Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-27

The term pe0u has become familiar
So Americans It ls frequently seen In
,.rIpt and Is known 90 refer TO a low
.Iassof Che Mexican population Though
the meaning of the word Is generally
understood still there are many things
connected with the people TO whom 1t
appIias that are new and interesting
because of their uniqueness. Among
those Is their manner Of railroad
travelling
person need NOT cross the RIO
Grande t3 get a fair idea ~ this the
lowest stratum OF Mexican society by
passing through the train that is to
bear him into the land OF PorflHo Diaz,
as IL stands on the American side, ne
may learn much by inference. The
empty cars tell silent story but one
that can not be misinterpreted. Each
shows the class Of people that daily
occupy it-whether rich or poor Some,
highly furnished and conducive 10 ease
and comfort. give evidence OF existing
wealth or even Opulonco The absence
Of am conyenlences On others speak Of a
population whose lives are narrow and
whose enjoyments are crude. The varied
equipment of different coaches demon.
strates the fact that the caste element
Is thriving in Mexico. and that there
Is but little fellowship between the
orders
on the Mexican Central. and on near
~ an other railroads IN the Republic,
there are three grades of passenger ac-
comm0daUons the first. second ana
third class. The fare varies with these.
that OF the third clualing half the first
and that of the second being intermedi-
ate. The third class is furnished cs-
pecially for the lowest, or pe0n. popu-
latlon. ana affords interesting subjects
Of study The second class also Is PEE
cullar tu the country and smacks uf
peOnagc
To got 1n adequate conception Of a
second class car in Mexico. imagine one
with al the uph0stering torn Off the
seats and these turned backs together
and securely nailed Place them fnr
enough apart that. sitting on one. the
feet can hardly reach the next In front
Take the carpet from the aisle. t'u-
fasten the blinds from the windows and
substitute lattice shutters for them.
Smash ON the mirrors. remove the
smoker and give free uge 90 the cigar
and hattlc-aN plug. though no euspidors
are IN evidence; melt the fee from the
water tank and mn Il with water that
tastes OF the tropics; cover the interior
with duh. dark paint and append 10
an this the fact that there Is but one
toilet for both sexes. and you have no
exaggerated picture NJ second class ac-
commodations In Mexico
The third class has some distinctive
features, Il contains no double seats.
\ continuous bench. narrow and bare,
on each side. extends its entire length.
In the center are two others. with backs
together running nearly from door 10
door. thus forming four long seats and
two aisles. The windows are without
shutters and there Is no attempt no I'M
Side decoration. n is wanting like
wise. IN all the other convenieuces no.
tlceably absent I'M the second class car
To make this tour OF inspection Of
the train Is q good introduction to
visit % the Mexican capital. II gives
foretaste OF that which afterwards
nauseates
Twenty minutes before the train
starts q few MeNicans with large bum
dies OF bedding tied up with rope. or
sack or two of what not push their
baggage In az the door They place II
on one Of the seats throw open the win
dows take out their tobacco and brown
paper ana settle down In perfect con-
tenment' Nearly all wear the broad