The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1876-11-25
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$50 Coma. from Gussnns.Ia ror wales
after rwcrts ave wears Absence =
Central American city

.
stock In Virginia, arrived ia Dallas
b yesterday from, the City OF Guatamala,
Central America, after an htsence of
twenty years from Texas. Mr.. Harper
has been engaged for gears rs trading
aud frcighting 10 that country.
About six months ago he was in the
Citg OF Mexico, where he net Major
J. =. Il. Blades, formerly well
known citizen aud property holder,
who recommended Dallas ss a good
place TO 70 to nuy mules Ma. Harper
has bought Jet OF thirty males from
Mr. Il. l. Burrus, the energetic livery
aud stock dealer, which he viii drive
60 Austin. where be has others, AID
thence to Indiabola. where he will
B ship them ,3lDi Co Guatamala.
DE says none Of his home-folks re
cognil-d him, although au old school
mat. whom he met IN san Antonio
I recognized him after twenty years,
by his voice. aud he met him IN the
dark. lie remembers passing through
I Dallas twenty. 1--we years ago on his
way to Mexico after stock. The
changes since then quite took his
health away. Mr.. Harper has reIa-
tives ny the name Of Kunuels ia Den
tnn county. lie is about foFty-hve
years Of age, with ison grey hair aud
face much tanned by his long resi-
deuce in Central America. We found
him q very Intelligent aud pleasap,
gentleman, aud a bachelor at that.
he describes GautemaIa as very
beautiful city, and says there are very
/ FEW Americans there, which will be
gratifying news 20 joaquin Miller, who
has teen 80 long looking for place
'whorr there were 10 Americana
It may perhaps inlerss, our readers
60 know what sort place this stray
Tpxisn has wandered Oft INFO aud set
tied iu: GautemHIa &, lhe Capital Of the
republlcpf that name, aud has pop
ulatiun OF 1900. rbis city is
10y far the finest la Central America,
and stands upon picturesque plateau
one hundred feet high, three miles
long, aud one broad, aud Occupies the
northern extremity of plain twenty
one miles long and twelve miles broad,
with mean elevation Of foriy.iive
hundred Feet above the sea. Its situa-
lion Is uutayCrable for commerce., be-
ing nearly ninety mites from san Jose
ii q Il
twenty miles fro Izaoai, gu the At
lantir side, TAe volcanoes, Aqua ami
FuegO, rise on either side of the
tovn. The streets, All forty feet wide
are laid out with great regularity.
They cross each 0iher at right Angles,
are badly paved, and NOT very clean.
Only a few have side .-a!Es. Water
being scarce on tn pia-c2u. tAs sdp
ply Ter the city is brought uine miles
by squsiuct. AMI distributed by uu.
merous fountains. GA account of the
Frequency earthquakes, the houscs
are. but one story b. gh, So that al a
distance Gully nonotonVus succession
of roofs Is asen, relieved here aud
there by the domes and clock towers
OF the churches
The city. proper contains Disny large
aud well constructed private dwell-
lngs, each surrounded ~ large cGnrt
yard, embellisued with statueay and
I fountains, and orange, Oleand.T and
other fragrant trees. Tue Internal
I Decorations % these mansions are at
once tasteful aud magnificent, but
/ glazed Windows are almost unknown.
The most usual building materials are
species Of endurated clay, variety
Of poxzuolnua and mortar, the walls
being universally plastercd and white
wasted. The roofs are either Hat OF
covered with tiles, and The general
style Of architecture - taat Of the
south OF spain.
There src several public squares, this
largest or reelaugls, 90 feet long by
535 feet wide, has 0u the east side the
architpiseopai palace, on the wes.
the governors paldce. ministerial
offices, etc, with The mint IL tbs rear,
on tie north the city hall, and on the
south line OF shops IL the centre
IS fJIntaia auI b-.sln, formerly sur
mounted ny an eqG s-riI8 statue OF
/ Charles Nv. the horse Of which alone
remains. In The centre of another
square - the theatre, equal IL. size aud
elegance to any ia Spanish America;
rows of orange, oleau, or aud other
trees uf brilian flowers aud grateful
fragrance surround the building, while
"a Profession Of statues. fountains, etc,
placed at intervals throughout the
square, enhances the beauty of this,
the fashionable evening promenade.
Foremost among the puolie build
ings Is the cathedral, built ia 1880 OF
simple aud eiegant design, and
occupy ing a space OF four hundred and
tiity feet squEre. ln the decoration OF
the interior ebaste variety IL OBJ
ser, ed, aDd there are sculptures in
wood and some fine paintings by IA
tive artists. There are six other
churches, hospital and a prison.
Guatemala has the largest number of
educational institutions OF any city fu
Central America. Many OF the wealthy
people OF the other States eeni their
children here for / structiou. In 1873
there were tweBgy-suven common
schools, mostly supported by private
contributions, sixteen OF them being
for females, aud q nambeF of schools
for the working classes Of all ages.
AIeeheBlesl industry is little cultivated
sud The Instruments and tools are Of
the most primitive character.
In spite OF the diversity of races and
castles Tiers is little variety Of costume.
The wealthy adopt European fashions.
TIE garb of che people consists Of q
short woeien jacket OF Dstive manu-,
facture, cotton pantoIoons. a palm
leaf hat covered with oil cloth, ard 4
many eoiored serape or shawi. III.
,sre.s 81 fha. svnetey ,rt,,rs ,4ltl...;v ff,.E