davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Mixed Blood i'm Mexico
From the Encyclopedias Britannica Article, MEXCO

"As the Spanish conqucrors brought few women,
there much mixture of races Among the pure
"whites who were practically all of Spanish extrac-
"tion-there two well-dened classes the Gachu-
pines chapetones, Spaniards born in Europe said
ito be named in alusion to their spurs from Aztec
words meaning prckerS with the foot ard the
'natve-born creoles; the former. though small
majority had almost all the higher positions both in the
public services and in commerce. Besides these there
were five wel-defned cdscS: meStizoes Indian and
white; mulattoes negro and white: Zambos negro
land Indian, who regarded specially vicious
"and dangerous: native Indians and negroes. But
there were about dozen intermediate named
varieties of which the saio-otrd1 Cendnc away from
''white) and tente Toire tending towards white
may be mentioned: and many of the last named
eventually passed into the creole class. sometimes
"by the decree of court. The fact that the trade
route to Manila passed through Vera Cruz. Mexico
City. and Acapulco entailed the settlement also OF
few Chinese and Malays chiefly ho Pacific coast
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Every Other Subject of
Human Interest

is covered in the Britannica with the same COM
prehensve detail and authority in the great article
on Mexico. You owe it to yourself to investigate this
work before its prices are advanced on May Is next
Every one who wishes to keep up-to-date should
have this Incompatible work More than 80 600 sets
have already been sold
a. 1t is a complete exposition and detailed sum-
mary OF the worlds work and progress.
(2l An inventory of extant knowledge reduced
to an c simplicity OF arrangement, and
GU An index to recondite not less than 70 all
common things that can possibly interest or concern
a civilized people.
you complete se volumes ~' 40 SeM On"
articles, A, 900 words of text. written by 800
specialists, dealing with half a million topics.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
DID the Mexican
AbOrigineS Come
from Asia =?

"The original peopling of
America might then we'll date
from the time when there was
Continuous land between IL and
Asia. AZ all times com
"munication has been open from
East Asia, and even the South
sea Islands, 10 the west coast OF
America. The Importance OF
this is evident when we con-
slider that late In the nineteenth
century Japanese Junks still
"drifted over by the ocean cur
rent to California at the rate
"of about one n year. often with
some of the crew still alive. Fur
"ther north. the Aleutian Islands
offer line of easy sea passage.
while in Northeast Asia. near
Behring'S Strait. live Chukchi
tribes who carry on Intercourse
with the American side.
Moreover. there are details OF
Mexican civilization which are
"most easily accounted for or
the supposition that they werc
borrowed from Asia. They do
mot seem ancient enough to
have to do with IA remote Ash
attic origin of the nations of
America, but rather TO be re-
suits of comparatively modern
intercourse between Asia and
America. Humboldt compared
the Mexican calendar with that
"in use in Eastern Asia. The
"Monsols, Tibetans. Chinese. and
other nelghbourlng nations have
"a cycle or series OF twelve ami
mails, viz, rat. bull. tiger, hare,
"drago serpent. horse, goat. ape,
cock. dog. pig, which may pos
"sibly be an imitation OF the or
binary Babylonisn- Greek zodiac
familiar To ourselves. The Mon
"Golian topples not only count
their lunar months ly these
signs, but they reckon the sue
"cessiVe days by them, at-day.
"bull-day. tiger-day. Sc. and
also, by combining the twelve
signs in rotation with the ele-
"ments, they obtain a means of
marking each year In the sixty
year cycle. as the wood-rat
year, the fire-tlgcr year. &c.
"This method is highly artificial.
"and the reappearance OF It's
principle in the Mexican and
Central American calendar Is
Suggestive Of importation from
"A STA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
The "HOf Lands"

"rhe ttcrrGs culiertCs fhot
"lands> Of Mexico include the
two coastal zones. tho Isthmus
"of Tohuantcpcc, the states OF
"TahaSCo. Campcche. and part
"of Chlapas. the peninsula OF
"Yucatan and part Of eastern
"OaNaca. The mean tcmpcra-
"turc ranges from 10 IL SO r.
Seldom falling below 600. but
often rising to 1859. and IN the
"sultry districts q Vera Cruz,
"Guaymas and Acapulco to and
seven above 100. The rainfall
zig heavy In the south. except
'Yucatan, but dlm!nishcs grad
"ually toward the north. until on
"thc Pacific and Gulf of Cali
"fornla coasts II almost disap-
pears. I'Nt low ldllu ulNAIlNlS
ARE densely forested In the
south, except Yucatan, and
large areas are covered with
streams, swamps and lagoons.
"the abode OF nox'ous insects.
presidential fcvers and dysen-
",ery. on both coasts yellow
"fever epidemics appear at fire.
"quent intervals.
'"The great fertility OF these
regions and the marvellous
wealth Of their forests are r.
irresistible attractions to indus
trial and commercial enter
prise. but their unhealthlncss
RESTRICTS development and is a
bar to any satisfactory increase
"in population. TIE heavy rain
"fall on the Gulf coast, however.
(which reaches a maximum OF
100 to 100 in. In the Huatusco
district of Vera CRUZ. causes
1.-The iiondlng of large areas of
"loWlands, and will make im-
"provcmCnt very difficult,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Insects

THE insect fauna Of Mexico
covers q very wide range Of
genera and species which. like.
tho other forms Of animal me-,
us largely made up Of migratory
types. To the traveller. the most
conspicuous among the Next
can insects. perhaps. are the
butterflies. beetles. ants and the
"myriads OF mosquitoes. midgcs,
"neas and chinches. Among the
mosquitoes. which are extraor-
"dinarily numerous in some Of
"the hot lowland districts. are
"the species credited with the
spread Of malarial and yellow
"fevers. The midges arc even
'more numerous than tho mos
"quhoes. In pleasing contrast
ito such pests are the butterflies
"of all eizes and colors. beetles
''of an inconceivable variety of
"size. shape and celebration. and
ANTS Of widely dissimilar ap-
"pearance and habits"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
characteristics of the Native
Population

The native population of the plateau of Mexico,
mainly Aztecs, may Sill be seen by thousands with
''Out any trace of mixture of European blood. Their
stature is estimated to be about f. 3 in, but they
are of muscular and sturdy build. Measurements of
their skulls show them unacceptable ndeX about 49,
''or intermediate between the dolchocephac and
''brachycephaic types of mankind The face is oval.
with low forehead high cheekbones, long eyes Slopng
outward toward the temples fleshy lips. wide
"and in some cases fattsh but in Others aqunc,
'coarsey moulded features, with a stolid and gloomy
Expression. Thickness of skin, masking the muscles,
has been thought the cause of peculiar heaviness
lin the outlines of body and face; the complexion
varies from yellow brown to chocolate about 40 to
''l3 in the anhropoogcal scale; eyes black, straight
coarse glossy black hair; beard and mostachc scanty
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25

"On both sides in Mexico there was an element con-
sstng OF honest doctrnares but rival military leaders
exploited the struggles in their own interest sometimes
taking each side successfully and the instability was in
ensfed by the extreme poverty of the peasanry which
made the sodey reluctant to return civil life v the
absence of regular middle class, and by the concentra
'tion of wealth in a few hands, that a revolutionary
chief was generally sure both of money and of men
But after 1884, under the rule of Daz the Federal sys-
TEN continued in name, but it concealed in fact with
great benefit to the nation, highly centralized admins
"raon. very intelligent and the whole both popular
land successful modern form of rational despotsm.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Climate

Mexico stretches across II
parallels Of latitude, with the
Tropic of Cancer crossing the
territory about midway. thus
placing It in the tropical and
sub-tropical regions.
The great central plateau car
rics temperate and sub-troplcal
conditions over much the greater
part Of the Republic.
The temperature rises steadily
as one descends to the lowlands
on either side Of the plateau.
until the upper limit Of the trop-
ical region, called "tierras cali
entes," is reached, where the cli-
mate is hot. humid. and I'M
healthy, as elsewhere in the for
ested coastal plains Of tropical
America. Here the temperature
often rises TO 1861. and in the
sultry districts Of Vera Cruz.
Guaymas and Acapulco to and
even above no..
Above the plateau rise the
marginal sierras, while a few
isolated peaks In the region Of
perpetual snow give to Mexico a
considerable area Of cold tenn
perature and a trace Of arctic
conditions.
The four seasons are clearly
marked north Of latitude 2s' N.
only. South Of that parallel
only a rainy season from May to
October and dry season for
the rest OF the year can be dis
tinguished.
Long droughts are common In
many parts OF the country, and
on the barren surface Of the
plateau the rains drain away
rapidly.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
How the Government
is Organized

practically II is Federal
Republic with centralized exec
"utive powers. Its political divi.
"sions consist OF 81 States (orig-
finally I9) having independent
local governments. 3 territories,
"and Federal district, in which
the national capital stands.
THE central government con.
~sists OF three Coordinate
'branches-cxecutlve, legislative.
land tudicial-each nomlnally In
dependent OF the other. The
Executive branch consists of a
president and Vice President.
assisted nv a cabinet Of sec
"retaries Of state: % Foreign
AFFAIRS; 90 interior; ,3) Jus
"tice; tp public instruction and
fine arts; t6) fomento colon!-
cation. and industry; 90 COM
"nunlcations and public works;
80, finance and public credit;
",S, war and marine. The Pres
"ident and Vice President are
elected indirectly through an
electoral college chosen ny pop
"ular vote. and serve for
period Of six years, (the term
was four years previous 10
"l9oi) the Nice President sue
Seeding 10 the office in case OF
"the death or permanent dlsa-
"billty Of the President.
~ candidate FOR tho rrcsi-
"dcncy must he a native-born
Mexican citizen in the full cNcr-
"c'se Of his political rights, 50
years OF age, not an ccclosias-
"tic. and resident ~ the rcpub-
"lic at the time OF the election.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
The City of Mexico

Mexico City is 7,4l5 feet above
sea level. and by rail 264 miles
northwest OF Vera Cruz.
With a wet, undrained sub
soil, and many thousands OF In
dams and half-breeds living in
crowded quarters, the death rate
has been VIGOROUSLY high-46 to
IS Der thousand, though drain
age works, underground sewers.
and sanitation have tended TO
improve these conditions.
The city is laid out with al
most unbroken regularity.
The name of a street changes
with almost every block. accord
ing to old Spanish custom.
The Paseo de la ReforIna, the
finest avenue in the city, Is q
broad boulevard almost three
miles long.
There were n9Os) 35S govern
ment schools ia the city, includ-
ing IS professional and technical
schools. and nearly 200 private
schools: "a Geographical Society,
n Gpolorical Society. an ASsOvia-
ton of Engineers and Archi-
tects, and a Society Of Natural
History, also "A National Library
dedicated in 1892, OF upwards OF
'22I, 900 volumes.
There are over 100 man,irac-
turing establishments. including
ii,t, xAnrl, tnU NhnnN
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Railways

The total mileage of railways
is 15.25i. and that OF tel, graph
lines 46.1l2.
a concession was granted for
the construction OF railway
from Vera cruz to the City Of
Mexico in 1857. 1t was not COM
pleted until 1873
This railway, the logical route
of United States troops to the
Mexican capital. Is known as the
"Ferrocarril MeNicano." and "is
celebrated because OF the DIM
culties overcome on the precipi-
tous eastern slopes of the Sierra
Madre. the beauties of the
mountain scenery through
which 1t passes, and the rapid
transition from the hot, humid
coastal plain to the cool. arid
plateau. 1924 feet above the sea
at Boca del Monte. The rail-
way extends 2S4 miles between
Vera Cruz and Mexico City"
The line was capitalized at $46.-
100000. and has paid a good
profit on the investment.
Actual railway construction
did not begin until 1878, during
the first term of President Por-
firio Diaz.
The two railway lines running
northward from the capital TO
the American frontier, popularity
called the Mexican Central and
the Mexican National, were
merged in 1908 with an argre-
gate capital of ;iGo.0oo,ooo.
Mexican money. OF which the
Mexican Government holds
controlling interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Products of the Soil

AN important product OF the
plateau and OF the open dis
"tricts of the ticrrds cniicntes,
growing in the most arid
"places. Ia the 'nopal' or prickly
"pear cactus. Its fruit, called
TUNA by the natives, is re-
"freshing and wholesome, and
lis a staple food in spite OF its
"spiny covering.
I'm the tierrds caltcntes OF
Mexico. however, better condi-
"tions prevail \ fertile soil.
abundant rainfall and high
Temperatures have covered
these mountain slopes and low
'land plains with wealth Of
vegetation The problem for
1.-The agriculturist here Is not
irrigation but drainage and
Excepting down spontaneous
"growths.
I'm these regions sugar, to-
"bacco, indigo, cacao, rice. sweet
potatoes, alfalfa, beans and
"cassava are produced. and In
"dlan corn yields two and three
"crops year.
Fruits also are plentiful. both
wild and cultivated. Among
them are the banana, plantain,
tuna. chilli pepper, olive. cocoa
nut, orange, lemon. lime, man
ego. pomegranatc, pima or
pineapple ,wild and Guilt
"vated). fig. ahuacatl. chlrimoya.
"papaya, Eourd. melon, guava,
"ciruela ,plum). and the sew
"eral 'zapote' fruits, including
"chico zapote' from the Achrds
"sdpo'd. which produces the
"'chicla' or chiClc-Gum of COM
"merce. 'zapote blanco.' 'Iapote-
"barracho' Cor 'amarilloD. "a
"pote-prieto' Cor 'negro) and
"'zapote NANCY
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Plants, and
Plant Products

"Of the economic plants and
products of Mexico the list Is
Surprisingly long and interest
ing. The cereals, fruits and
vegetables of Europe have been
introduced and some of them
have done well. Wheat IS
widely cultivated and con.
siderable part of the population
depend upon 1t for their bread.
Indian corn. which Is believed
80 have had it's origin in Mex
"ico. also provides food for a.
large part of the population.
"Tunas' or cactus fruit. red
peppers, 'zapotes' ,the fruit OF
various trces), 'arrayan,' cir
"uclas' or Mexican plums. qua
was. 'huamuchil.' tamarinds,
"aSuacatcs, bananas. plantains.
"pincapples. grapes. oranges,
lemons. lines. granadillas. CHR
"imoyas. mammces. Cocoanuts,
"cacao. mangocs. olives. gourds
and melons are among the
fruits of the country. and rice,
"wheat. Indian corn. beans,
vans. sweet potatoes. onions
and tomatoes are among its
better known food products.
The food of the common peo-
pie Is chiefly made up of In
dian corn, beans. red peppers
and tomatoes There are about
fifty known species Of beans IN
"MeNico aud Central America.
"and probably a dozen species
"of red peppers. which are used
both IN seasoning and IN max
ing chill sauce. The tomato
cor 'tomatillo' mentioned * the
fruit Of the PhvsdIis irocnrpa.
sometimes called the straw
berry tomato and tho Mexican
ground cherry which Is used
with red peppers to make chill
sauce.
Tho common potato. Of which
"wiid varieties are found, Is not
commonly used as a vegetable.
"hut as a faNoring for soup9 and
"otLc- a gnos
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
The Marvellous
Flora

NO briet description can ade-
"nuatcly portray the marvellous
variety and agniilccnoe Of the
"nora of tic ficrros culrntes.
ITS forests are not composed
"of one or a few dominating
species, as in the cold temper
'atc zone. but Of countless
genera and species closely In
"tCrwoVon togcther-a confused
mass of giant trees. lianas and
"cplphytcs struggling to reach
"the sunlight. This struggle
"for existence has completely
changed the habits OF some
plants, turning tho palm and
"lle cactus into climbers, and
"even some normal species into
"criphytes
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25

'"Thenceorward, TIL the second election of Porrio
Diaz to the presidency IN 1884 the history of Mexico is
empire is mere episode. The conflicts, which may at
first sight to be merely between rival generals
"seen upon closer examination to be mainly % between
he privileged classes the church and cat tines the
army, and the of the other civilized population -
between Cenraiss and Federaists, the former being
identical with the army the church, and the supporters
of despots while the latter represent the desire for
"republicansm and local sef-government. Similar
ics are exhibited though less continuously, by most
Of the other Spanish American states.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
ODD Facts
About Mexico

Mexico is officially called "t.s-
tados Unidos Mexicanos'' and
"Republica Mexicana."
Mexico has an area Of 767,2sO
square miles.
The greatest length OF the
country is. from northwest to
southeast. 1900 miles: its great
est width, $50 miles, and it's least
width a little short Of 40 miles.
The outline of Mexico is some
times compared to "a huge cornu-
copia. with It's opening toward
the United States.
There are ASA miles Of coast
line on the Pacific side, includ-
ing the Gulf Of California.
The coast lines on the Gulf
of Mexico measure about 400
miles. and there are 327 miles
on the Caribbean Sea.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Ants That
Destroy Trees

AN Interesting species IL the
"leaf-cutt.ng ant. which lives in
large underground colonies and
"fcsds upon fungus produced
"by loaf-cuttings stored in sub
"tcrrancan passages to promote
fermentation. These ants Will
"strip a tree in few hours.
land are very destructive to
fruit plantations. Some of tho
native trees have developed
ingenious methods OF defence,
zone of which is that OF attract
ling small colonies OF another
species to drive away the ma
"rauders,
Most destructive. also, are
"the termites, or white ants,
whose ravages are to be seen
"in the crumbling woodwork
land furniture Of all habitations
"in the hot zones. Some spe-
"cies build their nests in trees
great globular masses some
times three feet in diameter,
supported on the larger
branches. and connected with
1.-THE ground by covered pas
"saGes on the outside OF the
tree. These insects arc blind
land avoid the light. lees find
"a highly conccnial habitat in
"MoXlco, and some honey is en-
ported. Spiders are also rep
resented 10y large number OF
genera and species. the most
dreaded being the venomous
'tarantula' and the savage my
gale
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Population

The population according 10
the most recent estimate Is To-
OO3.2O1. giving an average of
1876 Inhabitants per square mile.
Less than 1t $3.50 Of the
population is classed as whites,
3Sfc is Indians, and 49, Is mixed
bloods. or mestizos.
Under the Constitution Of
1894 all race distinctions we're
abolished. SO that nominally all
parts Of the population are free
and equal.
The Indians began In abou,
1866 TO take an interest in pub
lie affairs. and soon began to
make their influence felt.
It is the general conclusion
that the Indians have been de-
creasing In number while the
mixed bloods have been In
creasing.
The death rate among the In
dian children is estimated at not
less than 5OTc.
The unhealthfulness Of the
coastal plains prevents their
being thickly populated, al
though Vera Cruz and some
other States return a large pop
ulation.
The Indian element in the
population is made up Of sew
eral distinct races-the Aztec
or Mexican. Misteca- Zapoteca.
Maya or Yucateco, Otomi or
Othomi. and in smaller number
the Totonac, Tarasco. Apache.
Matlanzingo. Chontal. Nike.
Zoque, Guaicuro. Opata-Pima,
Tapijulapa, Seri and Huavi.
No fewer than 81 distinct
languages and 50 dialects have
been found among the Indian
inhabitants OF Mexico.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
What HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THE PRESENT CONDITION
OF AFFAIRS IN MEXICO?

This Page contains Facts about Mexico from the Great
Article $4,000 Words in the new Encyclopaedia Br-
tannica, which Covers in Great Detail, not only the
Land and the People, the Resources, Finances and In
stutions Of the country, but the Political and Social
Conditions from the Aboriginal Period to the Present
Day, affording the Reader Complete Grasp of the
Conditions lying behind the troubles which have finally
resulted in Armed Intervention by the United States
Causes ofthe Present Revolution The Privileged Glasses
Versus the People
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Commerce

Coastwise trade Is principally
under the Mexican flag, but the
steamers are owned abroad.
Imports We're valued In 1910
II at s96,OO6,SsO, and the ex-
ports at s147.45I.965.
The Imports largely consist Of
railway material, industrial ma
ch'ncry, cotton, wooden and linen
textiles and yarns for national
factories, hardware, furniture,
building material, mining sup
pies, drugs and chemicals,
Wines and spirits, wheat, Indian
corn. paper and military sup
plies and equipment.
The exports include gold, sill
yer, copper. coffee, henequen or
sisal, textile and other fibres,
cabinet woods, chicle. rubber
tnd other forest products, hides
aud skins, chlckpeas, tobacco
and sugar.
In the production OF cane
sugar. Mexico, compared with
other countries, Is 18Th, with
800 900 tons: of rice, 18th, with
I-"."or.00 pounds, Of tobacco,
llth with 3i7OO,000 pounds;
cotton. 9Th, with 1000 bales;
guid. ith. with t.tl2,OOO ounces;
YER list. with S70Oo,OO0
'IW''. coffee, 6th, with 6s6ss,
"'o l"und-, copper I'd, with 81
.'" pounds, lead. IN, win "a
t.u t.r.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
81 DiCfafOrS, Presidents and
Rulers i'm SO Years
from The Encyclopaedia Article, EORFRIO DiAZ

His term of office marks prominent change in the
history of Mexico: from that date he at forged
ahead with finance al and political reform, the scrupu
los settlement of all national debts. the welding to-
gether of the peoples and tribes there are $50 different
Indian tribes of his country. the establishment of rail
roads and telegraphs, and all this in land which had
been upheaved for century with revolutions and
boodshed., and which had fifty-two dctators, pres-
dents and rulers in ffty-nine years.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-25
Surface

An immense elevated plateau,
with a chain of mountains on
its eastern and western margins.
occupies the greater part of the
country.
The "tlerras calicntcs." or hot
lands, are low plains lying along
the coast on both sides of Mex
leo. This lowland region Is in
general thirty to forty miles in
width, and very unhealthy.
The great plateau of Mexico is
very largely of volcanic origin.
The general elevation of the
highest part of the plateau is
about 5000 feet. IN the states
of Mexico and Puebla.
The highest mountain peaks
ere the Gfsantlc. snow-clad, ex-
tinct volcanoes. popocatcpetl
,Snoking Mountain) and IN
tacciiiuati CWhite Woman. H.
SIS and 1888 feet high. re-
spectively. These peaks are
about 20 miles southeast of
Mexico City.
In the neighborhood Of Mexico
City the country Is highly vol
canic. and has a large number
of extinct volcanoes and at least
three that are active or semi
active.
Earthquakes are numerous
throughout the Republic. espe-
cially on the western coast.
Slight shocks or "temblores" are
almost Of daily occurrence,