The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-12
OLD CHURCH AND Cross.

though they kept up something OF O show OF
indnstriHl interests now and then, and the
fearlessnpss Of homely innocence was excmpli-
fed iD them nightly by their sleep upon tho
unblankcted floor OF tho rear veranda.
80 the affairs Of our unique pOssda, as they
call hotel there, went on smoothly of their
own sweet accord, apparently, an The time Of
our Etay-loHr or Eve tropical days and nights,
each u hours In length brevity, a. the case
might be. Only one thing In the house seemed
70 have normal vigor and that was an Indian
boy, Tomaso who might be anywhere from 10
10 15 years on earth; aud more prompt and
cheerful boy, Indian on white, probably never
faced his destiny.
Tomaso was short and thicl.ly built and bic
hair was 81 shOrtness not often seen IN South
America. its breyity and thickness gave him
d bnIAHg appearance, while the prominence
Of bis makeup below the chest, added to the
immsdiateness OF bis personal response when
called, made IN seem gs though he arrived
always little beforehand lie had been pur-
chased from his aiiectionate parents against
the law but according 10 custom, few years
before for probably "maraC0ta" q 20-dolAF
gold piece OF the United States and would
remain the unpaid servant OF his mistress until
in some accidental way he might learn that
thcre WIS no legal claim upon him, or until
The Government should pick him ont for the
army The same afiecti0nate parents had prob
ably sold some Of his sisters, IL he had any, for
Ht least six golden eagles, but not until they
were "a years old, or more. Some Indians
have
HIGH SENSE oF HUMOR.
Tomaso kept our ROOM with its two cool
cots, aud brought 70 as each morning huge
wooden trough and filed il with water for a
bath for each. At night or when be had
nothing else o. do, be sat outside our door. or
Jay There on guard or IN waiting. lIo knew
we were OF the United States, and 10 con nee
inf r. rrrff1 Raj u
occasionally repeated 10 US with n cheerful
smile The only word Of our beautiful language
be bad learned. Not every stav-at-hom can
appreciate how il touched the finer feelings Of
our hearts strangers as Wo were iH strange
land to hear that rude and untutOred Ind ian
boy softly murmuF as be looked kindly la our
eyes she familiar Damut" Yet some ppopIe
argue tIat tIC red man Is incapable OF a nigh
degree 81 civilization with even stronger
hcrptnral evidence than the foregoing easily
proCu ablo.
This imperfect description Of our situation
On L0f0 Nsh give some idea Of what one may
expect DOB many inland cities 81 South America
al slz q eight Thousand people. For the rest.
NC lived comfortably, bad fair meals. furnish.
)ug our own claret and buying superior cigars
81 an Indian maker 90 q wholesale cost oil 80
cents ioT 600 all bat Two Of which smoked
Well.
As my visit was for the purpose OF seeing
vi" tAaAlAr aiu tsIltAldtlN JUS Ola cross aud
church, a few hours Wero spent each dav before
tIe suu got TOO high auG after ID had bcpuu 10
decline. lu carrying out my kindred objects.
1ly iucnl pursued his more TemuHer..tiye
business The LarmcitC church aud the mon
aalcry which joins IL bave hoen unused ior
many yoais. and both are considerably In ruin.
especially tile latter
After much search procured a door Dboto.
graph probably the only one in the CITY. Of
lheac interesting relies OF the tunes OF the con.
Gul9lauores ~ tic eastern coast. The photo
graph war iadedi aud uD better could be had.
hui from ID, with thc aid o, q glass. have made
The lHuaiEtlon Of the church, aud also al Tic
more ancient cross, which charactor.z1 these
articles
Coro b. a city Of rural quietude IN spite Of
being lhr Capital u q State. and isolated from
the sen, W4.n not pgpHlUus country about ii.
lt must even 10 lie lyoiiest times, have nj v.ayE
been much as il is still. ia that case d must
have aIlo been an ideal muuastic retreat ana
seat On rich aud irrigabie plain. with con-
siderable mountains bciuua H. aud with tile
tropical tEy usually serene above, from Which
during nights OF half the year the constellation
0i The southern Cross is visible, what more
could the
PInUs CARbfELITE FATuERs
haVe asked iAat the church. their order, and
iheif eHsE .bors could mol besluW
lsut Thy are gone, their habitali0ns are fall
lhE, their little church De- unused and dectyinp
which hrst heard their services in I54O And
now u alI the witnesses % tho foundation and
Ilse 81 THIS probably the FIRST city founded on