New-York tribune., 1907-06-03
DESCENT INTO ARGENTINA.


ment in the world.
DESCENT INTO ARGENTINA.
Immediately after passing the monument are
on ArEentiae soil. and then begins a descent Of
some two thousand feet to the town Of Las Cuevas
IN some respects this is the hair-raisng part
81 VIZ Journey. Inc descent is rapid, the zSzags
numerous, the curves sharp The driver yyhipS up
ms ms horses who also scent the in the distant
",iI'n IL We can see almost from the top. At
m I MICK MI speed we dash along There is no wall
ana no stone posts as the Swiss roads, guard
mountain or fathomless precipice Around every
ii OIiHE tle coach sIeWs with only two three
IhcheS from the outside wheel but a special Provi-
GSlCe G protects the travellers, and we reach Las
Win such a coating of fine yellow dust that our
own mothers would hardly know us.
Ihe rest of the Journey to Buenos Ayres is COM
para pai5uNely easy. narrow gauge rack and piuion
road takes us TO Mendoza, some four hours away
G@tand @ Andean scenery charms Us on every side
mioi44tam IN the Western Hemisphere occasionally
@ "Itle otheT mountains scarcely less mighty
At Mendoza. which is among the foothills of the
~ ~ @ s,',iIe @ AlqeS' we change again to broad
70 carry us TO Buenos Ayres $50 miles away a
Except for one range of hills the yhn distance
maTySIIoe aR 40sGinteIy nat plain but plain Of
locks nor 3 ana herds and producing bumper crops Of
66pad 6d @ ana wheat A vast worlds granary, six hun
to south, are the prairies of Argentina.
journey. and before il is ended NAV veil answer
me question which has already been often put TO
the average traveller to take it. 1t certainly is. if
the said average traveller is willing TO put up
WIN Re" diScCmfOrts. It depends largely upoIf
one previous point Of view
was It Mark Twain who said O the unskilful
baroeI who asked him If the easy: 1t
depends upon what YOU call It, if You it shay
lnE II Is pretty hard; if you call il Skinnng. il
isn't so bad -? So If y1u thinking, of a pleasure
Journey. a charming ride the Andes. such as
YOU would have in Switzerland or the Pyreuoes it
IS pretty hard: If YOU call it getting across the
Andes IN "A new, rough. ndeveloped desert country.
II isn't so bad II stand dirt heat and
cold, II you do not vince too much the abuse
OF horses and mules, II endure c0uSdera bile
cNtortou without crumblinE. II YOU your
trunks and other baggage pitched about and thrown
over 10y the worst baggage SmaSh'TS in the wOr J.
II YOU do not Wholly lose your eQuanimitv when
YOUR trunks are opened on the road and the CON
tents stolen. as mine We're. If YOU "cat Your
peck of dirt in few hours instead Of a lifetime
enough TO stand a tcn-Inile eallop on the edge of
q precipCe II You want to the most ma gnii-
cent scenery In the world. n YOU enjoy spice OF
adventure, IL YOU would nave memories and men
tai pictures that Will remain fresh and vivid for
= lifetime. II Npu would the most magnificent
works Of God and some of the daring cug.-
neerlnS feats Of man. YOU viii take this Journey
when You have the opportunity, and be thankful
all your life that you have done
At any rate, this route is far shorter than the
alternative route through the Straits Of Magellan
only half as much
In five years. more likely ten. tho tunnel
through the Andes will be completed. ana the whole
journey will he made by rail Then the route viii
be robbed Of all It's terrors-and NOR" than half
of its joys