Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-09

and social entertainment made welcome the
visitors from afar, and the time passed
merrily and rapidly away. Old Mr. Lasso,
Massachusetts, Yankee who had lived
here nearly forty years, was, naturally,
very interesting companion.
In 1855, then a young man. he accompa-
MED Mr.. w. V. Wells, the author on his
notable trip from Tegucigalpa eastward to
blanche as guide, interpreter and artist,
very finely illustrating the valuable volume
published by Mr.. Wells as a result Of the
journey. On the Fourth Of July the Ameri-
can consul. Mr.. j. j. Peterson, an excellent
officer, gave an interesting reception and
ball at his residence, and 1t was surprising
to note how very numerous "Old Glory
was throughout the city and at the consuls
that patriotic day! Excellent music, beauti-
ful ladies and companionable gentlemen
made for all Of us a most enjoyable night,
nor must we forget a variety of punch
bowls, &c, &C., of divers nationalities but
all speaking-or singing-one universally
understood and frolicsome language!
Mr.. Louis Bier of New Orleans. one Of the
brightest young men permanently located
here. has married the lovely young niece
of Cabinet Minister Planos-who is now
reported to be on his way to Washington
to settle the Amapala incident-and is most
happily situated
Honduras is the paradise for Americans.
In no other country have / found them so
anectionately welcome so carefully pro-
tected in their rights, so advanced in bust
ness. aided in failure or patiently tolerated
when unworthy. Any sensible American of
fair ability good habits and little capital
visiting that country can accomplish more
In less time, 1 believe, than in any other
place upon the globe. 1t is land to be
pre-empted by such men now, for a general
rich development under the progressive
president, Vasquez, is impending, and GER
tain to furnish ample results in the early
future. 1t is country surprisingly rich
In gold and silver, In excellent cattle, rub
Der, and the rarest woods of commerce;
wealthy beyond description agriculturally:
coffee and the best of bananas and tropical
fruits in unlimited quantity may be cheap
~ raised and exported from the north
coast-in short, cit has variety of climate
adapted to every caprice and a temperature
suitable for the cultivation Of the products
or every zone. 1t has the greatest
diversity OF surface and of elevation. fertile
valleys and higher plains and mountains
terraced to their SUBMITS collectively af-
fording every possible variety of climate
soil and production. These are conditions
large poulation and point unerringly to the
development here Of a rich and powerful
state"
He Only Stole Four Millions.
Several things are requisite-frst and in
Observation-Disclosures government. The prob
lem of Central American prosperity is only
to be solved by official honesty, SO sayagely
maintained and enforced that violations OF
II VIII be as unpopular sas dangerous A
character
by so bold and brilliant a man as Gen.
Vasquez will forever establish haIcyon DAYS
for any land so fortunately ruled.
AS an illustration of the indifference hired
or long existing familiarity, a strange con-
versation l had with a little coterie of prom
inent merchants and citizens is suggestive.
never mind the country-it wasn't Hon.
duras-they were lamenting the good old
Gays or a former president now living
luxuriousiy abroad. with many a fervent
wish Tor his return and their renewal. They
recalled eioquently his arrival from q for
elgn land to assume control of the state
his progress to the capital one glorious
triumphal ovation, his utterances and proc
iainauons almost pathetic in their benef-
cent aspirations; one of them so piercingly
narrowing as to induce well-known gen
eral TO dismount in the plaza of a distant
city ana declare with hot and passionate
heart, Thank God! We have at last an
honest president! Here l stole this horse
ana now. inspired by his burning decree /
yleid MIN up agafni Henceforth and for
ever the watch cries are honesty or death
NOW happened to know something of this
president who protested so much and thun-
oered SO loudly in the index, and so /
asked II they would really make him pres
ident again If they could? To their eager
animation that, undoubtedly, they would,
put the question: How much did he
steal? Six milllons?" mo" they answered
only four!' The very suburbs Of profanity
woula nave TO be invaded to properly char
wished TO be guilty of. Here was a coun-
try with an empty treasury, unable to paw
lts ordinary domestic expenses or fnanci ,lly
preserve itself from any swashbuckler who
chose to amuse himself with its tran1uiIitv
and yet a tacit desire existed in Influential
minds Tor the four-million-dollar robber to
return and steal all he omitted before, in
Guiding climate and scenery!
The second requisite is peace with mona
to modest or make afraid. And it will fol-
low honest government as 1.-The night the
day.. And In fact in all the internal dis
sensions the foreigner is never molested
other than by the attendant commercial de-
preston. Desirable immigration and PASS
able roads are vital necessities and either
one o., VIII pring the other, both running hand
IN hand with peace and good government
Some OF the colonization attempted in Hon
dHras, as elsewhere, has been criminally
ABSURD no sagacious element Of fitness
pelng considered or included. Stupiditv
poverty and drunkenness are Of as littis
avail there as here at home. But let any
man or set OF men go there with fairly
mixed proportions of character. brains
energy and money. and the important con-
cessions to be had instantly, with every
favorable condition. are beyond computa
ton as to value
Ready to Move On.
We have discharged our mule train for
It's return to Amapala, and are organizing
aholher Ior the journey west to Comaya-
qua to visit President Leiva Can't. La
and 1 am extremely fortunate in the gen.
erous offer of Mr.. Manuel E. Vasuuez.
nephew of the general, to accompany US,
He is a brilliant young man OF some twen-
ty-seven years of age, educated in Columbia
College, New York, speaking better English
than do, and thoroughly yersed in ali the
history, legends and traditions OF his ro-
mantle country, an all-round glorious com
PADRE whose delightful fellowship made
the remainder or my stay in the Land of
Depths" one vast, substantial smilev'
And how we went to Comayagua and
stayed there several weeks, how 1t was in
sisted from first to last, in spite of We
hement protestations and bashful disclaim-
ers. that l was a secretly accredited mes
senger Gel Ministro'D from the United
States, and how party of us finally escaped
through the smugglers' mountain passes
into San Salvador, are all matters of future
relation to those who care to read IAN
other story" as kiplng would say.
DANIEL MACAULEY.