The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-28
CENTRAL AMERICA.
SEVERAL PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF
THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA.
The One Sided Attendance at Charch-A
Funeral Processicn-Dr and Ciga--
ettcs-Habits Of Young Gentlemen Of
Stan-iir s-SpaU si-American Woman.


ettcs-Habits Of Young Gentlemen Of
Stan-,ir g-spau sli- american Woman.
That which stril es person on entering
church in Guatemala is the total absence 81
well dressed men. They send their wives ard
children, while they seek diversion in the
barrooms, billiard saloons and clubs, for
which Sundays and feast days are the b9siest
times. The Guatemalteco regards the prac-
tice Of religion as good enough for women,
but he himself has use for il on four occa-
sions only--at birth and baptism, marriage
and death When child has reached an age
when its parents believe il will not cry dur
ing baptism, ali near relatives and dear
friends are invited 10 the ceremony. The
first act is a very decorous performance
Of his duties by the priest; the second
is "jamboree, which Is continued
all that day and up TO the business hours Of
the next. IL the family lie wealthy the very
finest brands If wines are consumed; II u bc
poor. native whisky is set before the guests.
and not unfrequently many land IN the Gala
bose before they arrive at their own homes.
Here, rather more than in their own country,
does il seem the custom TO celebrate every
unusual event with drank 4 moo
regards IL as a rigu, 10 demand and receive
from his employer a sufficient advance of
money to defray the expenses Of his celehra-
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 g. ihc
cemeteries followed 10y crowds OF mouruers,
who fairly seem 90 rock and stageer along
under their load Of grief, bat Il tho stranger
will approach nearer he viii get whiGs OF
alcoholic breatls that viii account for thc
unsteady gaits Of the friends 0f the deceased
have seen old women 50 much overcome as 90
finally give up trying 10 keep along with the
procession, stagger toward the carb, and,
with tears rolling down their cheeks,
fall asleep in the gutter, 70 be carried
or by a policeman or 20 be taken home
by friends There seems 10 be n rule
that the guardians Of the peace
will not interfere With an intoxicated citizen
while the latter j. IN the funeral cortege.
They will not prevent him from showing liz
sorrow 20 his hearts content while he Is able
20 stumble along, but the instant he falls
ont" on his way TO The burying ground, or,
when he Is sneaking home through by streets
after the nterment, he finds himself grabbed
by the collar aud hurried of 10 prison.
DRINK AND CIGARETTES.
The "mozo' is quiet, unohendinS person
except when drunk, when he is az first funny
and noisy and then wicked The native
compound called "aguardienten or 'guarro'
makes men crazy. Sometimes drunkeEncss
NAV be loaded in extenuation Of crime IL
civilized countries, especially where 1t may
be shown that no intention existed IN tic
mind Of the guilty party before becoming
drunk: but here i. may be pleaded IN so
strong a manner as 10 relieve the culprit
from punishment, if It be proved that be was
drunk at the time OF action.
Late prosperity in coffee has enriched
many families here who before were pretty
well run down at the heel. but who now
scarcely notice their acquaintances who
were less favored Tho grown SONS Of the
fortunate coffee planters threw up t1eir
clerkshps when the parental golfers were
filed. for the Central Americans idea #
happiness is TO do nothing. Many Of these
would be swels have certain small allow
ances, but seldom larger than 10 allow them
TO lose more than one game Of billiards III
night Take q seat in any billiard room OF
Guatemala and watch the growing genera
ton. An are addicted 20 the cigarette
habit. Sometimes, should party OF six Lc
playing pool, the leader or the ioudest
talker viii call the waiter and pompousiy
order him 10 take the orders Of the other
gentlemen, but as the waiter hurries to the
bar he is requested TO bring separate cnec4s.
Then again the luxury OF tho drink Is post
uoned until paying up al the desk. when the
"bloods' hang over the bar, talking Of Tic
different brands Of extra dry ard IqI-m
well knowing there IL not enough meAcy 10
the party 70 pay for single glass OF ei'hefi'
and finally conclude by calling for modest
glass of beer, after which each produces has
own small piece of silver for his o~n drink.
Tho habituc who lounges around 20 10
treated would 60 very thirsty 10 DuS't-
mala.
GENTLEMEN OF GOOD sTANDING.
once roticed two young men seated alta
table talking aud using up all the toothpichs'
having nothing especial 10 do. ! mad' uP
my mind 10 SIT them out People camc ~
and got their drinks ard went cut, Int my
Young men never moved nor o., anything.
Finally. after two hours, and when had fla
ishcd reading all Of The newspapers, one -
them got up. babe good by 20 BIS companion,
and went out. No sooner hal be- vel gone
than the one who was left t0OS solitary
drink and went out, but in less than five min
utes the other returned and also treated him
self II seems TO be the aim Of every school
bow TO ioin this privileged class, withits low
derby hat, GETAWAY coat, vest of many COZ
ors, and pantalooms 50 tight AID ispcrinS
that their patent leathered feet, already
large. look like hams. They regard work -
degrading ana beneath the dignity Of gentle
men Of their standing, and l have never yei
seen one who did not know IL AL
SPANISH American women arc much more
demonstrativc than the French and decidedly
less attractive in every way. They meet
each other On the street, they Immediately
fan into each others arms, there arc two or
three little Simultaneous pats On TIE back
and movement Of the faces toward each
other which does not end IN a kiss, but LOOKS
as if they wished 10 rub noses IN kalmecS
fashion. This invariably occurs when tNo
ladies meet. What the pat On the back
means nobody seems 10 know. When two
Indian women meet the older presents her
hand 10 the younger, who respectfully takes
II, and bends over while kisSingit. The iadies