NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
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A JAUNT INTO MEXICO. 
Twenty }'ears ago Mexico was practically a closed countr\' to 
the tourist from the United States. Then , the facilities for 
transportation were such that the journey into the quaint land 
lying to the South of us implied weeks of arduous travel, which 
only those inured to hardships could stand. Now, the tourist 
gets into his Pullman Sleeper at New Orleans and the Southern 
Pacific quickly lands him in “the land of the afternoon.” The 
way leads through the beautiful bayou region of Louisiana, 
then amid the vast pine forests that fringe the eastern edge of 
the Lone Star State, past Houston, the great cotton mart, and 
San Antonio, the beautiful city of the Alamo and the Missions. 
At Spofford the Mexico sleej^er swings off from the main line 
and in a little while one crosses the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass, 
and finds one’s self upon the soil of the sister Republic. From 
here to Torreon the way leads over the Mexican International, 
and then straight down the Mexican Central, past many quaint 
and Medieval towns, through fertile valleys, where men are 
plowing with slow-moving oxen, over mountain pas.ses, where 
the hill tops flatten into grotesque shapes — to the City of 
Mexico. Every mile of the way is fraught with novel interest. 
At each stop the train makes, quaint groups gathered at the 
station claim attention. Their dress is picture.sque, their speech 
is vigorous but musical. They importune one with all sorts of 
confections and trinkets for sale. The domed cities and towns 
which line the way or are visible in the distance, have the at- 
mosphere of villages in Palestine. One may make a visit 
limited by days, or wander for weeks and not be satiated. The 
interest of the city itself is inexhaustible, while Zacatecas, the 
great mining center perched high among the mountains ; Guada- 
lajara, the Boston of the country ; San Luis Potosi, with its 
architecture and its art, or Vera Cruz or Tampico, lying amid 
coffee and banana plantations upon the seacoast, are but a few 
of the hundreds of places that attract and charm. You will 
never regret a journey into Mexico, which can be made so 
cheaply and expeditiously via New Orleans and the Southern 
Pacific. Consult the nearest Southern Pacific agent for rates 
and information, or write to S. P'. B. Moksk, General Pas.senger 
and Ticket Agent, Southern Pacific Company, New Orleans, La. 
