The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-11-04
the San Luis in Carriage, and the San
Augustin in Heredia; besides young Ia

Augustin in Heredia; besides young la
dies seminary in San Jose, and another in
Alajuela. There is also Normal school
in the capital, School of Arts and
Trades, a conservatory of music, and sew
eral night schools. Costa Rica's educa
tional system, established and fostered by
the government, maintains free school
in every town, with the dream in view of
at least know how to read and write. At
present only about u per cent. of the in
habitants are educated to that extent; but
there is bright hope for the future, since
the 2S0 So called model schools, support
ed by the government, report an average
daily attendance of 600 pupils-to say
nothing of more than 100 private schools,
including several kindergartens conduct
ed on the German plan. The amended
constitution somewhat ambiguously says:
Elementary instruction of both sexes is
obligatory, free, and provided for by the
government Its immediate supervision
shall be for the municipality; the supreme
inspection for the executive. Every Costa
Rcan or foreigner is free to give or re-
ceive instruction in institutions which are
not maintained at public expense
Journalism, that important adjunct TO
popular education, is still attended with
difficulties in the most progressive OF
these revolutionary Republics, At pres
ent three newspapers are published in
San jose-two dailies, La Republica and
FL Concrete, and one tri-weekly, called
La Gaceta. They are all single sheets,
about Is inches by II, and sell for 10
cents each. La Gaceta is the official
journal, published at the national print
ing office, and contains the acts of Con
gress, reports of the various ministers, and
municipal announcements. The two dali
lies are made up of long winded editorials
on all manner of TOPICS ancient and mod
ern, with a modcum of Geographic news
and local gossip, commercial advertise
ments and shipping intelligence from the
ports OF Limon and Punta Arenas. Speak
ing of the joys of journalism in this part of
the world, we may refer to the fate of
Senior Don Marched, editor of Las Brujas,
the leading newspaper of San Jose during
the presidency OF Bernardo Soto. One day
Don Marched published an article which
SO offended the ruler of the so-called Re-
public that he sent for the editor to come
at once to the palace. Not daring to dis
obey, the offender fastened to the exc
cutive mansion, where he was ushered
into Soto's private apartment. AT sight
of Marched, the President leaped to his
feet in ungovernable fury, seized a loaded
pistol that happened to lie near and shot
full into the face OF the surprised and un-
armed man, missing him by the merest
chance. Naturally at this alarming june
ture Senor Marched stood not upon the
order OF going, but took to his heels
with expedition. Half an hour later,
while in his own house making hasty pre-
parations to leave the country, he was ar
rested by officers of the Government and
by the Presidents order, 100 lashes were
well laid on his bare back. As Soto was
aware, this was the worst punishment
that could possibly be devised; because,
aside from physical pain, any naughty
scion of Old CASTLE would rather die a
hundred deaths than suffer such humiia-
ton. Nor was this all.
Next morning, weak and bleeding as he
was, Marched, handcutfed like galley
slave, was marched off with several other
political offenders and few common
criminals to Punta Arenas, where he was
forced to board an outward bound steam
er, and forbidden to return. Without
trial by law, or opportunity to defend
himself, he was sentenced to perpetual
exile, his property confscated and his
family left to the charity of friends.
Perhaps the most popular institution
of San Jose is the International Club,
which numbers among its members every
gentleman in the city 1t occupies a
spacious, one-story, white painted build
ing and contains reception, reading,
billiard, card and bar-rooms. In the
court is fountain, surrounded by beautl-
full flowers. The reading room is rich in
riodicals-Spanish, English, German
and French; the library, of 5000 volumes,
is in all languages, German classics and
English works of travel predomnating.
Another club, Gel Commercio,' stands
next in Importance, with upwards of 200
members. The San Jose Philharmonic
Society has also many members, including
several professors and all the musical
talent of the city. There are also several
| scientific societies of law and medicine
and literary association known as GEL
Porrenir."
The ira 1eler in Costa RIGA should not
omit visit to that unique institution,
the National Liquor Factory. 1t stands
on a hill at the eastern border of the
city, near the railway station, and is usual
ly mistaken by strangers for feudal