The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-28
TURBULENT CHILL.
America is Not in the Best
Repute There.
EDUCATION FREE TO ALL ALIKE
Why the Government is Not Favorable to
One-Sided Reciprocity with the
United States

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, June %, 1S9l.--lSpe-
otal correspondence of The HERAID.l-
About the most elf-approving set Of peo-
pie on the face of the earth, particularly as
regards their beloved republic. are these
Chilians. A fair sample Of the native con-
ceit was displayed to a commission from
the United States, which came down here
q few years ago TO talk about reciprocity,
and if possible to foster closer friendly and
commercial relations between the two
countries. Our representatives were po-
litely received by the chosen men OF Chill,
and a lengthy, but rather one-sided. pow
wow was held. Finally, after listening
sttentiyely to all that the Americans had to
say for themse yes, young Miss Chill
briefly spoke her mind. she gracefully
admitted the truth of all the hattering
things which the gentlemen from the
north had said about her-that she was q
great, a rich, a rosperous and oeautiful
country-but assured them that the half
had not been told. She acknowledged that
it might readily be discerned, with hall an
eye, as il were, how much IL would De Tor
the interest of the United States to have
dealings with her; but-really. begging
pardon for the seeming disc0urtesy-where
would the benefit to Chill come in!
In some respects the Chilians are not
without grounds fort heir 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 sclen-
ces. has been truly remarkable, consider
ing that this ribbon-like little strip OF ter
ritory,-walled IL by the mighty Andes on
one side and washed by the limitie5s PACING
on the otner-ls more remote from the
worlds great centers of population than
any other civilized land.
FOR some years past, education has been
government hobby in Chilli, and no pains
or expense have been spared in discover
ing 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 Chilli, the Institute
Nacional, received its charter from the
King of Spain more than hundred years
ago, and was known as the Coieglo de San
Felipe until 1912, when it was reorganized
and re named. II occupies fine building
in the Alameda, along side Of the great uni
versity. The latter is divided into i've fac
ulties, and in it the sons of wealthy fami-
lies who are destined for the learned pro-
fessions, finish their education. Its course
OF study covers period OF six years, and
embraces mathematics, practical survey
ing, physics, natural history, chemistry, as
tronomv. cosmography, and other sciences,
besides ancient and modern languages,
medicine. law and theology.
AL well-educated young people In the
country learn French and German, and Of
late years ii is becoming the fashion to
study English, after the dead languages
have been acquired-as in the United
States Spanish Is about the last language
lie student thinks of applying himself TO,
except at West Point aud Annapolis, where
] believe, it is compulsory. That is not as
II 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 opportunity of seeing gave
the average annual attendance at the uni
versity as 931, and of the Institute Mac
ioral at l ,l5O. The former has splendid
library of about ten thousand volumes, and
al! manner of scientific apparatus for In G
use OF the students. it is filled with
earnest and thoughtful young men, scores
of whom may be seen, book IN
hand, pacing the extensive inner CORR
doris and reading or studying aloud, after
the Southern fashion. In the law de-
partment noticed two young ladies-an
looked upon with favor, so chat the posi-
ton of the two senoritas can hardly be en-
viable. Had they taken to the medical de-
partmeut instead, possibly they might have
been forgiven, but nobody hereabouts can
see any sense in women studying law.
Santiago also supports a tiourishing
school OF arts and trades, a school Of agri-
culture-founded in 1869 by the Sociedad
de Agriculture; conservatory of music,
and numerous other public and private
seminaries, ali well filled and doing credit
able work. The military academy is
another government institution for the
education of young men intended foi
the army and navy, and Is said to
have done much toward improving
both services. 1t is conducted on
the French system and, like that in Val.
paraiso, occupies a very handsome and ex-
lensive group of buildings. The numer-
Gus normal schools of Chilli are a later ex-
pertinent, and are designed especially for
the training of those who are to become
teachers in the government schools. They
are under the general supervision of the
minister Of France, and directly superin-
tended by a commissioner of education
the latter very learned gentleman, who
has been sent to all countries, al govern.
ment expense, expressly to study the diff
ferent methods of conducting schools in
order to decide upon that which is best for
Chilli
Among numerous private schools, the
most popular is the Geologic Norte Amer
icano," for young ladies, which may be
called an institution Of the United States
because il is thu outgrowth of missionary
enterprise originated in that country. and
is conducted By people whose names are
familiar in Washington, Mr.. and Mrs. /.
H La Fetra), assisted by eight teachers
from the United States and a round dozen
of professors especiale," who give lessons
in music, painting and the languages. The
college, which is both boarding and day
school, now occupies its own casa a splen-
did new building Of gray stone in the Gale
fstreet) de las Augustinas. and has plenty
of commodicus recitation rooms, drawing
rooms, library, reception rooms, dormito-
ries, arranged with every convenience.
Though emph:tically Protestant school,
its mission work is very quietly accom-
plished, in q more effective manner than
open attempts at proselyting would prove
in this intensely Catholic country.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
located in ine large building near the
central Plaza, contains upwards of 90. 00C
volumes, and is open every day in the week
TO ali classes Its collection dates back to
the year 1873, but was greatly augmented
by many valuable books, manuscripts, In
Quisition and Colonial records, stolen from
the once ricl library at Lima during the
Peru-Chili war. There is also a smaller
public library in another college, besides
that of ten thousand volumes in the Nstio-
nal Institute.
Printing was introduced into Chill 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 estab-
lishments in Santiago, publishing four