The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1891-06-18

Police ;-besides being the Chiiap treasury and
the place where all the nations money is coined.
Probably the most conspicuous editice in the
city is the Capitol. 1t occupies entire
square. and Its walls, which look brand new,
are coated with II brownish-yclloW >tucco and
have great rows of columns and many cha~te
ornaments. 1t Is Il combination of the bOric
and Grecian architecture. and a beautifully
kept garden spreads out in front not unlike
that around the Treasury at " a>hinyton,
which the building family resembles. There
are three extensive halls inside, of the Sena-
tors. the Deputies, and that in which the
President takes the oath of office. They are
plainly finished IN white sturco, with few
simple frescoes on the ceiling illuminated with
great sky-lights and furnished with leather
covered arm chairs and the plainc>t of desks
and tables. The large. cool. semi circular Sem
ate chamber has an area of about 80 square
metres, and looks as inviting to repose as our
own, in Uncle Samuefs Capital When visit
ing this Chian fog bank have found it easy
to imagine myself at home, gazing down from
the gallery upon doing bald heads, set in regu-
lar rows like the cobble stones Of a street, lis
tenng to some droning senator. who has ap-
parentIy 40 other listeners-while the Stenos-
raphers seepily scribhle, and the presiding Of
iicer yawning behind his hand. makes shall
low pretence of paying attention.
The Hall of Deputies Is a good deal larger
than that of the senators, and its members are
more lively and quarrelsome; but the galleries
are 50 few and cramped that il Is evident the
dear public are not expected to attend its seS-
sions There are ~ Senators in the Chan
Congress and mo Deputies. Among other pc
culiarities | noticed that no member rises to
his feet when addressing the house, but indo-
lentv keeps his sittn'" y; and in their most
exciting differences of opinion and widest
flights Of vtuperatOn, (which frequently end
IN duels outsde,) they never depart from the
strict rules of Spanish etiquette, but ''cus,'
one another in politest terms
The small park in front Of the capitol
formerly the site Of the Jesuit church Of La
Compania, which was burned on December
night OF 1865. Though Santiago has held an
important place In Gillian history for three
hundred wears and more, no event that ever
transpred here sent such sensation through
out the civilized world that holocaust, in
which upwards Of two thousand Worshipers,
mostly women, out OF an audience of about
three thousand, peri,hed in the flames. The
calamity, which plunged tile nation in mourn
ing, Is commemurated by graceful monument
OF bronze and marble, which bears an in>crip-
tton on the pedestal Informing the stranger
that two thousand victims more or less
miSerabiy periShed, and that the love and grief
OF the Santiagoians Is ineXtinguishabIe.
1t seems there was grand feSt,I, and La
Compania was decorated for the occasion and
packed TO its utmost capacity with the wives
and daughters Of the weaithr-t families OF the
capital. for this was the fashionable sanctuary.
Thousands Of amps, candles, and glass vases
containing parattine were lighted all over the
walls and cO~nices, to represent stars. amid
clouds Of gat ze. while miles upon mile, of
paper roses garlanded the whole interior. No
body knows how the conagration began.
probably from the oyerturning Of a lamp / ut
in a moment The entire roof was a mass of
flames and the floor sea of fire in which
human beings We're screaming and struggling,
a. represented In Old pictures Of purgatory.
The frightened women crowded against the
doors. which opened inward thereby forming
with their own piled-up. srurrhiug bodies m