Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-21
TOURISTS IN MEXICO
Tide of American Travel Turning
Homeward.
VISITORS TO SOUTHERN REPUBLIC
Requisite Attitude for Forming
Just Criticism.
FUTILITY OF COMPARISONS


is now returning to the United States, load
ed with loot of more less value and
interest. This winter has afforded the
high water mark in tourist travel to Mexico
from the states. The railroads have been
busy with their regular accommodations
fully pre-empted and numerous private
cars and special trains constantly moving
over the various lines. The hotels have
been filled to overlooking, and, in fact in
all the principal hostelries in the largest
cities of Mexico it has been necessary for
weeks past to engage quarters several days
ahead to secure any kind of accommoda-
tions.
For several years large numbers of
Americans have been visiting Mexico, and
it would probably be surprising to know
the number of people living in the United
States who are more or less familiar with
this SpaniSh-American country. This travel
is advantageous to Mexico from financial.
political and international point of view.
The tourists all bring money with them
and necessarily leave much of it behind
While majority of the American visitors
do not take kindly to the ways of the
country or the manner of people they see
representing the majority, still they
quire much clearer idea of the perma-
hence of Mexican institutions and the in
tegr1ty of Mexico as a great and distinct
nation. AS Mexico does and always will
look to the United States for commercial
and political friendship, it is extremely
valuable to her from an international point
of view that so many American citizens
are more or less acquainted with her peo-
pie or her interests Each man or woman
who goes to Mexico returns with sort
of proprietary interest in the future Of
this republic
Mexico is of great value to the people of
the United States commercially, politically
and internationally. From Mexico we draw
upon for supplies of a tropical character
and in this respect this country is a sort
of tropical warehouse for the United States
to which no other foreign country can
sever the line of communication. In Mexi-
co is found a convenient outlet for trop-
ical investment, a favorite form of VEN
ture with many Americans. In Mexico the
United States finds large market for
much of the surplus manufactures. Polit-
ically Mexico affords excellent example
OF contrasting government Properly
studied much could be learned by Ameri-
cans as to the reason of Mexican success
In handling Spanish-American people. In
ternationally Mexico is an excellent field
for experimental diplomacy. 1t is close
to the United States and the two peoples
are so thoroughly well acquainted that
there should be no trouble in making either
commercial or political treaties calculated
to represent the highest good for both
countries.
Tourists in Mexico.
The United States sends all kinds Of peo-
pie to Mexico, some on business and some
on pleasure bent. Many of those who
come on business afford the Mexicans the
most pleasure, for as much as we esteem
ourselves and hold ourselves to be of a
superior race many of us add greatly to
the gaiety of nations when we leave our
home environment. The sightseeing Amer
lean who is bent upon doing an empire in
day is the same nervous rushing indi-
vidual in Mexico he is in Europe Guide
book in hand voice keyed to high pitch
clothed in travelling costume impossible
of description which would do it justice, he
or she wears upon the soul of the unfor-
tunate fellow-countryman whose path is
crossed and delights the Mexican with his
easily tickled sense of humor.
There are others. however, both men and
women, who make one proud of their
tivity, and glad to be pointed out as
Americans. These people accept the ways
of the country as they find them. If they
do not speak Spanish they secure an inter
prefer, avoiding the delusion that a shout
in English is more ineligible to for
eigner than well modulated speech. These
people get the best the country affords and
thoroughly enjoy everything offered them
by those who appreciate their gentleness
and civility. There are really but two
classes Of people in the world, those who
understand and those who don't: The man
or woman who understands makes a good
traveller. welcome in any land, always
served better than any one else, and al
ways absorbing so much more from new
experiences than those who are caSe-h hard
ened in their own ignorance and impossi-
bilties.
The Excursion Parties.
For those who want to see the most Of
Mexico in the shortest time at the least ex-
pense and with the least inconvenience
there Is probably no better way to do it
than to become a member of cone of the
regular excursion parties which enter this
republic almost weekly. They go from
place to place in luXuriousy appointed
trains accompanied by guides, with no
worry of any kind. and when the itinerary is
completed. the members can indeed say
they have seen the most important points
in Mexico. 1t must not be supposed now
ever, that the members of these excursion
parties catch more than glimpse of the
real life of people whose traditions run
back in the centuries, and whose energies
are keeping pace with the march Of events
throughout the world. If the Mexican peo-
pie spoke English, and if their habits and
customs were those of the Anglo-Saxon, a
more or less hurried trip through their
country would yield some more or less in
telligent conception of their lives and am
billions, but the American coming to
Mexico finds himself rank outsider in
every way. The language is foreign to his
ears the customs and habits of the people
are strange and uncanny, from his point
of view They apparently need so much
and yet are satisfied with so little Their
business habits are like none ever encoun-
tered by the American and yet their trans
actions are worthy of respect in amount
and In character: The people have no poll
States. and yet they form cohesive nation
distinct In its personality and strong in its
characteristics.
For an outsider. such as the newly ar
rived American finds himself to be- to enter
understandingly into the life of a peopIe so
oiametrically opposite to himself In every
thing he must change his mental attitude
| and conform his mind to his environment
| the same as he must conform his clothing
| and his diet With the gradual change
which takes place in the clothing and diet
comes new and gradually improving un-
Outstanding and respect for a people who
| were on earth and whose civilization was
decadent before the North American con-
| tinent was other than a wilderness
Comparisons impossible.
The intelligent American who has thus
entered into the life of Mexico finds in the
first place that comparisons are impossible
| and necessarily unjust. He cannot COM
pare the City of Mexico with New York
any more than he can compare a citizen of
Mexico with citizen of New York In the
capital of the Spanish-American republic he
finds half million people living in peace
and order and under a strange admixture
n nd mir