Evening star., 1884-01-19

Ing we started for Santiago, ITO miles inland.
For the first fifty miles We ran along through q
beautiful valley, bounded on each side by the
foot hills Of the Andes, which are green and
beautiful not mere piles OF base rocks and
sand, like most Of the highlands OF the Pacific
coast OF South America On each side of the
railroad are large and splendid looking farms
and occasionally we passed large '.haciendas" in
the fields. around which could be seen the fine
live stock Of the owners
INDIAN FRUIT PEDpLERs
At intervals Of about ten miles there are STA
tions, and, as soon as we would stop at one OF
them, the Indians-men, women, and children
would swarm, offering fruit for sale. and finer
fruit never saw; coal-black cherries as large as
plums and strawberries as large walnuts
When man sold me half-peck leaf basket of
cherries. and said in Spanish 10 cents. I con-
cluded that did not know as much Spanish as
L supposed However, as the cherries dsap-
peared discovered the cause OF their being so
cheap. The beautiful basket heaped full was all
heap, as the body Of the basket was princi-
pally nlled with leaves. However, there was a
quart or more. so we could not accuse the fell
low OF cheating US.
GOOD MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
After leaving this beautiful green valley we
began to ascend along the side OF the mountain,
the valley gradually growing narrower and get
ting farther below us, until. as We suddenly
run over bridge spanning it. we had a fine
bird s-eye OF all that we had passed. longed
to stay and look at it longer, but was soon glad
that we did not; for after passing over the mar
row range of foothills. we came out into an
other beautiful valley, higher and grander. The
valley was somewhat similar to the one just
passed. but was more striking. as Ii had ranges
of snow-clad mountains bounding the view and
making more vivid the beautiful green fields.
groves and other familiar features of fertile
valley. Although the mountains to the east
ward seemed very near they were over a hun
dred miles away, and all that could be seen of
them above the clouds and mist that surrounded
the horizon was covered with snow, beautiful
and pink under the rays of the sun. The high
est and grandest peak of all was
THE VOLCANO OF ACoNCAGUA,
the third highest mountain in the world-over
23 900 feet high. One glance at this gave one a
glimpse of nature in its utmost beauty and
grandeur; and it seemed to me almost profan-
alton to 60 flying through this fairy land in a
measly old railroad train, as Spoopendyke
would say. After-a couple Of hours ride
tnrouSh these scenes, We come to
THE CITY OF SANTIAGO.
The last mile of the railroad is built along be-
tween two rows of tall poplar trees, and when
we arrived at the station it seemed as though il
was situated In a park, there were so many
pretty mower UeuS, neuEeS OF rose DuSneS and
beautiful trees on all sides. We wasted no time
In leaving the train and getting into carriage
bound for the hotel We were not only anxious
to begin seeing the sights, but wanted to get
cleaned up after our four and half hours ride
in the cars, which here are the same dusty. un-
comfortable conveyaAces found In other places
| will just have you leave me here for the
present, and later. when you have had a little
rest from this siege, will give you, to the Dest
of my ability, description Of what is to be seen
| in one of the most beautiful cities that have
ever visited. E. w. S.