Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28


by the chosen men of Chile, and lengthy
but rather one-sided, pow-wow was held
Finally, after listening attentively to al
that the Americans had to say for them
selves, young Miss Chile briefly spoke he
mind. She gracefully admitted the truth O.
all the fattering things which the gentlemen
from the North had said about her-that she
was great, rich, a prosperous and beau
tiful country-but assured them that the
half had not been told. She acknowledged
that it might readily be discerned, with hall
an eye, as it were, how much it would be fol
the interest of the United States to have
dealings with her; but-really, begging par.
don for the seeming discourtesy-where
would the benefit to Chile come in?
Strong in Educational Affairs.
In some respects the Chileans are not
without grounds for their self-esteem. Their
educational institutions, for example, are
ahead of those in many older republics, and
| certainly far surpass any. others in South
America; and their progress in literature,
the arts and sciences, has been truly re-
markable, considering that this ribbon-like
little strip of territory-walled by the
mighty Andes on one side and washed by
| the imitless Pacific on the other-is more
i
population than any other civilized land
For some years past education has been q
| Government hobby in Chile and no pains or
| expense have been spared in discovering the
best methods, securing the most competent
| instructors and opening up a really royal
road" to learning for the masses as well as
for the wealthy few.
The oldest college in Chile, the Institute
Nacional, received its charter from the
King of Spain more than 100 years ago, and
was known as the Colegio de San Felipe un-
til 1S42, when it was reorganized and re-
named. It occupies fine building in the
Alameda, alongside of the great University.
The latter is divided into five faculties, and
in it the sons of wealthy families who are
designed for the learned professions, finish
their education. Its course of study covere
period of six years. and embraces mathe-
matics, practical surveying, physics, nat
ural history, chemistry, astronomy, cosmog-
raphy, and other sciences, besides ancient
and modern languages, medicine, law and
theology.
Languages of the Hemisphere.
All well-educated young people in this
country learn French and German, and of
late years it is becoming the fashion to
study English, after the "dead" languages
have been acquired In the United States,
Spanish is about the last language the
student thinks of applying himself to, e1-
cept at West Point and Annapolis, where I
believe it is compulsory. This is not as it
should be, considering that they are the two
languages of this Western world, English
being universally spoken on one continent
and Spanish on the other.
The last statistics have had an oppor-
tunity of seeing gave the average annual
attendance at the University as 931, and of
the Institute Nacional as 1,15O. The former
has splendid library of about 10000 vol
umes, and all manner of scientific apparatus
for the use of the students. 1t is filled with
earnest and thoughtful young. men, scores
of whom may be seen, books in hand, pac-
ing the extensive inner corridors and read
ing or studying aloud, after the Southern
fashion. In the law department noticed
two young ladies-an altogether new de-
parture for Chile, not looked upon with
favor, so that the position of the two SEN
oritas can hardly be enviable. Had they
taken to the medical department instead,
possibly they might have been forgiven, but
nobody hereabouts can see any sense in
women studying law.
For the Arts and Trade.
Santiago also supports a fourishing
School of Arts and Trades, School of Agri-
culture-founded in 1869 by the Sociedad
de Agricultural, a Conservatory of Music
and numerous other public and private SEM
inaries, all well filed and doing creditable |
work. The Military Academy is another |
Government institution, for the education |
of young men intended for the army and |
navy, and is said to have done much toward |
improving both services. The numerous |
Normal Schools of Chile are later expert |
ment, and are designed especially for the |
training of those who are to become teach |
ers in the Government schools. They are |
under the general supervision of the Minis
ter of Finance, and directly superintended by
a Commissioner of Education-the latter a |
very learned gentleman, who has been sent
to all countries,a at Government expense, ex-
pressly to study the different methods
Of conducting schools in order to decide
upon that which is best for Chile.
Among numerous private schools, the
most popular is the "Colegio Norte-Amer-
icano," for young ladies, which may be
called an institution of the United States,
because it is the outgrowth of O missionary
enterprise originated in that country, and
is conducted by people who names are
familiar in Washington (Mr. and Mrs I.
Fl. La Fetra), assisted by eight teachers
from the United States and round dozen
Of Professors Especiales," who give les
sons in music, painting and the languages
Though emphatically o Protestant school,
its mission work is very quietly accom-
plished, in a more effective manner than
open attempts at proselyting would prove
N this intensely Catholic country,
The Newspapers and Hospitals.
Printing was introduced into Chile in the
year 1872, with little screw press, brought
from the United States, which is still pre-
served in the National Museum. Now
there are at least dozen printing establish
nents in Santiago, publishing four daily
newspapers, besides the official journal and
various reviews and serials. The Frro-
,dr7I (''railway train''), established about
10 years ago, is the leading paper of the
capital, and enjoys daily circulation of
perhaps 5000. Within the last 20 years
newspapers and periodicals have been es-
tablished in nearly all the provinces and de-
partments of Chile, and most of the larger
towns, such as Conception, Iquique,
Copiapo and Serena, have each two or three
1ailies-or rather they had, before the pres
snt war, which has temporarily destroyed
he newspaper business, in common with
every other industry. Valparaiso has two
,r three big daiiies, besides the Didro
Official, the Catolico, an English and Ger
nan weekly, and number of Chilean liter
iry and social periodicals.
Though cruel in war, the Chileans are
Justly celebrated for their care of the sick
md afflicted. The first hospital in Santiago
was established almost as soon as the city, |
,y Valdiyia, the founder. Those of San
Juan de Dios, for males, and of San Fran