Evening star., 1935-02-24
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, JR.


~ lean country to make travel
~ from the United States invit-
4 \ ing is being considered, with
the expectation that entry by
the tourist will be facilitated shortly.
With the promise of exceptionally
heavy tourist traffic during the COM
ing Summer and at the beheSt of bor-
der towns, Mexico is weighing pro-
posal to consolidate the customs, i'm
migration and health services at each
Rio Grande port of entry.
This sounds, offhand, as II 1t might
be only a new internal policy. but
many tourists will testify to the vexa-
tions Of the present system. They
have found themselves shunted back
and forth between the customs house,
the health Office and the immigration
bureau in order to obtain passports,
car bonds and other necessary papers.
With the services concentrated in one
building, the traveller will find irksome
routine lightened. This will go long
way toward putting him in a receptive
frame Of mind for the attractions of
Mexico.
THE tendency of present-day Ameri-
can travellers to neglect Paris IA
nous historical and art shrines in
favor Of the trivial but essential pur-
suit Of having fun, has not depopu-
lated these attractions, which for
scores of years have been a primary
talking point of Americans on their
ratf1ry, frovvH otpNai Tna Irif nv a
the more amusing activities, in which
one can laugh without arousing the
suspicion Of disrespect, is based on
several causes.
Primarily, the majority of those who
visited France in depression years had
done" Paris before. To many of
these the Louvre was still the Louvre.
and its art was still art: but a gay
spot in the whirlwind night life might
present new and glamorouS dancer;
the chef, possibly, has concocted a new
dish and the bartender invented a
new mixture. Then, there is greater
desire on the part of Francophiles to
become better acquainted with the
country in general, and this takes
tourists into the rural areas and to
the characteristic coast towns.
II 4 \
NOT long ago, French officials bent
their heads over books of income
from fees, studied attendance figures
and Strengthened up to announce that
the noted museums, palaces and
"curiosities" still were doing a good
business in interesting the public.
The order Of popularity is-well, be-
fore we say, perhaps you'd like to try
q moment or two of guessing which
attraction charging entrance fees
draws the greatest number of visitors.
Those who want to guess, pause here:
those who dislike this interruption
and want to know without any digres-
sion, read on:
Mont st. Michel topped the list, but
so close behind was the Louvre that
It was practically a dead heat. Next
was the Palace of Versailles, with the
Arc de Triomphe little ahead Of the
Pantheon for fourth place. Then
came in the following order, the
Chateu Of Pau, Fontainbleau, the
Sainte Chapelle, Carcassone and the
Grand Trianon.
These figures are based on the paid
admissions, which serve as a reliable
index to general interest. On several
days q week these attractions are
free.
Practically all Of the interesting
churches in Paris, including Notre
Dame, charge no fee. The Tomb of
Napoleon at the Invalides likewise
was not counted because it has no
ticket taker.
CITING on the sound theory that
\ tourists are hungry people and
that many of them will not be con-
tent with less than the best to eat
in the several price ranges, the
French Touring Club instituted an
annual contest among the country's
hotels and restaurants to place the
cooking on trial and render judgment.
Itineraries are mapped In different
localities each year, taking in such
towns as the auto or railroad traveller
might follow. Recognized epicures
are chosen as judges and they set off
to discharge their duties at the table
Of the eating places. Notes on soups
are compared, sauces cross-ques-
toned by trained tongues, the merits
Of cheeses argued and unanimous
verdicts sought on such difficult sub
jects as the best" In brandies and
wines.
On this years Circuit. the meals