
civilians WIN turn 10 look
And down at Fort Huschuca,
an old cavalry post. command
ing the approaches TO the
Mexican border. two regiments
of Negro infantry arc training
in a wild and desolate region
where the last Apache scouts in
the American army are serving
in the status of enlisted men as
guides in the mountains.
There are eight of them liv-
ing in a little 'dobe settlement
of their own on the post under
command of an Indian sergeant
named Riley who turns them out
in war bonnets. paint and circus
regalia for occasional ceremo-
MES.
Corporal Major is second in
command, and another of the
braves has no name but g
number.
Having completed an appear
ance for the newsreels or other
special dress occasions. Sergeant
Riley casually removes his head
dress and. with il, a horsetail