The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-19
srhe Earthquakes I'm Peru-Presen
Condition of the peop,a.

Lima Correspondence Of the New York Times,
September 90.
The panic and fright from the earth
quakes having gradually subsidized, the
usual feast days, merry-making, and fes-
tivities are again resumed among the Peru
VANS, who are emphatically pleasure
loving, pleasure-seeking people. The usual
diplomatic and State dinners which attend
the coming in of % new President are inst
now being inaugurated, the fever and sub
sequent earthquakes having delayed them
hitherto. They are attended with more
than ordinary display, and the elegance in
dress and elaborate expenditure far surpass
any previous entertainments of the kind.
Colonel Balta is deservedly popular in
and about Lima, and in his new position Of
President has already exhibited great
executive ability. He personally superin-
tends and enforces any new and difficult
order, and furnishes to oil his subordinates
an example of promptness and vigilance in
the discharge Of all his duties, which rouses
their sleepy energies and compels them to
act with dispatch. Such an improvement
has been greatly needed. Large contribu-
tions are being collected for the sufferers
by the terrible earthquakes down the coast,
and the people en- m,asse, rich and poor,
have responded to these appeals for help
with a generosity to be found among very
few other nations. Indeed, the poorer
classes seem to think that giving their last
rial. or selling their only superfluous article
of clothing or of household use, and con-
tributing the money thus obtained to the
aid of the homeless and houseless suf-
ferers, is the only means OF averting the
threatening earthquake that has swallowed
up so much property and SO many lives.
Men are appointed to 60 from house
to house collecting money for the desti-
tute, and the priests also go to every
person and house; and printed lists are
left with every business man, upon which
he may write his amount Of donation oppo-
site his name. But all the immense sums
collected and to be donated cannot restore
the fallen houses or the dead who lie buried
under the ruins. Although over a month
has elapsed since the first and most fatal
shock, yet in africa, Arequipa, and many OF
the interior ruined towns, the ground still
cracks and jars and trembles, and the
shocks have been counted by hundreds al
ready, with no settled stiffness SO far.
The poor affrighted people are escaping
by every steamer coming to Cailao, and
those remaing in the mountains, or scat
tered over the parhpas, are afraid to re-
build the fallen ruins, owing to the con-
timed heaving and uprising of the ground.
How much longer this will continue no one
can determine, but many think tits the in
dictator of another fearful outbreak.
In Lima and Callao, however, all is still
and quiet, the last faint shock having &C.
Cured September +. Last Sunday (2Oth)
the old established bull-fghts were resumed,
and, rs usual, were largely attended. In
the evening the the theatre Spanish was
opened for the first time since the earth
ouakes of August Is, and the attendance
was large. The theatre in Callao was also
opened on Sunday evening last, but the
playing excepting the orchestra) is very
inferior. The theatre itself IL large,
rough-looking building, hardly fit for suit
able stable or barn, and any one taking a
lady with him is obliged to carry a chair for
her TO sit upon, the benches being only
used in the pit or cheaper part OF the house.
The stage is immensely high, and the
whole place 80 inconvenient and uncom-
Portable, so swarming with tleas, and so
thoroughly dirty, that any foreigner might
be induced 10 go to one performance as a
curiosity, but could not be persuaded to
make q second attempt. 1t is very amu-
sing to see the feruviGns hunting heas,
and scratching and killing these little tor
ments all through au evenings perform
ance, entirely regardless OF Appearances.