The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-24

To describe Santiago is to describe
tho near: of Chilli It is to the Chilians
what Paris Is to the French. aad those
who have acquired wealth in other
parts of the republic invariably come to
Santiago to spend it. The town is sit
uated on the River Mapocho. in the
center of large plain surrounded by
hills with the giant peaks Of the Andes
in the background to the east, magniti-
Gently visible in the clear atmosphere.
though they may be hundred miles or
more distant. The town was founded
about three and q half centuries ago by
Valdivia. 1t was Mid out in quadras
squares of shout four acres), with the
streets running uniformly at right
angles to each other. There are sew
eral plazas or large squares, the most
striking being that round which arc
grouped the cathedral. the municipal,
and other buildings, all OF snowy and
Partisan appearance. Notwithstanding
its age, the town does not possess an
air OF antiquity.
The house of one of the weather
class, as a rule, covers about an acre Of
ground and is built with courtyard
(patio) in the center filled with flowers
and statuary. The house itself will not
compare unfavorably with some of the
finest private houses of Paris or Lon
don. In many cases every article OF
furniture is brought from Paris, ten
thousand miles distant, and large sums
are expended on the building and APP
pointments. Frequently, indeed, it
happens that in Santiago man house
represents third, and sometimes a
hall, of his entire income; but it must
be remembered that, establishments
being smaller than in England, they
are less expensive to maintain.
What is termed "society" is in San
tiago very strict, exclusive, and aristo-
cratic. The pride of fami. is quite as
strong in republican Chill as in any oil
the o1d-world monarchies. The social
lie in Santiago is very enjoyable. There
is much visiting in the evening at San
tiago after the six p. m. dinner. When
the receptions are held, one might
fancy oneself in London or in Paris, SO
well dressed are the ladies, and so
brilliantly lighted the spacious rooms,
which generally open one into the
other. About ten p. m. tea is served,
the table being usually covered with
every kind Of cake, for which Santiago
is famous, and also with the excellent
fruits of the country. The character OF
the upper classes is reserved, and in
many points resembles that of the En-
glish. They have keen appreciation
of good wit and love good joke. The
women of the country are very atten-
tive to their religious observances, and
are constantly to be seen dressed in
plain black, with q black ''manta" over
the head, either going to or coming
from church. This custom of the wear
ing of black for church by the women
of all classes is very excellent one,
and might be adopted with advantage
elsewhere than in Chill.
The land around Santiago is entirely
dependent on irrigation, and produces
magnificent crops. Many successive
crops are taken off the same land with
in The year. Much of the irrigated
land round Santiago is employed for
the fattening of cattle, either for home
consumption or for export from Val
paraiso to the northern mineral dis
tricts in the deserts of Atacama and
Tarapaca. Thousands of cattle are
driven every year over the Andes from
the Argentine Republic for this pur-
pose. They get little or nothing to
eat for six days while crossing. and ar
rive-that is to say, the survivors-in
almost skeleton condition. On my
first visit to Chill l rode across the
Andes and pampas to Buenos Ayres,
and shall not soon forget the sight OF
the thousands of emaciated cattle to be
seen staggering along the mountain
track. The path was literally strewn
with the bones of cattle that persisted
by the way. On this journey we had
eft all the arrangements for feeding
our own animals en- route to the Argen-
tine muleteers, with the result that
there was not morsel of food for the
patient creatures during the whole Of
the six days that it took us to cross the
mountains, though we were perpetually
assured that the requisite food would
oe forthcoming at the next resting
place. Horses, mules, and animals
generally are so plentiful that self-in-
terest, that prime mover of mankind.
does not suggest the advantages OF
humane treatment. - Fortniqhtty Re
CieU.