The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-03-25
BUENOS AIRES: CITY OF
S~UPERLATIVES AND
CONTRASTS

BuenOs Aires, capital Of Argentina.
which recently attracted world atten-
ton by withdrawing lis representa-
lives from the League OF Nations as
sembly, is not merely the capital and
chief port Of q South American repub-
lie. 1t is a world center-a city OF su-
perlatives, contrasts and paradoxes.
Its population Of close to 2.OOO,OOO
makes 1t, by a wide margin, the me-
tropolis of South America and the
Southern hemisphere. 1t Is the great
est Of Spanish-speaking cities, having
nearly three times as many inhabitants
as Madrid. 1t is greater than any
Latin city except Paris. In h New
World II shares third place with Phil
adelphia only New York end Chicago
It. And o that P~etrograd
and Moscow have shrunk, while Berlin
and Vienna are marking time, il prOba-
bly ranks or soon will rank as the
sixth city of the world, led only by the
two metropolises Of Europe, the two
Of North America, and Tokyo In Asia.
This great city is the focus OF the
culture, thought. politics, economics
and social life Of Argentina, as well AS
the funnel through which pour the
millions of pounds of dressed meats
and the millions Of bushels OF wheat
which make up the contribution Of the
republic to the hungry peoples OF the
Old World. In Its general aspect 1t Is
a combination of New York and Paris.
Its language is the language of Spain,
but many other things Spanish have
been thrust aside. Its inhabitants
would laugh at the idea Of a midday
siesta-so generally observed In most
Spanish-American countries. The on
session of "manana" has been discard
ed the people of BuenOs Aires live Ia
the %throbbing present, going strenu-
ously about their business in streets
whose hustle and whlri are as balm TO
the heart Of the hOmesick New York
err. who feels that, after all. he cannot
be far from Broad and Wall or Forty
second and Broadway. Subways. COM
muters and taller buildings than cen
be found In any other city In South
America heighten the illusion.
In progress and the possession OF
vision the people of BuenOs Aires are
unsurpassed ever by the restless build
ers Of North Americas greatest cities.
For centuries after its establishment
BuenOs Aires was without a port.
Ships anchored miles from the shall
low, sandy shore and all freight was
handled in lighters. Within the last
% years the municipality has con-
sfructed the largest artificial docks ID
the world. These provide adequate
facilities for the thousands Of ocean
vessels and coasting craft that put into
its port annually.
The narrow checker-bOard Of streets
In the business center which the coio-
NAL BuenOs Aires ~bequeathed to the
wOrld-city Of today has been a con-
slant embarrassment in the face ;ol
the demands of modern business. Inc
municipality has widened some OF
these narrow ways at a cost or many
millions Of dollars. into stately II
handsome avenues. and is carving oth-
er arteries of traffic diagOnally through
the closely packed squares.
In the wv parts Of the city
streets of ample width and numerous
broad have been aid OUT.
Many of the venue are lined Win
the costly palaces of Argentina's null
t~imillionaires. 1t Is in this part 0f the
city and in such semi-business avenues
as the tree-rimmed Avenida de Mayo.
with its mile or more Of fine hotels,
clubs, cafes and business buildings de
luxe that Buenos Aires reminds the
traveller Of Paris.