The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-10
LIFE IN GUATEMALA.
Interesting Letter From a
Travelling Seattleite.
. LAND or MANY HOLIDAYS.
.x.usffs1i Site Where New City Has
Grown Up Among the hnins OK
Old one-Hinis TO Exporters.


So. nraasicts - this section. and has
g. an interesting letter under date
A,ru y % Mrs. Griffith telling about
ra,,nsry and its people. Mrs Griffith
si0AIv allowed the PoSt-IBs eliigenesr
= nr,bllsh the principal part o. the let
a. which - a. follows.
=. eity % s0go people different in eV-
- wsy from anything American Is this
r. Are DEPARTMENT and Insurance. At one
80 81 per cent Situated on nearly
90 rdateau and SURROUNDED b. noun
..,ns volcanoes and historical interest.
-.-b.ps r,orgIa;ed BY the Phenicians be-
- S.trixt. the cathedralE IN mis- name,
- ,.onurgents. magnificent ia architec-
.f-~ and elegance. standing above the
a.rrasndlnR one-story 'dobies Ike great
.s..snsls Of creation. To a visitor from
wsshinrton. scnooled IN the exfrava-
u.nes Of American ways and modern civ
sglv.slon. II presents study " unduiated
Interest
zine streets are regularly laid out,
.t.,,. forty feet In width. surrounding
snasra1s OF about an acre. flagstone walk
- four feet width on either side. Wsii
,.ia In cement and worn 10 a smooth sur
gaes. the road or mule way paved with
esbbIe. In some parts marked In artistic
kn@e BY selection In sizes.
THE buildings with few exceptions are
.na-sforv built Of mud brick baked in
r. sun. In size i0xi2x3 inches la thick
ness In consequence the walls are from
two 10 three feet in thickness finished on
ne outside and inside with an adaman-
tine plaster or cement to a smooth ana
wsI-moulded surface, with projecting
base, cornice and artlstically carved fire.
sail Large windows with projecting
ssis OF a foot or more, protected from
the street by iron bars or gratiuss much
after our prison fashion. Ia form the
houses are built around open court or
garden, about fifty feet square. the en-
trance way at the center OF one side,
narhaps twelve fees In width, the court
surrounded by a brick walk ten feet
widc which Is sheltered by projection OF
shs roof The court in many cases is
filed with the most beautiful OF flowers,
vines and palm or tropical trees. giving
10 the surrounding rooms perfect per-
fnme ana neaTness TO nature that Is re-
freshing.
THE atmosphere is purity Itself Smoke
IS never seen and chimneys. except In
few cases, do not exist. The ventilation
Is made scientific by the experience OF
Centuries the open court forming a draft
as Of a chimney. bat 80 mild that through
an open window n pun OF smoke hoats
Iazly but surely To the sky above The
cooking places are of stone or concrete,
about Ski feet IN the top Of which are
bottom or which an air draft runs 10 the
front or a chimney 20 the bottom OF the
stove. Charcoal IL used almost cNclu-
slveiy. The stove. as we viii call II, -
81 many ways convenient The mont -
never hot I'm fact. IL has a cold feeling
Al dinner time. Their washing sinks are
large built or concrete, with several ba-
sins. a stream OF water running 10 the
center one 4 wazhbaard Is made from
piece on granite of proper size. with
shallow dip at the bottom for holding
suds The durability Of all appliances IL
such that great economy rs had In their
ware \ quantity of fuel that vii heat
an American cook stove hot will cook
dinner for twenty persons here.
Marketing. too. Is here made very sim
pie The hOusekeeper takes her basket
on her head and goes 70 the market place
and selects from many vendors what she
desires IN us freshest state. All waste
Of paper bags. twine and delivery Is
avoided aud the saving allowed 10 the
consumer Rent in the market place Is
cheap, In many cases the stock In trade
Is carried on tho head II would do
Seattle buffers heart good TO see the peas,
beans turnips, potatoes and a hundred
other vegetables in she morning fresh
ness as well as many native fruits. pine
apples. cocoanuts. alegatcs. pears, man
darins melons etc. al very reasonable
~
The packing case. woven ne;. when
empty Is reniled perhaps thousand
times. Lot any American think Of the
waste Of h1rrcts. boxes, nails. paper etc,
and ne viii not long wonder why living
Is expensive.
The ciimate here IS most like Southern
California. clear skies and light. fresh
air quite cool IN the morning and even
ing bur hot az MONDAY | wearmy north
ern clothing with comfort, The Wet and
dry seasons divide the year. April is the
harvest time. while mauy crops grow all
the year round
This is nor a good country for labor
t1g man. The native 'Motho as nc is
Failed. Is a good worker. and can work
and thrive on "A cents per day. silver.
They are ahie - pack an upright piano
o. their hacks. and will carry trunk
Se'ghing Sa pounds ana a grip Ia each
hand ton blocks without a stop or rest.
Wide hand after. thr fashion Of
breast collar. passes over he brow and
supports the load upon the rump. To one
unacrus fomei 20 see them larry loads Il
= 'raly astonishing. THE entire freight
81 some cities IS carried IN fh.s way.
They serm % Pee faithful iu tbeir work
snd make ftir mechanics I'm an trades
There rs plenty % time here and an
average 81 seven holidays iu q month.
Tais tine IS ali holiday church festivals.
pa'ades "'c on enc plaza today in
spieo'iil arrtv probably lo.0o people were
kathfre AN The colors of the rainbow.
.f3Ett' hl1es. greens. orange. res. yellow.
'h3'go blue purple and AN the shades ARE
NeFn MOSTLY iu large silk sh8Wls jew
t5F rs cr34uou and much ~ 90 yellow
Sol Diamonds are worn hy many
s.aHeS a-' fra1u.utIy seen ln tne finest
= Hink sHA Settings with Nsrefoot nurses
~>h.rs rHo gentlemen are Well