The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-01
CONCERNING Chill.
Information About the Little Republic
OF South America.
Especial Correspondence.


Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Nov. 16-Just at this time
there is some popular interest in Chill,
the little republic which lies on the
Pacific ocean, south of the equator, and
where spring begins in September, summer
in December, autumn in March and win
ter in June.
Carlyle and Buckle and4ether philosoph-
ical historians insist with much reason
that every nation has as good government
as it deserves. Since the adoption, in 1883.
of the present constitution, which in the
main is reproduction of that of the
United States, Chill up to the time of the
recent Balmaceda revolution has enioyed
the most stable and respectable govern
meut of any country in South America
This being so, the people of Chill must be
superior in many regards to the idea which
usually prevails as to the people of any
country founded by Spain and long held
as dependency of that once strong power.
The people of Chill, ever since they threw
off the Spanish yoke, have proved them
selves even superior in civilization TO those
Of the mother country.
They are a warlike people, proud of their
history and the victories which they have
won over Spain aud more recently over
Peru. But there are not great many of
them. In 1915 there were $3.50, 900 people
in Chilli. of whom one-third were urban
and two-thirds rural. The annual rate of
increase at that time was computed TO be
one in fifty-seven. If this has been main
tanned during the sixteen years which have
elapsed, and notwithstanding the war with
Peru and the Balmsceda revolution. there
are now in Chill nearly 5000, 900 inhabit-
ants OF these about 490, 600 can read and
about SO. COO can both read and write. 1t
is Roman Catholic country, and the eccle-
siastics participate to a certain extent In
the government, but there is entire reli-
gious freedom and the people are privileged
to worship as they choose.
In Santiago. the capital, there Is hand
some Protestant church; in Valparaiso
there are three. and there is a chapel in
Talca. In Santiago there IS also large
university. which usually has some 700
students and about forty professors. There
is also there an institute kind Of pre-
paratory school for the university, and this
usually has about 1000 pupils. In the
to every twenty-four Inhabitants, and this
Is by no means poor average, consider
ing the large percentage Of illiteracy
among the adults. There ia little ques-
ton, however, that Cbih's illiteracy Is less
than that Of Spain or any Spanish-Ameri-
can country. The books used IN the
schools are usually French translated into
Spanish. Indeed, IS is also the case in ali
Of the South American countries, the liter
allure is decidedly French. as a great deal
more that = read comes from that country
than from Spain, Germany, England and
the United States together.
The Chilians are very fond OF foreign
travel. The long stretch Of seaboard aud
the frequent sight Of fsreign ships induce
a very great many Of tse inhabitants TO
visit fore.En lands "a ISIS one authority
estimated Jaat 5, GO CEiliaus on an aver
age went abroad every year. Ii this con-
putatIon could bedepenced On, the ChiIizns
must be considered the greatest travellers
in the word. have 10 f4ita IN It's &C
Curscv hut -'ra~ 80 occasionally great
travellers. II more o, them came 70 the
United States the danger Of q conflict rc~
would be even more remote.
Some ten years ago Chill reluctantly
went into war with Peru, which was the
richest country in the southern nemi-
sphere. Chill came out victorious and hnnn-
bied the proud neigh5or, which she had
assisted IN throwing OF tie yoke OF Spain.
TO the very das<. As pA-E Of the indezs-
nifty for the cost OF the war tie victorious
Chiiizus took from Peru those rich ~
trsse deposits whEck had become TIE CHEZ