Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-11

However accustomed the Gillian is to
these tremors of the earth, they never
lose their terrors. Day and night in
Chill, whatever the weather, the inside
doors opening into the courtyard are al
ways open; every house has its haven OF
refuge in large open space between
the buildings which inclose it, and to
this courtyard, on the slightest symptom
of danger, every inhabitant runs.
The condition OF most of the popula-
ton of Chilli is far from fortunate, The
greater part of the land is owned by
large holders, who live in Santiago or
Valparaiso, and there spend the money
received from their farms, which are
managed by overseers. The mass of
the people may be divided into tenant
farmers and laborers, the former having
small holdings, for which they render
personal service in payment, while the
latter, as a rule. have no home, and
travel from place to place in search of
work. But they do not wander on foot,
for in Chilli everybody rides. The poor
est farmer has his horse, and the tradl-
tional beggar on horseback would be no
novelty in Chilli, for more than one trav-
eler has noted the curious spectacle of
being pursued by two or three mounted
beggars, who were earnest in their sup
plications for charity, for the love of
God" In Chilli however, nobody starves,
20 matter how poor. Nature Is too boun-
tiful and the people are too hospitable.
In this highly favored country hospital
ity is the most sacred of virtues. In
travelling to and fro no inns are to be
found; the traveller on reaching village
or country town presents himself at the
house OF the Governor. or, II the latter
be absent, at the best house in the viii
lage, walks in, as matter of course,
and equally OF course is at once made
welcome; wine is set before him, and
while dinner is prepared he Is ques-
| toned as to the news.
Among the better classes in city and
country, after rising and imbibing the
mornings coffee, men and women separ-
ate, the latter to go to mass, the former to
their clubs or business, and meet again
at breakfast, which begins at noon and
| lasts from one to three hours. In the
afternoon, rest, the inevitable siesta or
drive, passes away the time; in tho
! evening the opera, social visiting and
dancing bring the gentlemen and ladies
] together again, until past midnight.
| Gillian women, however, are not intel
lectual. While very pretty, their beauty
being Of the dark Spanish type, their
| talk does not rise above the common
place. Until recently they were kept in
as close retirement as their sisters of
Spain, and only lately, when with for
eigners came in foreign customs, were
they allowed any considerable degree of
freedom. Fifteen years ago such a
thing as young girls appearing on the
street was out of the question:; now two
or three girls may escort each other
though even at present the older Chill
ians look on this with some degree OF
reprobation. But there are better days
ahead; women, both young and old, are
now employed in the telegraph Offices
in the stores as clerks, and for a novel.
| ty, as conductors on the street cars. TC
the foreigner it is a strange sight to see
| young women on tho rear platform OF
the street car, taking fares and attend.
ing to the multifarious duties of con.
ductor, but the women do It well, anC
any rudeness to them Is at once resented
by the more gallant OF their passen
gers.
The lower classes Of the population
are almost entirely Indian, or the inn
mediate descendants OF Indians, having
all the traits which characterize the
aborigines of America. A copper skin
small, bright eyes, high cheek bones
and, above all, reckless disregard o
life, a hatred of work and a love O
strong drink, are their most marked pc
culiarities. Not few Of them are de
scendants Of the most remarkable rae,