The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-08-05
Last Days in Guatemala.
Vgrnng Call upon the President. The Labor
question In New Light. central America
Bul-Fights.

lever one wants to go in Guatemala S
tI the start is generally made from
4aza d Armas. The big square, with
lntain and flower garden and broad
promenades, enclosed within a
4ed-iron fence and surrounded by the
ltIpal edifices of the church, state and
merce-is not only the central fea-
II the city, but its Alpha and Omega,
beginning and the end of everything.
this point the street numbers COM
&c, and the tram cars start on their
us ways to the suburbs; the dill
las set out on dusty journeys to the
-i0l, and drop their passengers here
-ulning; around its edges stand the
dcks to be hired in the city, and the
horses and mules, and the Indian
-taores, waiting Tor any sort OF port
b.. The last named patient beasts of
ZEN merit more than passing glance,
lr their beauty, however, for uglier
lres dc not exist-unless it may be
I- the Diggers Of Lower California,
-.e Dwarfs OF Tieua del Fuego. The
-amalan Indian-short. tough and
5 with skin the color and texture OF
aimed leather, and splay feet in
sandals made by himselt-is the
competitor of the cargo mule, the
If and the steam car and, by the way.
-auely Jealous OF the latter. which is
Y but surely spelling his occupation.
carries everything Imaginable upon
back and shoulders, from a Saratoga
k to a cabinet organ-bales Of mer-
adise and bags of coffee. loads of hay
sugar cane, fruit, coal, lime-and to
rapid Jog trot a hundred leagues is
pleasant excursion. The nipple
rs Of his trade are few and rude
bag met OF ropes, a COW hide nee
+. and a mat of hand woven grass
ia in rainy weather serves the double
nose of tarpaulin and umbrella. The
met answers for the pack OF a
and encloses an oblong frame in
h the smaller packages are put; while
lei loads rest sQuarely on the back
shoulders, upheld by the mecapal.
latter is a sort OF harness. with
1I leathern band encircling the fore
i which upholds the load and divides
strain of its weight The enormous
ems these Indians carry, the speed
which they 20, and the small amount
-ed for the service, are never ending
Is OF establishment 10 the stranger.
practice, continued from infancy, of
aiming heavy loads by the mecapal,
aees a marked depression in the up
part OF The forehead-and maybe has
something to Go with the lack of
Ia Development and the dwarfed intel
nee OF these singular people. But TO
AN to the Plaza de- Armas. One
4e side Of it is lined by the great ca
l4l and the acAiepiscopal palace
after an oda structure, its pondelous
les covered with formidable array of
>s locks. knockers, hinges and big
55rd nails, the stone above it carved
HE mitre, keys and crook. The
9u side of the Plaza is occupied by
lacio Naeioual aud two barracks
Warming with soldiers. tie north side
ue Munjcipalidad, Or City Hall, and
line OF shops, the south by more
and the Presidents palace i'll one
ee--t the latter backed by balrack ex
ill., down side street. All these
}ugs are low walled and rooted with
tiles, their facades oInamented in
t0 in low relief and painted pale
eu, sky-blue. pink, lavender, white or
Ne with stripes OF contrasting color;
most OF them are faced with ''por-
e> whose tile-covered arches extend
the sidewalk. The President casa,
Ugh Of stucco adobe and only one
lied, is quite as imposing, exteriorly,
'ur own WHITE House. a company of
ads is posted at the entrance and in
merable officers in blue coats and scar
-rOusers are lOunging about the neigh
hood. Any sojourner in Guatemala
tai, whatever his business or nation
lry- may pay an informal visit to the
let Executive. with no other introduce
than visiting card. President Reyna
rios is very handsome man-for an
4ersized Consequently about forty
Us old, whose proud and naughty
ring is belied by extreme atfablity in
nversation and the kindly expression of
pair of brown eyes behind gold bowed
e. glasses. Calling upon him the other
y, without previous appointment, we
ere confronted by the usual array of Off
rs and soldiers; and on presenting our
rds to one of the former, were ushered
10 small reception room inside the
nItyard to await the close of a cabinet
eeting. The audience chamber of the
called Palace is plain and scantily
lnished, and we We're surprised to see
aps of fruit and vegetables scattered
ound on the floor, among piles of books
al stacks of documents-two or three
itars and violins, some boots, saddle
d other unofficial paraphernalia adding
the general disorder. The president,