The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-15

1
are ea8ded with strolles Of every
class, from the chief military function
ary and his wife to the jolly ganfn Of
the town. In most of these plazas
there are handsome monuments and Z
statues, commemorating some dis
tinguished man, or some important
event. Sss 5.5g
The interior finishing of the private
residences is largely in white marbles.
Hall floors, stairs, wainscoting and
window frames are almost always
found in this style. Atfirst I thought
it looked cold and chilly, but when I
called to mind that the weather here
is always like either our May or 0etoss
ber, it was easy to understand how
we'll the interior appointments suited
the natural surroundings. Marble
halls" are no rarity down here, and as
each house seems to vie with its
neighbors in point of its glistening
grandeur inside, one does not grow
tired of seeing them merely because
they are met with on every hand.
One of the most fourishing enter 4
prises in the city is the "Children'sg
Hospital Lottery Company" Itholds
weekly drawings for the benefit of the
institution named and for the idle
swindlers who superintend its dishon-f
est workings. Tickets are peddled all
over the city by men, women and
children, and are also exhibited for
sale in cigar, drug and candy stores
and brokers' offices. frequently I am
accosted by a vender as I enter the, !
very doors of the Cathedral, but this
is not counted amiss by priest or peo.
pie, so the nefarious trade thriyesa pro.
digiously under the caves Of the saney
tuary.
In striking and glorious contrast to
the despotic corruption practiced by
the representatives of the Romish
church, the Protestant ministers and
their adherents are sowing the seeds
of love and religious liberty among
the long-down-trodden people Of this
region. This is no stereotyped phrase
INTENDED for the disparagement Of one
;, sect and the praise of another, for I
abhor the narrowness that will not.
recognize and admit whatever good
lexists in a character or a body not
wholly, or even much, in accord with
itself. ] feel no such necessity restiH8s
upon me in this case, as careful and
Impartial examination of the two orr
foundations reveals such results as re-
dound to the credit of the Protestants
alone. ss5s5
Enlightened men, high in authority
in both Uruguay and Paraguay, are
rapidly learning the disadvantages att
tending the dominion Of the Romish
Church over the masses of their peo-i
Piles. Not only are they learning this
truth, but they are gladly encouraging
the introduction of Protestantism
throughout both countries. Quite re-
Gently at the dedication Of a Metho-
dist Church in Asuncion, Paraguay,
the Governor General of the Province
attended the ceremony, and, upon boz
ling requested to address the congrega-
ton, responded very cordially, ex-s
Ipressing his appreciation of the bless
ing of Professionalism, and extending
welcome to all Christian denomina-
tions to Paraguay. This is but fair
ILLUSTRATION of the opportunities afford
ed Methodists and others for spread
ing the Protestant form Of the Chris
tian religion in both these countries.
The Romish Church is conducted
differently in country where it Is (as
it were) on sufferance, from where 1t
holds the mastery. Whereas, in the
:, the United States, it is doing consid-
cradle amount of what may be term
ed missionary work in connection
with its other labors,-in countries
where it is firmly established, the
earnest Christian spirituality that
should attend its priests seems sup
planted by convival carnality backed
up by the despotism Of power gained
through religions superstition.
The Methodists have neat, commo-;
dious church in this city, and MAIN
tain suburban missions as well. There
seems happy unity among the mem.
bers, which results, in earnest labors
in behalf of their less favored neigh
bors. Services are held in English at
one hour and in Spanish at another;
schools are conducted for the free In
struction of boys and girls, men and
women, both day and night. ~,
,, 1t will, of necessity, take q very
long time to obtain any considerable
foothold for Professionalism in this
country, but certainly no Christian
missionaries can expect greater con-
:, cessions to be made them than are al
ready offered by Uruguay and Para
quay.
=, In my next letter I shall take my
!, readers for trip across the Rio de Ia
Plata into the land of the Argentines.
S. T. BROWNE.