The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13

press their admlrallOn or the stare anu
its institutions. or course, as in all
such cases, the truth lies between the
two extremes.
A COURTEOUS PEOPLE.
I have only the ~friendliesu feeling for
these people. Wherever we went we
were treated with the greatest courtesy.
and on rare occasions with aguadienta,
a peculiar compound which is calcu-
lated by experts to be about twice as
quick as Jersey lightning and only
slightly inferior to sulphuric acid in Its
effect.
But to return to the city. The only
building worthy of mention, from an
artistic standpoint, Is the ola cathedral.
which is a really fine example Of Moor
ish architecture. and when seen under
h soft light of the moon becomes a
dream of beauty. Scared by revolu-
tions. scanned by earthquakes. stained
by the storms Of a century. overgrown
with grass and weeds. which have taken
root In every crevice in roof and wall,
this old structure. with its picturesque
towers and deep-toned bells. presents a
most interesting study. The mint, a
long. low building with walls so heavy
that hardly a u of the heavy
stamps Is heard outside. would not at
tract attention except for the guard
that patrols the square. From $4,000 to
P~vpVvV PtA iAAoitA ACRtCGtito I dGAkN-
ity, I'm told. There Is a beautiful little
park filled with flowers and ~shrubbery,
divided by walks laid out with geometric
precision, with "a rustic balcony half
hidden by towering vines. from which
the military band discourses music
patriotic or pathetic. rs the case nay
be. Here. too. Is found n really fine
equestrian statue of Francisco MoraZan,
the Washington OF Honduras. This is
the popular promenade, and IL you wish
to meet n friend or an enGmX all Won
have to do Is to take a seat near the
main entrance, and ten to one you'll
find you man, or woman, for that mat
ter. In less than a quarter Of an hour,
for here every n OF any consequence
will be found regularly taking their
daily constitutional. Here comes a
group of merchants walking as though
for a wager and talking like machines,
and now a stately old don. sauntering
slowly. never in a hurry, never sur
prised, but always polite, observing
every requirement OF etiquette with re-
ligious exactness: now a handsome Sc
nora of the old school. followed by a
bevy of bright-eyed senoritas, their
pretty heads filed with frivolous fan
cies absorbed from the latest French
novel. Spanish ladies are all beautiful
walkers. and as an artist l feel privi-
| legged to admire these fairy-like figures
| floating by SO airily, their delicate Shout
ders enveloped in clouds of lace that
simmer family like a wreath Of mist
in the twilight.
If any of your readers should ever
visit this city l am sure they will stop
at the Hotel Americana. not only be-
cause 1t is a pleasant place to tarry,
but because it is the only hosiery in
the city. This hotel enjoys some special
favors under government protection and
is the only public house / know of that
receives regularly a pension, if 1 may
use the term, amounting to $40 a month
by act of Congress. Here you will find
almost everything you ever heard OF
and some things beside on the bill OF
| fare. You will be sure of courteous
treatment n cheerful attendants. but
do not expect electric lights or call bells
or telephone, and do not call for a cab
or ask when the train will arrive: dc
not look for the hydrant. for all the
water is carried from the river in huge
| Jars, and you will get your share In
due time; do not wait for the whistle
at noon; do not listen for the screech
Of the locomotive or the discordant
clang of it's bell. The only sound OF
the night is the murmur of the river
as 1t frets drowsily among the piers OF
the, old bridge. Read. sleep, dream and
forget for a time all the worries and
cares and restlessness of the great
world abroad.
M. MORLAN.