Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-15
OLD End NEW.
THE PANAMA OF 1921 AS IT APPEARS
AT THIS TIME.
Hospitals on the Isthmus and How They
Are Conducted-Sudden Deaths
Are the Rule.


continents, this section shows how hard
and fast the Young America of the North
is treading on the heels of the older Amer
lea of the South. New" Panama, as it is
called, was founded in 1878, within two
years after the destruction of the old town,
and still shows evidences of its Castilian
origin. There are ancient casas of Moor
ish architecture, as sedate, drowsy and
heavily picturesque as any in Grenada or
old CASTLE, central courts inelosed within
their enormously thick walls, iron-barred
easements, with folding doors of solid wood
in lieu of windows and awning shaded cor
ridors and verandas; while sandwiched
between them are Young American hotels,
stores, saloons, barber shops and boarding.
houses, Haunting gaudy signs in red and
gold inscribed, Free Lunch Every Day."
"Ten Cents a Shave" "Boston Baked Beans
and Clam Chowder," etc.
For two hundred years the sleepy old
place had never an inn, not until the Cali
fornia gold fever of '47349 brought thou
sands Of travellers this way, and then they
sprang up by the score. Now the number
of hotels is reduced to two or three of the
better class and as many more of inferior.
grade, ranging in price from 81 to So 30
per diem.
Though surrounded on three sides BY
the sea, Panama is
WALLED LIKE A FEUDAL CITY,
Because the experience of its founders with
the buccaneers had been so disastrous
that they neglected no means Of defense
for the Capital. The Wall, which is now
partially destroyed and overgrown by
bushes, was originally from twenty to forty
feet high, with moat and bastions on its
land face, battlements and towers at fire.
quent intervals and mounted with many
pieces Of cannon. In the early DAYS it
was an efectual safeguard against ordinary
attack, but would be of little use against
modern munitions of warfare. The build
ers, who had lately lost all at the hands of
pirates, spent SO much money in the con-
struction of this wall that at last the
Spanish King wrote to inquire whether
the walls of his expensive colony were
being made Of silver or Of gold.
The Indian word Panama signifies
'plenty of fish" and had been bestowed
upon the locality long before the arrival
of the Spaniards. For more than two
centuries, until the comparatively recent
period of the overthrow of the Spanish
domination, this was one of the most opu-
lent cities in the New World, the key to
the Pacific and the great distributing cen
ter between Europe and the rich countries
of Southern America. When the treasure
galleons came sailing into its harbor from
Lima and Valparaiso, laden with the
wealth of conquered nations Ito be sent on
mule-bacl1 across the Isthmus to Porto
Bello, where the feet waited to convey it
to SPAIN, the old town blossomed out at
its best. Then its harbor was crowded
with ships from many lands and its
streets with wealthy merchant Castilian
grandees, gorgeously uniformed officers of
the army and the Government-ihe flower
and chivalry Of New Spain = while balls,
bull-fghts, gaming and excuses of all
kinds were the order of the hour.
But there have been checks to Panama's
prosperity, not least among them being
several conAagrations and innumerable
visitations of pestilence. Before the year
1855 the town was twice almost totally
destroyed by fire, and from that year to
1867 its population seldom exceeded $1,000
The vast floating population that swept
through during the feverish days of 40
could hardly be counted to Panama's
credit. With the completion of the 18th
milan railway a second era Of permanent
prosperity began, and now its population
may safely be reckoned at $4,000
Like all Spanish American cities, its
central feature is an extensive plaza, with
o,,1 Id u,
most important edifces of church and
State. Straight through the middle of it
runs La Gale de las Mopias, or
STREET OF THE NUNS"
Which saerilegious Yankees now call
Main street The "palace" of the Bishop
faces Panamas plaza, and the Cabildo, or
Government house, where all the business
of the municipality is conducted. A big
American hotel occupies one side of it and
directly opposite beyond the flowers and
the fountain, is the great cathedral, whose
twin towers are said to be the tallest on
the continent, so tall that they indicate to
vessels far out at sea the entrance to the
bay and port.
This famous sanctuary is almost a fac
smile of the grand cathedral in the City
of Mexico, being built of stone and stuc-
coed adobe, at least 200 feet long by $50
feet deep, with floor of square red bricks
and roof supported by four rows Of massive
columns. Inside there are the usual
affairs and shrines, pictures, confessionals,
burning candles, ct cetera, but outside
there is marked difference, its towers be-
ing set with innumerable round plaques
of glass that glitter in the sunshine like
so many koh.i-noors, while standing along
its facade, each in his niche is a row of
colossal saints, all painted dark green.
There are half a dozen or more other
churches, of course all Roman Catholic
and most of them ante.dating the present
century The theater, an enormous struet-
ure, occupies
AN OLD CONVENT,
Within whose quiet cloisters, during TWO
hundred years, black-robed nuns lived in
privation and PRAYER. Verify this IS an
age of contrasts Three years ago it was
opened for its present use by Sara Bern
hardt in a series of her inimitable per-
formances.
Among other prominent buildings may
be mentioned the magnificent headquar-
tiers of the defunct canal company, and the
Governors palace, which commands a
charming view of the bay and its green
islands. The educational institutions of
the city comprise several schools con-
Quoted by the nuns; the Coleiio Esperanza
Hope College, for girls, directed and
taught by teachers from the United States;
the Colejio del Isthmo for boys; and two or
three private schools of lower grade. The
most important newspapers published in
Panama are the Gdcetd Ofcidl, the Gov
eminent organ; the Star and Herald, issued
daily in Spanish, French and English,
with two weekly editions; and the CtrOn-
istd, Spanish sheet.
Unfortunately for Panama, there is no
system of public waterworks, though an