The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-10-21
COSTA RIGA.


Republic.
There is little Protestant chapel
here supported by the English and
American residents, the only place Of
worship the Commission has seen in
Central or South America not under
the control of the Roman Church. II
receives no aid from any foreign mis-
sionary society, but is entirely self
supporting, having about sixty mem.
bers of the congregation, half as many
communicates and about twenty-five
children in the Sunday school. This
chapel has been established nearly
twenty years, but has had an ordained
minister but little of that time, the lay
members conducting the service after
the Episcopal formula, and reading
sermons. Last Sabbath we heard an
excellent sermon from Rev. Phillips
Brooks, of Boston, on the text, 81
am the light of the world" and the
Sabbath before Mr.. Sturgeon preached
for us.
There was pastor here a year ago,
and remained some time, but he was 8
straggler, and the people knew little OF
him, and did not like him much. He
was Salvation Army sort of fellow
and introduced some antics into the
service and the Sunday school which
caused his dismissal. There are repre-
sentatives OF five different denomina
tions in this little gathering: Church OF
England. Protestant Episcopalians,
Presbyterians. Methodists and Baptists,
but they dwell together in unity, and
prefer to read printed sermons to each
other than have such a preacher as then
limited means would secure them. Occa-
sionally some wandering clerical tour
list comes here, and oftener a chaplain
from a man-of-war, when babies are
baptized, marriages are celebrated, and
the communion service performed.
But started to tell about the capital
of Costa Rica II is ike all Spanish
American cities, the houses all being
built upon the same plan, four square
dead walls, with windowless rooms
opening upon central square OF
.spatie," in which there is usually a
fountain and few beautiful flowers.
But, speaking of flowers, nowhere have
we found such variety and such luxuri-
ance. One would think there could
not be so many, so beautiful and sc
| fragrant All the rare plants whose
stunted limbs struggle for life in the
| northern lighthouses and botanical gar.
dens, are here in native glory and pro-
| fuseness. Tuberoses are as common as
currant bushes in New England gar.
| den, camelias are as common as roses
and the jassamine, both yellow and
white, grows as plentifully as the
dandelion of our northern pastures.
The orchid. which is regarded as the
rarest of tropical plants, clings tt
every tree, and the great scarlet pas
sion flower mods from the hedges. Tit
'Espiritu Santos lily (the lily of thu
Holy Ghost). so called from its resem
blance to a white dove, is found in the
swamps and jungles. and is, l think
the loveliest flower we have seen
There is another, not SO beautiful bu
more remarkable, called the 'turnsol'
(turned by the SUM which is always q
white as snow in the morning, bu
turns blood red during the day. A
night it beaches out again, and 81
changes color with every passing day
There is vine, too, in the forest
which Nature In her wisdom has places
where water is never found, but which
when cut by knife. will furnish tn
thirsty traveller as pure and sweet
LIQUID as ever bathed throat.-Sd
Jose, Costa Ricd, Cor. Chicago I'stes
Ocean.