The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-06

95z1ak
i RnHfbles In tlse Teoisies--s .ctter frosti
Mark 8. Kelly, Esq.
CTR OF GrsTgHALA, GgsrRAn Asga,cA, [
July i 1872.
Dear Repptiscani While you lie stycIter4
ling and swdoliilig with tlIe july heat, aid
swearing at 1t, too, I,erhapsi Tor oil know;
behold fie living tie paradox of delightful
coolness in the very heart almost Of the tro-
pies. 1n Imagination can sec the tlIrongs
| of parched gentlemen md flint ladies' filing
to-day into DR.. Strothef's and Faulkner &
Co.'s and leaning lovingly over the cold mar
bic slabs. while the ,1rbane Powell Or the
a,niaLlc Gr,ighiIl draws gllss upon glass of re-
lresling soda, chilled almost TO che point OF
freezing. All very nice, perhaps, in IFS way,
hut ], who know what your Lynchburg
July is made Of cInnot suppress chucklc OF
| compEicency over my own better fortune, In
| tie respect of climate, rs | sit here in my
shaded yefandt in the venerable city OF
Guatemala, dtiirei in tcooitcn garments, sip
PIN my Llaniy and water ut intervals rs
these lines are peaned. 4 ripple Of; breeze
Is precious to you in these days, | ain in-
formed by experience here, though 1t comes
hden with fragrance like the zephyrs of
Cathay, should not miss its presence, for tie
air Is cool and clear: although July is the
mme of the month, But enough of this; lest
drive you all to distraction with the pic
ture ; you arc left to reflect, ut your own
lazy leisure, upon the charms of our tropical
climate.
TIE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA,
Is your geography will iulnrm YOU, is one
ol Tic FIVE Republics which compose the
Federation of Central America. The largest
Of The group, it is also the richest in re-
sources, the most peaceful, and, under its
present administration, the best governed OF
them all. As yet many of these resources
arc in virgin condition, and invite deycl-
opmeft. There are rich mines, for example,
but in consequence of the lack Of adequate
means OF Internal transportation they lie
undiSturled, and hold flst in their embrace
the precious metals. There are endless other
venues of industry besides, which only
await proper system OF transportation to
make of this little Republic, outlying in the
sea is it is, the garden spot, and one of the
richest witIml, of the world. The climate is
marvellous; it resembles the famed climate
OF California, without the diSl%rccahlc se;l-
sens OF drought and hurricanes that prevail
in that State. The Seasons here alternate
with unrlanGing regularity, wintfrand sun "
mer being pronounced andas well defined aa
is consistent with Success TO agriculture and
comfort 10 individuals.
You might easily imagine that am ~
mnnrin" when assert thar here, i'll the tiop,-
cal zone though we lie. are grown apples.
ttr;lrlcS; bears, apric0t>. danlSonS, and other
hi.l-kllit fruits. all tic year round, and
almost side by side, frequently i'll the same
orchard, with pineapplcs, bananas, guayas,
alligator pears, coc0anutS, and all the catt-
logue of luscious fruit, which belong to the
tropics alone. Ny table was never so sup
piled rs it is Just now. For breakfast. din
uer, and supper, one NAV have almost amy
known fruit, aud ut such low prices that lic
must be Door indeed who need deny himself
| hcrr an allgat or-pCar salad every day in the
week, rIlintan omclcttc; pclrnCs and
| cream, pncapplcs so sweet THAT tO powder
| them with sugar would he worse than to
paint the lily. The same may he said oil
| mowers. | layca fresh bouquet every morn.
| ing, Of tremendous proportions, including
every flower, almost, from tie Mponcl to the
daisy. and with Il number besides OF tho>;
| hirh-colorcd. beautiful tropical flowers OF
| which Won have no ken--ll fora dime! Sllcl
| are the comforts of life in Guatemala, and he
who. like myself. adds to the foregoing Tho
possession Of Il horse. Il bird, Il dor, III
| Il haud-org;ll. may compaccntly iinagn'
| that he has the world Ivy the horns. do net
| mention these lricS To ohlriltc personal cN
| prrcncc, l;,tt for tllc PURPOSE Of gi'in" yet
| an idea of what the average social HE Is llkt
| iii this most charming of lands.
| The principal and most largely developed
| resources of Guaicmah are coffee. sugar. and
| rorlncal. though not 4 little tobacco is ;l>'
cultivated. The coffee and cane plantation,
are Objects of curious interest to the stranger
| Each estate resembles what W. conceive the
| old ,aronaI estates to have been i'll the fell
dlI times. The central objects are the sugar
llous,.<, mills. I.borcl,' cabins, and the dwell
in.s of the planter. usually an enormous brio!
n,all-iou. buill in the old Spanish style. I"
rambling architecture, low, with clidles:
Nin-, and SION" gales, and constructed il
the NEST substantial manner. Unlike the
| North Americans, who build ilinl>ily and tnl
The day, these people build for their po-
irrity rs well lis for themselves, and wlicl
tlry Iav their bricks and mortar it is will
the intention that the resultant dwcllin.:
shall maintain its existence and material IN
| tnrrity for centuries. All about these c>tab
|
waving, brwilderinS sea of cane. You may
climb 10 the highest point OF observation
and not sec tic end Of III average .f"cH.
remember that once. when Il Simlar propo
sition was laid down with reference TO th'
possessions OF 1t great Illinois iiIrliirr, Ger
tim wiay tloHtor Of yulr city commented
| upoa il with the quaint concert ttHl " h'
could climb 10 the highest point AID not So
the bcgimning Of has farm That gray uoc
tor is Il notorious way. l have seen some
the fine sugar plantations OF Louisiana
but rarely any superior to those have visited
| here.
Tie coffee plantations I've not yet Inc
time to visit, but shall write y"u Son' tam:
i ubo,t them i'm due season. ltu can inllI
some idea of how prolific is the production
of tobacco when tell you have ,r,n cIgtI
made here, and exccllenl|y made, which III
sold at from five to SIX dollars Mo"SHnd
If any 1lynrhbiirg toBacconst wants TO do
little importing let him send on hi, ordclS-
with the usual grcen-tintcd paprrappcndage
You woul,l be struck dumb with amaze
ment could you see this capital, and for tw
reasons: First, That its beautiful city
Second, That you never saw anything IKE
before. Palatial public buildings, convent
and monistcriei, ami rhin:ht>. r;i''l' III:
] inn