PRESTO
September 8, 1923
SOUTH AMERICAN NOTES BY A
PROMINENT PIANO MANUFACTURER
II
Continuation of the Observations of a Tourist for Trade and Pleasure Ben
in the Leading Cities of Chile and Peru
II
Second Article of the Series Written for Presto by the Head of the Industry
at New Cortley, Indiana
ARTISTIC
By JESSE FRENCH
In my first installment I gave some account of the
pleasures of a sea voyage and could have entertained
with a discription of many laughable incidents and
sports indulged in by the passengers and crew—might
have told of the prizes won by successful contestants
—but that would take too much time. That you may
know to what extremes an idle sport will resort to,
I need only add that they had a real horse race in
STREET SC10NK IN AQUIQUI, CHILE.
mid ocean. The betting was lively and excitement
intense. Land lubbers, no doubt, wonder how this
was done, and, being one of their number, I took
notice.
A race course was made by chalk on the deck. Six
horses entered; each horse and rider were gaily
decorated by the artist and numbered respectively
from 3 to 6. Then a young lady, blindfolded, threw
the dice and the tin horses and riders were moved up
to points indicated by the numbers and the one in
the lead at the end was considered winner.
Those
holding the number of the winning horse got the
purse, and if two had same number the purse was
divided between them.
An Early Lesson.
I was invited to join, but an incident that occurred
many years ago prevented. At that time I lived in
Nashville, Tenn. Some friends were there from either
New York or Chicago. They were anxious to see
the races and I was ready to comply with their sug-
gestion. Being a novice, I became bewildered in the
excitement of seeing hundreds passing in their money
as the coaches were shouting "two to one on Stone-
wall Jackson," "5 to 1 on Longfellow," etc. Then
finally one of them shouted "25 to 1 on 'Black Tail.' "
I never heard of Black Tail, but 25 to 1 sounded
good to me and, in an unlucky moment, I was lost
in the whirl, passed up the money and with the air
of a good sport, I shouted 25 to 1 on "Black Tail." I
had heard that "a fool and his money's soon parted,"
so I soon forgot, the matter. What I wanted to learn
was how they could keep track of things, betting
any way and every way, to get bidders, but knew
as little at the end as at the beginning, except that,
at its close, a friend, who borrowed from me to make
the same bid, came and gave me $50.00 saying, " 'Black
Tail' won and we got $100.00 for a $4.00 investment."
At first I thought I was lucky, but somehow I
never mentioned it to my family! Next day, the
younger members in some way heard of it and, in
amazement declared that father was a gambler; that
he had been to the races and won some money!
Believe me, when I thought of the shattered confi-
dence and esteem of my children, I vowed I would
never again "bet on the races" and I never have.
Arriving at Peru.
The sea voyage amusement was diversified in the
evenings, by music and dancing, card playing, etc.,
while the more sedate devoted their time to reading,
and thus the time was spent pleasantly until we ar-
rived at Talara, in Peru, a small rough town on the
coast.
Here we saw that American thrift, industry and
capital had found their way, for the Standard Oil Co.
had acquired 600 square miles of land, erected a num-
ber of oil tanks, and some modern buildings for about
300 American employees. Our vessel was well loaded
with iron pipes to conduct the oil from the wells to
the tanks' and from them to the vessels 3 or 4 miles
at sea, for, strange as it may seem, there was not a
landing port for vessels all along the coast of Peru
and Chili—about 4,000 miles. All freight and pas-
sengers have to be transported in small boats and
lighters, as trade has not increased sufficiently to
justify expensive docks necessary for larger vessels.
As there was nothing inviting at this place for tour-
ists, few landed. 'Twas here I became acquainted
with a Mr. Morgan, formerly of Dallas, Texas, who
knew our company's former representative there and
was so familiar with my name that he felt as if he
knew me. I asked him where he was going. He said
to Montevideo, in Uruguay, where he had been for
some years in the interest of a large cement concern.
Thus it is that commerce is extending its influence
into all parts of the world, and thus the business men
are always in need of young men of sterling char-
acter and ability who understand the languages, and i
in whom can be trusted the welfare of the enterprises.
Hence I would say to the young men of this country:
First, realize that "Life is real, life is earnest"
and that he who would succeed must first lay the
proper foundation on which to erect the castle in
which he is to live or the hovel in which he only
desires to exist. There are plenty of opportunities for
the honest, efficient, aspiring young men everywhere,
and hovels for those who prefer them. And the choice
is with the youth of our land.
We left Talara at 5 A. M. and arrived at Salvary
at 4 P. M. Here we parted company with a fine
young fellow from Switzerland. Always interested
in young men, and having plenty of time, I had lis-
tened as he graphically unfolded his life's history—
and I was entertained and instructed. He had only
been in America a short time, but his intelligence,
and simple and honest ways, soon enabled him to
obtain employment, which was all he asked—simply
to show what he could do. He did it so well that the
company, having confidence in his honesty and abil-
ity, concluded to send him to far away Peru, where
they needed a man, whom they could trust, to look
after their finances.
We could see the town from the vessel. It was a
sorry looking village, nestled at the foot of the moun-
tains and so uninviting that no tourists cared to land.
The place to which our young friend was going was
far in the interior, away from civilization, only a
mining town and sugar plantation. His prospects
seemed gloomy indeed, but he was cheerful and cour-
ageous. Possessing a sound mind in a healthy body,
and a cheerful disposition, he made friends of every-
body and I feel sure he will carry sunshine and
success to the wilderness.
A Barren Outlook.
We are along the western coast of Peru and Chili.
There is nothing attractive, notwithstanding that most
of the way we kept in sight of the coast range of the
Andes mountains. The mountains appear as barren
as the Sahara desert; nothing green save (occasion-
ally, at some little village, nestled at the base of the
dull and somber mountains, where a stream of water
from the distant summit has found its way to the sea.
The people of Peru and northern Chili do not know
what rain is. Wherever there is fresh water vegeta-
tion grows in rank profusion.
It is wholly different on the east side of the Andes,
for here they have the full benefit of the mountain
streams and copious showers of rain.
It was a delightful day and the sun and calm sea
seemed to combine to make this "the end of a perfect
day." It was decided as a fit time to give the "Cap-
tain's dinner" and soon everything was in motion;
the dining room was beautifully decorated, with flags
and balloons strung from every post, and, as it was
a full dress affair "the fair women and brave men"
made a most charming spectacle.
The writer was chosen as chairman and speaker,
and felt that he but spoke the sentiments of all when
he paid his tribute to the captain and crew for their
uniform kindness, which contributed so much to the
pleasure of the trip. After the feast, the secretary
distributed the prizes to successful contestants and
joy seemed unconfined.
On leaving the banquet hall we found the deck
i
An
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