Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-05-06
Hon. F. c. Partridge on Venezuela.

Hon. F. G. Partridge of Rutland. minis
ter to Venezuela under Harrison's admin
istration gave a highly interesting talk on
the South American republic in the Y. M.
G. A. rooms Monday evening. He is a
fluent and entertaining speaker, and held
the closest attention of his hearers for
nearly an hour and thirty minutes.
Mr.. Partridge said it was not his purpose
to give formal address, but make few
remarks in the nature of "reminiscences A
few of the speakers sentences are given as
illustrative Of the many good things he
said
1.-The first American soil that Columbus
saw is now comprised within the bounds of
Venezuela, and owing to its peculiarities the
Spaniards called it Little Venice, hence the
name of the country.
because of bull of the Pope dividing
the world among the nations Of the earth,
the western portion Of Brazil was settled by
Portuguese and the remainder of South
America by the Spaniards.
"VeneZuela contains the oldest settle
ment in America, one Of its cities having
been settled in 1920 by the Spaniards.
''On one occasion | knew six men to
carry by hand piano over mountain 5000
feet high.
"The people are great lovers of music,
poetry and flowers, and curiously enough
also Of bull fights.
Caracas, the capital of the country,
has an ideal climate. ! never knew the
thermometer to go above IS degrees in the
shade in summer, nor below 50 degrees il,
winter. But Is degrees in the shade means
many more in the sun, for the city is only
nine degrees from the equator. People
always walk on the shady side of the street
and take every precaution to avoid the di-
rect rays Of the sun. During the middle
of the day all business is suspended.
This is land Of perpetual summer,
and there is not building in Caracas
that contains window Blinds are used
and the lower window openings are pro-
vided with CRATES for use at night time.
The houses are built with an open court in
the centre, and the people practically live
out Of doors.
''Venezuela is the second coffee raising
country in the world, Brazil being first.
The coffee plant has to be shaded; so the
coffee plant itself, 10 or II feet in height,
grows IN forest Of trees. A drive in a
coffee plantation is a delightful pastime.
The coffee bush lives for about 40 years,
and plantation is very profitable invest
ment. The berry on the bush is the same
color as the cranberry and about the same
size. Each berry contains two kernels.
Coffee picking begins in December and
lasts into the spring
1.-The original standard borne by Pizarro
is preserved in Caracas.
The country in the vicinity OF the CAPT
tai has suffered many earthquake upheavals.
Bridges are found covering cracks 100 feet
wide and extending deep down into the
earth
1.-The Venezuelans are very social peo-
pie They delight in fattery and praise.
All letters end with .'Y ours who kisses your
feet" To be told ''you are the first piece
OF meat in the frying pan" means that you
are an honored guest.
1.-The Venezuelan boundary question is
not new one it has been agitated for
over % years. England has always been
arbitrary, while Venezuela has always
stood ready to arbitrate.
Il am believer in the Monroe doctrine
and believe that the doctrine applies to
this dispute. The ludicrous feature of the
affair is that the doctrine England now eff
fects to despise originated with England
herself.
''As Americans we should never allow
politics to enter into our foreign relations.
FOREIGN nations count too much IN div;
sion along party lines on all international
disputes. They argue that partisanship is
superior to patriotism. Lord Salisbury
would not have written the letter he did to
Secretary Olney, would never have spoken
slightingly of the Monroe doctrine, had he
supposed the American people would stand
together on this issue. As soon as it was
demonstrated that America was practically
unit for the maintenance intact of the
Monroe doctrine, England viewed the mat
ter in an entirely different light; arbitra-
ton was then quite the proper thing