The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-13
IN A TROPICAL REGION.
ODD FACTS ABOUT THE POLITE
PEoPLE OF vETEzUELA.
The Spiendors of n o nth American
City's Parks-Ehe remarkable
Career Of eauzman- sflancO.

Gus people that can be imagined, asserts
a Caracas letter to the New York Sun.
Impolitcness is unpardonable here. The
clerk, with whom you deal over his coun-
ter, expresses his wish that you may live
long and prosper, and thanks you CRATE
fully for giving him the pleasure of show
ing his goods, whether you purchase
anything or not. When gentleman
meets lady, be she his sweetheart or his
grandmother, he always says he els ly-
ing at her feet" and he would rather be
shot than be guilty of passing before her.
They are not the -barbarians which
some people in the northern continent
suppose. They have accomplishments
which ought to make the rest of America
ashamed. Usually they are able to speak
three or four languages, have refined
taste in art and music, and, while they
lack ingenuity, and usually do things in
the hardest way, they are nevertheless
possessed of the kcenest perceptive fac
ulties, and almost seem to read your
thoughts. 1t is not difficult to make
known your wants, even if you
cannot understand word of their lam
guage. They do not allow smoking in
the street cars and public places, as in
the privilege of the mancuine gender to
stare at the feminine with all the eyes
they have, the men are never rude, ald
beg the pardon of a beggar when they
refuse to give him aims.
They always put the locks upon the
wrong door, and wrong side up. When
they build house, it seems as if they
studied the most difficult mode of con.
struction. They erect solid walls first,
and then chisel out places for the tim
bers to rest upon. There are no stoves
or chimneys, and charcoal is the only
fuel. Gas is produced at 81. 80 per 1, 900
feet from American coal which costs $40
n ton. There is no glass in the windows
but a grating of iron bars keeps out in
truders, and heavy wooden shutters keep
out the air and light. Such blinds as
are common in North America would be
the most admirable protection in this
country; but no one has ever intro
duced them, and the people will con-
tinue to swelter behind solid shutters
until the end of time.
The rooms of houses are not plastered,
but the oists are all exposed. The floors
are of tile, and gaudY paper is pasted
upon the walls of cement and stone. In
the court of every house are the most
beautiful flowers. Tube.roses grow in
great trees, and the oleander is as com
mon as the lilac in New England. The
parks look like the botanical gardens Of
the North and in the evening are always
thronged with gentlemen and ladies until
a late hour.
The police regulations are very strict.
! I'LL l.; 4 l.,
a man in hack. Every coach driver in
the city was thrown into prison, and not
a wheel was turned unit. the child was
recovered. Drunken men are never seen
in the streets. To become intoxicated
is to invite yourself to work ten or
twenty days in the chain gang; and to
see the way in which prisoners are treated
is an inducement to be temperate.
The president of Venezuela, General
| Crespo, is mulatto of fine stature and
commanding presence. He wears Louis
Napoleon mustache and imperial, and is
rather sluggish in his disposition. Ac-
cording to common understanding he is
simply the mask of Guzman- Blanco, who is
/ prevented from being perpetual president
by a constitutional provision which pro-
| hibits the re election of a chief magistrate
without an intervening term. So, they
say, Guzman serves as President every
other two years in his own name, and
puts UP a dummy every alternate term.
Guzman -Blanco was born in the midst
! of revolution, and lived in revolution
until he obtained the mastery of the
country himself. For some time during
| Buchanan's administration he was secre.
tarv of the Venezuelan legation at Wash
ington, and has made several visits to
the United States. The latest was last
summer, when on his way to Europe,
and there was scandal in New York,
because Fifth avenue dentist charged
him $4,000 for tinkering the teeth of
his family
After serving in various military capa-
cities, Guzman finally, by his ability,
courage. and force of character, became
commander of the army, from which
post in 1871, he easily stepped into the
presidency. His authority was disputed
for several years. but he kept strength
ening himself until he became. and still
is. as absolute a dictator as exercises
power anywhere on the globe. There
has not been a law or decree, not even
the slightest official act per 'ormed in
Venezuela during the last ten or twelve
years without his sanction, and, whether
he sits in the chair of the president OIL
enjoys life at his hotel in London OIL
Paris, he is the acknowledged head and
ruler of the republic.
The debt of Venezuela amounts tC
about $25, 900, 600 of principal and accu
mulated interest. When Guzman- BlancC
became president the bonds were worth
less. His first endeavor after securing
peace was to establish the credit of hi
country. He went to London himsel
and secured the funding of the loan at {
lower rate of interest, which has Sine,
been paid promptly in advance ever!
thirty days. The bonds are now wortl
from forty to fifty per cent. of par, anC
their security is guaranteed by the fac
that Guzman himself has several million
of dollars invested in them.
Bolivar is known here as the Liberia
tor. while Guzman takes the grandios
title OF Pacific tor and Regenerai or o
the reDublic-and he has earned it