The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-03-03
the Plaza Independence, which is hardly

Jne IlaZa lnuepenQencla, winch is hardly
second in interest to that of de la Consti-
tucion 1t is an imposing parallelogram
221 metres long by 232 wide, crossed by a
broad paved path, lined with benches
1t is being surrounded by lofty colonnades
in the Dorie style-such as we have seen
in Lima, Arequipa, Santiago and the City
completed. On one side of the plaza is
the Government building-in local par
lance called a 'Palacio,' though it bears
no sort of resemblance to palace, being
an exceedingly plain affair. In it are the
offices of the various Cabinet Ministers,
and in front stands queer little sentry
box, (Which we at first mistook for a bar
ber's sign,) painted in blue and white
stripes, with simulated curtains tied back
with golden cords-done in red and yell
low paint. The barracks are fronted by
one of the newly completed arcades, I'M
under which the Corpse de gorde, (mostly
negroes,) loll all day on long bench,
smoking cigarettes and exchanging com
ments upon passing ladies.
BY the way, Uruguay's standing army
does not exceed five thousand men. and
they are mostly concentrated at the capt
tai. The President body guard, a batal-
lion four hundred strong, sport pictures
que toggely Of leopard skin, topped by a
scarlet fez, each fez with a black tassel
bobbing over the wearers ebony nose.
The common soldiers wear baggy red
trousers fastened around the ANKLE
sort of elongated zouave costume. The
policemen of Montevideo. as in other
Spanish American cities, are detailed
cruited from the prisons. Thus it often
happens that your nightly safety depends
upon an eX-criminal stationed outside the
window The police are armed with
sabres instead of clubs, and they know
how to use them upon offenders who re-
sist arrest. A few years ago murders and
highway robbery were of daily and nightly
occurrence, in city and country; till Presi-
dent Santos came to the fore and made an
agreeable change by hanging every muir
derer and highwayman. And it is but
fair to add that now there is no safer city
anywhere than Montevideo.
Then there is the plaza la Cargancha
another favorite promenade of the people,
particularly for portly matrons and sober
old-folks, who find themselves more at
ease there than in the crowded plaza de
la Constitution OF the narrow side walks
OF the Gale Sarandi, and Eighteen de
Julio, and that equally splendid boule-
ward known as-''Calle Vicente Cinco
de Mayo'-the 18th of May street, a
name sanctified in the minds of the peo-
pie by deeds of valor performed during
the long struggle for independence The
most noticeable object in the Cargancha
is Its lofty marble column and pedestal.
surmounted by bronze statue of Liberty
holding flag. This alleged work of art
cost great deal of money, and is the
pride of the Montevideoan heart. who
is nothing if not patriotic: but Mr..
Theodore Child describes it perfectly by
the irrcverent remark-''Ihe pose of the
figure is 50 unfortunate that it suggests a
lady i'll distress, making signs with her
umbrella to stop the tram-cars.''
There are other boulcvards and parks
without number which we have not time
to visit today. There are three theatres
and splendid Italian opera house, l.ospi-
tails, asylums, and other benevolent insti-
buttons, supported by public and private
charity: museum, a public library, and
a racecourse that is more freuuented than
either; university, two Protestant
churches, several Protestant schools, and
no end OF Summaries Spanish, French.
and English male and female. for edu-
eating the rising generation.
FANNIE b. WARD.