The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-20
A Visit to Guatemala City.

cr,rru,r.A. April IL entered Guate-
maia CITY in thealternoon. A band hidden la
an adjacent plan was softly playing. The
bull rine near the station was illuminated by
the setting sun, the low white houses all about
looked strangely picturesque, the sky was
aname tine streets were rose color, the air
was f'iei with theperiume of flowers. Work
inrmen. Indians. were swarming through
the thorouzhimos. pre,tly attired women
throneed the avenues The scene was brisk,
glowing, animated.
Here was light, fragrance, gayety' Inc
ifvsaemel da.iciousy clean. from The quaint
lv constructed sidewalks tothe white skirts oil
the Indies which h0atel in and ont of the
great doorways Guafeman has a certain
ouicsencl pace which other parts oi Central
America do not possess, and 30 seemed TO ne
a carnival like mcrrlmlut was among tle
people. There were -IblueI shouts Of laugh
ter. and The situations ol the young folks
were fuil of i1vauI eentloness l hurried on
until reached the Grand hotel, glad 10 be-
among SD active aud alert community.
s.I wanta COOL roomn ! said % the clerk.
$40. sanor.n answered that magnificent of
fetal. "Ths house full, you must goaway. w
"Where shall go" I queriei.
'I do not know senor. Here we have no
ROOM
Was my appearance disreputable, ! won
derell Did my walking through the streets
lower ms statusi Had I lost cast by not
coming in a cab' Appearances go for much
in these countries, and their is q cynical
Snani.h proysrb 90 The effect that "we nod
I...N f|.. 20. an mo-.
Quaintance on horseback At any rate
crap.l my democratic grip and dolefully
moved ont DOB search Of "A lodging. The little
incident depre-ei my erstwhio hilarious
spirits. and as / waihei along the streets
looked into strange faces, listened 70 strange
voices. and suddenly feit inexpressibly i0ue-
some. Finally I caught sight OF a sign
sHoal Universal Ahl here was haven
Of rest. surely. And SD DC proved l was
soon comfortably d0miciiel. and then as the
night came on str0.lcl out TO see the sights
OF The city.
Guatemala isvory fno. butin thoevening &c
IS very de.0lte. The white houses seem ghost
like. Tho windows are closed, there is nothing
but silence and solitude around. More and
more lonesome grow the feelings Of the stran-
ger. pass through streets chat appear ahan-
d0nod and cross squares barren of human Dee
ings Row and then / hear whisper through
an iron grating, and catch glimpse of dark
head with rel flower buried in its rich coils.
Yondor Is the grand plaza, and facing it is
tho sumuluous cathedral which is the glory
of the place. but over Oh hangs a deathIiAe
sulne.s. while the newmoon shelsan uncan-
DIS l.el. over tle dome. urrcts and angles of
u
the "pars of Central America but in the
evening / fad it like Toledo of Spain, dead
| and sIlfo.
The quiet became irksome, and ascertain
ing from friendly policeman thattle theatre
where tls Italian opera was being given was
not open that night gioomiiy Uttered back
% ms l0te. and prepared for bed. Presently
tap came at the door, and q boy appeared,
saying deieroltially. "W0gid senior ike to De
called for early church"
Yankee like I answered one question by
asking another.
care there no diversions for the stranger
in Guatemala"
"Mauana. 81 sanorn ha quickly replied
his face glowing. Tomorrow, yes twill
Doc Sunday. Directly after mass there viii
be- grant cock fights splendid birds, senior.
Pure English breed ln the afternoon there
wiil De a bul fight at the circus ln the even
ing VA Fay0rIta' win be sung i'm Italian at
the theatre
And ! bad been rapiniugl ] bad felt an
aching v0.ll bad yoamei for the graspof a
friendly hand, l0ugei To- look into O. pair oi
plying eyes, and would have been more tnan
satisfied Yet tomorrow, almost here, was
fairly bursting with the promise OF pleasure.
"Mlclach0," 4 said. tossing the boy
couple of reals in the oxuberaneo of my joy
icail me early call me very early, / shall $50
90 . O'Clock mas-'
And tamhl.l .afo bed 90 dream Of berlb-
lonel bulls uiru-.ne feroc.ou,ly into glorious
churcnos ana eanacocss shri..y calling tine
coming oi .-- sabbath day.
FIEDEMcK IS. WHITE