Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-21
CENTRAL AMERICA.
SEVERAL. PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF
 THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA.

THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA.
 The One Sided Attendance at Church-A
 Funeral Procession-Drink and Cigar
 ettes-Habits of Young Gentlemen of
 Standing-Spanish-Am Woman.
 That which strikes person on entering church in Guatemala lis the total absence of we'll dressed men. They send their wives and children, while they seek diversion in the barrooms, billiard saloons and clubs, for which Sundays and feast days are the busiest times. The Guatemalteco regards the prac- tice of religion as good enough for women, but he himself has use for it on four occa- sions only-at birth and baptism, marriage and death. When a child has reached an age when its parents believe it will not cry dur ing baptism, all near relatives and dear friends are invited to the ceremony. The first act is @ very decorous performance of his duties by the priest; the second is a ''jamboree," which is continued all that day and up to the business hours of the next If the family be wealthy the very finest brands of wines are consumed; if it be poor, native whisky is set before the guests, and not unfrequently many land in the cala- boose before they arrive at their own homes Here, rather more than in their own country, does it seem the custom to celebrate every unusual event with drunk" A "mozo" regards it as right to demand and receive from his employer a sufficient advance of money to defray the expenses of his celebra- tions, and the employer never refuses to help along baptisms, marriages and funerals.
 Almost any day in the streets of provincial towns one may see collins carried to the cemeteries followed by crowds of mourners, who fairly seem to rock and stagger along under their load of grief, but if the stranger will approach nearer he will get whiffs of alcoholic breaths that will account for the unsteady gaits of the Friends of the deceased. Ihave seen old women so much overcome as to finally give up trying to keep along with the procession, stagger toward the curb, and, with tears rolling down their cheeks, fall asleep in the gutter, to be carried off by policeman or to be taken home by friends. There seems to be a rule that the guardians of the peace will not interfere with an intoxicated citizen while the latter is in the funeral cortege. They will not prevent him from showing bis sorrow to his hearts content while he is able to stumble along, but the instant he falls outn on his way to the burying ground, or, when he is sneaking home through by streets after the interment he finds himself grabbed by the collar and hurried off to prison.
 DRINK AND CIGARETTES.
 The ''mozo' is quiet, unoffending person, except when drunk when he is at first funny and noisy and then wicked. The native compound called "aguardiente" or "guarro" makes men crazy Sometimes drunkenness may be pleaded in extenuation of crime in civilized countries, especially where it may be shown that no intention existed in the mind of the guilty party before becoming drunk; but here it may be pleaded in so strong a manner as to relieve the culprit from punishment, if it be proved that he was drunk at the time of action.
 Late prosperity in coffee has enriched many families here who before were pretty we'll run down at the heel. but who now scarcely notice their acquaintances who were less favored. The grown sons of the fortunate coffee planters threw up their clerkships when the parental coffers were filled, for the Central Americans idea of happiness is to do nothing Many of these would be swells have certain small allow ances, but seldom larger than to allow them to lose more than one game of billiards in 8 night. Take @ seat in any billiard room of Guatemala and watch the growing genera tion. All are addicted to the cigarette habit. Sometimes, should party of six be playing pool, the leader or the loudest talker will call the waiter and pompously order him to take the orders of the other gentlemen, but as the waiter hurries to the bar he is requested to bring separate checks. Then again the luxury of the drink is post poned until paying up at the desk, when the ''bloods" hang over the bar, talking of the different brands of extra dry and Yquem well knowing there is not enough money in the party to pay for singls glass of either1, and finally conclude by calling for a modest glass of beer, after which each produces his own small piece of silver for his own drink. The habitue who lounges around to be 'treated" would go very thirsty in Guate- mala.
 GENTLEMEN OF GOOD STANDING.
 I once noticed two young men seated ata table talking and using up all the toothpicks, having nothing especial to do. I made ur my mind to sit them out. People came in and got their drinks and went out, but my young men never moved nor took anything Finally, after two hours, and when had fin ished reading all of tho newspapers, one ot them got up, bade good-by to his companion, I AT r., k,o