The Opelousas courier., 1891-10-24
PICTURESQUE SANTIAGO
THE BEAUTIFUL LOCATION OF
TIE CHILEAN CAPITAL.
Fire-piaces Almost Unknown-Grand
Public Walks-A Unique struc-
fure-Elrass Of Chilean Vnmen


The cities that can boast of a more de-
lightful climate or grander scenery than
this are few, writes Fannie Ward from
Santiago de Chile. Though barely 1900
feet above the sea, it is far enough from
the equator to escape excessive heat, yet
not so distant as to be subject to ex-
| IRENE cold. Set IN the midst of a great
| green valley, the mighty Andes that
stretch away to the horizon on every side
| inclose it as within white walls 5000 to
5000 feet high, their snowy bulwarks
in dazzling contrast to the cloudless blue
above, the Giving green below, and
the golden sunshine that envelopes all as
with a gaanent. From every street and
balcony Sle most glorious views may be
obtained-of mountains towering above
mountains, with such rosy tints upon
them at sunrise, and evening shades of
amethyst darkening to purple, as no
brush can paint or pen describe.
The country Immediately surrounding
the Capital is made up of small estates,
with handsome villas upon them, be-
longing to wealthy families who have the
good taste to forsake the city's glare in
summertime for a few months of rural
living. Many of these suburban casas
are fitted up IN q style Of elegance rarely
surpassed il similar residences of Europe
or the United States.
The tourist coming down from the
tropics, feels exhiiarated by the climate
Of Santiago. Benjamin Taylor, in his
uBetween the Gates describes it ex-
actly, for nowhere are the seasons more
neighborly. Says he. aThe improperly
of winter lingering in the lap of spring
has made a public scandal; but when
September is On whispering terms with
May, and old January masquerades in
June clothes, and July gives all her rain
bows to November, it is time to talk
The winter is in summer and the spring
is in winter, and harvest is in seed time,
and autumn is left out of the calendar
altogether. The siroccos blow from the
North. and the cold winds from the
South, and you must never sail by the
almanac, or you will lose your reckoning
and get lost in the weather"
There is downright discomfort here
during the cold days Of the rainy season.
The people have a deep-seated notion
that fires indoors breed diseaseso Of every
sort, ard except in houses built By En-
glish or American residents there is
hardly a stove, CRATE or fireplace to be
found In all Chile. The enormously
thick walls retain no end of dampness,
the foors-laid fiat upon the ground
without cellars beneath-are cold and
clammy as to~mbstones, and as every
casa is built around a central patio into
which all the rooms open, there are sell
dom communicating doors between the
various apartments; SO that, whatever
the weather, one must step out into the
uncovered court yard to GO from parlor
to dining-room, bedroom or kitchen,
Although the prevailing diseases are
pneumonia, throat and lung troubles,
and the mortality from these causes j:
frightfuI during wet seasons, nothing
can convince a Chilean that artificial heal
will not absolutely poison the atmosphere,
When he visits the home Of a foreigner
and finds the rooms comfortably warn
and dry, he invariably grunbles, and re.
quests that the door be left open, SO tina
he may not suffocate, but spreads hi
hands and coat.tails before the cheerful
blaze as if he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Il looks odd, at a party, to see ladie
Id bare arms, with blue noses and chat
tering teeth, wrapped in shawls and fur.
lined cIoaks, erowding around a char
coal brazier, which emits Just enough
heat To make one more sensible Of tht
deadly chills that come gaIloping III
ones spinal, and odder still to see then
at table, still wrapped in cloaks am
shaWls, the aching feet Of each CUES
thrust into a foot-warmer, though sur
rounded By every luxury Except fire
that wealth can buy. These loot
warmers are unique institutions, and a
!, ornamental as indispensable. They ar
! regular pockets, each just large enough
to slip d pair Of feet into, and are mad
of fur or flannel, lined with llama wool
They are often richly embroidered, ana
are Of home manufacture, OF made b,
the nuns aud orphans in the asyl1nns
who are all experts in needleWork. AM
y L HQUuESb III a41 Ab 5CCH1S Y SSO ECt1uAShASA
and ladies perambulating the plazas 4
midwinter-the former with mufiers
overcoats and fur caps; the latter bare
: headed, with no other wrap than a sllkel
!; shawl. The manta is universally Worl
! in church by all classes Of Chilean wo
] men, but for riding, shopping and th
8 promenade all but the ulsr~a-fashlonabi
still 90 about with heads uncovered.
3 Santiago is especially blessed wit
paseos, OF public walks. Besides the ii
. comparable Alameda the central piaz
i with its e~nvironing arcades and portales
! and beautiful Santa Lueia, there is th
j Taiamar lying along the banks of th
! Mapoche, which used to be the faVorit
resort before the Alameda was con
] pleted.
Though many cities have extensiy
: and beautiful botanical aud z5ologica
! gardens, there are few which can shoi
+ ANYTHING ike this Of Santiago-and
! doubt ii its equal, IN area and the valu
! md variety 81 its buildings, can be foun
anywhere Id the world. It contains ne
only a vast botonical garden. laid out .
i grand scale, with little lakes crosse
BY rustic bridges, q wilderness Of bio
s9lning plants, vines and shrubs, towel
ing oaks and pines, statuary, shade
noozs, weII-keps walks and plenty
: rustic benches, ana the greenest {
2 sWad without 4 single placard $50 II
I auently met with at home1 saying ssKee
] off the grass. 2 and Id an extensIs