The Press., 1892-04-07
Number 1.

Number l.
 We are built of adobe (fanciful nomen clature for mud). We are one story il height, out of respect to the earthquakes
 We are artistically whitewashed, and, il short. we present the appearance of hay ing been constructed when the world wa. young and the dew of youth was upon hel brow; but wes are exteriorly as good as our neighbors, and interiorly far better and we are located in fla la Areuida Cen tral, one of the best streets in the city These old Spanish towns are all built in the same way, and I doubt not Mir. R. whose father is rich enough to send his children to- Paris, also occupies mud house.
 Can you believe that in climate where everything grows spontaneously; there is not tree, shrub or flower to be seen within the city limits except in the parks !
 Is it not monstrous! Row after row, street after street of one-story mud houses right out on the street. Oh, for the taste ful villas and green lawns of America ]! The better classes of houses are built around three sides of a square courtyard in the center, the fourth side being en- closed by the windowless wall of your neighbours house. There you can have shrubs, japonieas, all the year around, rare roses, flowers of all descriptions, and as much floral beauty as you desire, but all jealously shut up from the eye of the Back of the house you have your back yard for chickens, washing, etc. The hall and parlor open on the street, the other rooms on the court, so they are pleasant, sunny and home like. In truth we have the pleasantest home I've been into in the place. All the wealthy people.are out on their 'hacien- das," or coffee plantations, in the coun- try, where they spend from three to four months each year.
 We have the merriest, brightest, smart est little Costa Rican domestic, who does all the work, except cooking and ironing, and considers herself well-paid with the munificent sum of three dollars in gold a 
 It is impossible to set as good & table as in the states, there is so little variety, and everything is so high except bananas, oranges, pineapples, and "friioles," a kind of black bean, which forms the sta. pie article of diet among the natives. There is no poverty or destitution here. Their wants are so simple.
 All the country people own their little 'arms, and the necessities of life to them 'educe themselves in number to a sufff- 'iency Of "frijoles," little house with earth floor, assilk mantle, costing fifteen dollars, for each woman and female child, Panama hat, at twenty-five dollars, for zach man (eomes high, but it lasts life 'ime), sewing machine, and frequently , piano.
 All the common people are the color of Indians. They go bare-footed, the wo- nen bare-headed, and even the high class ,f Costa Ricense ladies wear hats only on sunday, though the little girls are chat ed" all the time. The ladies never go n the streets without their "pannels," a nagnificently embroidered China silk repe shawl, in all colors, which costs rom fifty to one hundred and fifty dol ars, and they even wear them to market. n lieu of hats, they carry elegant Parisian and wear the hair, which is gen. aally curly and abundant, in a blaid town their back. It is not until they are luite mature ,matrons that they 'sle coif er." The rest of the costume is entirely American or Parisian. The gentlemen lress precisely as they do in the states. Until the arrival of the Americans, with n the last few years, hats were never vorn, and the priests fought their intro uction with might and main, inveighing Utterly against the shamelessness of com ng to mass with uncovered forehead. When they attend church they are ex- ected to put their shawls over their fore eads. t..-t
 cannot judge much of the Spanish la ies, the wealthy people being so general 7 out of town, and have met none of he higher class women except 8 few who ave married Americans and adopted the he customs of their husbands nation. The dry goods stores are as fine as torres of New York, and the newer busi- ess blocks are two stories in height, with ome pretense to architectural adorn- lent, so the main streets present better ppearance. The cathedral, girls col 1 sge, museum, barracks, bishops palace, nd the house of parliament, are really ne buildings. An excellent military and plays daily in the lovely Central lark. The city is we'll lighted by elec- ricity, and some of the principal thor ughfares are watered daily.
 l have fine teacher, who was educated New York. She speaks English per sctly, and I am making rapid strides an talk quite a good deal.
 We have charming society here, all the ,ading American. German and English aving called on us. As soon as we | cached the port telegrams of congratula- ion began to pour in, and on our arrival |
 company escorted us to the 'sGrand Ho- | el," where they entertained, us for three 'eeks, until the arrival of our goods, at a ally expense of ten dollars.
 Yours, O. This certifies that I have used Dr. | 'ull's Cough Syrup and found it to be hat it is represented. I can safely say nat it has helped my cough (which 1 l light say was chronicl and II chaerfully