Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-28
A COLLECTION OF RELICS.

There is another life-sized statue Of tn,
hberator in one Of the courts Of the famou
university OF Caracas; and in the museum O.
the university. in an inner room kept sacred al
the holy OF holies Is collection Of relics of tn.
once despised patriot, which have become al
precious to his countrymen as fragments Of the
true cross. There are two or three suits OF
\ old clothes his cloak. his boots. his spurs hi,
saddle his maps and books and camp chest and
| sword, in short every little memento of him
that could be found. including even the coffin
/ in which he Was originally buried. AMONG
numerous paintings representing his past
I achievements on earth and his supposed present
state IN heaven-some of them decidedly funny,
portraying the grim old hero as sur
| rounded by female angels who are present
| ing him with bouquets and Growing
him with wreaths of laurel-is q dingv
portrait OF our George Washington, when
| George Washington Parke Gusts sent to Boz
livis in 1923. inscribed: This picture os the
iberator of North America is sent BY his
adopted son to him who acquired equal glory in
South America" There is a statue of Wash
ington in Caracas. erected to celebrate the CEN
tenary OF Bolivar's birth, and all over the re-
publis there are streets, shops. hotels and
drinking places named Washington" rs COM
monty as al home.
rHE UNIVERSITY AND GROUNDS.
The university occupies q whole square and
and statuary. Its facade is of the Gothic order.
with stained glass windows The remodeled
building was once the largest Carmelte con-
vent in all South America, and when the nuns
and monks we're driven out it was confiscated
together with the extensive coffee plantation
that belonged to the monks whose revenues
still support the university, as they used to the
convent All the ologies are taught here. be-
sides science, law and medicine, and its library
TO which the public have free access contains
upward of 10000 volumes. There is n beauti-
fully frescoed room. with high-bscked chairs
ranged around an enormous oval table OF in
laid woods, where the academy meetings are
held.
Two or three squares away from the Plaza
Bolivar is the opera house. or the "Teatro Guz-
man Bianco, as il Is called. Like the federal
palace. 1t is elliptical in shape. with n porto
and stained glass windows. 1t has three gal
leries. rarqUette. box for the president in
the center OF the dress circle, and a seating
capacity Of about 5000. The house is lighted
by electricity. and handsome crystal chande-
lier depends from the middle of the roof The
galleries are adorned with portraits of famous
poets and composers and the foyer-which ia a
very large room at the top of the house-hRs
many fine engravings and a large medallion Of
Guzman Blanco. There is a smaller ,heater,
the ''Geatro Caracas. ," which is always occupied
by opera bouffe.
RECEPTIONS AND BREAKFASTS.
In this gay capital it is customary for all the
first families" to have nights set apar. for the
reception of their friends generally. discard
ing the necessity OF special invitations. These
at homes are very attractive. the absence of
strict formality adding TO she enjoyment.
While the padres de famiias indulge in guinea
poin: whist and bacarlt In a room apart. the
Young folk in sala and porto derive less costly
amusement from music. dancing and firtatio on.
4 Lo~plalte oak ,lplP tad nd
each friend of the family Is Mt liberty to bring
any chance guest or acquaintance. As a rule.
the upper Classes of Snanish Americans
are much better educated than the aver
age northerners, being especially well up
In music and the Languages. Foreigners
are often astonished at one of these recep-
tons in an adobe casa in far-off Venezuela
to be generally addressed in their own language
whether English French German or Italian,
and to hear selections from the best operas
rendered in the fauitless style of professionals.
The youthful aristocracv of Caracas have a
club called FL Circulo de Amigos, 1.-THE circle of
friends, which gives excellent dances at in
tervsls, to which all the beauty. wealth and
fashion OF the v:cinage are hidden; and it is
easy for n foreigner 10 get an invitation to one
Of these charming entertainments through the
consul from his country.
Caracas Is emineutlv the place for breakfast
giving. As a rule, dinner invitations are sent
out 10 those people who must be asked. but to
the less formal breakfast party only those con-
genial spirits whose company is desired. In
this country almuerZos (breasfa- as well as
dinners. are generally accompanied by speeches
and improyised poetry. The host Is pretty GER
tain to be a bon vivsnt, the hostess 10th gra-
clOus and witty and every arrangement perfect
IL elegance and local good FORM" while ora
tory, song, music and sentiment. expressed in
half n dozen languages. add intellectual grace
TO the material pleasures of the table.
FLOWERS AND FUNERALS.
Among various Venezuelan customs which
strike the stranger as peculiar is that of pre-
seuting "mariqui:as'' at the baptism Of chill
dren- The godparents of she toddIers who are
about 10 be received into the Christian church
present each CUES; with a small coin of gold or
silver. with hole tn-e1 ~ l.. through which is
passed q mario a of silken cord.