Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-13
CITY OF SAN SALVADOR.
THE LEADING TOWN IN A CENTRAL
AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
It's Situation. Climate and Surround
ings-How the Rich People Pass
Thcir Time-HnndsOlnc SCnOritns.

Their Timc-IIandsomc Scnoritns.
One cannot fail to he impressed with
the beauty of the position of the city Of
San Salvador, in the midst of an elevated
plain, on the summit of the tableand
which intcrvcnes between the valley of
the Lcmpa and the Pacific, writes cor
respondent in the New York Times i'll Il
letter from Central America. Its altitude
is about 220O feet, and, having timed my
journey to arrive in sight at s a. NJ, /
found the heaviest ulster and the warm
est gloves comfortable at that hour The
climate is delightful and not too warm,
though the city is shut of from the sea
breeze by low range OF hills on the
southern edge Of the plain. The hills
which cncirclc the plain are evergreen,
the heavy dcws Of the dry season being
sufficient to cultivate vegetables without
irrigation. The tablcland is wholly made
up OF scori;u, volcanic ashes, fragments
of pumice and sand, everything the beds
Of lava which flowed from the volcano
near the city before their election.
Though these scoriaccous beds are like
those which cover Pompcii, and present
Il picture Of dcsoation, the soil is the
most fertile of san Salvador, and equal
to that Of the coast alluvions.
The streams which surround the city
have worn deep channels through the
yielding soil and constitute immense
ravincs, which have more than once
saved the capital in time of war. Some
of the approaches to the town are so mar
row when crossing these natural fortifi-
cations that it is customary to shout
loudly before entering 10 avoid meeting
horscmcn coming in the opposite direc-
ton, one or the other having to back
out. The population is from 30, 1000 to
80, 600, but the city covers Il large area
in proportion to that number. Very few
of the houses are more than one story,
and have Immensely thick walls to resist
the shocks of earthquakes, inclosing
inner courts planted with flowers and
trees, and frequently containing foun-
tain. The corridors surrounding the
courts are furnished with cane furniture,
and the females receive calls there, do
their sewing, and gossip, enjoying the
open air in privacy.
Only the central portion of the town
is paved, the outskirts having hard earth
roads lined with tropical fruit trees and
hedges of evergreen cactus. The wealthy
families keep carriages, and in the coo!
of the evening the ladies are driven
through these beautiful drives, while the
gentlemen III small parties accompany
them on horseback. From the window
of my hotel | spent many evenings
watching the dark-cycd scnoritas drivin"
by, dressed i'll the lghtcst gauzy materials,
resting lanYuidly back against the cush-
ions in that dolce far nicntc manner so
characteristic of the race Some of them
were very handsome, their black hair and
large black eyes lending brillianry To the
large diamonds which sparklcd in their
ears and gathered the folds of thcir
waists. From such picture il may be
imagined that the high-castc ladics spend
their hours in luxury, thinking of moth
ing but the qualification Of their desires,
but it is not So. The bond existing be
tween the poor and the wealthy is largely
due to the charity of these high-born
women, who consider it no more than a
duty TO visit the hospitals 10 minister to
the wants Of the sick "mozos'' from the
family estates, and ut very early hour it
is no unusual sight to see these ladies on
their visits to the poor and needy,
accompanied by a servant carrying
baskets OF food and clothing. Thcii
treatment of those who have served them is
consideratc; obi servants arc pcnsioncd,
and The families OF those who have been
killed accidentally are supported and
educated. Not only in san Salvador is
this true, but once in the Costa Cuca dis
So. Of L., 4
''mozo' who, although pcnsioncd, wa:
allowed to live at his former masters
town residence.
The native Of San Salvador does not
spend his life in brcathlcss chase of the
dollar. As rule, he works hard and is
thrifty, until he can live on his income,
and after that, though his riches may in
crease, il will moi be due TO his efforts.
because the 3lst day oil December always
finds him borrowing money on the .Janu-
AIRY crop. They are shrcwd business
men, and worthy Of credit. An Amcri.
can engaged in trade in one OF the larger
cities said 10 me: II never have any
trouble, even if do sell on credit TO the
natives. They may not remember tc
have received an article in the bill, vet,
Us they have been trusted, they consider
the deb; one of honor. Foreigners cause
all the trouble, and though have 10 sci
to them and dispute with them over this
and that item of n six months bill which
they decline to pay, there is never any
question with a native" The Contra
American forms his estimate of foreign
ers in Judging those whom he meets, ant
much of the prejudice existing aeains
foreigners in general is due to the poo
class who have come here in times past
The social entertainments of the capita
are models of elegance and refinement
In their suppers they avoid os!cntatiou.
plenty, and coniinc their dishes to deli
cacics, regardless of cost. Both gentle
men and ladies are waited upon at small
tables by men servants, and the piggisi
rush often seen at supper tables is avoided
The people are not early riscrs, like tn
Cubans, who open their shops at 6 a. NJ.
hut S or 9 o'clock finds many store