The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-14

Of disturbance and revolution in Vene-
zuela. The writer is a nephew of the
Hon. A. w. Campbell, Of this city, and
what he says of the country where ho
is sojourning will be read with interest.
The following is quoted from his letter;
UNITED STATES STEAMER CHICAGO,
La GUAYRA, VENEZUELA,
Sept 2S, 1892. }
> . . "since my last 1 have
been TO Caracas, the capital OF this
south American state, and possibly
some account Of our trip and the charac-
ter OF the country witnessed Ell route
nav interest you. Tho ride over the
mountains on the railroad was without
exception the most captivating l ever
enjoyed. The scenery is simply colossal
and grand beyond my powers OF de-
pcription. There is nothing like 1t in
the United States east OF the Rocky
mountains. The road winds up and in
and out and around until you almost
become dizzy from turning so many
curves. II carries you around the e&-
IRENE edges Of the mountains, except
where it passes through tunnels, which
are all very short, and the grade is oil
course very steep, and consequently you
make very poor time, SO poor, in iact,
mat we were two hours and q quarter
going twenty.three or four miles. Dur
ing the first part OF the trip La Guayra
and the sea we're spread out before M
beneath usi and all this portion OF the
coast could be taken in at a glance.
The sight. was indeed most beautiful
and inspiring. La Guayra stretches
along the foot OF an immense gorge or
chasm in the great range which seems
TO tumble abruptly into the sea and is
lanked on each side by smooth
grassy plains, through one OF which
the road passes just before beginning
TIM ascent. This n is ~sinGu!arly
beautiful, especially when viewed from
the heights above. Part Of it is taken
up by thick groves OF cocoa palms,
waving their tufts OF leaves and fruit in
apparent enjoyment OF the tropical
beauty and splendor of the scene. In
terspersed with the palms are number
less banana and plantain trees, or
plants, more properly speaking: One
side OF this plain is bounded by the
foot or the mountain range, the other
by the coast, against which the sea was
rolling in a series OF gentle, but ioam-
ing lines OF surf. The inland side is
lined for some distance by the houses
OF a Spanish settlement, most OF which
were surmounted by the red-yellow-
and-red flag OF Spain.
Farther on up the first slope we
passed through the town OF M%aiquetia,
a comparatively clean and weil-ordered
little place-something n rarely Q g
in this country.
Through the middle Of the town the
inevitable stream OF water rushed down
from the mountains; and all along one
could see the women standing in the
water or on the rocks, washing clothes
or II blush to write it, their scandalous-
" nude and unabashed children OF all
conditions Of age, color, sex, and pre-
vious condition OF dirt. This vas no
novelty, however, as / had seen the
same thing in La Guayra a number Of
times. 1t is the universal custom OF
the country among the lower classes.
Well, we finally lost sight OF the sea,
and the rest Of the journey was made
amidst superb mountain scenery. We
seemed to stick to the sides OF preci.
pices as flies to a wall. l stood on the.
platform Of a car all the way, and doz.
ems Of times | could have jumped Oft
into space without any effort. and
fallen straight down for a sheer half
mile. 1t was literally a journey through
the clouds.
Everynow and then We passed adrove
of "burros"-something like broncos-
laden with farm produce of some kind,
two or three men riding behind and
guiding them.
AS for goats, the track seemed lined
with them. They chung to the verges
OF precipices a thousand feet deep as
unconcernedly as though they had
been browsing on a prairie. They were
generally belled, and belonged to the
poor farmers on the mountain.slope,
who depend upon goats milk for a good
part OF their daily fare. In TACT, goats
milk Is a commodity OF general use here,
there being few cows in this part Of the
country. "Leche do burra," OF dom
keys milk, Is also extensively used.
Indeed, / haven't any idea what the ice
cream we eat on shore is made Of; 1t
certainly isn't OF the first quality, al
though il is better than most other
things they have here.
Well, to resume. We finally got into
Caracas, and went straight to "El Gran
Hotel" which is about the best house
in the city. We got very pleasant
rooms and soon had aomo lunch, as we
got in Just a little before noon.
After lunch VIC went out for g tour OF
the city. After walking around the
streets, looking at some OF the churches,
government buildings, statues, etc, we
found our way to the public gardens,
situated in the highest part OF the city,
and reached by a great number OF stone
steps. The view from here was mag
nifcent, comprehending the entire city
and all the plateau upon which it is
built.
We got back to the hotel, alto dinner,
and then did nothing for the rest Of the
evening, as there was nothing else to do.
Caracas is, l suppose, like all Span
ish-American cities OF the same size.
The houses are all built OF "adobe"
(sun-dried brick and are more o: less
'shabby-looking, even the best Of them.
They are painted blue, green, pink, yell
low, brown, or not at all, according to
the taste OF the owner; and no two con-
secutive house holders seem TO have the
same taste in the matter OF color, the
grand effect is somewhat inharmonious,
OF course.
The houses are all, with scarcely an
exception, rooted withtheir semicylind-
rical clay tiles, which seem to be very
good for the purpose. The most pleas
ant feature Of the whole country in my
opinion as regards their houses is the