Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-01-23
letter from Central America.

Correspondence OF Tho AleXGIirlG NIAHL1TEl
CITY OF GUATEMALA, {. 4 Dc 26, 1855
This is a de iehfu afternoon, such as you
erjoy in Virginia during the last days of 10.
dian summer. Peach trees sre in bloom aud
ripe peaches are for sale in the market.
Coffee gathering has begua aud more than q
hundred varieties Of tropical fruits are seen
in the market. All cur epEing summ mer and
fall vegetables are in season and gardening
of oil kinds is beirg done. Winter is un.
known here and the climate is delightfully."-
cool erd plea ant.
This city lies in g valley entirely sur
rounded BIZ mountains, many of which are
volcanoes, and three of which are actiye
Only about 25 miles away, to the northwest,
is az active volcano. It seems oniy few
miles away aud towers up before my win
dow. The mountains around the conessre,
at times, hid in the deep, sulphufou5 smoke.
Just ct this moment the eruption has sub
sided and the entire cone and lip cf the era
ter are seen, but soon it will turst forth and
smother all out OF sight sge:a Tonight the
scene will be one Of sublime grandeur.
The eruption is now under full force again,
and If the wind lurns this way may send
YOU some Of the volcanic ashes that ut times
sprinkle over everything Tor hundred
miles distance. The eruption continues to
increase and solid bodies are being sen.
forth which, from my window, appear like
great black spots among the fire and smoke
that shoots straight up into the blue sky.
Now the great clouds OF smoke are expand
ing and drifting away The cut put is yet
strong, and the flames are darting up and
spreading over the lip like an immense con
hsgratiou. This samo volcano is famous in
history, fo~ il once ruined the ancient city
of Guatemala and killed most of its inhabit-
ants, so that the city, as capital, was aben.
doned and moved here to the modern city
Of Guatemala, which, whilenpparently out Of
danger, is subject TO the same risk.
Juet now there was an earthquake shock,
during which tbs door Of my roon, my table
and all on 1t was set moving. the shocks
last only for few seconds and are ofalmost
daily occurrence here and by the natives
are unnoticed.
From my window I oot, upon city Of
low built houses principally OF wood, with.
out chimnies or fires, except for cooking.
All the roofs are flat and many of the habi-
tations are without windows. Mules and
Indians are the chief "beasts OF burden"
The women nearly without exception go
bare headed in the street. The lower classes
wear sandals and the soldiers have red
trousers, while the police are dressed after
the style of the American police.
During the church and political festivities
at Christmas the city was decorated in q
most beautiful manner and wes in every
way we'll up with modern civilization in
that respect. The vesper belle called the
people to evening mass wilhelm the soldiers
quarters the drum beat and buge notes
regulated the military actions for the day.
This is q true type offs Spanish Catholic
city, there not being Protestant church in
the place.
This city is far up with the times, having
a railroad, system Of electric lights, tele-
phones, water works and many beautiful
flower gardens, plszas, and the finest thea
tire building in Central America. The
school system and text books are chiefly
trauslaiioDs of our own school books now in
use To day attended school exposition
in which painting, drawing, plain and fancy
sewing with foe display of delicate nee
die work with the usual display of exemi-
nation papers were all seen and reflected
credit on both pupils aud teachers Yet
behind all this there is much to be done for
the country before it is up with the republic
of the North. RAMBLER.