The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-01
The Argentine Republic and It's Hospitals


the Uruguay river, giving an account Of the hos
ptalities of The President of the Argentine Con-
federation to Commissioner Bowin and the Ad
miral and officers of the Paraguay expedition
This reception is worthy of some editorial notice,
whether we regard it in political point of view
or phase of social life in a sister republic in
the extreme south Of this continent-a republic
formed af or the model Of our own, and appre-
cia,iug our democratic liberty in a higher d4gree
than any of the other South American republics.
The good Offices Of its President, Urq liza, in
bringing about peace between this country and
the President of Paraguay, without the shedding
OF blood, are deserving of grateful remembrance.
l. is tue that unless the front of war was
brought home to Lopez we would have had no
peace, yet the mediation of the President of the
Confederation was not the less praiseworthy and
important. The moral and political eject in
bringing Lopez to his senses without actually
striking the uplifted blow will be equally felt as
by our shells; and there is this advantage that
no sting of humiliation is left behind in the hearts
of The people, as was the case in our war with
Mexico. Peace was conquered by the terror of
the sword rather than by the sword ITSELF which,
in this instance was only used to cut the eagles
quill INTO pen of diplomacy.
There was thus nothing left to prevent the po-
litical and naval commanders of the expedition
from enjoying themselves, and they accepted the
cordial invitation of Urquiza, whose magnificent
hospitality and entertainments remind us of the
tournaments of the middle ages-imitated few
years ago by the Earl of Eglington, in Scot
land-or Of he more recent revels of Kenil-
worth Castle (the scene Of one of Sir Walter
SCOTS romances), at which the Earl of
Leicester entertained Queen Elizabeth for
seventeen days in style of extraordinary
maguifcence The entertainments given at his
residence in San Jose by Urquiza in fraterniza-
ton with his North American brothers. eclipse in
brilliancy and interest the revels Of Kenilworth
On the arrival of the guests the sound of trum
pets, the presenting Of arms and the music of
bands salutcd their ears as they passed through
long line of soldiers, cavalry and artillery
assembled to do them honor. A. body guard of
two thousand troops surrounded them The dis
play of lights, the elegance, the cost, the taste
of all that they saw, the brilliancy of every
object, the spaciousness and grandeur of the pa
lace, took them by surprise and dazzled their
imaginations. The almost "barbaric profusionr
of the table, coupled with hospitality and sim
plicity on the part of the host which put them
infinitely at their ease-his house. to use his own
phrase, being placed at their disposition
And even his very wife ministercd to the plea
sure Of the guests, for we are told she danced
with the Commissioner and Commander Dray-
ton-"an honor Urquiza permitted her to confer
upon no one since her marriage till that occa-
sion." Then the tournament, for which thou
sand head Of cattle had been selected, was splen-
did beyond description. The rapturous admi-
ration OF our correspondent in witnessing the
feats of the Argentines knows no bounds. He
says "the written accounts, which have hitherto
afforded so much interest but family depict the
scene. The pen is but weak to describe the
South American horseman. 1t is picture for
the most vigorous and imaginative pencil
full of action and poetry that is fascinating"
The tournament, in fact, exhibited I" the most
superb riding of which man and horse are capa-
ble" The cavalry officers rode at seal-ring
with short lance, and at full speed carried it
off with precision that was truly triumphal.
In the breaking of wild horses feats of horse
manshp were displayed such as are seldom wit
ncssed-in half an hour the widest animals
the world could produce were completely sub
dued.
We have recently read in the ncwspapers
that the King Of Greece has revived the Olympic
games, and we need not say that in England and
In this country the pugilstic combat, STYLED the
manly art of selfdefence," is in high favor with
large multitude. We think, in point of refine
ment and even on the score of utility, the sports
in the South American republic have the advan-
tage both over the remnants of our Anglo-Saxon
sayagery copied from the ancient Romans. and
over the revived Olympic games restored by
Otho and the modera Greeks There are many
things in which we boastful Anglo-Saxons are
inferior to other races. In the gentlemanly and
dashing art Of Workmanship it is evident that
the Spanish-American far outstrips the Anglo
American.
In the ball room the entertainment was equally
delightful. The Presidents wife is q woman of
magnificent physique and full of fire. All the
Spahish-American women are described as
spiendld--their black eyes shooting confident
giahces among our officers, and shedding their
iustre from beneath long dark lashes that some
men would travel 5000 miles to see p Manv. nd
doubt, lost their hearts All was ease and
freedom, and everything was done to crafty the
guests 1t is related of Urquiza, in illustration
Oh his energy, that after all the excitement
was over, at one o'clock in the morning. n,
threw of bis cravat, called for hi, ain.
pers, and proceeded to transact business.
Ills appreciation Of our institutions and his
friendship were expressed by having the Ameri-
can eagle in all its glory painted on The pane]s |
in The dininr halI nxxas..s l