The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-05
MAJOR j.. j. PETERSON,
or West virglnin, Consul to Honduras,
Tnlks About That Country.

sbtNN s.bOut Hit NbuntFNs
P%IrrsnURGn, Pa, Nov. IA Chronicle
Telegraph representative was this morn
ing accorded an interesting interview
on Honduras and its people by an
American at present residing there.
lie is Mr.. James j. Peterson, consul
from this country to the capital city,
Tcguicagulpa, and he was in Pittsburgh
oil his way Enst after q visit to his rela-
tives in West Virginia.
Notwithstanding the inct that tho
country and the residents appeared
very strange TO mo at first, | have be-
come much attached to both during my
two years residence" said Mr.. Peterson.
81 have made many friends among tho
native llondurans. There are u number
OF Americans in the country who have
some capital invested in the silver
mines. The mines are very productive
and there is vast opportunity in this
development, the country being rich in
silver with gold in places and worked
but very little. One OF the greatest
drawbacks to progress is the absence Of
railroads. There is not n single railroad
in the country and ! have seen but one
wagon. Passengers and baggage arc
transported on the backs OF mules. The
natives also make pack mules out OF
themselves and on their head and
shoulders carry as heavy loads and
make rs good time rs that animal. On
my return have three days journey
on mulc-back TO reach the caDital.
"Thc fcrvercy OF their religious belief
is 4 striking characteristic OF the Hon
durans. The two great icstal days,
Christmas and Easter, are observed
strictly by every resident. On the for
mcr in each chapel the birth OF Christ
is faithfully represented. An image
represents the child Christ and is depos-
tied in the manger. By 4 prcconccrtcd
arrangement it is stolen and the hiding
place is not revealed until Easter day,
when ut the tomb the story OF the Res
direction is reproduced in detail, and
the search for the missing is begun.
Several houses arc visited, and at last.
according to arrangement, in q certain
residence the lost is found, and the
music and shouts OF rejoicing drown
every other sound. Lighted candles are
carried from the houses OF the dead TO
the grave and there extinguished. The
return is made to the home OF the de-
parted, wher the candles are relit, and
until they burn away the time is spent
in prayer.
"Thc m dress in the gaTest OF
%colors, and a deep colorcd shawl is the
favorite piece OF feminine raiment.
Shoes are a novelty for them as well as
for the men. A glance into one OF the
chapcls during service is n pretty scene.
The men and boys all congregatc inside
n railing which encloses the altar, while
the women and small children. with
their gay adornment, are on the outside
OF the railing.
1.-THE means OF recruiting the army
are very effective, though rather fore
ible. When a necessity arises for new
soldiers couriers are sent out in the
country and forcibly bring in rs many
rs needed. When a man is spotted he
seldom ~resists, and serves his country
faithfully. The members between the
ages OF eighteen and t~hirty-fve
years arc kept in active service,
while those between the latter and fifty
years are the reserve force.
"What would no doubt strike 4 visitor
rather u%nfavorably is the clouds OF feas
encountered. The natives do not seem
to mind them in the least, and brush
them of their bodies like so much dust.
"Fery few OF the stories OF uprising in
Central and South America that reach
American ears are to be credited. When
they contain truth they are much exag-
gerated."