The chronicle=news., 1913-04-10
Mexico, The Land Topsy 7uryy
Miss Jnlla wood In rhe Kansas cI,

Miss Julia WOOD IN III. Kansas CIty
star
The world NJ large knows In Mex
leo an unhappy nation whose s'rus-
giles II has watched through cur
| tain al blood the last two years. On
~ those who have actually seen her
can realize the charm OF that en-
chahied land. still so fast asleep in
| the shadow OF Cortez and Montezu-
| ma that presidents and constitutions
| seem at best "A mere ridiculous an
| nch ronism
II is country of such tremendous
snpcrlatives that the ordinary adiec-
tis" shrinks back appalled, from any
attemp; 'nt description. A land where
moon the size OF a washtub turns
night Into silver day: where straw
berries are crimson plums: flowers
grow by the acre. trees are hoary
with thousand years: where men
are so fabulously rich that indiyid-
unls could pay the national debt
with ease. ana Il days Journey on u
train can he made over one single
estate. 30 pitifully poor tina, death
by starvation Is an everyday occur
renee 100 trivial for remark
4 land OF upside downs. where
doorknobs and vehicles turn TO tn.
LOFT. whore the police force Is made
mp of .N-bandiis. where loy. Is sung
instead of spoken. where the popu.
lace sleeps iG the afternoon and
amuscs Itself all night.
A land OF unbelievable contrasts.
from Vera Cruz roasting on It's red.
ho. gulf to the Alpine snow and
lee 81 l-s~ - H.,
an indian hamlet OF four centuries
ago 10 one Of the most brilliant and
cosmopolitan capitals OF the world.
But after nll. IL Is no; scenery.
size or supcrlativcs which constitute
the charm OF Mexico. II Is the III.
oi the people. where Aztec and Span
lard have blended TO form the most
fascinating OF composites. In land
whcr. the street is a perpetual thea
tire OF emotions and where the hear,
is not content TO remain even pinned
upon the sieve. but is Haunted In
the face OF the passerby. monotony
is not TO bc expected. Tho lack of
sclf-consci iousncss. the native aban-
don Of expression with which the
populacs nj large ~ccps. laughs.
anarrcls and makes love astoun,is
and entrances ih. stoiid AnIio-SaS-
on.
The Mexican four hundred nr~ nc
ccssarily more contained. hut then.
they are not truly Mexican. but Par
isian. In education. dress. manners
and morais-as for the "xcntc."
however! II II Is sad. II bursts into
dtsconc~rtinx torrents Of tears: II II
is angry. u flashes still more discon-
ecrtink siiIctio~ In n storm Of gcatie-
uiation and abuse: II Il Is In love. II
sighs and oxiex and beats Its breast
before the curious gaze OF passing
hundreds with n bland disregard Of
| appearances that the Sphinx might
envy.
The Paseo. the bullfight and the
Alameda are the scenes for tho great
cst emotional activity. The first has
taken place each day for centuries
from . to Z In the afternoon. its
route has varied with the growth OF
the city. but its program as the laws
of the Medcs ard Perrians. Not to he
represented in that long line Of hors-
.s and motor ears which prancc and
| chug-chug along the Pasco de In RE-
forma and beneath the stately cy-
press Of Chapitcp.c. means n social
Oblivion which the true Mexican
would willinEly-and sometimes
,lccs-starvc to avoid. There IL no
more beautiful driveway in Europe
, than that along WHICH the pageant
winds nor any castle more kingly
than Chapultepcc. towering oil high
| In n wilderness OF roses and a wealth
OF CORY memories.
Here the tragic shadows Of the
Montczumas have watched the build
Ing OF n palace for their 'couquerors