The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-13
An American Arcadia,

In the Lake of Peten is an island on
which stands the little isolated town OF
Flores. Of its inhabitants M. Morelet,
in his "Travels in Central America -
translated by Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. F.
Squier, draws an engaging picture:
"ln the streets of Flores there are
neither shops nor artisans; there is no
market even; every one depends on his
own production, or ON such exchanges as
he may be able to make with his neigh
bors, for his food. If any one has need
CT money, he prepares some article of
domestic consumption such as chocolate,
bread, or candles, and sends his children
about with them, from hut to hut, in
search of purchaser. At long inter-
walls some enterprising man among them
takes COW or horse to Belize, and ez-
changes it there for petty package of
English goods. Very little sufiices for
q population whose only ambition is to
live without labor. European activity,
which increasingly applies itself to the
accumulation Of wealth, could not be
comprehended by the inhabitants of
Peten; but, on the other hand, they are
ignorant of the infinite annoyances
which follow on the laborious fermenta-
ton of the Old World. No one here
ever thinks of speculation as means of
acquiring wealth. Destitute of ambi-
tion, and without strong passion of any
kind, the certainty of suffciency for
bare existence is all they require to make
them happy; and this certainly is as
sured to them by the extent and the fer
tility of the lands by which they are
surrounded. Possession is the only title
to the soil which they recognize. Any
one who clears piece of ground, makes
use of it as he pleases, and if any dis
pute arises as to its ownership, it is soon
settled by the paternal authority of the
corregidor. However, there is this ad-
vantage i'll Flores, that instead of ones
ears being deafened by the discordant
sounds of the hammer and the sugar
mill, they are filled constantly with the
harmony of musical instruments. As soon
as the sun goes down and the evening
breeze sets in, the town is full of sounds
of mirth and hilarity, which continue
until the night is far advanced. And
thus life Gibbs away in the midst of per-
feet quiet, and in utter indifference as to
what the future may bring forth. The
desire for novelty, improvement or
change never enters into the thoughts of
the inhabitants. Every one having re-
celved the same amount of education,
and enjoying in an equal degree the |
privilege of doing nothing, the most
perfect equality exists in society, which |
is not troubled by the pretensions of its
on the score of birth, learning |
Dr. fortune.
Few days pass consecutively in |
Flores without the sound of the marinlba |
inviting its inhabitants to some new fes-
.ivity. No other form of invitation is
The door is open for all The |
spectators assemble in groups around |
;he entrance, looking on with democrat
G freedom, and making their comments
loud. There you see the aloalde or the
,orregidor alternating in the same fan
tango with the meanest citizen. The
mother succeeds the daughter, the ne
yress the white woman; rank, age,
iaste-all the conditions which else.
where separate society-seem to be con-
ounded here. Persons giving parties
10 the honors of the house in the most
manner possible; a dozen
andles, supply Of chairs collected from
dozen neighboring houses, few home
y refreshments, and the engagement of
me or two performers on the marimba,
onstitute the entire preparations. Our
lotions of delicacy occasionally receive
of a shock from cel tain Gus
oms here, which, to say the least, are of
n extremely primitive character. The
anne glass, for instance, circulates among
he guests until drained, while a spoon
lternates from hand to hand, with the
anne jar of sweetmeats. Nor do the
aides, after the fatigues of dancing, hes
tate to reeuperate their energies through
he aid of glass OF rum, at the same
lme lighting cigar of size and strength
atficient to turn the stomach of our
ardest smokers"
Waa - "a L.